Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

Do you worship a counterfeit god?

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

During the Middle Ages, there was a popular story which circulated about Martin of Tours, the saint for whom Martin Luther was named. It was said that Satan once appeared to St. Martin in the form of Jesus Christ himself. St. Martin was ready to fall to his feet and worship this resplendent being of glory and light. Then, suddenly, he looked up into the palms of his hands and asked, "Where are the nail prints?" Just then, the apparition vanished.

In our world today, there are many counterfeit gods. No, they might not appear to you in the form of Jesus Christ, but they are often not necessarily bad. Your health, for example, can become an idol if you value it more than God. Your youth, your money, and your time are the same. None of these is inherently bad—they just make lousy gods!

Jesus is the only one who can really save. Your health didn't die for you. Neither did your youth, your money, or your time. Jesus alone will never fail you; everything else will.

Don't let counterfeit gods replace the one true God in your life. Worship Him first. There will be time to focus on everything else, but never do anything without maintaining focus on Jesus Christ, your Savior!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to reveal to you any counterfeit gods you have set up in your life.

Questions for Thought

What are some things in your life upon which you might be tempted to focus more than Jesus Christ?

What practical steps can you take to ensure you're fully focused on Jesus Christ and not on idols of the world?

[Judy Harder]

How to show courage in the face of criticism

"Be strong and courageous... for the Lordyour God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

There is a very famous quote from former President Teddy Roosevelt that says,

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.

"So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

This quote has been used over and over again to teach about perseverance in the face of judgment from others. But it also has a very powerful application to the Christian life because Scripture promises that in this world, we will be hated, scoffed at, and criticized for our beliefs.

Yet in the face of this resistance, we persevere, knowing that at the end of the day the credit belongs to those who strive valiantly and dare greatly even in the face of uncertainty and criticism.

That's the kind of life Jesus lived. And it's the kind of life He calls us to live, too. Don't be a critic; get into the arena and strive valiantly!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to give you the courage to strive valiantly even when others may criticize you.

Questions for Thought

Think of a time when you stepped out in faith and were criticized for it. How did it make you feel?

What are some ways you can strive valiantly for the faith today even in the face of criticism?

[Judy Harder]

What it really means to be free

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." - Revelation 5:9

In his famous little book On Christian Truth, Harry Blamires suggests that we think of the human race aboard a hijacked jetliner flying through time. He writes,

"God himself directed its takeoff from the divine control-tower. The initiator of all evil, whom we call the Devil, managed to get a boarding pass. When the plane reached its cruising altitude, the Devil produced his weapons, threatened the pilot, and took control of the aircraft and all its passengers."

Thus the plane hopped on fearfully through history from airport to airport until, he writes,

"(I)t was caught on the tarmac at Jerusalem, an outpost of the Roman empire, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, where the Son of God offered himself as sole hostage in exchange for the passengers and crew."

It was that glorious exchange that bought freedom for all of those who trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Yet at the same time, there are many who still sit on the plane, not believing it has been hijacked and refusing to accept the freedom that's been offered to them.

If you've placed your faith in Christ, you can be sure that your life has been exchanged for His. And because of that, you'll live forever with Him. So thank God for that wonderful exchange, and live your life to tell others about the freedom they can have through Christ's sacrifice for them!

Prayer Challenge

Thank God that He sent Jesus to offer Himself for your freedom.

Questions for Thought

What does it say about the value God's placed on your life that He sent Jesus to exchange His life for yours?

Who are some people in your life today with whom you can share this wonderful news?

[Judy Harder]

How to keep your body and soul in good health

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30

Recent studies have shown that people who practice their faith regularly may be getting some health benefits: A study conducted by sociologists at Purdue University found that 4 percent of those who regularly attended religious services reported poor health, compared with 9 percent of those who did not attend a house of worship. And 36 percent of weekly worshippers reported they were in excellent health, compared with 26 percent of non-attenders.

So what makes the difference? Researchers aren't sure, but they say the reason could be that people attending weekly services may be more likely to see friends who ask about their health and can recommend a doctor. But while that may be true, there's most definitely something to be said for the healing benefits of connecting with God on a regular basis.

As a Christian, it's very important to care for your physical body. In fact, the Bible is clear that your body is God's temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). But one key aspect of that temple that much of modern medicine doesn't take into account is that it's not just physical, it's spiritual as well.

You're not just flesh and bone; you're also very much soul and spirit. So when it comes to your health, focus on the physical, but don't neglect your spiritual health as well. When your body and your soul are nourished appropriately, you can experience an overall health beyond what medicine can do alone!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you nourish both your body and your spirit by staying physically and spiritually healthy!

[Judy Harder]

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier... --Ephesians 2:14

Many years ago, the Prince of Wales visited the capital city of India. An arduous, stately barrier had been set up to keep back the masses of people, most of them lower class, who wanted to catch a glimpse of royalty.

When the prince arrived, he shook hands with some of the political dignitaries who were presented to him. Then, looking over their heads to the crowds beyond, he said, "Take down those barriers!" They were quickly removed, and the people, regardless of social rank, had free access to the heir to the British throne.

Several years later, the Prince of Wales visited the same district again. Waiting on him, were 10,000 outcasts that waited under a banner. The banner welcomed him with these words inscribed: "The Prince of the Outcasts."

Not many of us take time out of our hectic schedules to reflect on the majesty of Jesus and what He did for us. Born into sin, we were outcasts from conception. But by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, we have been adopted into the family of God.

So often we don't thank Him or praise Him enough for the incredible mercy he showed us on the cross. We were separated from God, we were the outcasts, sin was the barrier, and the heir to the throne came and ordered it to be taken away. As a result, we now have free access to the Son. Thank God for our "Prince of the Outcasts"—Jesus Christ.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Take a few moments to simply thank God for sending Jesus to provide forgiveness for your sins as a sacrifice on the cross through His shed blood. Take time to worship Him through song for bridging the gap so that we can have eternal life.

[Judy Harder]

The impact of your actions on others

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10

An old dentist recounts a story about his very busy dental office years ago. Apparently, he had one particular patient who was constantly late to his appointments. One day, this man was scheduled to come in to get a cavity filled. Before his appointment that morning, the phone at the office rang. It was the patient calling to let the dentist know he'd be about 15 minutes late. "Will that be a problem?" he asked.

"No, that won't be a problem at all," the dentist told him. "We just won't have time to give you any anesthetic."

For the first time, that man arrived early for his appointment!

It's amazing the change you see in others once they realize their actions will have a negative impact on them. So often, people are content to cause others trouble, yet when it causes them problems, they straighten up very quickly.

But the Bible says in today's passage to honor others above and beyond yourself. This means that in everything you do, consider the effects of your actions on other people. Then think, "If someone did this to me, how would it make me feel?"

As Christians, it's our duty to love others—even those who don't love us. So prefer others in your decisions and show God's love in everything you do!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to show you how you can prefer others in the decisions you make.

[Judy Harder]

How To Value Those Who Labor For You

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

There's nothing quite like looking at a newborn baby. But as adorable as they are, infants do not really appreciate what parents do for them. This is because they have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for them yesterday, but what you are doing for them right now. The past is meaningless and so is the future. They live only for the present.

The very same is true of those who are spiritually immature. Many Christians have little or no appreciation for those who have come before them and poured out their very lives for them. Yet those who are mature are deeply appreciative of those who labored in the past. They recognize those who labor during the present and provide for those who will be laboring in the future.

If you're a believer in Christ, it's because someone has labored to show you His grace. If you're growing today, it's because someone is caring for you and feeding you spiritually. And long after we're gone, the gospel will still be moving forward through many others.

Ministry is quite often a thankless job. So show gratitude to those who labor for you. Pray that God would bless them and their ministries, and give to them as well. Also, pray for and give to those who will carry the banner of Christ well into the future. That's what it means to be thankful!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would bless those who have devoted their lives to the advancement of the gospel.

Questions for Thought

Who are some people you're grateful for that have been instrumental in your spiritual growth?

How can you show your thanks to them?

[Judy Harder]

Does Luck Really Exist?

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. - Proverbs 16:33

Many of the small superstitions people have today are rooted in misunderstandings of Christians years ago. Medieval theologians, for example, argued that since a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle, and a triangle is a symbolic reminder of the Holy Trinity, anyone who carelessly blunders through this mystical space is risking divine wrath. So people generally began to avoid walking under ladders, lest they incur punishment from God.

As this way of thinking became more common, condemned Englishmen about to be hanged were often required to walk under the ladder that stood against the gallows for convenience and clear conscience of the executioner. In those circumstances, you could say the man was certainly in for a spell of very bad luck!

While the usually harmless words good luck function today as a simple word of encouragement for someone about to face a challenge, the Bible teaches there's really no such thing as luck. In fact, as we read in today's passage, every outcome is determined by God beforehand!

Don't rely on meaningless superstition, fortune, or luck. Instead, know that every outcome in every situation is from God and trust fully in His sovereign plan to work everything out for your good!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you full confidence in His sovereign plan no matter what He determines the outcome to be.

Questions for Thought

What kinds of superstitions do you find yourself relying upon at times?

Instead of following superstition, what can you do to let God know you're relying firmly on His sovereign will?

[Judy Harder]

How to Pray Politically

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.This is good, and pleases God our Savior.... - 1 Timothy 2:1-3

A doctor, an engineer, and a politician were arguing one day about which profession of the three was older. "Well," argued the doctor, "without the role of a physician, mankind could not have survived for all these years. So I'm completely certain that mine is the oldest profession."

"No," said the engineer, "even before life began, there was complete chaos in the world. It took an engineer to create some semblance of order from this chaos. So engineering is clearly the older profession."

As the three sat and pondered on what the engineer has said, a silence filled the air for a few short moments. "But," chirped the triumphant politician, "who created the chaos?!"

In our world today, people tend to have a generally low view of politicians. That's because we're so inundated with negative campaign ads, scandals, and people who will say just about anything to get elected. But this doesn't take away one bit from our responsibility as Christians to pray for our leaders, whether we voted for them or not!

The apostle Paul wrote today's passage when there were some very ungodly leaders in power. So follow his example. Pray for our elected leaders, that they would grow in Christ and for wisdom to govern well.

Prayer Challenge

Pray for your elected leaders today—from those who serve locally to our President.

Questions for Thought

Why do you think it's hard to pray for those in power with whom we have disagreements?

How can you make it a habit to pray for political leaders?

[Judy Harder]

Where do you store your treasure?

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

George W. Truett, a well-known pastor in the mid-1900s, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. When the meal was finished, the gracious host took Pastor Truett to a high place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

Pointing to the oil wells on the horizon to the north, he boasted, "Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it's all mine!" Looking south at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, "That's all mine too." And then, turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, "They're all mine also." Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, "That too is all mine."

He paused, waiting for Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placed one hand on the man's shoulder, pointed heavenward with the other, and simply asked, "How much do you have in that direction?"

The man hung his head and confessed, "I haven't really thought of that."

There are some people who have so many material possessions. Yet on the day they meet their Creator face to face, they'll come to understand that you leave the world the same way you came in... with nothing. So whether you have a lot or a little, remember to store up your real, imperishable treasure in heaven.

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you realize that whatever you have on earth is temporary and the treasures that last will be stored in heaven.