Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. --Hebrews 13:8

When American author Lloyd C. Douglas was a university student, he lived in a boarding house. Downstairs on the first floor was a retired music teacher who lived in a small apartment.

Every morning, Douglas claimed they went through the same ritual. He would come down the steps, open the old man's door, and ask, "Well, what's the news?"

The old man would pick up his tuning fork, tap it on the side of his wheelchair, and say, "That's Middle C! It was Middle C yesterday; it will be Middle C tomorrow; it will be Middle C a thousand years from now. The tenor upstairs sings flat, the piano across the hall is out of tune, but my friend, that is Middle C!"

The old man had discovered one thing in his life upon which he could always depend—Middle C. For Christians, the one constant and absolute in this life, of which there is no shadow of changing, is Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that "because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ... We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:17, 19). God sent His Son to die on the cross so that we might have eternal life with Him. He made a promise, and He kept it.

Because of this, we can rest assured that God will never change. He is ever-present when trouble comes barreling in. He is all-powerful to do exactly as He has promised. And He is all-knowing, and we should never worry because He is in control. He is the same "yesterday and today and forever."

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for being the constant reality in your life.

[Judy Harder]

[Jesus said]: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ... If they persecute me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. --John 15:18-20

What is a Christian? In the Letter to Diognetus, dating back to the second century, an anonymous writer described Christians:

"Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; ...they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect. ... They live in both Greek and foreign cities....They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the unusual form of their own citizenship.

"They live in their own native lands, but as aliens. ... They marry and have children...but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the laws in their own lives.

"They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. ... They are mocked and blessed in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others.

"When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by Jews...and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility."

If you are a believer, the Bible commands you "...not [to] conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2). And you can expect the world to hate you as a result (see 1 John 3:13). Continue to be sanctified by the truth of God's Word and be in the world but not of it (see John 2:15).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would empower you to always be set apart, even when the world hates you, so that others can see the difference Jesus has made in your life.

[Judy Harder]

How to learn Scripture with the right motives

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11

A story is told of a village church in Kalonovka, Russia, where attendance at Sunday school picked up after the priest started handing out candy to the peasant children. One of the most faithful was a pug-nosed, pugnacious lad who recited his Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch on it.

The priest took a liking to the boy and persuaded him to attend church school by offering other incentives. There, the priest managed to teach the boy the four Gospels. In fact, this little boy won a special prize for learning all four by heart and reciting them nonstop in church!

Fast forward 60 years, and the boy still loved to recite Scriptures, but in a context that would horrify the old priest. For the prized pupil who memorized so much of the Bible is Nikita Khrushchev, the former Communist czar. The same little lad who nimbly mouthed God's Word as a child later declared God to be nonexistent.

Khrushchev memorized the Scripture for the rewards rather than for the meaning it had for his life. Artificial motivation will produce artificial results. So as you learn the Word of God, keep your motives pure and make it an exercise of both your heart and your mind!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to keep your motives pure when it comes to learning His Word. Pray that He would help you absorb it into your heart as well as your mind!

[Judy Harder]

Are you fully available to God?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. - 1 John 3:16

The famous author Patsy Clairmont was sitting next to a young man on an airplane. She had already observed something remarkable about this young man... he called her "Ma'am." Concluding he was from either from the south or in the service, she decided the latter was the most likely choice.

"What branch of the service are you in?" she asked.

"The Marines. I'm just coming back from a year and a half tour in Desert Storm. My family will be meeting me at the airport."

Clairmont commented that he must have thought about returning to his family and home many times while he was in the Middle East.

"Oh, no, Ma'am," the soldier replied. "We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully available right where we were."

When it comes to living out God's calling in your life, are you fully available right where you are? Or, do you play it safe, sitting on the fence and not wanting to be too committed for the fear of looking like a "fanatic"?

God's calling in your life is of the utmost importance. So just like a soldier, lay down yourself each day and be fully available to accomplish His mission for your life!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you be fully available to His calling, willing to forsake everything you have to fulfill His mission for your life.

[Judy Harder]

How you can experience a complete transformation

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.

As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out all of the garbage.

"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site!"

Apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as tidying up a warehouse that's slated for the wrecking ball. You see, when you trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, the old life is over and the new life takes over (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When you come to Christ, you give God the site and allow Him to begin His renovating work in your life. So instead of trying to clean up your own life before you trust Jesus, place your faith in Him today because that's where the remodeling begins!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and tell God that you are giving Him your life. Ask Him to renovate you from top to bottom and transform your life in every way!

[Judy Harder]

Putting knowledge into action

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." - 1 Samuel 15:22

Imagine that you are the president of a company and find it necessary to travel out of the country and spend extended time abroad. So you tell your employees, "Manage things while I'm away, and I'll write you regularly. When I do, I'll instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from my trip."

So you leave and stay away for a couple of years. During that time, you write often, communicating your desires and concerns. One day you return. Walking up to the front door of the company, you quickly notice that everything is a mess—weeds are growing in the flower beds, windows are broken across the front of the building, and the secretary at the front desk is asleep!

