What kind of old person do you want to be? In this one-minute devotional, our friend and FGI writer Shawn Lazar walks through Psalm 92 and three marks of a life well lived. It was released by his church, Gateway United Baptist Church, as part of their Margin Notes series (#013).
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”
Psalm 92:12–15 (NIV)
“What do you want to be when you grow up? Now that I’m 48, I’m not thinking about the career I would like to have. I’m thinking about what kind of old man I want to be and what kind of legacy I want to leave behind.” From the psalm, Shawn draws three characteristics of a life well lived:
1. Be planted. These trees flourish because they are planted in the house of the Lord, in places of worship. But as Jesus taught, the Father is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. “To be planted in the house of the Lord is to be established in a posture of worship where all you do is for God.”
2. Keep bearing fruit. We sometimes think our greatest achievements happen in our younger years, but the psalmist says the righteous will still bear fruit in old age. “Don’t be satisfied with the fruit you bore yesterday. The Spirit can make you more fruitful now than you have ever been if you’re willing.” Ask God to keep you fresh and green, a blessing to those around you.
3. Keep proclaiming. After decades of trials and temptations in a fallen world, it’s easy to become discouraged and bitter. But the righteous speak about God’s goodness and faithfulness through it all. They testify to how He has been their rock, the foundation of their lives, and they tell the next generation how the Lord has been good.
“That’s the kind of old man I want to be: planted in worship, still bearing fruit, and joyfully telling the next generation to keep trusting the Lord, because He is our rock.”
Video by Shawn Lazar, courtesy of Gateway United Baptist Church. Subscribe to their channel for more Margin Notes.
Want more short, Scripture-centered encouragement like this? Free Grace International publishes Bible studies, podcasts and books to help you grow in grace.
