April 15
Josh 11:1-12:24 | PS 84:1-12 | Prov 13:5-6 | Luke 17:11-37
A frequently asked question that I receive by my patients is when I plan on retiring as I will soon be 65. One younger woman after asking this I went on to give her the gospel message, to which I responded at the conclusion of her visit, "This is why I'm not retiring". Recently, one of my partners asked if I could talk to one of his patients. Apparently over six years ago I prayed with her, she came into a relationship with Jesus Christ and wanted prayer. Another patient that I saw recently I had not seen in over seven years. Sadly, she recently lost her son. She explained that at our last visit we discussed Jesus, and she held onto that and moved forward in Him, and that is what strengthened her during her loss. Like me, on a daily basis, many will frequently cast their concerns to us: family issues, marital issues, health issues, etc. We, in the faith, have a choice whether to counsel them on a secular basis using worldly wisdom and worldly advice, or we can counsel them in faith. Interestingly, like a couple of my patients above I had no idea that my words resonated, but they had. It doesn't matter what station of life we are in, whether student or retired, we, in Christ, are to remain purposeful for Him. Nowhere in Scripture does it talk of kicking up our feet and doing nothing. If one is considering retiring, my question is, what will you be doing for Christ when you stop working? If you don't have an answer, then don't let some arbitrary age be your indicator it is time to stop. And if you are working or going to school but have not yet invited Jesus to join you at the workplace, what are you waiting for? We have opportunities daily, may we have eyes to see them.
We read in Luke 17 of Jesus healing ten lepers physically. We read in 17:15-19, "One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you." We may have wise words, good advice, medical advice, etc., which might make the person feel better physically and mentally, but we, in Christ, empowered by the The Holy Spirit, have something much more, as the Holy Spirit will guide us to help others spiritually if we allow Him to work through us. We all tend to overly focus on temporal things, those things which cannot last, but Jesus warns in 17:32-33, "Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it." Jesus tells us to remain ready at all times, and so we must as we never know when our next God appointment will occur or when He will return to take us home.
May we echo the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 84:10, "A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked." Can we honestly say this? When you wake up each morning what or who are you focused on? When you navigate throughout your day what or who are you focused on? When you lay your head on your pillow at night what or who are you focused on? The Holy Spirit can and will direct our steps and actions if we avail ourselves to Him, but He will not overpower our free will. May we seek that which is best over that which is good, or in some cases evil.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: