Glory to God
April 10, 2024
Machelle McDowell
I Cor 6:20- “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
I celebrated a milestone birthday this year! I turned 62! Yes, I am able to say that outloud now! (LOL)…. Alot of things happen leading up to a 62nd birthday!
One, is looking into a mirror and thinking you may not go outside during Thanksgiving again because someone may mistaken you with a turkey by the “gobbler neck” you now have!
Two, you reflect on your life: there is an old saying, “I’m not 62, I’m 18 with 44 years of experience!” There is some humor in these words but there is also some very real truths in that statement.
There is alot of life that plays out in 62 years. In my mind I can do what I have always done, but my body screams a different message!
God shared a valuable lesson with me on my birthday!
I woke up early on the morning of April 7th, (my birthday), like any other morning, but there was a surreal presence in my bedroom. My mind began to wander.
My first thought was, “I am old enough to retire if I want to.” Just the thought of having the freedom to make that decision was very weird.
Then, something very bizarre happened…I wasn’t allowed to think it but for a moment!
Those words were quickly replaced with these words- “Bring me glory.”
What? I’m not gonna lie, I was a little unnerved by this obvious message from my creator who obviously has something more in store for me…. I got out of bed and headed to my spot where I spend time with Jesus in His Word.
As I reflected on what just happened…. My Bible study that morning affirmed the words I feel God gave me earlier. He directed me to this verse: Deut. 4:24
“The Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace.” I looked up the meaning of iron furnace and found this: (Hard Bondage).
I have been bought with a price. I am not my own. We don’t retire from belonging to Jesus! We may retire from a place of employment or a career but we do not retire from serving God…. If anything we are promoted!
Yes! Think about it. We spend a great deal of our life in the wilderness as our training ground, just like the Israelites!
As I turn the pages of my life to a new chapter I want to finish well! I don’t want to come to the border of the Promise Land and not be able to go in! I want to be a Caleb and a Joshua. Trusting God completely with my future. I want to bring glory to God for the rest of my life! Whatever that may look like!
Jesus delivered us! He has rights. He did not die for you and me and redeem us so we could do life without him. We don’t retire from doing his will……bringing Him glory!
Our job may look different when we grow older but it should involve bringing God glory!
Now, I understand why God used “old” people to do great things for him. It takes us so long to get it, LOL!
“Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.”Job 12:12. Now, let’s be honest… it is not growing old that makes us wise and useful for the kingdom.
It is following God through the wilderness of life and submitting our lives fully. With it comes an inner strength that develops from years of experiencing God’s working in our lives.
The Bible is full of senior figures that inspire us:
Sarah demonstrates that nothing is impossible with God.
Anna- Oh my, I love this woman! She spent her entire life studying God’s word and hanging out in the temple.
Naomi- The Godly mother-in-law that walked by example for her daughter-in-laws…and led Ruth to the man whose lineage led straight to Jesus!
Getting older should not be a negative thing in our lives but it should drive us to want to end well. I want to dedicate the rest of my life bringing glory to my God! God sees old age as a blessing! We look it as a curse.
My mom is 79 years old. She is one of the hardest working women I have ever met. When I was a child she worked two jobs most of my childhood. This was a way of life for her. It was so hard for her when she had to retire. Here is the good part!
She has her own ministry now! Technology scares older people. It is constantly changing and updating. I would have never thought my mom would be using Facebook as her ministry platform! She is the greatest prayer warrior/encourager you could ever have as a friend on FB! She prays for people she doesn’t even know! She will ask me questions about people I have never met! LOL. I LOVE IT!
Find your niche! Just because you are retired from a public job or thinking of retiring, don’t retire from God!
Stepping out in faith is doing something that only God can do through you! Step into the promise land knowing you did everything you could to bring Him glory!