Without hesitation, you call everyone together and ask, "What happened? Didn't you get my letters?" Your employees answer and say, "Yes! We got all your letters. Some of us have memorized them. In fact, we even get together each week and talk about them!"

It doesn't matter how much they would've read your letters. What really matters is whether or not they would've followed what you told them. In the same way, there are so many people who read the Word of God, yet they never truly do what it says.

So when it comes to the Bible, don't just read—do! Follow God's precepts for living and experience the full joy that comes with surrender and obedience.

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you not just read His Word, but live it out each day!

[Judy Harder]

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. --Proverbs 4:23-27

A former police officer once told of the tactics of roving bands of thieves. The group of thieves would enter a store in a unit. One or two of them would separate themselves from the group, and the others would start a loud commotion in another section of the store.

This grabbed the attention of the clerks and customers. And as all eyes were upon the disturbance, the accomplices would fill their pockets with merchandise and cash, and leave before anyone suspected anything.

Hours—sometimes even days—later the victimized merchant would realize things were missing from the store and call the police. Too late—they'd already been deceived and robbed.

This effective strategy is often used by Satan as well. Believers are seduced into paying attention to the distractions, while evil agents ransack our lives and ultimately leave us confused, lost, and devastated. So what does the Bible say about this? Always be on guard!

Paul warned believers several times about this scenario:

·         "...I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).

·         "...Be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil" (Romans 16:19).

·         "So be on your guard!" (Acts 20:31).

·         "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Don't be distracted by Satan and his roving band of demons. Instead, "be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to guard your heart and mind, so that you won't be seduced and deceived by Satan.

[Judy Harder]

How to persevere in obedience

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

The great poet and educator, Archibald Rutledge, wrote about how he once met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked outdoors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest.

His faithful friend understood, and that's exactly what he did. So when a fire started in the woods and soon spread to the spot where the dog had been left, the faithful companion didn't move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master's word.

When it comes to obedience to God, do you cower down when things heat up? Or do you, like that dog, endure faithfully, even if it means suffering, or even death?

In this life, the Bible never gives us the promise of an easy path. There are times when staying true to your Master will even cause you to encounter hard times. Yet through them all, we're given the simple promise that no matter what happens, God is with us.

Maybe today, you know God is asking you to follow Him in a certain way that will lead to hardship. If so, show obedience to God by following Him even if it means tough times. When you do, you can be sure that the reward you'll receive will far outweigh any inconvenience you face!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and tell God that you'll follow Him no matter where He calls you. Respond in faith by giving Him your life and surrendering to His will.

[Judy Harder]

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. --Psalm 40:10

Peter Cartwright was a nineteenth-century, circuit-riding Methodist preacher. But more importantly, he was known for being uncompromising in his faith.

One Sunday morning, as he was preparing to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. Some of the elders warned him not to say anything out of line or there would be trouble.

So when Cartwright stood to preach, he said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here today. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."

The congregation was shocked by Cartwright's bold sermon and wondered how the President would respond. However, after the service, President Jackson walked by to shake hands with Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."

As Christians, we are not called to be "guarded" when it comes to sharing the Gospel message with the world. Instead, we are to be bold and outspoken in proclaiming the truth.

In Psalm, King David wrote, "I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD" (Psalm 40:9).

Scripture says that we are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that [we] may declare the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).

The world needs more Christians who will be uncompromising in their faith. Will you be that kind of Christian—just as Peter Cartwright was? Won't you be bold enough to declare the faithfulness and salvation of God today (Psalm 40:10)?

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would give you the opportunities to boldly share your faith. Ask Him to give you the right words at that time that will bring others to Christ.

[Judy Harder]

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins ... But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. --Ephesians 2:1, 4-5

The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial is astounding for its simplicity and meaning. Etched carefully in the black granite wall are the names of 58,156 Americans who died in that gruesome war. And since its opening in 1982, the striking monument has stirred deep, and sometimes painful, emotions in many people.

Some visitors walk the length of the memorial slowly and reverently, but without a pause. Others stop before certain names to linger where they recognize the name of a son, sweetheart, or fellow soldier. They wipe away their tears and remember the legacy those lost lives left behind.

For Robert Bedker, Willard Craig, and Darrall Lausch—three Vietnam veterans—a trip to visit the memorial must be especially moving because each man can walk up to the long ebony wall and find their own names carved in the stone. Because of data coding errors, each of them was incorrectly listed as killed in action upon the monument.

Dead, but truly and completely alive—this is a perfect description of every believer in Jesus Christ. Just as Christ suffered death of the flesh and was made alive by the Spirit, so are we as Christians made alive in the Holy Spirit (see 1 Peter 3:18). And we are called to die to ourselves every day and walk in the Spirit of Jesus.

Every day we should thank God for raising us up from the mire and muck to live in glory with Him. Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, we can rest peacefully knowing that we will be alive forever with Him in heaven one day. Praise God!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for making you alive in the Spirit as a believer. Pray that He would help you die to yourself and your sins every day, so that you can be more like Him.