Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, He set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52 And He sent messengers ahead of Him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for Him.
53 But the people did not receive Him, because His face was set toward Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them [as Elijah did] ?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them [“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”]
56 And they went on to another village.
Rejection is part of life. Yet God works all things towards good.
Rejection is part of life. Yet God works all things towards good.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.
Recently, I was told the first half of life is collecting and the last half of life is watching us lose all we had. When thinking about this, I realized my grandmothers and my great-grandparents are not known as much for what they did as youths or even middle age. When my Ward, my cousin Maxine died in 2010, her wishes were to disperse all she owned from our family living together in 1888 in Louisiana. The family memories I know of this branch of our family, mostly happen from 1907 to 1960.
Instead of approaching aging as walking towards the end of the path, we should think of our later years not of weakness, but our legacy.
Drawing from Scripture:
Psalm 25:7
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
The events of Kings, Chronicles, Proverbs and Psalms are the misfortunes of age and not youth. Most of my grandmother's flaws seem extremely forgivable and then covered with the Mercy of their parents. Few and far between are the real touchdowns from the years' Bruce Springsteen calls "Glory Days."
Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
November 30, 1874, Winston Churchill was born. In the 1930s, Winston Churchill famously remarked in the House of Commons during an exchange with the Prime Minister, 1930s, he was confident history would find Baldwin wrong - huge grin - "because I shall write that history". He said something of the same to Stalin during the war, and of course, Churchill was correct.
We falsely believe our Grandchildren are going to remember our worst. Instead, we have a real chance to teach from the wisdom of gathered years. Love.
Æthelwold 'aetheling', thrown over nephew of Alfred the Great, passed over by his royal father, allowed Alfred the Great's massive Christian reshaping of the U.K. and world history. The movie Æthelwold remarked the only reason Alfred hadn't killed Æthelwold, Alfred believed in God. Æthelwold thought about this and announced, "Æthelwold likes God." "Really likes God!"
Luke 9:51-56 is the plan, the path, the driving Goal of God Himself and the end of Jesus Grace upon Grace on earth. And in this most undeserved, most Grace, Mercy of God Himself and His Son, Jesus the Christ of God, there is Mercy. Not to destroy life.
And this - in great probability is the Mercy of God, that as we age the world considers us as 'past it' and, in reality, the sake of God's goodness, allows splendor attained righteously. The meek inherit the earth, what better plan of older people giving of themselves to the younger generations unselfishly?!
Ephesians 3
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of His glory
He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit
in your inner being
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
and
In Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
Abba, Father,
Dwell in us
and help us to seek You first
Jesus, God of Encouragement.
Jesus, Hope and Future.
Jesus the Lord
saves the world
Amen.
♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †
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