Sterling Leadership - Old Soldiers New Battles
When I was younger, I mistakenly believed the spiritual battle would become much easier as I got older. Yet God gives us a clear warning that as we get older, (when there is more money in the bank account, we’ve paid off the land and the house, and have a few good paintings on the wall), that such a time is exactly when we must be careful, meticulously careful (Deuteronomy 8:13). For it is easy to become proud in prosperity and forget that every good thing we have is from Christ Jesus.
God lovingly seeks to teach people. Yes, it’s not just children or some cohort of school-aged people. All people. Of every age. We often think the early part of our adult life will be the hardest. Surviving the teenage years, university, career, and family. But that’s not the case. In fact, it’s not what we see in Scripture.
Jesus chose young men to disciple because He wanted them to go and have a long and transformational impact on growing His Kingdom. But Jesus also impacted Nicodemus and many older men as well. (Think of the aged Simeon and Anna waiting on God and how even baby Jesus blessed them as they heard and obeyed God (Luke 2:25-35)) God has no favorites. At any age, He will teach those whose heart is teachable.
God didn’t stop discipling Peter and Paul and Barnabus and Mark, and James as they went. He continued to guide and teach them - for John, it was deep into old age. The Apostles' ministry training with Jesus was just the beginning. Oh, the places they would go, the adventures, and the impact they would have for the Holy Spirit. We know little of it, but we certainly get a glimpse in Acts. And we know what God has done in and through our lives.
It's God’s way. He uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary. For a teachable and obedient disciple of Jesus Christ, the opportunity and impact are immeasurable. My reminder this morning is that Jesus men must be in it for the long haul. No matter our age - 85 or 15 or somewhere in between - it’s to the last breath. Sorry, but there is no "Freedom 55."
At every stage of life, but I’d argue even more so in later years, we need God’s wisdom, guidance, protection, understanding, and insight to persevere through the spiritual battles and terra novas He has prepared for us.
Like many of my Christian friends, I do not want to coast. The challenge for me now at 54 is direction and focus. I’m eager to explore and adventure for God. I wrestle with patience and contentment. I'm shocked at my ability to fall back when I am trying to prepare well and live well (morning, noon, and night).
I’ve prayed for you just now. I’ve prayed that if you’ve read this, God has a new commission (or recommission) for you. Blessed and authorized to go on conquest for Him. Go unashamedly. For what is of God will not fade away. It will have a lasting, eternal impact, so there is no need to apologize for obediently following God's lead to serve well and do the good things He's orchestrated.
God alone can step in and open sealed doors, heal the impossible, and write the unthinkable. God has a new assignment for us and fresh instructions. God is the Great Planner. We have to listen and obey. The mission plan for this day and for the next phase of our lives is prepared by God in heaven. He reigns. God never fails to do His part. Will we have eyes to see, ears to hear, willing hearts, and articulate voices, to do what He has prepared for us? Yes, we will.
God’s grace gave us the perfect sacrifice of His Son. Because of the Father’s love and the Son’s sacrifice, we can believe in God, trusting that He loves us, forgives us, and gives us the call to obedience to Jesus Christ in all we do (1 Peter 1:2). Seek God first no matter what age or situation we are in. Stop and ask Him what He wants us to do. Let’s have open and teachable hearts ready to hear from God and to then obey Him.
God is faithful. It’s true. God lavishes His unfailing love on those who obey Him and keep His commandments. But He does not and will not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject Him (Deuteronomy 7:9-11). God will strengthen each of us for the new mission ahead. We need His strength, for His eternal dominion requires of us good work, consistent and determined. We ask God what He wants because we need to know and then do what is right and good in God’s sight (Deuteronomy 6:18).
My challenge to my friends and I hope my encouragement is to trust God more. He is Good. He has nothing to do with evil other than opposing it and ending it. He is not petty or cruel or tricky or capricious. He does not approve of the wicked boss you’ve had to endure. He expects us to fight for righteousness and for those being abused (Proverbs 31:8). God’s character is unchanging, and through God we receive mercy and grace. Jesus Christ is always good and loving and just and fierce and kind. Trust God. More and more. By His loving grace, He will lead us.
As we get older, we become more aware of the lure of complacency, the fear of unanswered prayers, insecurity, sickness, unfulfilled promises, and missed opportunities to obey Him. We know God’s standards, and thankfully, God is patient with us. He rewards people according to what we believe, in Whom we trust, and according to what deeds we do (Revelation 22:12).
I’ll sign off with this. God says, “I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected - even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands” (Deuternoy 5:9-10).
Reverence of God. Love in action. Right living. Simple, yet very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve success and prosperity without a deep relationship and trust in our Savior. Let’s stop with the milk and water theology. God is not a fatalist. Love is meaningless with a deterministic God. Our Father wants hearts to be open and teachable. Each of us can believe. Each of us, through Christ, can change our hearts and stop being stubborn and full of ourselves (Deuteronomy 10:16). Thank God!
Lord God, thank you for commissioning us to Your good work today. May we trust You, deeply and obediently. Amen.
I found an old 1899 book written for American Seminary students on parliamentary law and the good governance of assemblies. The way it describes the character of a good president is a reminder that God's standards for good governance are unchanging.
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