July 31 ~ Psalm 119:41-48
41-48 Let your love, GOD, shape my life
with salvation, exactly as you promised;
Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery
because I trusted your Word.
Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever—
your commandments are what I depend on.
Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me,
guard it now, guard it ever;
And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
Then I'll tell the world what I find,
speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.
I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—
relishing every fragment of your counsel.
(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.)
I am ashamed to admit this, but as a teenager and young adult, I was not bold about professing my faith. It was something I sort of mumbled and muttered under my breath. Why would I do this? Because I will tell you, I was ridiculed and labeled a “holy roller” and “Jesus freak” and the worst of all – “prude” – by my peers, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to be “Miss Goody Two Shoes.” I didn’t want to be teacher’s pet – in public school OR Sunday School. I wanted to fit in with others, so I didn’t stand up for my faith.
I can proudly say that today I see so many more teenagers and young adults who DO openly express their faith and how God has blessed their lives, and I am so grateful. And I am pedaling hard and fast to make up for lost time by doing all I can now to share with as many others as I can how God has blessed me. I still believe I could do more, but I feel I grow more bold every day.
And when you think about it, why WOULDN’T we be bold in proclaiming our love and loyalty to Someone Who has done EVERYTHING for us? There is plenty of God’s love to go around, so why would we hoard it for ourselves? I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and more than that, I want everyone I meet to get in on their portion of it!
My husband and I have been watching DVDs of an old mini-series, ROOTS, which traces the story of one family from the birth of Kunta Kinte in Africa through his capture as a slave and delivery to America, where he was sold to a plantation owner, to the birth and life of several generations of descendents. Kunta Kinte wanted so desperately to be free and tried more than once to escape, and ultimately, the master cut off his foot to stop his efforts. Three generations and two plantations later, the Civil War ended slavery, and Kunta Kinte’s descendents were free. But they didn’t know what to do with their freedom. They had no means of support away from the plantation, and the plantation owner found a loophole to keep them indebted to him and working the fields.
I am thankful that my freedom in Christ means something, and I am not trapped in a loophole of being free in Christ but timid about sharing His message with others – for whatever reason(s). That is not true freedom and amounts to walking around with your Spiritual "foot" removed. Now I am mature enough to realize that it is a privilege and an honor to be ridiculed in God’s name. I can stand up to mockery and pressure. I am leaning on the arms of Jesus, and His love is more than enough to sustain me – the freedom of a life in Him is all I could ask for and then some. I am trying hard to let go and let God’s love shape every corner of my life these days and be truly free in Him. Who is shaping yours – has Jesus set YOU free?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 30 ~ Psalm 68:5
Father of orphans, champion of widows, is God in his holy house. God makes homes for the homeless, leads prisoners to freedom, but leaves rebels to rot in hell.
(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.)
Unless you have lived in a vacuum, you have seen at least one television show or movie about someone who stood before a judge in a court of law and was sentenced to jail. Sometimes, we learned later that the person who went to jail was truly innocent. But… he/she had no choice in the matter once all legal avenues were exhausted. The sentence was issued, and the time was served.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have a choice? Isn’t it amazing to realize we can choose whether to be a prisoner of sin and Satan – and ultimately hell – or we can choose LIFE in CHRIST and freedom – and eternity in Heaven.
The choice truly IS ours… and we still have a chance to make it. But there WILL come a day when the opportunity to choose will be removed… then it will be too late, and God will toss those who did not choose him into hell for all eternity. Now, given the two options, why on earth would you waste another day trapped in a prison of sin and destined for an eternity in hell? When you can choose the freedom of a life filled with God’s Holy Spirit, ear-marked for an eternity in Heaven with Him, isn’t the real choice pretty clear? God is in His holy house – are you with Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 29 ~ Psalm 34:22
God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.
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.
I admit...I am hopelessly hooked on HGTV. I also watch a lot of Food Network and TLC. Okay, so I also watch Project Runway and Shear Genius! I need a 12-step program, I think! My take is that it is better than much of what is on network television, and I haven’t watched a soap opera in years now, so that is a plus. But I do enjoy the “drama” of some of the competition, like Shear Genius and Design Star. While each of the contestants is talented and creative, there will ultimately be only one winner at the end of the series of challenges. Someone will lose, and in the words of Heidi Klum on Project Runway when someone is elminated, “You’re out. Auf Wiedersehen!”
I am so grateful that God pays for my freedom – that in the Spiritual version of Design Star, we are each and every one a star – a winner! No one who participates in God’s challenges loses. He recognizes each of us as a wonderful, talented, creative being who belongs to Him, and He will choose each of us – if only we choose Him first.
So keep your picture on God’s wall. Choose him, be the best you can be in every task He gives you, and go Home to Heaven some day a true winner for all eternity.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 28 ~ 1 Timothy 2:4-7
4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us - Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
(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.)
As I read this passage, I was suddenly struck by the thought that you and I should be praying for Oprah Winfrey and others like her. “Why?” you might ask. There are several reasons, but here’s my take… for every person who follows the up and coming evangelists who are proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are probably two or three people who watch Oprah every day and hang on her every idea and opinion. If we could convince HER to proclaim the sovereignty of God, imagine the impact!
If we could get Miley Cyrus to sing contemporary Christian music at her concerts, we would win countless young girls (and probably some young boys) to the Kingdom of heaven. If celebrity endorsements were not so effective, major corporations would not clamor for them. So why couldn’t these same celebrities be effective in an endorsement of the Gospel?
Yes, as Paul writes in Timothy, the Good News will get out – and it IS happening. And developments in technologies such as the Internet and satellite transmissions have greatly aided efforts to reach unbelievers around the world. But we can do so much more. And a grassroots endorsement from YOU can make a difference in your own community. You don’t know who may be influenced by YOUR opinion, so why not take a chance and share about what God has done for you with those you encounter? Why not serve others in the name of Jesus in your community and watch the ripple effect of that witness. Why not take advantage of e-mail correspondence with family and friends across the country (or even the globe!) to mention how God is working in your life? Think outside the box! Be the creative person God has formed and work on ways to share simple faith and plain truth of God’s power, His grace, His mercy, with as many as you can.
In the words of John Wesley, let’s “do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can!” And let’s pray that celebrities like Oprah, Miley, and others will find Jesus Christ for themselves, if they haven’t already, and carry out Wesley’s challenge, as well.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 27 ~ 2 Peter 2:17
There's nothing to these people—they're dried-up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they're dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption—and they are—they're enslaved.
(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.)
