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Strength
At 73 years of age, John Wesley (1703-1791) wrote the following in his journal:
“I am far abler to preach than at 23. Ten thousand cares trouble me no more than ten thousand hairs upon my head. I feel grief, but fret nothing.”
This is quite a testimony for one who spent most of his days in rigorous travel, denying himself the comforts of life so that he could preach the gospel and minister to believers.It made me think of Caleb, who, after the wilderness journey, said, “I am this day fourscore and five years old. 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” (Joshua 14:10-11). This doesn’t mean that if we follow the Lord we won’t get old and feeble and have burdens and cares. But it does mean that there is an inner spiritual strength and satisfaction that comes only from the Lord. Many older Christians do not feel this, because they wasted their youth and did not live for the Lord when they were younger. Let’s covet and strive for the commendation given to Caleb at age 85:
“He wholly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:14).
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