Get Sweeter As You Get Older

"And let the Spirit's gift of joy color all your life. As you mature remain a happy person in Christ. Get even sweeter as you get older. Sour old people are a pain." These words captured my attention as I read the letter that the late Ray Ortlund wrote to his family. I recommend you read this short and simple letter from a godly husband and father. It was very kind of his family to share it.

Like I said, this statement popped out at me. We have all probably seen what he is talking about when he says that sour old people are a pain. We all have seen and have probably experienced the effects of pride and bitterness as it saps the life - the joy - right out of us. We forget, at least I forget, that mature God loving people are filled with an abundant joy. This joy ought to result in a sweet spirit.

If I have indeed tasted the goodness of the Lord through His great gospel, how can that goodness, that savory grace not have a joyful affect on my life? Is that obvious in my speech and demeanor?

Oh how I should rejoice in my Lord Who gave Himself for me.

Ephesians 2:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

²in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

³Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

⁵even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

⁶and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

⁷so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

⁹not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Amen, Hallelujah!

May I never forget the grace granted me and may I grow sweeter as I grow older in the Lord; may I never turn sour!