READING FOR MARCH 29, 2024: JOB 29, ROMANS 12, PSALMS 25:1-10 JOB 29 This chapter hits home for our church. Job waxes nostalgically about who he was in his younger and healthier days, about what he did that he can no longer do, and how he was received by others in ways he isn’t any longer. Does this describe some of our lives? Maybe they are not the healthiest thoughts to dwell upon. Let’s fight against this! What does God have for us now! Consider these stanzas from Robert Browning’s poem “Rabbi Ben Ezra”:
| I. Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand Who saith "A whole I planned,Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!' | IV. Ay, note that Potter's wheel,That metaphor! and feelWhy time spins fast, why passive lies our clay, —Thou, to whom fools propound,When the wine makes its round,"Since life fleets, all is change; the Past gone, seize to-day!" |
| II. Rejoice we are alliedTo That which doth provideAnd not partake, effect and not receive!A spark disturbs our clod;Nearer we hold of GodWho gives, than of His tribes that take, I must believe. | V. But I need, now as then,Thee, God, who mouldest men;And since, not even while the whirl was worst,Did I, —to the wheel of lifeWith shapes and colours rife,Bound dizzily, —mistake my end, to slake Thy thirst: |
| III. And I shall thereuponTake rest, ere I be goneOnce more on my adventure brave and new:Fearless and unperplexed,When I wage battle next,What weapons to select, what armour to indue | VI. So, take and use Thy work:Amend what flaws may lurk,What strain o' the stuff, what warpings past the aim!My times be in Thy hand!Perfect the cup as planned!Let age approve of youth, and death complete the same! |
This needs to be top of mind for us. The above can and should be our story, although it might require some creativity and brainstorming as a church body. Read each of the Bible passages below. Provide a sentence summary of how each relates to our finding purpose late in life:
- Phil 3:12-14: “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” _______________________________________________________________________
- 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
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- John 15:5” I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
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READING FOR MARCH 29, 2024 CONTINUED: ROMANS 12, PSALMS 25
ROMANS 12 This chapter is a good answer to Job’s feelings of uselessness. Even the first word “therefore” is helpful because it means that, because of God’s magnificent mercies of the Gospel discussed in Romans chapters 1-11, there is now a right response needed from us. Step One: As opposed to the old Jewish sacrificial system, we now offer our total selves to God. It is completely turning ourselves over to Him, not a way for Him to further our agenda!
Step Two: We must intentionally avoid the world’s ways of life. For example, what does the world typically recommend for our retirement years? Likely it is not God’s plan for us.
Step Three: Our minds, including our desires and value system, will be transformed and renewed. Aside from steps one and two, what can we do to allow God to renew our minds so that we can know His perfect will for us? Ask God; Read His Word: “Let my cry come before You, Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word” (Psalm 119:169). Step Four: As we prayerfully consider our future in the ways described above, the Lord should be giving us certain desires or bringing certain needs to our attention. Still, we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought (vs.3). Is this truly God’s desire for us or our own natural and self-centered desire? Use a combination of sound judgment and faith.
Step Five: Finally, God’s will for our lives is always embedded in the Body of Christ. As we act in alignment with what God is showing us to meet the needs of the church, our brothers and sisters will have the honor of affirming our gifts or gently guiding us in other directions.
The rest of this chapter gives us ways to act, regardless of age but as health allows. We don’t have to guess if we are gifted in these areas because they are meant for all believers: full of integrity, opponent of evil, advocate for good, deferential, passionate, service oriented, joyfully hopeful, persevering during troubles, constantly prayerful, generous, and hospitable. Finally, always repay any real or perceived insults with total good. It is God’s way to overcome evil and will get others’ attention like hot coals being dumped on their heads.
PSALM 25 What a beautiful Psalm and how perfectly it speaks to walking with God as we age. We have the promise that as we lift up our souls to God, or as Romans 12 says, as we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, we will not be ashamed. Can we claim that promise? Can we, as the Psalmist, wait on the Lord for his compassionate guidance (see 5 steps above)? Can we trust that the Lord will forget our previous missteps and be faithful in giving us purpose now for His Kingdom purposes? Are we humble enough to follow his lead, not insist on ways we think we should go? Are we obedient to His Word as we seek to how to serve Him best. Do we really believe the Lord will direct our ways in these last years or have we given up because we cannot see a way? “He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the Lord are faithfulness and truth to those who comply with His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25:9-10).