This passage refers to false teachers or prophets – they are still among us. Probably the kind you might encounter are those who tell you that “God understands” when you sin, and it’s okay. You’ve been “saved” so you are “safe” – you won’t go to hell for your actions. OR… they tell you that “God told me this or that,” so it’s okay, as in the child molester who tells a child “God told me it was okay for us to do this,” or the husband who abuses his wife because he feels it is “God’s will” that he literally rule his household with his fists.
Then there are those in the entertainment industry who sing and act and perform about a myriad of sins, and then thank God at the Oscars/Grammys/Emmys or do an album of Christmas hymns for the season or go on some entertainment television show or talk show and discuss how God has blessed them and they are so grateful. Are they really? Or is it just “good business” to credit God when convenient?
Talk show hosts like Oprah Winfrey want us to take an online class to find ourselves – and the “god” that is within each of us. She’s got a secret – and the “secret” is that you can be your own god – you can heal yourself! Years ago, I was intrigued by the teachings of Oprah’s friend, Marian Williamson. She is a self-proclaimed “minister” and she has written several books, some of which are based on another book called A Course in Miracles. I have read most of her books, and she makes just enough “good” points to draw you in and keep you reading, but her biggest point is that YOU can become your own healer (mentally and physically). Her philosophy is very much akin to Oprah’s “you can be your own god” ideas. And I am here to tell you, there is only ONE GOD and HE is our Great Healer!
Do not be fooled. Do not get swept up in other belief systems and false prophets. If you are not thoroughly grounded in daily Bible reading and study, don’t even open these types of “self-help” books to try and become informed and enlightened to their “take” on things. You will find yourself trapped in a world of confusion and misinformation. God has set you free! Focus on HIM and HIM ALONE! And ask God to keep you on track – and to give you wisdom to recognize false teaching when you encounter it.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 26 ~ 1 Peter 2:13
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
(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.)
I still remember the first time “my candidate” for President of the United States did not get elected to office. I was devastated. How would the country survive the Presidency of the other guy? After all, he was, in my opinion, the lesser candidate… if not downright inept. What would become of us? It’s not like I could move to a foreign country to live… nor would I want to do that! So, I had to learn to live within the confines of our democratic process – and the election of someone for whom I had not voted.
This has happened to me more than once in the years since, and each time, while I have “gone down kicking and screaming” so to speak, I have survived. I have to admit I have griped and grumbled along the way sometimes, but I would never be rude or disrespectful. I do not forward unkind e-mails, and I certainly do not send anything to anyone without thoroughly checking the facts first. I am appalled at intelligent, highly respected Christians who are sending out erroneous information about our current candidates. I am disgusted, frankly, with their accusations, their lack of concern for checking for facts, and their use of their “position” as a respected Christian servant to motivate others to subscribe to their beliefs.
We clearly see here that this is not Biblical. This is not sound behavior. This is not loving your neighbor as yourself or treating others with dignity. This is not respecting your government – or the democratic process our forefathers fought so hard to design – and countless men and women have fought to preserve.
I encourage you to “take the high road” this election year and in all elections to come. Double-check your facts before sharing any information. Pay attention, be informed and educated about the candidates, and prayerfully consider your choice. Promise yourself – and God – that you will not engage in spewing venom or being disrespectful or undignified toward anyone, including politicians. If you love God and keep His commandments, you must keep this one just as the others. Remember this passage and make the Master proud.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 25 ~ Colossians 1:13-14
13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
(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.)
On October 14, 1987, a two-year-old girl named Jessica McClure fell into an abandoned well in a back yard in Midland, Texas. It took rescue workers 58 hours to remove the baby from pipe, which had a diameter of 8 inches. She had fallen to a depth of 22 feet. A new technology, called “water cutting” was used to drill through rock and create another shaft alongside the well shaft itself and make an opening for pulling her to safety. Fresh air was pumped to the baby, along with a tube filled with warm air to prevent hypothermia. Through the miracle of cable television, the whole world watched, waited and prayed for this tiny child. The first estimates were that she would be free in a matter of hours, but as the time dragged on, everyone came to know “Baby Jessica” and every detail of the rescue, and this child truly became “Everybody’s Baby.” The well was covered with a welded metal cap, so that no one else would ever again fall into that hole.
As wonderful and miraculous as this story is, it pales in comparison to God’s rescue of us from the pit of our sins. He orchestrated every detail – planned for each step. He nurtured us with “air” and “warmth” and answered prayers. The news media may not be alerted – the world may not be watching on TV (although remember, people ARE watching!) – so it’s up to US to report the biggest rescue story ever! We may not be “Everybody’s Baby,” but we are GOD’s baby – HE has rescued us from the pit of sin, and set us truly free forever. The “well” has been welded shut – covered in the blood of Jesus, and you can never fall into its depths again. You are FREE! Tell EVERYONE the GREAT NEWS!!! And thank God for His wondrous grace and mercy.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 24 ~ Ephesians 3:11-13
11-13 All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go. So don't let my present trouble on your behalf get you down. Be proud!
(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.)
The Apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote this letter to the Ephesians, and yet he talks of the freedom of serving Christ Jesus, which is what got him thrown in jail! Now, hopefully we won’t be thrown in jail for proclaiming our faith in Jesus. But sometimes, we trap ourselves in fear – of what others will think or say… of losing our friends, mates, boyfriends/girlfriends… maybe even fear of losing our jobs.
But Paul is telling us that GOD is in charge. He will make a way for you. If you are bold in your faith and proudly claim Jesus as your Savior. If you stand up for Christian morals and refuse to lie for your boss and lose your job, God will help you get another – maybe a BETTER one. If you refuse to party with your friends or be around them when they are drinking or doing drugs, and they ditch you, God will give you new Christian friendships. If your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend leaves you because you insist on going to church on Sundays and spending time in Bible study and prayer when they feel you should spend that time doing something with them, God will help you deal with the loneliness.
Can I tell you something? Scary as it seemed at the time, I have yet to surrender anything in my life to God that He didn’t handle for me and even give me something better in its place! NEVER! So whatever is holding you back today… whatever is keeping you trapped and anything less than completely free in Jesus Christ… let it go. Boldly profess your faith in God and your love and loyalty to Him. Then hang on to your hat… the ride is going to be amazing!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 23 ~ Ephesians 1:7-10
7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
(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.)
In John Grisham’s The Broker, the main character is a broker who made some illegal deals and ended up in prison. Suddenly he finds himself pardoned by the President, whose term has almost ended. The broker is free to leave prison… BUT, he is whisked away by operatives of the CIA to a foreign country, given a new name, and coached to live as an Italian by the name of Marco. He is told not to make friends – that others are watching, and it could be a matter of life or death. He is told to stick pretty much to himself and to leave as small a “footprint” or trail as possible.
