Reluctant Retiree

Now that I am retired my wardrobe has been simplified. I no longer need the dress shirts and ties for work. I don’t need a suit for special occasions. Most of the time I wear a t-shirt and jeans. I feel free from the constricting clothes of formality and business.

Before retiring, I prepared for work in the same way each morning. I usually woke up before 4 in the morning and started my day talking with God in prayer and listening to Him by reading His Word. I wanted to make sure my attitude, heart, mind and soul were ready before I made my body presentable. Then I made sure that I cleaned up and shaved before dressing for work. I gathered my briefcase and computer and headed to the office. No matter what kind of work we do, we each find certain things necessary to prepare for the day.

Paul wrote instructions for his disciple, Titus. These directions were given to prepare Titus for the gospel mission he was given. Titus 3:1-2 says, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

Paul was instructing Titus, and through Titus to other disciples, to prepare their attitudes and hearts for their service. The same is true for us, whether we are preparing for the work day or getting ready to serve God and other people. We will need humble and gentle hearts and mindsets. We will also need to put a guard on our mouths to honor others and avoid conflict. To do all that, we must depend on the power and grace of God to work in us and through us to His glory. Let’s prepare for each day by not only dressing up but by gearing up our hearts and minds for good works.

Recently the story of 21 members of a mission team held captive in Haiti was in the news. The captors wanted a ransom of millions of dollars for the release of the hostages. As I recall, the demand amounted to one million dollars per hostage.

That got me thinking about the value of a human life. What is a human life truly worth? If you or I were held hostage, what amount would be the fair value that our family, friends, or government could pay to save us? Does the amount vary depending on our character or what we contribute to society? Should the amount vary based upon our age or wealth?

Psalm 49:6-9 says, “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.”

According to God, no amount of riches is suffice to ransom a life.But the meaning of these words is far deeper than simple ransom. You see, we are all held captive by our fears, weaknesses, pride, and sin according to the Scripture. Their is no price of wealth or works that can be paid to satisfy God’s purpose. So God has already paid the ransom to free us from our captivity. I Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

In His love for us, the Father gave His Son to save, redeem and ransom us from death into eternal life. However, there is one problem. For this ransom to become effective, we must accept it. We must agree that we are held hostage by our selfishness and sin, and believe that Jesus will set us free.

God’s redemptive offer has stood for thousands of years. Will you not accept it today? Freedom awaits your reply!

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.