Ageless Excuse

It’s amazing to be how often I hear that a certain age is not really that age. “30 is the new 20” they say. Or “60 is the new 40.” What’s really confusing is that  both “40” and “50” are the new 30, and I can’t quite figure out how that could possibly be.

In a culture where people are always striving to be younger than they are, it is perhaps not surprising that our expectations for people of a given age have become obscured. Children living in their parents house well after their 18th, 21st, or even 25th birthday is now somewhat expected. If 50 year-olds are giving themselves permission to act (and look) 20 years younger than they actually are, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 20 year-olds don’t feel the need to grow up. After all, following the math of their elders, they are just infants.

The Bible, however, is replete with warnings against this mindset. It tells us that our age shouldn’t be what defines us. Instead, it should be our love for God and our obedience to His call on our lives. As the Lord said to Jeremiah:

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth” ;for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 1:7b).

This is instructive for people both the young and the old. It is a great reminder that God uses people of all ages to accomplish His purposes. .The young should realize that their age is never an excuse to not do what God calls them to do. Even though they are young, the should be examples (I Tim. 4:12). The “old” shouldn’t dismiss God’s work just because He uses someone with less years to accomplish it.  In either case, the concern should be whether the person is doing what God says. And regardless of our age – we should get busy doing the same.

God doesn’t use age as an excuse not to use someone for His kingdom. As we are busy about His work, may we not be tempted to do so either.

 

 

Have you ever heard someone use their age as an excuse to not do what God has called them to do? Have you ever dismissed the work of God in someone’s life because they are young? How can we squash these excuses and get busy doing what God has called us to do?

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Jailed

We all have times where we feel like we are trapped.

Whether it’s  a painful moment,  a devastating diagnosis, or a prolonged trial, there are seasons where all we want is for God to intervene and change our circumstances. We want Him to reach down and remove us from the hurt.

And sometimes He does.

The Bible is replete with stories of God responding to people’s prayers by changing what’s going on around them.

The early disciples experienced this. . Twice, after being wrongfully incarcerated, God miraculously releases them from prison, first Peter and then Paul.  (Acts 12:6-17; Acts 16:16-24) . Twice, He intervenes to provide  relief.

But that didn’t happen every time.

Later, when Paul was jailed once again, God had him stay there. Not for a little while, but for two years.

Two years of restricted movement, of being a prisoner, of having limited freedoms.

Two years of being removed from his itinerant ministry, not able to visit and encourage the churches that were springing up.

Two years of jail.

Not because he deserved to be locked up, but because some people were jealous of him, and wanted him punished.

And he knew that God could release him. He had done it before. But this time He didn’t.

Yet that time in jail wasn’t wasted. During it, he wrote letters to the churches; letters that are still read today. He provided instruction of what it means to walk and grow in the Lord, even when he couldn’t be there to personally teach them. He encouraged them, even though it must have been so easy for him to get discouraged.

Paul must have realized something that’s important for us to realize too. God doesn’t always work the same way in our lives, but He’s always working.

Sometimes He removes us from the trial, sometimes He allows it to stay, but either way, He’s working through it, so that our circumstance, whether good or bad, brings Him praise.

We might feel trapped, locked up and unable to do anything. Thankfully, we can trust in the One Who is able to do everything. And whether we remain behind our figurative bars, or He works for our release, we can eagerly look forward for how He will use our circumstance – for His purposes… for His glory.

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