Does this sound like freedom to you? It doesn’t to me! I am so glad that when I surrendered my life to Christ, ALL of my sins were forgiven… all of my past was scattered “as far as the East is from the West.” I have a new life in Christ, but I don’t have to look over my shoulder, I don’t have to change my name and learn a new language. I don’t have “time” I have to do to pay off the rest of my debt. I am FREE – 100% totally in the clear – Jesus Christ “did my time” with His very blood on the cross.
When you think about it, how can we not be grateful? How can we not want to spend every possible minute loving and serving a Master who would do this for us? He bought and paid for our abundant freedom… God planned everything to the last little detail so that we could have this life. What can we do to show our gratitude?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 22 ~ Galatians 5:19
It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
(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.)
Go back and read the list of results in this passage that come from living a life of selfishness and always wanting your own way. Then think of people you know who have some of these issues. Paranoid loneliness – that’s So-and-so. A brutal temper – yep, that’s You-Know-Who! Uncontrolled and uncontrollable additions – that describes What’s-His-Name perfectly!
Now, think about that person in terms of Christian living. Does he/she have a solid relationship with God? Is his/her prayer life consistent? Does he/she spend much time – if any – in Bible study? Does this person ever come to church or hang out with fellow Christians? Do you see a pattern here?
When I hear someone say they can’t seem to get a handle on something – be it a personal relationship, direction in their life and/or career, or their finances, my first thought is, how are they doing Spiritually? Because you see, I believe that keeping God first – working on our relationship with Him and how to serve HIM well – is the key to solving any other issues we have. Surrendering our “self” to God results in more freedom than we could ever hope for or even imagine! Don’t waste another minute of your life being trapped in the prison that results from living life on your own terms. Complete surrender to God truly IS the first step to real and lasting freedom, so get started today. You’ll be so glad you did!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Freedom - Week 3
July 21 ~ Galatians 5:13
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
(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.)
We all know that the natural progression of life ends in death. And as we age, more and more friends and acquaintances in our “circle” die. Sadly, I have learned of the death of folks I have known all my life, and my first question – if only to myself – is, “were they a Christian?” You see, it’s not that the person was not a nice person or lived a life that was outwardly sinful in nature. But sometimes there was nothing about the person’s life that outwardly indicated they were serving others in Jesus’ name.
Sure, you can’t get to heaven on good works and deeds. BUT… if you live your life in a way that doesn’t give others any hint of your faith – or worse yet, you claim to be a Christian and follow Jesus, but your lifestyle indicates anything BUT a Godly existence – you are abusing the freedom of a life in Christ Jesus.Truly, the life of a Christian is a “higher calling.” “But wait!” you may be saying – “Higher calling? I never signed on to become a preacher!” No, that is not what I mean… the “higher calling” to which I refer is that of a life that is above reproach. That means our goal is no longer how hearty we can party, or how much we can win at Tunica, or even how many people like us and want to include us in their social circle. Our goal is now to reach as many people for Jesus as possible… to love others, even when they are hard to love… to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever and whenever we can – in ways great and small.
“But that will take time – and I’m tapped out already!” you may be saying. Sure, it will take time… anything worthwhile does. But can I tell you something? A few weeks ago, I spent an hour at a local nursing home, playing hymns for a friend of mine who is a resident there, as well as other residents who came to listen to the music. I had promised this friend a concert as a birthday present… for her 100th birthday! I have to tell you, the nursing home is NOT my favorite place. I would really rather do just about anything than spend an hour there. But you know what happened? I saw those residents come out of their funk and their fog and light up with smiles as they hummed along to the tunes of those hymns. They might have not had a clue where they were or who I was, but when they heard the hymns, they remembered the choruses and the tunes, and for a few minutes they were young again – and happy! It truly was one of the best hours I’ve spent in a long, long time… and I promised I would return – and I will.
How does playing hymns at a nursing home for people who won’t remember serve Jesus? I am loving those who, for many, have become unlovely. I am giving to grandmothers and grandfathers and aunts and uncles who are special to someone – especially Jesus. That could be you or me someday. Wouldn’t you want someone to come along and jar you back into the past for a few minutes and sing a hymn with you? They are trapped in a nursing home, but for a few minutes, they could have been anywhere on earth as they hummed and sang.So, how can you use your freedom in Christ this week to share Him – and the freedom He offers – with others? How can you serve? Who can you love who seems unlovely? Where can you rearrange your priorities to give up old ways that trap you and truly experience freedom in Christ Jesus? The freedom He offers IS precious – how will you grow yours?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 20 ~ Galatians 5:2
I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law.
(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.)
Have you ever been to a theme park or a concert where the workers stamped your hand at the entrance? If you left the venue, the only way to get in again was to show this hand stamp. Don’t have a stamp? You stay out!
Thankfully, there is no “hand-stamp” or magic ritual or any other physical requirement to enter the Kingdom of God. ALL you have to do is invite Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life and to forgive you of yours sins. Baptism won’t “save” you. Participating in the Lord’s Supper won’t get you into heaven. Even going to church in and of itself will not get you into heaven or make you a Christian. In Old Testament days, the men had to be circumcised to indicate loyalty and adherence to Jewish law… and to God. Sins were paid for with burnt offerings and the sacrifices of animals. Thankfully that all went out the window when Jesus came to earth and died on the cross!
Recently we watched a travelogue DVD – “Michael Palin’s New Europe” – in which Palin traveled across Europe from Slovenia to Croatia to the Ukraine, and ultimately through Latvia and what was East Berlin. In one of the villages along the route, Palin watched as men carried a beautiful little white lamb up a mountainous trek to a “minister” who slit the lamb’s throat as a sacrifice that was supposed to bring blessings on the family of the lamb’s owners. Palin cringed, as did we, as the blood flowed out on to the brick pavement, and he said, “I’ve seen this before, and I never get used to it.” I’ve said before, I would never have made a good Old Testament times person! And thankfully, such sacrifices – while practiced still by some religions – are a thing of the past for Christians. We are free… and no ritual or sacrificial lamb or burnt offering – no hand stamp or physical mark… is required to get into Heaven. All that is required is our faith and surrender to Jesus. WOW! Freedom in Jesus IS a gift - in every sense of the word!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 19 ~ Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
(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.)
When I was in the fourth or fifth grade, my friend Louann invited me to come home with her one Friday and spend the night. I so wanted to go. Louann lived “out in the country,” where her family had a “farm.” My mother knew Louann had ponies, and she admonished me NOT to ride one. However, Louann convinced me they were very gentle then laughed when the ”gentle” one she chose for me bucked me to the ground. Mistake #1!!
