My Testimony Pt. 11 A Senior Saint Still Serving God!

In my last post, I noted the good heart work God did in me when I was hospitalized for surgery. I recovered well but it took time. 

 I had radiation (2011)  when my numbers started to creep up and have been cancer free for 11 years. I have also had two total knee replacements (2019 & 2020), a hip replacement (2013) and more recently, foot surgery. Through each of those health issues, the Lord has been faithful and I have trusted Him fully each time.

Today, I am 72 years old and have been retired for five years. My wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary November 4, 2022. We rejoice for the two children and ten grandchildren God has blessed us with. We praise God for His unfailing goodness to us and His abundant provision for our retirement years. 

Children be ready to be a blessing to your aging parents. 

Exodus 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy 5:16  Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  

My first year of retirement was 2018. At that time, my mother in law had some serious health issues, and we decided that she should live with us. My wife and I faithfully discharged our parental responsibilities and had no regrets, because we knew that she would be well cared for and she felt safe in our home. 

My mother in law loved every aspect of our church family, from preaching, to music to fellowship. She set a good example by taking time to interact with all the people, young and old. 

We had some good examples of elder care, set by families in our church, who cared for elderly parents until they passed. I would encourage all believers to be willing to care for an elderly parent. God will bless this work, just as He promised to do. 

 Christians, do not retire. They recharge and serve in new ways. 

Offering Christian hospitality to others is a joyous blessing.

Romans 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

1 Peter4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging    

There is something very special about sharing a meal together with our church families. It gives us precious times of fellowship and worship. 

This year, we were given several opportunities to host missionaries who were home to report on what God is doing in their ministries.  This too, has been a great blessing to us. We get to know them better and share their needs or concerns far more intimately than just seeing them at church for a day. 

As we age, may the Lord find us faithfully walking in His ways. 

Proverbs 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. 

In my experience, I do not think there is anything more disappointing than seeing a senior saint think that they can just "retire" from serving God. The Bible is very clear that loving and serving God is our LIFE mission. 

I have seen older Christians whom I thought were solid believers, get off track and turn their backs on ministry and church. This is not what God has for us. We are to walk in His righteous ways and serve Him as long as He gives us breath.

As we age, may the Lord keep using us to serve Him. 

Psalm 71:18  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. 

The Psalmist tells us that even when he is old with gray hair, he still wants to be a witness for God's glory. He wants to tell the next generation about the power and wonderful works of God. 

This should be the focus of every single senior saint. God has things for us to do. We may not be able to minister in ways that a younger believer could but God has molded us so that we can still ministry to others in different ways.

As we age, may we plant ourselves firmly in the hours of Jehovah. 

Psalm 92:13-15  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14)  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15)  To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 

All believers in Christ and senior saints in particular, should always be in church services if possible, unless they are physically unable to. We have an example of faithfulness to pass on to younger Christians. When we commit to not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, then God will bless us. 

We are never to old to allow the word of God to take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. Let us be those who choose to be fruitful Christians even in our old age. May we have the privilege to show other Christians how good, upright and faithful our God is.

Only the Lord knows the number of my days and the days of my wife. Our desire is that we be useful fruit producing Christians until Christ calls us home. Surely, this is the most blessed life this side of heaven.

Bob