The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 17 July 2018 "Still Serving Others" by Everard Blackman (Queensland, Australia) Joshua 14:6-13

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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 17 July 2018 "Still Serving Others" by Everard Blackman (Queensland, Australia) Joshua 14:6-13 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 (NIV))
A rose bush grows in a small memorial garden just outside our dining room window. The buds and early blossoms are a vivid yellow. Then as the rose opens into full bloom, the petals become a gentle pink. Finally the color of the rose changes again — this time to a pure white.
As I marvel at this wonder of nature, I am aware of the parallel with my own life. When I was young and vigorous, I poured my energies into active ministry. Then in middle age, my vigor was directed into richer but more subdued expressions. Now I approach my closing years and am marked by white hair and fading energy.
Just as my rose radiates fragrance and beauty right up until its petals fall, so, too, does my life. In my eighty-second year, my physical drive and energy are limited. But God can still use my life to bless others through my prayers for those facing serious issues; my words of encouragement, guidance, and support; my gifts of craftwork. Yes, I still have many ways in which I can bless others and serve God.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Lord, enable us by your grace to love and serve one another. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Joshua 14:6 The descendants of Y’hudah approached Y’hoshua in Gilgal, and Kalev the son of Y’funeh the K’nizi said to him, “You know what Adonai told Moshe the man of God about me and you in Kadesh-Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moshe the servant of Adonaisent me from Kadesh-Barnea to reconnoiter the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. 8 My brothers who went up with me discouraged the people, but I followed Adonai my God completely. 9 On that day Moshe swore, ‘Surely the land where your foot has been will be the inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have followed Adonai my God completely.’ 10 Now, look: Adonai has kept me alive these forty-five years, as he said he would, from the time Adonai said this to Moshe, when Isra’el was going through the desert. Today I am eighty-five years old, 11 but I am as strong today as on the day Moshe sent me — I’m as strong now as I was then, whether for war or simply for going here and there. 12 Therefore, give me this hill, the one Adonai spoke about on that day; for on that day you heard how the ‘Anakim were there with great, fortified cities; perhaps Adonai will be with me, and I will drive them away, as Adonai said.”
13 Y’hoshua blessed him and gave Hevron to Kalev the son of Y’funeh as his inheritance. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: No matter my age, God can use my life to bless others.
PRAYER FOCUS: To find meaning in each stage of life
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JULY 17, 2018 BY EVERARD BLACKMAN (QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: STILL SERVING OTHERS
Looking back over eighty-five years, an amazing panorama appears.
My childhood impressions of life during the Great Depression abruptly changed to fear, turmoil, and social disruption during World War II. These powerful memories are superseded by the vast changes that followed. Transport changed from small aeroplanes to supersonic jets and large passenger jets — the world is only hours away, instead of days or even weeks. Motor cars have developed ever-increasing comfort and luxury, even to the point of self-driving vehicles. In medicine, new medications and techniques in surgery produce results which would have seemed miraculous just a few short years ago. Communication services have transformed from taking six to seven days to deliver a letter to taking a few seconds with the push of a button. Television programs now feature instant pictures of events right across the wide world. Using technology, man was even able to walk on the moon.
Yes, it has been an interesting, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes frightening span of years. Sadly, I note also that the eternal values Jesus asked of his followers seem to be less and less honoured. Self-interest and material values seem to have pushed spiritual values way into the background. Surely this is the time for Christians to affirm the vital importance of compassion, integrity, tolerance, justice, and truth as the foundation of a fair and free society. Jesus, in his practice of unconditional love, set the benchmarks for us.
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