January 10, 2022 – Monday
Psalm 71:18 NIV
18 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.
Comment.
A friend of mine, Pastor Jim Kilby, recently sent a letter to me and my wife with this verse at the top. The letter was about a ministry he began in 1998 call Harvest Youth Ministries. You can find out all kinds of details about it here. Needless to say, it is ministry focused on the youth that did not know Jesus or did not know Him very well.
In the letter he wrote, “I recently read an article with some statistics claiming adults accomplish the greatest feats in their lives in ages with nines in them … like, 29, 39, 49, etc. The author seemed to be suggesting people have a fear of marking another decade without accomplishing something in their ‘bucket list’.” Well Jim turned 60 in late December, and he does not have a bucket list. However, he read another article about the most productive years in man’s life tend to be the ones between 60 and 70. He liked that article and has a list of things he wants to accomplish in his 60’s. Primarily, like the Psalmist in our verse of the day, he wants to continue to reach another generation with the great news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Charles Spurgeon said about this Psalm, We have here THE PRAYER OF THE AGED BELIEVER, who in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies, and asks further blessings for himself.
That would certainly fit for me as I will be turning 74 in a few days unlike that kid, Jim Kilby who just turned 60.
So, what can an older person tell you about this verse? I can only tell you what this older person can tell you and that is I can see how God has been in my life throughout my lifetime. What I attributed to luck or good fortune in my younger years I can now see God’s hand in my life. My troubles have not grown smaller as the years have gone by, but my perspective on said troubles has certainly changed and the troubles have, for the most part, changed as well. My experiences, my life, has enabled me to see incredible truth in God’s word as well.
Even though I am now old and gray, I know God has not forsaken me. And through these verses of the day, Monday through Friday, in my own way I have been declaring the power of God to this and the next generation. And of His faithfulness, patience, and mercy through His Son Jesus who was yet to come when this Psalm was written. It is my hope and my prayer my children and/or grandchildren will someday gather these pages and share them with their own generation and perhaps those that follow. They will have over 2,000 pages to consider soon and if God gives me another eight years, then it will be 4,000 pages.
I do not plan to go into some corner and sit quietly in a rocking chair. I do not believe God has forsaken me, instead I believe He still has me on this earth for a purpose – His purpose. And I want to be active doing His purpose until I go onto the next life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Thank You for being kind enough to use me for your purposes from time to time and in such a way I know it is for You and Your glory – not mine. Thank You for all the blessings you send my way. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek