April 7 ~ Luke 4:5
For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, "They're yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they're yours, the whole works."
Luke 4:8 - Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Do you know someone who has a job or a hobby that consumes them? Do you know someone who lives and breathes a sport like football, basketball, baseball, or racing cars? Do you know someone who is so caught up in chatting on the internet with friends or playing an interactive video game that they give it every spare minute, and then some? Do you know someone who loves to shop and spends countless hours and days at the malls and stores just looking at the items for sale – or worse yet, spending money like it was water for things they really don’t need or even truly want? Do you know someone who is "addicted" to watching television and can't miss "their shows?"
Do you know someone who is obsessed with food and is constantly thinking about where and what to eat - or watching food shows on TV, or cooking? Do you know someone who is consumed with fitness and spends an exorbitant amount of time at the gym, working out, running or cycling, or training for races? Do you know someone who is focused totally on another person – a spouse, a boyfriend or girlfriend, a child or grandchild, a best friend – to the extent that they spend all of their time and energy on this person? Do you know someone who is a workaholic – spending weekdays, nights, and weekends on their job or work-related projects?
All of these things and more are harmless activities in moderation. But many become single-hearted for their particular interest. And most of the time, Jesus gets pushed to the curb. IF there is any extra time, a Sunday service might be squeezed in to the schedule. IF there is a lull in the activity of interest – or more likely, a crisis – the Bible might be opened and a few minutes will be spent in prayer. IF somebody happens to ask about Jesus and our faith, we will take a little time to briefly tell them how important He is to us.
But is He really so important? Is Jesus really the single focus of our heart? Are we spending time with Him and making him first in our lives? Or are we worshiping the “kingdoms of the earth,” as the devil describes them? None of the things I have mentioned are bad in and of themselves – and in controlled doses. But they must be balanced with a steady diet of God’s Word, worship, prayer, and time spent in service for Christ. So where is your heart? Are you single-hearted – for the wrong things? Or are you putting Christ first and keeping other interests in their place? Don’t make anything or anyone else your god. Worship the One True God and serve Him single-heartedly!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 6 ~ Luke 1:36
"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Imagine for a moment that you are a young woman, engaged to be married, and the whole town knows you and your family – and the family of the man you plan to marry. News travels fast in your little town, and like a lot of small towns, gossip is something of a pastime. You have done everything right. You have saved yourself for marriage. Your husband-to-be has respected your purity and not pressured you to compromise it. And then… you find out you are pregnant! More importantly, an ANGEL appears to you and clearly tells you that this child is from God, and that your infertile cousin is pregnant, too, because God allowed it.
What would you do? By all rights, your marriage will probably never happen, because your husband-to-be and his family will be so disgraced. How could this happen? How could God choose YOU, of all people… and what do you do now? If you are not left alone to raise this baby by yourself, you will most surely be run out of town in disgrace.
I find it amazing that Mary graciously accepted this news from the angel… and all that it meant. I find it particularly incredible when you consider that this “woman” was probably around 13 years of age… and yet she possessed a maturity far beyond her years. I find it completely astounding that this young girl in that particular time and place chose to believe that, truly, NOTHING is impossible with God. In essence, she told the angel… “it’s cool, I’m in” and she ran with this concept of immaculate conception.
Now I ask you… if a 13-year-old girl could accept that nothing is impossible with God some 2040+ years ago, why can’t we believe that today? We are so quick to throw up our hands and say, “I just can’t do it, Lord. That’s just too big for me or too much to handle.” C’mon now… is it really? Where is OUR faith? NOTHING is impossible with God. Will you let it be with you as God says? Will you roll up your sleeves and say, “It's cool, I'm in and ready to serve?”
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 5 ~ Luke 1:1
So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
While this passage speaks to the question of the authenticity of Scripture, the words I want to focus on are “eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives.” Even today, people across the world are “serving the Word [of God] with their very lives.” Hopefully, for you and me, this will never be our challenge. But, on a smaller scale, we are often challenged to “serve the Word” with sacrifices.
When I was in high school, I was a majorette in the band. I was only a freshman, and most of the other girls on the majorette line were at least two years older. In order to raise money for band camp, we held several work days and a car wash. Our sponsor, a very nice man, thought it would be great for business if we advertised that we were “washing cars in bikinis.” My mother forbid me to wear a bikini even in our house, so wearing one to the car wash was totally not an option. And certainly today, this would not be considered politically correct, but in 1972, a lot of things were different. Anyway, I wore a bathing suit to comply with being part of the group, but my mother told me to keep my shorts and t-shirt on over it. I did, but my fellow team members were not happy with me at all. They laughed and ridiculed me for a long, long time over that. They also took me to task for not wearing a team uniform our mothers had made – “hip-hugger” shorts and a cropped top. Why my mother even made the outfit for me and then forbid me to wear it, I don’t know, but it never left my dresser drawer! In these and other “rules” of the house, my mother felt she was serving the Word and teaching me to walk in the ways of the Lord. All I knew was that I was not popular at all and was labeled several things, including a “goodie-two-shoes” and a “Jesus freak.”
For some of you, serving the Word will mean giving up your girlfriend or boyfriend. For some it may mean going against the wishes of your spouse. For others it may mean going against the wishes of your parents. It very well may cost you some “friends” and acquaintances. You may be called names and isolated by your peers. You may be ignored and/or avoided at work because you don’t participate in office gossip or dirty jokes or foul language. Did it hurt to be ridiculed by my team mates and classmates because of my faith? Sure! But it didn’t ruin my life. Would it be tough to say to your wife or husband, your boyfriend or girlfriend, or your parents… “In such-and-such instance, I can choose to serve God, or I can choose to follow you, and I’m choosing God.”? Of course! Maybe your parents want to do things together as a family on Sunday and you want to go to church, and you take a stand to go to church, even if it means missing the family outing.
