Articles
"I'm Growing Younger Every Day"
I’m Growing Younger Every Day
By Steve Melton (October 16, 2021)
Thinking of our physical and spiritual body,
This is what Corinthians has to relay.
Though our outward man perish,
Yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Though my eyes are getting dim and blurry,
And it’s hard to see far away.
I clearly see God’s grace and mercy.
I’m growing younger day by day.
My ears are getting hard to hear,
I can’t understand what you have to say.
But I can hear and understand the gospel clearly.
I’m growing younger day by day.
Now my feet hurt and legs are sore,
As I walk along the way.
But, my walk with Jesus is getting stronger.
I’m growing younger day by day.
I’m starting to forget more,
My memory is beginning to fray.
But now, I remember more of God’s precepts.
I’m growing younger day by day.
My stamina is gone and joints begin to ache.
It’s more difficult to work and even play.
But I feel more rejuvenated in my spirit.
I’m growing younger day by day.
Some day this ole’ body will quit.
I’ll stop growing younger day by day.
Then, I’ll be born again into heaven.
There with Jesus and my Father to forever stay.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor. 4:16-18).
Am I a Difficult Person?
In the book God in the Dock, author C. S. Lewis describes the kind of people with whom we often have trouble getting along. Selfishness, anger, jealousy, laziness, substance abuse, or other behaviors often sabotage our relationships with them. We sometimes think, “Life would be much easier if we didn’t have to contend with such difficult people.”
Lewis then turns the tables on us by pointing out that these frustrations are what God has to endure with every one of us every day. He writes: “You are just that sort of person. You also have a fatal flaw in your character. All the hopes and plans of others have again and again shipwrecked on your character just as your hopes and plans have shipwrecked on theirs.” This self-awareness should motivate us to try to show the same patience and acceptance toward others that God shows to us daily.
In Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to arm ourselves in relationships “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (4:2). The one who is patient is better able to deal with a difficult person without becoming provoked to anger and retaliation. Instead, he or she is able to endure, exhibiting grace in spite of upsetting behavior. Are there difficult people in your life? Ask yourself, “In whose life am I a difficult person?” Thank God that He does not abandon us in our sins; and the let us labor to help salvage others.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8). “…And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2Peter 3:15).
A Moment’s Wisdom
--I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. (Thomas Edison)
--You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now.
--The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.
--Never look down on anybody, unless you are going to help them up.
--Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.
--Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.
--A pessimist, confronted with two bad choices, chooses both.
--We all find ourselves in situations that at times seem hopeless. And, we all have the choice to do nothing or take action.
--Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. It’s always your choice in whatever has to be done.
--Courage is knowing what not to fear. (Plato)
Test Your Bible Knowledge of Ephesians
1. What must husbands do? _____________________________________________________
2. What must wives do? ________________________________________________________
3. What must children do? ______________________________________________________
4. What must fathers do? _______________________________________________________
5. What must servants do? ______________________________________________________
6. What must the angry do? _____________________________________________________
7. What must thieves do? _______________________________________________________
Upcoming Sermons
10/31/21 AM - How Well Does God Know Me?; PM - Guest Speaker: Doug Sanders - Stars
11/7/21 AM - Biblical Measures of Faithfulness; PM - Singing Service (congregation choice of songs)
11/14/21 AM - Beneath the Cross of Jesus; PM - Love Hurts
11/21/21 AM - Is My Name Written There?; PM - Gaius My Host
11/28/21 AM - How Jesus Changed the World; PM - The Beam in My Own Eye