Louann had a brother who must have been about 15. She and I were both probably 10. Louann also had a cousin who was about the same age as her brother who was visiting for the weekend. These two boys were mean. They got some baling twine from the barn and tied our hands and feet. (Have I told you I am claustrophobic and cannot STAND to be restrained?!) Then they held us to the ground – at knife-point! Okay, so it was their pocket knife, I think – or maybe a hunting knife – but I was scared to DEATH! Louann also found this situation all rather funny and silly, and knowing these boys much better, she was not bothered in the least by this, which frustrated me to no end. I don’t know if I ever stayed at her house again. It didn’t totally ruin the weekend for me, but I still remember it, some forty years later, and I vowed that I would NEVER be placed in that situation again.
In life, we are so often tied and threatened, so to speak. We are restrained by our sinful nature and how attractive Satan makes sin, and even as believers we are restrained by our lack of faith and our ineffectiveness as followers of Christ and witnesses. It’s time to take a stand! Christ HAS freed us, with His own blood. So why in the world are we still tied and lying under Satan’s knife-point? Why are we still “baby Christians” who don’t understand the richness of a life filled with Bible study, prayer, fellowship with others, and opportunities to witness? Why are we still disobeying and trying to do things our way?
What is holding YOU back today? Figure it out. Ask God to show you how to get out of the “baling twine” and away from the “knife” and NEVER, NEVER, EVER go back to that existence again!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 18 ~ Galatians 3:23
Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.
(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.)
Have you ever had a savings bond? If so, you probably put it somewhere to keep it safe for a few years until it matured to its full value. You might even have locked it away at a bank in a safe deposit box! As the years pass, the bond increased in value. You paid $XX.00 for it, but when it fully matured, it was worth more. If you cashed it early, you would not get the full value. When the day arrived that the bond had matured to full value, you were free to cash it for that amount and spend the money however you pleased.
In Old Testament days, God gave Moses laws for us to follow, because He knew His children were not mature enough in their faith to live a life that served Him and pleased Him without them. They needed guidance – a plan – to make sure they lived as they should. Then Jesus came and died for our sins, and the old laws, while still important, underwent a facelift. No longer do we have to sacrifice burnt offerings to God for our sins. No longer do we have to take our petitions for God to a high priest who enters the Holy of Holies and talks to God for us – we talk to Him directly through our prayers. As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we no longer have to wonder IF He will fulfill His promises… we have faith that the question is now WHEN He will come again.
See, like a savings bond, God bound our ancestors with the laws He gave to Moses, for safekeeping. Now that He has sent Jesus, we are free to worship by faith, and as we mature in our faith, we experience more and more of the freedom of God’s grace and mercy – more and more of the blessings He has for us. We also experience more opportunities to serve Him and share our faith with others. We can "cash in" immediately on God's grace and mercy through Jesus. But there is an "added value” to our Spiritual savings bond. In a way, you could say the value of that bond has increased. There are more opportunities, more blessings, and the promise we will REALLY “cash in” someday in Heaven! Now that's a deal we can't afford to miss!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 17 ~ 2 Corinthians 11:16
Let me come back to where I started—and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little. I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ. Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days. Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along. You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff.
(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.)
When I was teaching kindergarten, I had to place a little girl in “time-out” one day for 10 minutes. Her mother came to school and complained that “Ten minutes is absolutely too long to expect a 5-year-old to sit still!” Really? Then why can she sit for over an hour and watch a cartoon show or a movie on video or DVD? And why can we sit still for all sorts of trivial activities and information that we allow to invade our thoughts and lives. We sit through long movies and concerts. We hang out with friends at bars and casinos for hours on end. We waste hours playing video games on the computer – or just “surfing the ‘net.”
And yet… when it comes to God, we don’t have time. Suddenly we have bad knees that don’t allow us to kneel and a terrible cough that would disrupt the congregation, or we were up too late and can’t get ready that early, or we would rather sleep in on Sunday and then have coffee and read the newspaper. Or that is our “family day,” and there is no way we can get to church and have lunch on the table – or our family would never understand if we skipped meeting them for brunch (or golf or whatever) to go to church.
And then there is the service. The music is too loud (or too contemporary, or the hymns too old and un-meaningful). The pastor’s preaching style is not one we enjoy. We want more talk and less scripture – or we want more scripture and less talk. The people are unfriendly. There is no parking close to the sanctuary. The excuses are endless. And the Apostle Paul says they are all garbage!
As we say in the South, “that dog won’t hunt!” If we can give all manner of time to things that are not of God, we can give an ear and an hour to Him on Sunday. We can find time to make it to the annual church picnic or take a youth group to a Christian concert. We can find time to read our Bible and pray. We can watch a movie with a wholesome message or read a book that has a Spiritual theme. We can take time to visit the sick and comfort those in need. We will make time for almost anything we want to do… when what we really need to do is make time for JESUS! So what does that tell you about our priorities? Isn't it time we all give our time management a makeover?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 16 ~ 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
(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.)
Many of you are too young to remember an old TV game show called “Let’s Make a Deal.” On this show, the host – Monty Hall - often made a “deal” with someone from the audience that involved choosing what was behind a curtain on the stage. Hall would say to the crowd… I’ll pay $50 to the first person who can show me an extra pair of pantyhose (or some other weird item) in their purse or pocket! And sure enough, somebody would have the weird item. That person would then get to go on and “deal” for bigger and better prizes. Sometimes, they might win something like a refrigerator or a pop-up camper, and Hall would say, “You can keep what you have, or you can trade it for what is behind curtain #1.” The participant would squirm and frown and think and finally make a choice. Sometimes the person sat down with what he/she had won already. Usually they chose the prize behind the curtain – and sometimes it was not as nice, but sometimes it was really big, like a new car or a boat, or a nice trip somewhere. And the contestant’s face lit up at the sight of the shiny bright object, and the crowd roared, and everyone jumped up and down and was so excited!
Many people have an image in their minds of how God looks. To non-Christians, he is a rather nebulous figure – the God behind Curtain #1 – and they think of Him in terms of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, “the man upstairs,” or this all-encompassing Being one turns to in a crunch or crisis. This narrow vision of God is really rather confining. The person is not free to truly experience Him and all that He offers us because of this barrier.
When we give our hearts to God and accept Jesus as our Savior – when we choose to trade in our old, sinful life for what is behind Curtain #1, so to speak – all is revealed. We no longer have to imagine God – we experience Him. “Really?” you might ask! “How do we experience God?” When we open our hearts and minds to God and surrender, His Spirit fills us, and like the bright shiny prizes behind the curtain on the TV show, we bask in the glow of God’s warmth – His grace and mercy. We no longer have to figure everything out on our own or with the help of outside influences – we can go to the Source – through prayer, Bible study, AND fellowship with fellow believers. We don’t have to wander in the darkness behind the barrier, because God has removed it, and His Holy Spirit is our constant companion.
