Our Elderly

Leviticus 19:32

“‘Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”

Our Elderly

               God seemed to be putting the elderly upon my heart this morning and as I looked and saw this scripture in Leviticus 19, it reminded me that how we treat our fellow man or woman, no matter their time or station in life, is how we treat the Lord.  It reminds me of Proverbs 19:17 where it says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD–and he will repay you!”  When we show respect, patience and honor to our elderly then we are honoring and revering God. 

               Sometimes as older children who have aging parents we can get very impatient, indignant and curt with older parents.  They no longer operate, function and process at our pace, so we quickly lose patience and feel we don’t have much use for them.  Now, we would never admit that, because that would sound horrible, but it may be what you are carrying in your heart.  They have become our burden rather than our joy.

               My middle son, when he was around five years old, made an astute observation.  He said, “I understand, you take care of us when we are young and we take care of you when you are old.”  What could be simpler and more profound than that?  We must remember when we were the children and the investment our parents made into us to raise, teach and help us become what we are today.  So many elderlies are more or less warehoused in nursing homes and senior facilities, rarely to be visited by relatives of friends.  They are the forgotten and the neglected.

               You know, most all of us are going to get to that age sometime in our lives and how will we want to be treated or remembered.  Even a person who doesn’t have a lot of abilities still needs love.  They need our kindness, our respect and our honor.  When we dishonor them, we dishonor the Father, for He is much older than they and He did create them in His image. 

               Sometime we grow to view as a chore, what should be considered an honor and privilege that we at a place in our lives that we can return the good, the love and the patience our folks showed us as we were growing up.  I believe what my young son said those many years ago is a basic principle of the kingdom,  I only hope he remembers that when I reach that stage in my life. Care-giving is a place of self-sacrifice and its greatest motivation needs to be the love of Christ operating through us, not guilt or obligation.  Remember Him, who is our strength in time of weakness, our provision in time of want, our riches when we are poor and His faithfulness to never leave us or forsake us.  Let this same mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus. 

Blessings,

#kent

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A Moving Story in the Life of John the Apostle

A Moving Story  in the Life of John the Apostle

NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine

Narrative Concerning John the Apostle.

Chapter XXII

I “Listen to a tale, which is not a mere tale, but a narrative749749 μῦθον οὐ μῦθον, ἀλλὰ ὄντα λόγον. Clement in these words asserts the truth of the story which he relates. We cannot regard it as very strongly corroborated, for no one else records it, and yet we can hardly doubt that Clement gives it in good faith. It may have been an invention of some early Christian, but it is so fully in accord with what we know of John’s character that there exists no reason for refusing to believe that at least a groundwork of truth underlies it, even though the story may have gained in the telling of it. It is certainly beautiful, and fully worthy of the “beloved disciple.” concerning John the apostle, which has been handed down and treasured up in memory. For when, after the tyrant’s death, he returned from the isle of Patmos to Ephesus, he went away upon their invitation to the neighboring territories of the Gentiles, to appoint bishops in some places, in other places to set in order whole churches, elsewhere to choose to the ministry some one.

7. When he had come to one of the cities not far away (the name of which is given by some),  According to Stroth the Chronicon Paschale gives Smyrna as the name of this city, and it has been suggested that Clement withholds the name in order to spare the reputation of Polycarp, who, according to tradition, was appointed bishop of that city by John.), and had consoled the brethren in other matters, he finally turned to the bishop that had been appointed, and seeing a youth of powerful physique, of pleasing appearance, and of ardent temperament, he said, ‘This one I commit to thee in all earnestness in the presence of the Church and with Christ as witness.’ And when the bishop had accepted the charge and had promised all, he repeated the same injunction with an appeal to the same witnesses, and then departed for Ephesus.9. But some youths of his own age, idle and dissolute, and accustomed to evil practices, corrupted him when he was thus prematurely freed from restraint. At first they enticed him by costly entertainments; then, when they went forth at night for robbery, they took him with them, and finally they demanded that he should unite with them in some greater crime. 10. He gradually became accustomed to such practices, and on account of the positiveness of his character,756756 Literally, “greatness of his nature” (μέγεθος φύσεως). leaving the right path, and taking the bit in his teeth like a hard-mouthed and powerful horse, he rushed the more violently down into the depths. 11. And finally despairing of salvation in God, he no longer meditated what was insignificant, but having committed some great crime, since he was now lost once for all, he expected to suffer a like fate with the rest. Taking them, therefore, and forming a band of robbers, he became a bold bandit-chief, the most violent, most bloody, most cruel of them all. 12. Time passed, and some necessity having arisen, they sent for John. But he, when he had set in order the other matters on account of which he had come, said, ‘Come, O bishop, restore us the deposit which both I and Christ committed to thee, the church, over which thou presidest, being witness.’ 13. But the bishop was at first confounded, thinking that he was falsely charged in regard to money which he had not received, and he could neither believe the accusation respecting what he had not, nor could he disbelieve John. But when he said, ‘I demand the young man and the soul of the brother,’ the old man, groaning deeply and at the same time bursting into tears, said, ‘He is dead.’ ‘How and what kind of death?’ ‘He is dead to God,’ he said; ‘for he turned wicked and abandoned, and at last a robber. And now, instead of the church, he haunts the mountain with a band like himself.’ 14. But the Apostle rent his clothes, and beating his head with great lamentation, he said, ‘A fine guard I left for a brother’s soul! But let a horse be brought me, and let some one show me the way.’ He rode away from the church just as he was, and coming to the place, he was taken prisoner by the robbers’ outpost. 15. He, however, neither fled nor made entreaty, but cried out, ‘For this did I come; lead me to your captain.’ 16. The latter, meanwhile, was waiting, armed as he was. But when he recognized John approaching, he turned in shame to flee. 17. But John, forgetting his age, pursued him with all his might, crying out, ‘Why, my son, dost thou flee from me, thine own father, unarmed, aged? Pity me, my son; fear not; thou hast still hope of life. I will give account to Christ for thee. If need be, I will willingly endure thy death as the Lord suffered death for us. For thee will I give up my life. Stand, believe; Christ hath sent me.’ 18. And he, when he heard, first stopped and looked down; then he threw away his arms, and then trembled and wept bitterly. And when the old man approached, he embraced him, making confession with lamentations as he was able, baptizing himself a second time with tears, and concealing only his right hand. 19. But John, pledging himself, and assuring him on oath that he would find forgiveness with the Saviour, besought him, fell upon his knees, kissed his right hand itself as if now purified by repentance, and led him back to the church. And making intercession for him with copious prayers, and struggling together with him in continual fastings, and subduing his mind by various utterances, he did not depart, as they say, until he had restored him to the church, furnishing a great example of true repentance and a great proof of regeneration, a trophy of a visible resurrection.”

Blessings,

#kent