Brenda's Burbles (from: The Messenger 2/16/12)

     The theme of the devotions I read for the current week is "I Do Choose" and is written by Richard B. Wilke, who is retired but still an "active Christian". (Disciple Bible Study participants may remember him as the author of that study.)

     1 Corinthians 9:24-27 was the epistle scripture reading and in that portion the Apostle Paul exhorts us to run the race in such a way as to win it and to keep your eyes upon the goal which is Jesus, the risen Christ. I am not a runner and never will be. Even though I'm not a runner, I am a walker and walkers keep their eyes on the goal, too. (I served with an elder who was a marathon runner and observing his training schedule just made me tired!)

     Wilke says that he is now retired - "but not from being a Christian. Folks my age visit the shut-ins, deliver meals-on-wheels, invite neighbors to church, lead Disciple Bible studies. One lady, in her nursing home bed, reads the scriptures and prays for others on a daily basis. She is till running the race." We are all still running the race - we all can read scripture on a daily basis - we all can pray for others - although some of us are retired, none of us are retired Christians.

     As Paul urges, keep your eyes on the risen Christ - and keep running.

See you in church
Brenda

» Foundational Documents of The United Methodist Faith (UMC.org)

» Beliefs (UMC.org)

» Life Stages (UMC.org)

» A Theology of Discipleship (UMC.org)