Reluctant Retiree

So much of our conversations are light and surface level. We discuss activities and plans, but not the deeper stirring of the heart. Sometimes, in the right environment, we will share our struggles. We will also freely discuss our victories and joyous celebrations. We may discuss our opinions on political, social, or athletic issues.

However, we all have an important story to tell, if we are so bold to do so. As an example, Jesus healed a man, releasing him from the many demons controlling him. Mark 5:19 says, “And he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.'” Those of us who have come to trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord have a story to tell of His great mercy toward us and how He has changed our lives. Be bold and courageous. Tell your story!

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, please just take a moment to listen to someone’s Jesus story and consider what Jesus can do for you. Everyone needs the mercy of God. Everyone can be changed by the love and grace of God.

I don’t know about you, but I have observed many conversations that I just didn’t understand what was said. Either they were talking about a subject about which I knew little or were using words that I didn’t know. One such occurrence happened when we were visiting my wife’s family. They are farmers and they were speaking about farming. I have always lived in an urban environment and know nothing about farming. So I didn’t understand much of what was said.

Jesus said that the same type of thing is true of us in understanding spiritual truths. Mark 4:11-12 says, “And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”” To understand spiritual truth we must be born spiritually. God will give us spiritual eyes and ears when we trust in Him. Apart from this faith, we cannot understand His wisdom. Take the first step toward understanding and wisdom by believing in Jesus Christ.

As the stress builds around us, our words become more reaction than proaction. In these circumstances we may lash out as a defense mechanism. In order to protect ourselves, we criticize others. We are not as interested in the truth as much as defending ourselves. In the process we hurt others and separate ourselves from them.

Ephesians 4:15 gives us a better way when it says, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Instead of defensive and accusatory words, we are to speak the truth. But even truth can be used to harm others. That is why we are called to speak the truth in love. Our desire must be to build up others, not tear them down in our own defense.

We can’t do this in our own strength. That is why the verse says, “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” To speak the truth in love, we must begin with growing in our relationship with Christ. He changes our speech by granting His love and revealing truth to us.

Sometimes I see life as a roller coaster ride. We certainly experience the lows of troubles and suffering. But we also have times of exhilaration. The lows seem to last forever, but really are relatively short-term. Keeping our focus on the struggle just seems to bind us to them. Looking forward to the joy beyond our troubles facilitates our journey through them.

Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” We will certainly suffer troubles. But for the believer in God, these problems are momentary. Joy will soon come and this joy is eternal.

It is a natural response to want to return a kindness given to us. If we are invited to dinner at someone’s home, we generally want to host that person in our home. If someone gives us a gift, we search for a way to give them a gift in return. Often as I enter a building I will hold the door open for another person entering the building. Generally they will return the favor by holding the next door open for me. What a wonderful world it would be if we didn’t just wait to return kindness, but also sought to extend kindness without first receiving kindness.

Near the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, He visited Peter’s house. Peter’s mother-in-law was ill, so Jesus healed her. Mark 1:31 records what happened next; “And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” After receiving healing from Jesus, Peter’s mother-in-law began to serve Him and His disciples. After we receive salvation, redemption, healing, and love from Jesus, we will desire to serve Him in some way. When we receive His grace, love for Him will constrain our response.