Read: Numbers 8:23-26
They
may minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs. —Numbers 8:26
The
first people to climb Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, were Edmund
Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Hillary was just 33 years old. His feat
afforded him fame, wealth, and the realization that he had already lived a
remarkable life.
So, what
did Hillary do for the next 55 years? Did he retire and rest on his laurels?
Absolutely not.
Although
Hillary had no higher mountains to climb, that didn’t stop him. He achieved
other notable goals, including a concerted effort to improve the welfare of the
Nepalese people living near Mt. Everest—a task he carried on until his death in
2008.
Did you
know that God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50?
(Num. 8:24-25). But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that
they should “minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs” (v.26). We
cannot take this incident as a complete teaching on retirement, but we can see
a godly implication that continuing to serve others after our working days are
over is a good idea.
Many
people find that when they retire they have nothing meaningful to do with their
time. But as the Levites and Sir Edmund Hillary did, we can refocus when we
retire—giving of our time to help others.
The Lord will give you help and strength
For work He bids you do;
Serve others from a heart of love
Is what He asks of you. —Fasick
Life
takes on new meaning when we invest ourselves in others.
by
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come”
(2
Corinthians 5:17, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from
Joel and Victoria
When
you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a new creation! You
have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! There may be “old” things in your
life that you are trying to get rid of. Maybe you have old habits or addictions
that you want to change. Remember today that the new has come. It’s a new year
with new opportunities, and it’s time for you to be the new you. Let this be
the year that you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that
you move forward into a new life of victory. Let this be the year that you take
hold of all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised — peace, health,
protection and victory.
Be
encouraged today because no matter what is happening in your life right now,
you have a chance for a new beginning. Choose today to leave the old behind —
old behaviors, old thinking, old words — and embrace the new by faith because
this is your year to experience the new life that He has prepared for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly
Father, thank You for making me new. I choose today to leave behind the old
life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit. Help me to understand Your
plan and know the truth of Your Word that sets me free in Jesus’ name. Amen.
—
Joel & Victoria Osteen
No comments:
Post a Comment