Being 55 is not all that great, given the aches and the diminished stamina of aging. There is one thing however that is wonderful about this stage of life- experience! Situations that could flummox me when I was 30 don’t anymore. I’ve learned that God always has a plan, even when I don’t; that His purposes will prevail even when from my perspective I have hit a brick wall. Indeed, though it seems a cliché, I must say that the largest gains have come in times of greatest pain! I am not a fatalist for I know that my choices can both help and hinder the work of God’s kingdom. But, I am convinced that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)
The late Ray Stedman said that the second mark of the authentic Christian was unvarying success that comes to those who are led by Christ Jesus. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NIV)
Stedman writes, “We must remember that these high-sounding words of Paul's are not mere evangelical pep talk. They were not uttered by a well-paid, highly respected pastor to a well-dressed suburban congregation in a modern American mega-church. These words were not given to thrill and entertain the Sunday morning audience, but to embolden and encourage those who were literally risking their lives and their families' lives for the cause of Christ on a daily basis. These words were written by a man who bore on his body the wounds of a servant of Jesus.” Speaking out of his own experience, Paul encourages us to trust God ALL of the time, not just when things are going our way. He tells us to stay steady even when every circumstance would seem to indicate God has forgotten us. Writing of his trials, he says, "I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. … And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear." (Philippians 1:14, NLT)
Two thousand years of church history, even with some incredibly dark chapters of awful corruption, even with all the foibles and failures of men and their schemes, only proves that God is supreme and that His will stands. Personalize that today, disciple! As we stand on the edge of this new year, renew your faith. Surrender yourself to the will of the Lord and tell Him openly and often that you desire to be led by His hand. Then, trust Him to ‘lead in triumphal procession!’ That doesn’t mean that you’ll get rich, always enjoy ‘good luck,’ or even become famous! You will live a solid life of assurance, with a deep peace, a worthy life of integrity, that enjoys the trust of others, and the benediction of Heaven!
Take this incredible promise, a word from the Word, with you today.
"It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. … Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:13-18, NIV)
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