For so many of us, the decision is just as difficult as it was for those zany contestants on the TV game show. Do we want the relative “safety” of the confinement to our present situation and sinful nature? Or do we want to “go for it” – to “let go and let God” and gain the biggest Prize of our lives? Unlike the game show, there are no “duds” behind the curtain… there is the amazing “prize” of God and the freedom of living in and for Him. So what are you waiting for? Which will you choose?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 15 ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you—you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory. At the same time, don't be callous in your exercise of freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who aren't as free as you are. I try my best to be considerate of everyone's feelings in all these matters; I hope you will be, too.
(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.)
Have you ever watched children who are playing tag, and the person who is being chased eludes the person who is “it” and makes it to a safe place… a “free” zone. Quite often, the child who escaped being caught will taunt the other, as in “Ha, ha! You can’t catch me!” Seems harmless, doesn’t it? Taunting is often harmless in a child’s game of tag… but the same thing done by one athlete to another in a football or basketball game can be serious – so serious that it is now considered a major offense and dealt with accordingly in these sports.
We Christians are often guilty of taunting. It starts out innocently enough. We are so excited and enthused by our faith and our “freedom” in being a child of God and serving Him. But remember that the other guy may not be as far along in his/her Spiritual journey – or he/she may not be a Christian at all. The person you are trying to reach may practice another “religion” besides Christianity, and telling this person that he/she is going to hell may not be the way to convince them to “switch sides.” In fact, it really IS a sort of “taunting” that may serve to turn them against Christianity for good and cause you to lose your opportunity to witness.
Think of it this way… suppose someone who was practicing another religious belief condemned YOU to hell and told you that YOUR faith in Jesus was wrong? You’d be mad as a hornet, wouldn’t you?! Suppose your friend mocked “Holy Communion” and baptism as “pagan rituals”. You would not be happy with that person at all. Now, think about us as Christians. Don’t we do that? Don’t we criticize other “religious practices,” roll our eyes and cluck our tongues?
I am not saying that I believe in the Koran, meditation altars and incense, the Book of Mormon, witchcraft, or any other religious practice or teaching. I am a Christian, and I believe there is ONE WAY to Heaven – and that is by accepting Jesus Christ, Who bought and paid for our sins on the cross with His very blood. I want EVERYONE else to believe this, too… not because I am right, but because a life in Christ is EVERYTHING to me and so glorious and freeing that I want everyone else to share in it. I also want others to become a Christian because this is what God has commanded as our goal.
BUT… Paul is telling us that God has clearly mandated us to win others to His Kingdom with love and kindness – not taunting, callousness and criticism. Hurting someone’s feelings “in the name of Jesus” is not scriptural – and here’s the proof in 1 Corinthians! Some like to argue that this amounts to “sugarcoating the truth of the Gospel,” but honestly, embarrassment and humiliation is not going to change a person’s mind, and it might just rob us of a chance to do so in a loving manner. SO… when your friends start to discuss their interest or involvement in Buddhism, Cabala, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Judaism, Mormonism, Native American Spiritualism, Scientology, Unitarian-Universalism, Witchcraft, or any other religious belief system that is different from yours, don’t openly condemn these beliefs. Rather, share the wonders and glories of the “all-you-can-eat-buffet” that is the freedom of living as a Christian, because of Jesus. Show them how amazing living for Jesus can be – by your own example – and give them a model they want so desperately for themselves that they HAVE to choose God’s glory. Don’t operate in guilt, fear and shame… share God’s grace and mercy, and see how much more you accomplish for His Kingdom!
©2008 Debbie Robus
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
(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.)
We all know that the natural progression of life ends in death. And as we age, more and more friends and acquaintances in our “circle” die. Sadly, I have learned of the death of folks I have known all my life, and my first question – if only to myself – is, “were they a Christian?” You see, it’s not that the person was not a nice person or lived a life that was outwardly sinful in nature. But sometimes there was nothing about the person’s life that outwardly indicated they were serving others in Jesus’ name.
Sure, you can’t get to heaven on good works and deeds. BUT… if you live your life in a way that doesn’t give others any hint of your faith – or worse yet, you claim to be a Christian and follow Jesus, but your lifestyle indicates anything BUT a Godly existence – you are abusing the freedom of a life in Christ Jesus.Truly, the life of a Christian is a “higher calling.” “But wait!” you may be saying – “Higher calling? I never signed on to become a preacher!” No, that is not what I mean… the “higher calling” to which I refer is that of a life that is above reproach. That means our goal is no longer how hearty we can party, or how much we can win at Tunica, or even how many people like us and want to include us in their social circle. Our goal is now to reach as many people for Jesus as possible… to love others, even when they are hard to love… to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever and whenever we can – in ways great and small.
“But that will take time – and I’m tapped out already!” you may be saying. Sure, it will take time… anything worthwhile does. But can I tell you something? A few weeks ago, I spent an hour at a local nursing home, playing hymns for a friend of mine who is a resident there, as well as other residents who came to listen to the music. I had promised this friend a concert as a birthday present… for her 100th birthday! I have to tell you, the nursing home is NOT my favorite place. I would really rather do just about anything than spend an hour there. But you know what happened? I saw those residents come out of their funk and their fog and light up with smiles as they hummed along to the tunes of those hymns. They might have not had a clue where they were or who I was, but when they heard the hymns, they remembered the choruses and the tunes, and for a few minutes they were young again – and happy! It truly was one of the best hours I’ve spent in a long, long time… and I promised I would return – and I will.
How does playing hymns at a nursing home for people who won’t remember serve Jesus? I am loving those who, for many, have become unlovely. I am giving to grandmothers and grandfathers and aunts and uncles who are special to someone – especially Jesus. That could be you or me someday. Wouldn’t you want someone to come along and jar you back into the past for a few minutes and sing a hymn with you? They are trapped in a nursing home, but for a few minutes, they could have been anywhere on earth as they hummed and sang.So, how can you use your freedom in Christ this week to share Him – and the freedom He offers – with others? How can you serve? Who can you love who seems unlovely? Where can you rearrange your priorities to give up old ways that trap you and truly experience freedom in Christ Jesus? The freedom He offers IS precious – how will you grow yours?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 20 ~ Galatians 5:2
I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law.
(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.)
Have you ever been to a theme park or a concert where the workers stamped your hand at the entrance? If you left the venue, the only way to get in again was to show this hand stamp. Don’t have a stamp? You stay out!
