Do you know that God has given you a calling that lasts your entire life?
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:17-18
Faithful God,
Secular studies attest to something we as your followers already know:
a sense of purpose and meaning is essential
to healthy living as we age.
And yet, our culture often gives us mixed messages
about our lives as older people—
“you’re entitled to a break,”
“sit back and let the younger ones serve you—you earned it,”
or “your efforts are no longer needed here.”
If we listen to these messages,
it’s easy for us to feel either puffed up and proud
or downcast and depressed.
What we need, as Pastor Joe Novenson urges us in his new book,*
is to listen to you—our Heavenly Father,
calling us to “declare your power to the next generation.”
We need to hear you calling us to serve the younger generation
by strengthening their faith, hope, and love,
as Asaph commands us in Psalm 78 (See Psalm 78:1-8).
We need to hear you calling us to do as David did,
as Novenson tells us—“to shepherd the frightened who fret.”
There is more, Lord,
so much more for us in Scripture,
but let us end with this—
we need to hear you calling us
to be living, loving,
breathing, praying
messengers of good news
to the next generation.
And we confess,
we cannot do this in our strength,
so by your Spirit,
work this fruit in us!
In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen.
Read Psalm 71; Psalm 78; Psalm 37.
Join us for a free webinar tonight (Thursday, June 18, 6:30 Central time), with Pastor Joe Novenson.
If seeing this on social media, search the Numbering Your Days Network, where the event will be held.
He will be sharing thoughts from his new book, The Unfinished Calling: God’s Mission Entrusted to Maturing Disciples of Christ.
