Devotions December 28, 2018

We are called to become more personal, to become persons, to face old age with all our personal resources.  

We have given things priority over persons, we have built a civilization based on things rather than on persons.  Old people are discounted because they are purely and simply persons, whose only value is as persons and not as producers anymore.  When we are old. . . we have the time and qualifications necessary to a true ministry of personal relationships.  Dr. Paul Tournier  Learning to Grow old.

Recently, I had someone say to me; "You know Roger, you have an aging congregation."  The body language and tone made it clear, an aging congregation was a deficit.

Could it be, God has formed Elbert Christian Church as an aging congregation, to teach the "young whippersnappers a thing or two about the value of a person?  The value of needing others and being needed?

Things are to be used and People are to be loved.  Maybe, we have put too much value on things and production and not enough on persons.  To borrow a phrase from an 80's hit; "The Futures so bright I have to wear shades."  Remember if you are getting a little long in the tooth; God's not through with you yet.  And if your that young whippersnapper: "You have much to learn.

God promises in Isaiah 46:3-4 LB, “Listen to me, all Israel who are left; I have created you and cared for you since you were born. 4 I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and be your Savior.  Don’t be afraid, 

Christian. You will persevere. You will make it home. Sooner than you think. Live dangerously for the one who loved you and died for you at age 33. Don’t throw your life away on the American dream of retirement.   You are as secure as Christ is righteous and God is just.