INTRODUCTION

Unfortunately, some Christians have become convinced that old age serves as a sufficient excuse for a lack of service to the Lord’s work. Granted, the field of one’s service may change, but there should always remain a willingness to serve. For instance, Moses received his initial call to deliver Israel at forty years old (Acts 7:23And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
See All...) but did not lead God’s people out of Egypt until he was eighty (Exodus 7:7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
See All...). When he died at 120 years of age, he remarked that “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (Deuteronomy 34:7And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
See All...). At forty years of age, Caleb received a promise from Moses concerning the possession of land in Canaan (Joshua 14:7-9 [7] Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. [8] Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. [9] And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
See All...). Forty-five years later, Caleb took possession by driving out the mighty Anakims (Joshua 14:10-12 [10] And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. [11] As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. [12] Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
See All...). Caleb did something in his old age that many of the young men could not or would not attempt (Joshua 17:13Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Zacharias and Elisabeth served God even into their old age (Luke 1:5-7 [5] There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. [7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
  See All...). In fact, while Zacharias was serving in the temple, an angel of the Lord made a great announcement to him (Luke 1:8-13 [8] And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, [9] According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. [11] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
  See All...). This elderly couple raised their son to serve God (Luke 1:80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
  See All...), resulting in the Lord speaking well of John (Luke 7:28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
  See All...a).
• (For everyone): Even as older men, Paul (Philemon 9) and John (3 John 1) continued to write epistles encouraging God’s people. You will never pen an inspired epistle, but what are some things you might be able to do even when you are older?
• How might history be different if Moses, because of his age, had refused to lead Israel out of Egypt? How might history be different if Paul and John, as they grew older, refused to write as God led them?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a desire to serve Him regardless of your age.
• Ask God to give you strength each day to do His will.

HYMN

I WANT THAT MOUNTAIN

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