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Ladies Daily Devotional
4-11-08
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.
OBC LADIES 4-11-08 I Have not Seen the Righteous Forsaken
By Ruby Ramsey
"I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed." (Psalm 27:25-26)
Our modern society puts a lot of emphasis on youth and looking young. But God does not do this. He has a high regard for those of many years -- old people. Proverbs 16:31 -- "A sliver-haired head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness." And in Leviticus 19:32 we read, "You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the presence of an old man and fear your God; I am the Lord.” God connected honor and reverence with the aged. God puts emphasis on righteousness.
When I think of righteousness, I usually go back to Abraham who was a righteous man. He continued to walk close to God and obey Him. And God blessed Abraham with wealth. Abraham's faith was tested when God instructed him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. But Abraham did as God told him to do, and God spared his son (Genesis 22:1-19).
Another man I think about when I think of righteousness is Job. Job was "blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1). God allowed Satan to do all kinds of bad things to Job, but he still would not curse God and die as his wife suggested (Job 2:9). Even though God allowed everything to be taken from Job, and after the testing was done, God restored many things to Job.
The Psalmist wrote: "Do not cast me off in the time of my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails" (Psalm 71:9). God seems to answer this plea in Isaiah 46:4 -- "Even in your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs, I will carry you! I have made you, and I will bear you, even I will carry you and deliver you."
"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare the Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." (Psalm 92:13-15)
No matter what the age, if we are faithful and trusting of God, He provides for us. He will never forsake us. "Let your conduct be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'“ (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb; Even in our old age I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made you and I will bear; even I will carry you, and will deliver you." (Isaiah 46:3-4)
God expects us to be righteous, and if we are, He will bless us. Malachi 3:10 says: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it."
God promises to provide for our physical needs, but much more importantly, He provides for our spiritual needs. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly place in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Also in Ephesians 2:4-7 we read: "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
God is magnificent. He is "able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20). He created us to do His will and when we love Him and do all we can to please Him and obey Him, He is more than willing to give us all we need, both physically and spiritually. He will never leave us. He loves us!!!!!
Questions
1. Do you think older people are neglected in our modern times?
2. Do you have any contact with older people, i.e., do you have older parents you care for, older people in your congregation that you visit, or do you visit nursing homes?
3. Do you think older Christians have a deeper faith than younger ones?
4. Cite, if you can, a situation you know that God has blessed someone who is righteous?
5. "And my God shall __________ ________ __________ ________ according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus ((Philippians 4:19). Do you believe God will do this for you?
6. Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek ________ the kingdom of God and ___________ _____________________, and _______ these things shall be __________ ____ you." Again, I ask, do you think God will do this for you?
7. Psalm 71:18 -- "Now also when I am ______ and _______ _____, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare to this __________________Your______________to___________ who is to come."
8. Older parents used to be taken in by their children when they could no longer live alone. Why do you think this is not done so much today?
9. How can you be of service to older Christians?
10. Hebrews 6:11 -- "For God is not unjust to forget your ______ and _______of________ which you have shown toward His Name, in that you have __________ _________ ___________ ___________ and do minister." Do you think God will bless you in you minister to older Christians you know?
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All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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If you have questions or comments etc..., please feel free to contact: Billie Duty ladiesdevo@hotmail.com or Sandy Ditoro sjditoro@hotmail.com sjditoro@gmail.com .