Reluctant Retiree

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!

It is a dark and gloomy day around here. The sun has not come out at all and is not forecasted to appear today. And yet it is Christmas Eve, which brings joyous celebrations around the city. Many people will join with their families in feasts and laughter. Children are filled with hope as to what tomorrow will bring. Christians will gather in worship during Christmas Eve services. So even in this cold dreary day we find goodness and joy.

God’s blessings don’t stop just because the weather is bad, we don’t feel well, or circumstances may not meet our expectations. God is good all the time and He is good to all people. Even on our worst day, we can find something for which we are grateful.

Acts 14:16-17 illustrates these truths, when it says, “In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Throughout history people and nations have rejected God to live in their own ways. Still, God provided for their needs by sending rains and making their crops yield produce. These blessings were, and are, meant to be a witness of His grace and love.

During this holiday season, take a moment to look around and notice the blessings that you have been given. Take another moment and thank the Giver of your blessings.

What does your mind drift off to when you have a free moment? What do you think about when you don’t have to think about something else? At times like these our free thoughts tell us something about ourselves. Are we fretting about future events? Perhaps we are regretting past choices. Maybe we are thinking about the things that bring us joy like our spouse, our children, food, football, or computer games. Perhaps our thoughts go to dark places that we would be ashamed if others knew we think about them.

Our meditations in these moments generally describe the things that are important to us. They may be our openly discussed ideas or our secrets. But these thoughts will eventually become the basis on which we make decisions. These thoughts then play out in our behavior and character.

Sometimes we need to gain control of these meditations and direct them to places that are beneficial to us. Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Thinking thoughts that are acceptable to God, leads us closer to Him. These types of thoughts also build righteousness into our lives as we become more like Jesus. We begin to think about how our lives can please God, along with our meditations.

When we were young, my wife and I left our busyness to float down the Tippecanoe River in a canoe. We enjoyed the beautiful peaceful surroundings as we gently traveled downstream. We even went ashore briefly to have a picnic lunch and sit to take in the beauty.

As I look back on that day, I remember it as one of the most peaceful moments I have experienced. Oh, I have had my share of quiet times, but observing the beauty of the riverside, along with the serene float downriver was special. I still enjoy quiet walks along the river and find a degree of peace there.

How can we find true inner peace for our souls? Amidst our busy days and the intruding voices of our surroundings, where can our hearts be filled with serenity? Isaiah 32:17-18 says, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” We find peace through righteous living. However, we can’t manufacture righteousness on our own. We have to trust God to work righteousness through us in the power of His Spirit. Then we will be protected from worthless accusations. Then we can live securely with the knowledge that we are upheld by God’s mighty power.