Reluctant Retiree

I spent the day watching my grandson wrestle for his high school again. The top wrestlers in the area competed. I have learned something watching this sport. Wrestlers need to be continually alert and focused. One small moment of inattention can lead to disastrous consequences. In that moment the opponent can take advantage of the inattention and reverse the whole course of the match. Good wrestlers are vigilant in their focus.

The Bible says that we must be constantly focused on the truth and exercising faith. Otherwise our enemy, the devil, will take advantage of our weaknesses and faithlessness. I Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” We become sober-minded by knowing and applying the truth, God’s Word, to our lives. Faith activates the truth and gives us a shield against the enemy’s lies.

So be sober-minded focusing on the truth. And be watchful exercising faith in Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

Our family is making plans to gather in Atlanta this spring. Some have already made flight arrangements. We are looking into hotels in coordination with activities we plan to engage in. One son’s family will come from California. Another son’s family is deciding whether to fly or drive from this area, while we plan on driving. It will be great to be able to enjoy our family gathering.

There is one problem, however. Plans are great, but we don’t have control of so many different circumstances. The pandemic may worsen, causing travel to be difficult, if not impossible. The weather does not necessarily comply with our plans. Illnesses may impact our ability to travel. I am not a pessimist, so I am not worried about these potential obstacles. But I do have to acknowledge their potentiality.

God also makes plans. However, He is in full control and His plans will come to pass, without exception. The wonderful thing about God’s plans for us, is that He loves us with a steadfast and abundant love. So His plans will always be good for those who love Him and choose to follow Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” We can trust God’s plans for us, His children. He is good and He has the power and authority to execute His plans.

Have you ever said something that someone misunderstood and it was blown way out of proportion? Or have you heard something and did not respond properly? Sometimes words or phrases can be misunderstood and then wrong conclusions are drawn. The same is true for actions. We are not very good judges of other people’s intentions and motivations.

Unless someone tells us why they are doing a particular thing, we cannot assess their motivations, because we cannot look into their minds and hearts at that moment. We may be able to judge a behavior, but not the heart.

Genesis 50:20 says, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” We must be cautious when someone harms us. Vengeance belongs to God because He is the only one who can judge the heart. We are wise to wait for God’s judgment of the one who hurts us. Secondly, God can make something good and beautiful from the hurts we suffer. Again, this requires that we wait upon God to reveal the good that He is creating out of our pain.

If you are like me, you will likely be quick to respond to hurts done to you by others. Let’s wait and seek God’s perspective on our pain and watch for the good things that He will bring to us.

Yesterday was Christmas. Today we reenter into real life. All the presents have been opened, all the thank yous have been given, and all the joy has been spread. How can we make the following days meaningful and continue to receive blessings?

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus is quoted as saying, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” So Jesus promised to give us everything we need and more. His blessings are richer and fuller than anything we can hope to receive at Christmas. All we have to do is seek after Him with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. Sounds like a good deal to me. I’m in! Join me!

What is so important about Christmas? Well, lots of good things happen on Christmas. Families come together to feast and celebrate. Gifts are given and received, mostly out of generous spirits. Kindness is displayed in selfishless acts of goodness. Laughter fills the houses and joy is in the air. All of this is good and don’t you wish every day could be like this one?

But Christmas wouldn’t really be Christmas if we didn’t remember the greatest gift ever given. We remember the birth of Jesus on Christmas, but often forget that He was born to die, so that we can die to live eternally. The greatest gift ever given is the free gift of salvation and eternal life given by God to those who will believe on His Son.

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God gave the world prophecies through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah spoke of the life and death of Jesus Christ when he wrote:”Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

God’s gift of salvation was born out of His great love for you and me. Nothing else can explain why a holy God would offer His only Son to save sinners. Receive God’s gift today!