Psalms 92:12-15
Our culture is obsessed with youth. Stores are flooded with products promising better health, fewer wrinkles, and a trim physique. However, these will only touch the surface of our aging problem. Unless death intervenes, growing old is inevitable. Living old, on the other hand, is a choice.
We each have to decide if we are going to flourish or dry up, grow strong or become weak. Physically, we may have no choice in the matter, but we can be young in soul and spirit, regardless of our chronological age.
When a righteous man is firmly planted in the Lord, he’ll become fruitful in things that will last into eternity. We are never to retire from bearing fruit. Rather, God wants us to abide continually in an intimate connection with Him. In that way, we can do the work He has given us to accomplish (John 15:4).
A righteous man will grow strong in the Lord like a cedar of Lebanon (Psalms 92:12). These trees can grow to a height of 120 feet with a girth of 40 feet. That is one strong tree! As we walk with Christ into our latter years, we can have the confidence and stability that come only from growing strong in faith. Each year is an opportunity to trust God more and rely wholly on His Word.
Staying young while growing old begins with your mind. Never stop listening to the Father or learning from His Word. Allow godly thinking to shape your attitudes. Be thankful, keep laughing, and rejoice in your Lord. Above all, keep believing and loving Him with all your heart.
Matthew 11:25-30
We have all experienced physical burnout—those times when we are tired from our many activities or difficulties that assail us. Even more painful is spiritual burnout—the weariness believers can feel from the pressure of trying to obey God, attend church faithfully, and spend time in daily prayer and Scripture reading. Just contemplating everything we think we must do for success in the Christian life can be overwhelming! The trouble is that we become spiritually burned out if we rely on our own strength.
When we experience spiritual fatigue, it’s often because of a wrong view of our faith. We find ourselves keeping a mental checklist of dos and don’ts, striving to please God with religious activities. That’s not freedom. The Christian life isn’t some formula whereby we modify our behavior to gain the Lord’s approval. God reached down and reconciled us to Himself the moment we asked Him into our hearts, so we already have His approval. True spiritual maturity involves a growing awareness that nothing we can do—no change in conduct or attempt to live up to regulations—will make us acceptable. Rather, we give up our inability and weakness, and instead live by faith. Then God’s omnipotence can carry us through life.
Think of God’s power as a river coursing through hilly terrain. We can hike, puffing and sweating, along the footpath, or we can simply ease into the water. We won’t have to expend energy because the power of the current will carry us all the way to our destination.
Luke 22:31-34
Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of “miserable failure” rather than that of “obedient servant.”
We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a process—something we learn. And failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God’s authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered that one should never take his eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14:30); God’s plan must always have priority over man’s (Matthew 16:21-23; John 18:10-11); and humility is required of believers (Luke 13:5-14). He took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn’t that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter’s failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.
God doesn’t reward rebellion or wrongdoing. However, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth.
We would all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches us that it is much wiser to be obedient to the Lord. That’s a lesson we all should take to heart.
What does sinful temptation consist of? James reveals two vital ingredients: first, it is being drawn away from God. Second, it is being enticed by one’s own lust.
No matter what we may tell ourselves, any action, any person, any thing that draws our attention and affections away from God is wrong. It does not matter whether it is a romance or rock star, a family member or a football team — it is wrong to allow anything to come between us and our single-minded pursuit of God’s glory.
This does not mean that we cease to care for or serve others; but it does mean that even our closest relationships and most committed labors must all be grounded in, and flowing out of, our love for Christ. Any other basis for a relationship or commitment is changeable, insecure, and idolatrous.
Notice that is our own lust that draws us away from God. Not every lust (strong passion or desire) is wrong. Jesus and Paul both used this same word to describe their desire for Christian communion and to be with Christ, respectively (Luke 22:15; Philippians 1:23).
Whether the lust is good or bad depends entirely on its adjectives or qualifiers. Is it the lust of men, of the world, of the flesh? Are they our own desires/passions, or did they come from God and issue toward His glory? If they are self-motivated or self-originated then we can rest assured that they are sinful.
Every person is tempted when they are drawn away from God by their own passions or selfish pursuits. Do not be enticed; do not give into temptation.
Gospel musicians Steve and Christie Bradford will be leading the services with Steve Bradford as evangelist.
The Bradfords have been involved with gospel music for over 30 years. They are members of the Southern Gospel Music Guild and the Southern Gospel Music Association. In 2012, they were presented the James Blackwood Lifetime Achievement Award.
The couple lives in Portageville, Missouri where Steve is pastor and minister of music and youth at the First Baptist Church. He was ordained into the gospel ministry by the church. Christie serves as part-time ministerial assistant.
Everyone is welcome to attend these services. The Friendship Baptist Church is located on the North Outer Road in Dexter just west of the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home. For more information call 573-624-6525.