Thankfully, there is no “hand-stamp” or magic ritual or any other physical requirement to enter the Kingdom of God. ALL you have to do is invite Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life and to forgive you of yours sins. Baptism won’t “save” you. Participating in the Lord’s Supper won’t get you into heaven. Even going to church in and of itself will not get you into heaven or make you a Christian. In Old Testament days, the men had to be circumcised to indicate loyalty and adherence to Jewish law… and to God. Sins were paid for with burnt offerings and the sacrifices of animals. Thankfully that all went out the window when Jesus came to earth and died on the cross!
Recently we watched a travelogue DVD – “Michael Palin’s New Europe” – in which Palin traveled across Europe from Slovenia to Croatia to the Ukraine, and ultimately through Latvia and what was East Berlin. In one of the villages along the route, Palin watched as men carried a beautiful little white lamb up a mountainous trek to a “minister” who slit the lamb’s throat as a sacrifice that was supposed to bring blessings on the family of the lamb’s owners. Palin cringed, as did we, as the blood flowed out on to the brick pavement, and he said, “I’ve seen this before, and I never get used to it.” I’ve said before, I would never have made a good Old Testament times person! And thankfully, such sacrifices – while practiced still by some religions – are a thing of the past for Christians. We are free… and no ritual or sacrificial lamb or burnt offering – no hand stamp or physical mark… is required to get into Heaven. All that is required is our faith and surrender to Jesus. WOW! Freedom in Jesus IS a gift - in every sense of the word!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 19 ~ Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
(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.)
When I was in the fourth or fifth grade, my friend Louann invited me to come home with her one Friday and spend the night. I so wanted to go. Louann lived “out in the country,” where her family had a “farm.” My mother knew Louann had ponies, and she admonished me NOT to ride one. However, Louann convinced me they were very gentle then laughed when the ”gentle” one she chose for me bucked me to the ground. Mistake #1!!
Louann had a brother who must have been about 15. She and I were both probably 10. Louann also had a cousin who was about the same age as her brother who was visiting for the weekend. These two boys were mean. They got some baling twine from the barn and tied our hands and feet. (Have I told you I am claustrophobic and cannot STAND to be restrained?!) Then they held us to the ground – at knife-point! Okay, so it was their pocket knife, I think – or maybe a hunting knife – but I was scared to DEATH! Louann also found this situation all rather funny and silly, and knowing these boys much better, she was not bothered in the least by this, which frustrated me to no end. I don’t know if I ever stayed at her house again. It didn’t totally ruin the weekend for me, but I still remember it, some forty years later, and I vowed that I would NEVER be placed in that situation again.
In life, we are so often tied and threatened, so to speak. We are restrained by our sinful nature and how attractive Satan makes sin, and even as believers we are restrained by our lack of faith and our ineffectiveness as followers of Christ and witnesses. It’s time to take a stand! Christ HAS freed us, with His own blood. So why in the world are we still tied and lying under Satan’s knife-point? Why are we still “baby Christians” who don’t understand the richness of a life filled with Bible study, prayer, fellowship with others, and opportunities to witness? Why are we still disobeying and trying to do things our way?
What is holding YOU back today? Figure it out. Ask God to show you how to get out of the “baling twine” and away from the “knife” and NEVER, NEVER, EVER go back to that existence again!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 18 ~ Galatians 3:23
Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.
(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.)
Have you ever had a savings bond? If so, you probably put it somewhere to keep it safe for a few years until it matured to its full value. You might even have locked it away at a bank in a safe deposit box! As the years pass, the bond increased in value. You paid $XX.00 for it, but when it fully matured, it was worth more. If you cashed it early, you would not get the full value. When the day arrived that the bond had matured to full value, you were free to cash it for that amount and spend the money however you pleased.
In Old Testament days, God gave Moses laws for us to follow, because He knew His children were not mature enough in their faith to live a life that served Him and pleased Him without them. They needed guidance – a plan – to make sure they lived as they should. Then Jesus came and died for our sins, and the old laws, while still important, underwent a facelift. No longer do we have to sacrifice burnt offerings to God for our sins. No longer do we have to take our petitions for God to a high priest who enters the Holy of Holies and talks to God for us – we talk to Him directly through our prayers. As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we no longer have to wonder IF He will fulfill His promises… we have faith that the question is now WHEN He will come again.
See, like a savings bond, God bound our ancestors with the laws He gave to Moses, for safekeeping. Now that He has sent Jesus, we are free to worship by faith, and as we mature in our faith, we experience more and more of the freedom of God’s grace and mercy – more and more of the blessings He has for us. We also experience more opportunities to serve Him and share our faith with others. We can "cash in" immediately on God's grace and mercy through Jesus. But there is an "added value” to our Spiritual savings bond. In a way, you could say the value of that bond has increased. There are more opportunities, more blessings, and the promise we will REALLY “cash in” someday in Heaven! Now that's a deal we can't afford to miss!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 17 ~ 2 Corinthians 11:16
Let me come back to where I started—and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little. I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ. Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days. Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along. You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff.
(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.)
When I was teaching kindergarten, I had to place a little girl in “time-out” one day for 10 minutes. Her mother came to school and complained that “Ten minutes is absolutely too long to expect a 5-year-old to sit still!” Really? Then why can she sit for over an hour and watch a cartoon show or a movie on video or DVD? And why can we sit still for all sorts of trivial activities and information that we allow to invade our thoughts and lives. We sit through long movies and concerts. We hang out with friends at bars and casinos for hours on end. We waste hours playing video games on the computer – or just “surfing the ‘net.”
And yet… when it comes to God, we don’t have time. Suddenly we have bad knees that don’t allow us to kneel and a terrible cough that would disrupt the congregation, or we were up too late and can’t get ready that early, or we would rather sleep in on Sunday and then have coffee and read the newspaper. Or that is our “family day,” and there is no way we can get to church and have lunch on the table – or our family would never understand if we skipped meeting them for brunch (or golf or whatever) to go to church.
And then there is the service. The music is too loud (or too contemporary, or the hymns too old and un-meaningful). The pastor’s preaching style is not one we enjoy. We want more talk and less scripture – or we want more scripture and less talk. The people are unfriendly. There is no parking close to the sanctuary. The excuses are endless. And the Apostle Paul says they are all garbage!
As we say in the South, “that dog won’t hunt!” If we can give all manner of time to things that are not of God, we can give an ear and an hour to Him on Sunday. We can find time to make it to the annual church picnic or take a youth group to a Christian concert. We can find time to read our Bible and pray. We can watch a movie with a wholesome message or read a book that has a Spiritual theme. We can take time to visit the sick and comfort those in need. We will make time for almost anything we want to do… when what we really need to do is make time for JESUS! So what does that tell you about our priorities? Isn't it time we all give our time management a makeover?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 16 ~ 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
(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.)
