Do you know what you are aiming for as you grow older? Titus

Titus 2:2

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Paul is instructing Titus, a young pastor, how to established order in the church and chruches.  Paul sent Titus to establish elders in each of the churches in his area (Titus 1:5).   In that instruction, as Paul reaches the end of the book, he provides Titus with some insight as to how various categories of believers ought to act in this world.   Along with older women and slaves, the above passage is directed to Titus concerning older men (that's me!!).   This is a very enlightened list for those of older nature.    By "older" we assume Paul is referring to "chronological" age, rather than "spiritual" age.    That may be a mistake to assume such.   I believe Paul is talking chronologically (which is why he tells Titus and Timothy to let no one to despise their youth ... 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:15).   Yet, we must remember that in the time of the early church there would be less men in a new church (remember, Titus is still establishing these churches ... hence, they are probably "new" churches filled with "new" converts).  It is highly likely that Titus has more spiritual depth and is chronologically young, while spiritually the elder.    Titus is being told to establish "elders."   These are not older men, but men with spiritual depth.   Whatever the case, the instruction is plain.   Those older in the faith .... who might be older chronologically ... are to be self-controlled in their conduct (temperate); august and venerable in their outward life (dignified); self-controlled in their minds (sensible); grounded and strong in faith (sound) and not easily ready to quit and give in to the pressures of the Christian life (perseverance).   This should be the aim of all younger men (either by chronological age or spiritual age).  We ought to know the mark we are to hit as we grow older.   Our "retirement" goals are not financial; they are not in the realm of stability; they are not for the purpose of personal security.   Our retirement goals are listed out plain and simple above:  Be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love and in perseverance.   Simple!!

Why do you "feel bad" about sin? John 16-18

John 16:8
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

Jesus is about to depart via the cross and the resurrection.  In these final moments with His disciples He is alerting them to what is to come.   The main emphasis in these chapters will be the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believing AND the unbelieving world.  In the above passage we see Jesus outlining the Spirit's ministry in the lives of the world, specifically.   He tells us that the Spirit will have a ministry of "convicting" the world of their sin; of judgment to come; and of the righteousness necessary to be in the presence and favor of God.   In this world there is no one who is convicted of their sin, absent the Spirit's ministry.   If a man is truly convicted of sin it must be the act of the Spirit.   However, natural man can have, by nature, a conscious attitude toward sin.  This is general grace however, and not the grace that comes from the conviction of his sin by the Spirit of God.  Other men can "convict" other men of sin.  In fact, Pastor's are told to "reprove" people in their preaching (1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:2).   We are all supposed to "expose" the hidden  (Ephesians 5:20).   But, it is only the Spirit who can convict others to bring them to repentance.   Pastors and believers might be the instruments the Spirit uses.  The Spirit might us the conscious mind to cause a person to see their behavior or thoughts as sin.   But, it is only the ministry of the Spirit that makes that happen.   Only the Spirit can convict and bring a person to the point of repentance; necessary for change to take place.  The Spirit is the Person who causes us to view sin the way we should.   The Spirit causes us to bring to mind the judgment to come.   The Spirit is the one who lays out both the need and the way of righteousness.   If we have a "hunger for righteousness" it is the Spirit who put that into our hearts.  Only the Spirit can bring about an attitude toward sin that produces repentance that will then allow us to avoid judgment and attain righteousness through Christ.    Man can't do that for other men.   Psychology can only point out the flaws of man (expose the problems).  It can't, as a method, theory or system, produce a change in man to help the avoid judgment and be declared righteous in Christ.  That is an exclusive act and ministry of the Spirit.   

Do you return to God when He prods you?

Amos 4:9-10

“I smote you with scorching wind and mildew;

And the caterpillar was devouring

Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. 

“I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt;

I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses,

And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.

It is amazing how long and how much people will put up with rather than repent and turn to God.   Why is that?  In the above passage God tells the nation of Israel that He smote them with wind and mildew; He had the caterpillar eat their crops; sent a plague or plagues on them the same way He did when He delivered them from Egypt, but on them this time; and, He made this all cause such a stench that they couldn't escape the smell in their nose.  YET, they did not return to the God who would most certainly bless them. The plagues God sent were Egyptian in proportion and the result was the same as it was with Pharaoh ... they, too, hardened their hearts and refused to turn to God. They could not see God's grace in these acts. They would not admit their sin.  God disciplines us to restore us to Him into a warm relationship.  We reject it out of pride.  When trouble comes stop to realize God is acting in your life and that is grace. 

