GROWING OLD

This is a four part devotional on the subject of growing old for God.
FAITH:
Psalm 71:18
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Getting old to the glory of God means getting old in a way that makes God look glorious. It means living and dying in a way that shows God to be the all-satisfying Treasure that he is. So it would include, for example, not living in ways that makes this world look like your treasure. Which means that most of the suggestions that this world offers us for our retirement years are bad ideas. They call us to live in a way that would make this world look like our treasure. And when that happens, God is belittled.

Resolutely Resisting Retirement
Getting old to the glory of God means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ that we are set free from the cravings that create so much emptiness and uselessness in retirement. Instead, knowing that we have an infinitely satisfying and everlasting inheritance in God just over the horizon of life makes us zealous in our few remaining years here to spend ourselves in the sacrifices of love, not the accumulation of comforts.

The Perseverance of Raymond Lull
Consider the way Raymond Lull finished his earthly course.
Raymond Lull was born in a wealthy family on the island of Majorca off the coast of Spain in 1235. His life as a youth was dissolute, but a series of visions compelled him to follow Christ. He first entered monastic life but later became a missionary to Muslim countries in northern Africa. He learned Arabic and after returning from Africa became a professor of Arabic until he was 79. Samuel Zwemer describes the end of his life like this, and, of course, it is the exact opposite of retirement:

His pupils and friends naturally desired that he should end his days in the peaceful pursuit of learning and the comfort of companionship.

Such however was not Lull’s wish. . . . In Lull’s contemplations we read . . . “Men are wont to die, O Lord, from old age, the failure of natural warmth and excess of cold; but thus, if it be Thy will, Thy servant would not wish to die; he would prefer to die in the glow of love, even as Thou wast willing to die for him.”

The dangers and difficulties that made Lull shrink back . . . in 1291 only urged him forward to North Africa once more in 1314. His love had not grown cold, but burned the brighter . . . . He longed not only for the martyr’s crown, but also once more to see his little band of believers [in Africa]. Animated by these sentiments he crossed over to Bugia [Algeria] on August 14, and for nearly a whole year labored secretly among a little circle of converts, whom on his previous visits he had won over to the Christian faith. . . .

At length, weary of seclusion, and longing for martyrdom, he came forth into the open market and presented himself to the people as the same man whom they had once expelled from their town. It was Elijah showing himself to a mob of Ahabs! Lull stood before them and threatened them with divine wrath if they still persisted in their errors. He pleaded with love, but spoke plainly the whole truth. The consequences can be easily anticipated. Filled with fanatic fury at his boldness, and unable to reply to his arguments, the populace seized him, and dragged him out of the town; there by the command, or at least the connivance, of the king, he was stoned on the 30th of June 1315.

So, Raymond Lull was 80 years old when he gave his life for the Muslims of North Africa. Nothing could be further from the American dream of retirement than the way Lull lived out his last days.

Dying to Make Christ Look Great
In John 21:19, Jesus told Peter “by what kind of death he was to glorify God.” There are different ways of dying. And there are different ways of living just before we die. But for the Christian all of them—the final living, and the dying—are supposed to make God look glorious. All of them are supposed to show that Christ—not this world—is our supreme Treasure.

So growing old to the glory of God means using whatever strength and eyesight and hearing and mobility and resources we have left to treasure Christ and in that joy to and serve people—that is seek to bring them with us into the everlasting enjoyment of Christ. Serving people, and not ourselves, as the overflow of treasuring Christ makes Christ look great.
by John Piper

FRIENDS:

Father, Please bring to our minds the days before we knew you so we can recall the moment we first believed. Renew that joy in us. If the flame has dwindled down to a little flicker, fan it, bring it to life so we may stand face to face with the only hope the world knows. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
APRIL 14
Mark 6:1-13; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Psalms 84; Judges 6-7
APRIL 15
Mark 6: 14-29; 1 Cor 10: 14-33; Psalms 85; Judges 8

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Holiday meal prepared by loving hands
2. Little children dressed in their Sunday best
3. A three year old's imagination
4. Being truly thankful for what we have
5. The anticipation of guests coming
6. The child that is still in us
7. Keeping busy
8. Seeing young people take sermon notes in church
9. Lemons, their color, their taste in a glass of iced tea
10. Knowing you will get through a hard time because you have friends to go through it with you

FOOD:

Ham Leftovers Casserole

Makes 6 servings

This recipe combines leftover ham and mashed potatoes with cheese, garlic,
and vegetables to make a delicious casserole the whole family will love.

12 potatoes, cubed
1/2 cup milk
2 cups cooked ham, cubed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1 egg
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until
tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and mash with 1/4 cup of the butter and
milk.

2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3 Combine mashed potatoes, ham, garlic, mushroom soup, butter, egg and
parsley in a mixing bowl. Transfer mixture to greased casserole dish and
bake
for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake an additional 15
minutes or until cheese is melted.

FUN:

INTERESTING FACT:
At five minutes and six seconds after 4 a.m. on the 8th of July this year,
the time and date will be: 04:05:06 07/08/09..

This will never happen again.