Many of you are too young to remember an old TV game show called “Let’s Make a Deal.” On this show, the host – Monty Hall - often made a “deal” with someone from the audience that involved choosing what was behind a curtain on the stage. Hall would say to the crowd… I’ll pay $50 to the first person who can show me an extra pair of pantyhose (or some other weird item) in their purse or pocket! And sure enough, somebody would have the weird item. That person would then get to go on and “deal” for bigger and better prizes. Sometimes, they might win something like a refrigerator or a pop-up camper, and Hall would say, “You can keep what you have, or you can trade it for what is behind curtain #1.” The participant would squirm and frown and think and finally make a choice. Sometimes the person sat down with what he/she had won already. Usually they chose the prize behind the curtain – and sometimes it was not as nice, but sometimes it was really big, like a new car or a boat, or a nice trip somewhere. And the contestant’s face lit up at the sight of the shiny bright object, and the crowd roared, and everyone jumped up and down and was so excited!
Many people have an image in their minds of how God looks. To non-Christians, he is a rather nebulous figure – the God behind Curtain #1 – and they think of Him in terms of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, “the man upstairs,” or this all-encompassing Being one turns to in a crunch or crisis. This narrow vision of God is really rather confining. The person is not free to truly experience Him and all that He offers us because of this barrier.
When we give our hearts to God and accept Jesus as our Savior – when we choose to trade in our old, sinful life for what is behind Curtain #1, so to speak – all is revealed. We no longer have to imagine God – we experience Him. “Really?” you might ask! “How do we experience God?” When we open our hearts and minds to God and surrender, His Spirit fills us, and like the bright shiny prizes behind the curtain on the TV show, we bask in the glow of God’s warmth – His grace and mercy. We no longer have to figure everything out on our own or with the help of outside influences – we can go to the Source – through prayer, Bible study, AND fellowship with fellow believers. We don’t have to wander in the darkness behind the barrier, because God has removed it, and His Holy Spirit is our constant companion.
For so many of us, the decision is just as difficult as it was for those zany contestants on the TV game show. Do we want the relative “safety” of the confinement to our present situation and sinful nature? Or do we want to “go for it” – to “let go and let God” and gain the biggest Prize of our lives? Unlike the game show, there are no “duds” behind the curtain… there is the amazing “prize” of God and the freedom of living in and for Him. So what are you waiting for? Which will you choose?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 15 ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you—you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory. At the same time, don't be callous in your exercise of freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who aren't as free as you are. I try my best to be considerate of everyone's feelings in all these matters; I hope you will be, too.
(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.)
Have you ever watched children who are playing tag, and the person who is being chased eludes the person who is “it” and makes it to a safe place… a “free” zone. Quite often, the child who escaped being caught will taunt the other, as in “Ha, ha! You can’t catch me!” Seems harmless, doesn’t it? Taunting is often harmless in a child’s game of tag… but the same thing done by one athlete to another in a football or basketball game can be serious – so serious that it is now considered a major offense and dealt with accordingly in these sports.
We Christians are often guilty of taunting. It starts out innocently enough. We are so excited and enthused by our faith and our “freedom” in being a child of God and serving Him. But remember that the other guy may not be as far along in his/her Spiritual journey – or he/she may not be a Christian at all. The person you are trying to reach may practice another “religion” besides Christianity, and telling this person that he/she is going to hell may not be the way to convince them to “switch sides.” In fact, it really IS a sort of “taunting” that may serve to turn them against Christianity for good and cause you to lose your opportunity to witness.
Think of it this way… suppose someone who was practicing another religious belief condemned YOU to hell and told you that YOUR faith in Jesus was wrong? You’d be mad as a hornet, wouldn’t you?! Suppose your friend mocked “Holy Communion” and baptism as “pagan rituals”. You would not be happy with that person at all. Now, think about us as Christians. Don’t we do that? Don’t we criticize other “religious practices,” roll our eyes and cluck our tongues?
I am not saying that I believe in the Koran, meditation altars and incense, the Book of Mormon, witchcraft, or any other religious practice or teaching. I am a Christian, and I believe there is ONE WAY to Heaven – and that is by accepting Jesus Christ, Who bought and paid for our sins on the cross with His very blood. I want EVERYONE else to believe this, too… not because I am right, but because a life in Christ is EVERYTHING to me and so glorious and freeing that I want everyone else to share in it. I also want others to become a Christian because this is what God has commanded as our goal.
BUT… Paul is telling us that God has clearly mandated us to win others to His Kingdom with love and kindness – not taunting, callousness and criticism. Hurting someone’s feelings “in the name of Jesus” is not scriptural – and here’s the proof in 1 Corinthians! Some like to argue that this amounts to “sugarcoating the truth of the Gospel,” but honestly, embarrassment and humiliation is not going to change a person’s mind, and it might just rob us of a chance to do so in a loving manner. SO… when your friends start to discuss their interest or involvement in Buddhism, Cabala, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Judaism, Mormonism, Native American Spiritualism, Scientology, Unitarian-Universalism, Witchcraft, or any other religious belief system that is different from yours, don’t openly condemn these beliefs. Rather, share the wonders and glories of the “all-you-can-eat-buffet” that is the freedom of living as a Christian, because of Jesus. Show them how amazing living for Jesus can be – by your own example – and give them a model they want so desperately for themselves that they HAVE to choose God’s glory. Don’t operate in guilt, fear and shame… share God’s grace and mercy, and see how much more you accomplish for His Kingdom!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Freedom - Week 2
July 14 ~ 1 Corinthians 8:10
For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
(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.)
This is where “the rubber meets the road” so to speak, in the life of Christians. There are so many things in our culture that are “not all that bad,” but for some, particularly non-believers or those not grounded in their faith, they can be a slippery slope. Take some of the latest movies… they have a demonic theme or condone immorality in some manner – or the language is just exorbitantly profane. Now, for those of us who are grounded in our faith, maybe we can watch these things and sift through the garbage and be entertained without being sucked into the underlying messages. Or can we? You know, all it takes is just the tiniest crack in the window for the devil to enter. I’m reminded of the view out my window toward the valley below. Sometimes, when the summertime clouds are just right, there is a bright “V” of light off in the distance, where a small triangle of trees and the landscape are illuminated, while the rest of the valley lies in shadows. In practically the blink of an eye, that landscape can change and everything can be shaded.
That’s how it is with us. We “think” we can watch movies with a demonic or “dark” theme and not be affected. We think we can listen to bands that have an unGodly message and profanity and not catch ourselves repeating the lyrics. We think we can hang out with people who are engaged in illegal and/or immoral behavior, and because we don’t participate directly, we’re okay. But Paul reminds us that there is danger for us to become confused, or complacent, and soon we are right in there with the others, doing the very thing we didn’t want to do!