Maybe your girlfriend wants you to lie to your parents and tell them you’re staying at a friend’s house, when you are actually spending the night at her house while her parents are away, and you have to tell her that you will NOT lie! Maybe your husband is involved in illegal gambling, and he wants you to look the other way, and you confront him and tell him if he doesn’t stop, you will have to leave. Maybe your teenage daughter wants to dress in clothes that are too revealing and send the wrong message, or your young son wants to get a big tattoo across his back, and you have to tell her or him that they must comply with your wishes if they are going to live under your roof. The list is endless, but you get the idea. Serving the Word ain’t for sissies! But, it is so worth any “trouble” we may feel we are called to endure. Are you ready? Are you up to the challenge? Will you dare to serve the Word?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 4 ~ Mark 15:40
There were women watching from a distance, among them Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome. When Jesus was in Galilee, these women followed and served him, and had come up with him to Jerusalem.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You may not know this, but some churches do not believe that women are called to ministry. Hello! Have they read this passage? Well, they may say… it means women can serve, but only in roles traditionally suited to women. Believe it or not, some churches – and yours may be one – do not allow women to teach men in a Sunday School… or at least they have members who do not agree with this practice. Other churches do not allow women to be deacons or to serve in leadership capacities.
Jesus did not die on the cross for men only! Yes, women followed Jesus and “served” Him, but I believe Jesus would be the first to tell you His ministry would not have been the same without women and their service. I have heard it suggested that some of these women and other people financed Jesus’ ministry. Certainly there were those who fed and housed Jesus as He traveled from village to village, and some of those may have been women.
The point I want to make today is that God calls EVERYONE – men AND women – to serve Him. God calls men AND women to teach Sunday Schools, lead choirs, work with youth, children and adults, cook meals, minister to the sick and dying, and yes – preach! God does not see gender – He sees servants. Let’s not get bogged down in this and miss the bigger picture. And let’s not use it as a crutch- or excuse - not to serve when called. God is calling ALL of us to follow Him and serve Him, and scripture proves it!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 3 ~ Mark 2:25
Jesus said, "… Haven't you ever read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, with the Chief Priest Abiathar right there watching—holy bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat—and handed it out to his companions?" Then Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren't made to serve the Sabbath. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He's in charge!"
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Suppose someone told you that from now on, purple was considered a holy color and only pastors and those in the church the pastor designated could wear purple on Sunday. You were not to ever wear purple on Sunday again unless the pastor said it was okay. How would you feel? Wouldn’t you want to have a fit and wear purple anyway? Or suppose the church adopted a rule that you couldn’t enter the sanctuary wearing your shoes. I know… it sounds absurd, doesn’t it?
Putting bread on the altar that only priests could eat was absurd, too, along with the rule that healing of the sick couldn’t happen on the Sabbath. Thankfully, Jesus showed us that we can keep the Sabbath holy without bending to such silly rituals and rules. In fact, rituals are just that – routines and traditions that are quite often the creation of men rather than God.
What is my point? We serve GOD, not rituals. We don’t serve a sanctuary, a certain kind of communion bread and wine (or grape juice), or a set schedule of how to worship on Sundays. The Easter Sunrise Service at a local park is just as holy as the 11:00 worship service at your church sanctuary. God is present at both. He can bless you and give you His word in each place… and on other days besides Sunday. So don’t get bogged down in the rituals and old laws of worship and miss the point. Focus on Jesus and serving Him, and remember that HE is in charge!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 2 ~ Matthew 20:24
So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
One night as our Praise Band rehearsed, a “sound man” adjusted our settings in the sound booth. Different band members kept telling him that my voice was too loud in their ear pieces. At one point, our leader told him that it seemed that my voice was just a little louder than everyone else’s, and he said, “Yes, because she is the leader, right?” He had assumed that I was the lead singer, possibly because I play the piano and it is often the lead instrument. But we all quickly explained to him that we have no lead singer… we are there to facilitate the congregational singing, but none of us should be any louder than the other.
Our goal as a Praise and Worship band is to serve – to be the catalyst for others to worship. The important thing is not our music or the prayers, or even the sermon! The important thing is drawing the Holy Spirit into the worship and helping others to feel His presence.
It is very hard for me to fully grasp Jesus serving ME, but that is exactly what He did with his death on the cross. If I want to be like Jesus, I have to humble my heart and serve others. Being a member of the Praise Band is an honor – and a responsibility. The platform is not our “stage” and we are not “superstars for Jesus.” We are humble servants sharing His love with others and encouraging them to draw near to Jesus for themselves. So how are YOU serving? Or are you? Check your attitude today and see if there are areas where the power is going to your head. Then make whatever adjustments are necessary to become a humble servant of Christ and experience His greatness and blessings for yourself.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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April 1 ~ Matthew 4:10
Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
“There is no such thing as Satan,” someone told me once. Apparently this person had not read Matthew 4:10, because Satan was – and IS – very real. Furthermore, if he would go so far as to try to tempt Jesus Christ, what makes us think for one minute he won’t try to tempt us?
I have been told more than once that Satan absolutely hates to hear the Word of God. When Satan tempts us, one of the best things we can do is recite a scripture passage we have memorized. Quickly we show Satan Whom we serve and remind him that he holds no power over us!
So memorize a few scriptures that you can apply to situations in your life, and when Satan strikes, give him a Scriptural “beat it!”
©2008 Debbie Robus
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