God’s power in every season of life

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “God’s power in you and for you”

Our Bible verse for today: “For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:7 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God’s power in every season of life”

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter, 2 Thessalonians, in the later years of his life. It had been a hard life. He had experienced many years of very difficult ministry. He had been shipwrecked, persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, starved, chased out of towns by violent mobs, and much more. It had been tough. He had been through a lot. But there he was, older and certainly worn out, but still at it. Still active, still preaching and teaching and writing, still setting a good example for everyone to see.

That reminds me of my old friend Dick DeGrow. I met him when I became the pastor of Bancroft Baptist Church in Spring Valley, CA in the mid-1990s. At that time Dick was already in his 70s. He was a retired pastor and he had some health issues, but he served in our church as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and as the church custodian.

That’s right, church custodian. Retired pastor, deacon, teacher, and custodian. He didn’t need to be the custodian. He didn’t need the money and he wasn’t exactly a spring chicken. I asked him one time why he did it. He smiled a warm smile and in his soft voice he paraphrased Psalm 84:10 by saying, “Pastor, I would rather clean toilets in the house of the Lord than to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.” Then he smiled again and said, “You have a good day now.” And he shuffled off to clean the toilets and take out the trash.

What the Apostle Paul and Dick DeGrow both modeled for us is the truth that God’s power is available to us for continuing acts of ministry throughout all the seasons of life. The nature of the ministry activities may change over time, but being actively involved in serving God and His people is supposed to be something we all continue doing right up until the time the Lord lifts us out of this life and brings us home to heaven. Even if your final days are spent bedridden and physical ministry is no longer an option for you, you can still pray for yourself and for others; you can still worship the Lord in your mind and heart even if you can’t attend services; you can still accept visitors and be a source of encouragement to them; you can choose to be a pleasant encounter and a blessing to the healthcare providers caring for you. The point is, almost always there is still something we can do for the Lord and for others in every season of life.

No matter your season of life, God’s power is available for you, in you, and through you to accomplish meaningful things for the Kingdom. What are you doing for Him and for others today?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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