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April 7 Daily Devotional

Is There Anything Left to Do?

Peter G. Feenstra

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. ... Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. Ps. 71:9, 18

Bible Reading

Psalm 71:17–24

Devotional

As people get older they often have difficulty finding their place in society and in the church. A younger generation moves on and has different interests and concerns. The author of Psalm 71, however, is not interested in sitting on the sidelines. He can give testimony of God’s grace in the declining years of his life. But the psalmist realizes how much he needs the Lord to guide and strengthen him through the last leg of his earthly journey. He prays, “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.” The psalmist understands that his task isn’t finished once he has retired. He is to teach the next generation what he has learned. He speaks in verse 18 of how he declares God’s strength and power to generations to come. Senior saints can give testimony of God’s grace to their children and to others within the communion of saints.

Although we may come to a point that we retire from the workforce we may never retire from being involved in the community of the church. Older people can encourage young parents and families. Grandparents and senior members of the church may be able to reach a struggling teenager when parents cannot. In a loving and gentle way they may be able to speak to young people of the struggles that come with Christian living and the great joy they can have when they take refuge in the Lord, their strong fortress. The elderly can help and encourage younger members to persevere when dragged down by trials.

Deteriorating health sometimes prevents the elderly from being as mobile as they used to be and it may confine them to their living quarters or even to a wheelchair. Yet there is still a task to be fulfilled in bringing prayers to the throne of God’s grace for a younger generation caught up in the pace of daily living. The response of faith from this senior psalmist is an example to all. Old age is a blessing for the righteous because of the task that is tied to it. Otherwise we’d be inclined to say “Who needs old age with all its aches, pains, hearing loss, bad eyesight, heart problems etc.?” Psalm 71 is the prayer of a senior but it has a message for all. Planning for old age makes many people think about financial security but here the psalmist shows that the most important investment for the future is spiritual. Blessed is the church whose senior members know their task and who seek their strength in the Lord.

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