Andy McIlvainPrayerful Patience and Life Long Discipleship
The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
In my early old age of 65 I have reached a pinnacle of sorts as I walk with Christ. God has shown me suffering in my life in ways that have refined me and humbled me. I can look back with some understanding and gratitude.
My story I know now moves with God's story. I can come along in sin kicking and screaming or I can seek to be obedient.
My fear of God is finally getting the point God knows all of my thoughts and my sins, I cannot hide from him. Our sin nature asks us to do this.
Living out Discipleship requires a long view. We are living into eternity right now. Our Lord asks us to present the Gospel but realize that we may never see the results (at least not in this lifetime). We must therefore be careful in our presentation and not just give knowledge or relations alone but we must share both our lives and our witness.
God is not asking you to be a scholar or a theologian but just be yourself.
I have come to appreciate patience as it comes from my Lord. In the years of aging He gives you patience as you mature in faith.
One of the things Christ would ask us to do is continue to pray for and disciple the young people around us in any way you can. Your grandchildren are in desperate need of discipleship as we live in a very evil age. Don't forget them.
It is through prayerful patience that I wait on the Lord and praise his wonderous works!