God still has work for us to do in our old age

"O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." Psalm 71:17-18

For most, the words of 2 Timothy 3:15 are true of us: "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Through the instruction of our parents, Christian day-school teachers, Sunday school teachers and our pastors, we learned of our sinfulness and of God's mercy and forgiveness in His Son, Christ Jesus. We learned of God's mighty works, from creation to God's judgment in the flood to our salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection. We have seen through the Scriptures God's merciful dealings with other sinful human beings like us, as well as His judgments upon the rebellious and impenitent.

With this knowledge from God's inspired Word, we have every reason to glorify and praise our God for having mercy upon us, bringing us to know of forgiveness and life in Jesus our Savior. But, we still have work to do even in our last years.

"Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."

Even if our children are raised and have families of their own, our work here in this world is not done until God calls us home to be with Him forever.

We are here to bear witness to the next generations of the mighty workings of the LORD God who created us and all things, who cares for us and preserves us, who gave His only-begotten Son to die for us and redeem us back to Him, who continues to bring us to repentance and revives our faith in Him and His mercy in Jesus, who keeps us in the assurance our sins are forgiven and who will ultimately take us home to be with Him!

With the psalmist, we pray: "O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." Amen.

[Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Devotion by Randy Moll. More devotions at www.goodshepherdrogers.org.]

Editorial on 08/20/2014