Are you cautious when you gather with leaders? Proverbs 23-24

Proverbs 23:1-5

​ When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

Consider carefully what is before you, 

And put a knife to your throat

If you are a man of great appetite. 

Do not desire his delicacies,

For it is deceptive food.

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,

Cease from your consideration of it. 

When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.

For wealth certainly makes itself wings

Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

We like to be around wealthy and powerful people.  We like to seat around their table and partake of there food, entertainment, fellowship and, we think, friendship.   Solomon knows our hearts, however.  He knows that when we sit with them it is not for the purpose of giving.  It is for the purpose of receiving.  We don't wish to add to their wealth with our visit, but rather add to ours.    The verse five verses of this chapter should be read in unison and hinged together.   You could consider them separately, but in reality Solomon is telling us that our hearts are bing lead astray if we sit with rulers and have an eye for wealth either with them or through their provisions.   Our desire for food and wealth (used here as metaphors for folly) shows the deception of our hearts, the rulers real purpose for allowing you to sit at his table and the deceptive nature of food and wealth.   We only want something from rulers; rulers really only want something from us; and, food and wealth are deceptive by offering satisfaction only to be later useless and temporary.   When we engage with people of means we need to guarded that our members (lust for things) are used as instruments of unrighteousness (Romans 6-7).  Only Christ can guard us against these desires and ultimately satisfy us.   

Do you recognize your sin in your glorifying of God? Psalm 108-110

Psalms 108:5-6

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

And Your glory above all the earth. 

That Your beloved may be delivered,

Save with Your right hand, and answer me!

David is praying to God and in this passage he recognizes the glory due God.   He also realizes his own inability to glorify God.  He, himself, needs deliverance.   God deserves to be exalted but, David, like us all, needs deliverance from sin.  That sin restricts our ability to truly glorify God.   David asks God to glorify Himself in David because David doesn't have the capacity to glorify God properly in himself.    This is the formula for glorifying God.   David needs God to "answer" him and "deliver" him.   We can't properly recognize God's glory without first recognizing our need for deliverance.   We are lost and dead in sin.   God is glorified when He saves us.   We glorify Him when we cry out, as David did, here, for deliverance.   If we wish God to be exalted and glorified, we must first recognize our own failings and sinful conditioning.   

Do you give credit and praise to God for His blessing of you? 1 Chronicles 25-29

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

David had desired to build the temple.    God said no!!   David didn't stop with the "no" and instead put together the plans, the material and the people to make it happen.  He realized that God still wanted him to be faithful.   But, all this was not because David was so great and wonderful ... although God tells us that his heart pursued God.    David recognized that any accomplishment he had accomplished was because of what he spoke in the above prayer.   God is to be blessed forever for every thing that we have for us or given to Him.   "Everything" in heaven and earth is His.    We don't give our tithes to Him because "we" are so gracious.  We give our tithes to Him because that 10% and the other 90% are all HIS.    Whatever we give Him or give to others for Him is because He has made our hearts gracious and has blessed us with something to give.    Let's not be so high and mighty about what we do for Him.   Let's, instead, be humble in spirit and recognize that our goodness is because He is good to us and has shed grace in our hearts.   Honor, riches, might, blessing and all benefits come from God.     

Could you live without any possessions? Numbers 17-20

Numbers 18:20

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.

Aaron, and hall the sons of Levi, were to be cared for by the sacrifices of the Tabernacle.   Each sacrifice and offering would be given to God as a holy offering and then it would be used to care for the physical needs of the priesthood.   Aaron and his sons and their son's sons would, forever, be cared for in this manner.  As a result, when they did reach the promise land they were not to have any plot of land.  They were not to have possessions as the other members of the nation.   God was to be their portion.  This picture of having God being the portion of the Levites is a good picture for those who are believers today.   We ought not to get attached to the world and to the possessions of this life.    God is our portion.  The things of this world are just temporary enticements that consume us and distract us from the One who is our portion:  Jesus Christ.   Aaron was the example for all believers to follow.  Service to the King is the highest calling and the "dirt" of this world is not to be possessed.