So we must be really smart and alert. We must guard against getting into situations where there is even a chance of temptation. For Christians, the phrase “Don’t go there!” is HUGE! Where are you “going” these days that you need to leave behind?
©2008 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
July 13 ~ 1 Corinthians 8:8
But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
(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.)
When our nephew was small, he came to visit his grandparents, and my mother-in-law served corn on the cob. She didn’t have any of those little skewers that you put in the ends to hold the cob while eating, and my nephew cried. Not understanding what was wrong, this then 4-year-old tried to explain that “that’s now how my mommy does it!” My mother-in-law improvised with toothpicks, and shortly thereafter, we got her some “official” corn-cob-shaped “handles” for her next serving! Did these skewers make the corn edible? Not really, although they were helpful in giving a 4-year-old a “handle” for his corn cob. But in the scheme of things, did this matter? No. And as with many things in our life that seem important to US, they are not on the radar screen for furthering God’s kingdom.
BUT… hanging out with your friends and drinking too much, or doing drugs… driving under the influence… even overeating and laying around like the ultimate “couch potato” and becoming overweight and unhealthy… any of these things that abuses your body displeases God. Why? You are to be an example to others of how to live the fullest, best life in Christ Jesus. When you abuse your body… when you live a life that is unhealthy – and sometimes illegal or immoral – you are not showing others how to live their best life for God. And remember, people ARE watching!
So while God may not care if you have a Snickers bar or an extra piece of pie once in awhile, He does care if you live in a way that disrespects your body – AND His gift of it! God doesn’t care if you eat your meals on a paper plate or the finest china. He doesn’t care whether you have skewers or toothpicks for your corn on the cob. He doesn’t care if you dye your hair or bleach your teeth. But He DOES care how you treat your body in general, and He does want you to respect yourself and shine as an example to others. He wants you to show them how to treat God’s creations like the temples He meant them to be. So, how are you doing? What shape are YOU in these days, and how is your example to others?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 12 ~ 1 Corinthians 7:20
Stay where you were when God called your name. Were you a slave? Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing. I don't mean you're stuck and can't leave. If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it. I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of. On the other hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful "enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of.
(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.)
I was reminded of a scene from an old movie – Shenandoah – about a widower (Jimmy Stewart) and his family who live in Shenandoah, Virginia. This movie is set in the Civil War era, and the man’s young son - “Boy” - finds a Confederate cap while fishing one day, and he starts wearing it. When Union soldiers show up at the farm and see the boy in the cap, they refuse to believe he isn’t truly a Confederate Rebel, and they take him prisoner. They tell a slave on the farm – Gabriel – that he is now free. Gabriel doesn’t understand that term. He asks the widower’s daughter, Jennie, what it means to be free. She tells Gabriel this means he can go wherever he wants. Ultimately, Gabriel joins the Union Army, and ironically, he encounters “Boy” and saves him – the slave “frees” the young boy!
Where am I going with this? This slave didn’t know anything else, and he was probably treated pretty well in Shenandoah. So, when someone said, “You’re free,” he didn’t know what to do with that! He wasn’t even sure he wanted to be free, but he had to try… to go wherever he wanted, as Jennie encouraged him. And we may be pretty comfortable in our sin-filled life. Things may seem to be going our way, and it may be scary to think of giving all of that away to be “free” in Christ. And yes, it may even seem that giving your heart to God means becoming His “slave” and giving up your freedom.
But I assure you, this is not the case. New worlds will open up to those who truly surrender to Christ. I have said this before, but it bears repeating… I didn’t know what freedom was until I completely gave myself over to Jesus. Everything I feared I would “lose” was nothing compared to what I gained. It is a heady thing to be able to say, “Lord, if I lose EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in my life from me, it won’t matter as long as I have YOU!” It took me a LONG, LONG time to say that – and MEAN IT! But for me, that act of submission was the beginning of truly LIVING. What about you? Are you teetering on the fence… afraid to give up what you believe to be your “freedom” for a life of “slavery” to God? Don’t be afraid. Don’t waste another minute! Do it today, and learn, like Gabriel, what it really means to be free. See where God takes you and how amazing the ride can be!
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------
July 11 ~ Romans 8:18-21
18-21 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
(Scripture 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.)
Have you ever waited a long time for something, and when it finally happened, the experience was even better than you ever imagined? Paul is telling us in this passage that for every time you have had this experience, it pales in comparison to how meeting Jesus will be. No matter how glorious and wonderful and awesome you believe Heaven will be… it will be all of that and more! And knowing this should make all of our trials and struggles on earth easier to bear.
So… the next time you are “feeling poor” and your pockets are fairly empty, think of heaven and the jewels and riches that await you there… and keep on “keepin’ on” for Jesus. The next time you are sick and your body betrays you with aches, pains, diseases and dysfunction, think of how whole you will be in Heaven… your new, perfect body God will bless you with there… and praise Him for all He is doing in your life. If your friends desert you, your marriage falls apart, or you lose a loved one, think of the arms of Jesus wrapping softly around you and drawing you close… imagine the fragrance sweeter than fresh air itself and the total bliss you feel as you cradle in the arms of your Lord… and feel a renewed strength and courage to carry on another day, knowing this reward will be yours someday.
In other words, remember Philippians 4:13, which reminds us that we can do all things through Christ Jesus, Who gives us strength (paraphrasing mine). Remember that NOTHING you can imagine can compare to how grand it will truly be when you reach Heaven. Meanwhile, do EVERYTHING you can to assure that you get there someday. Live for Jesus! Stay faithful! Share the Gospel with others! And get ready for joy and freedom beyond what you could ever imagine!
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------
July 10 ~ Romans 7:4
So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to "marry" a resurrection life and bear "offspring" of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God.
(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 have probably heard the saying that “The definition of insanity is… doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And isn’t that how we live our lives quite often. We are, honestly, somewhat insane, running around and around on the wheel of life, just like Satan’s gerbil… doing things we know are wrong – sinful – and feeling badly about them (but not badly enough!), or even asking God to forgive us and help us. Then we get back on the wheel and start all over. Talk about being stuck in a “dead-end job!”
We have to get off of this “wheel” and exchange the oppressive shackles of Satan for the loving arms of Jesus. And it really is just that simple – and at the same time, just that hard. Because Satan has made that little “wheel” of sin look pretty attractive, and I know sometimes it seems like nothing will ever be as good or as fun or as exciting as the life he offers. But honestly, it’s not a life at all… it is a sentence and a prison and a hopelessness, because nothing ever really changes. Nothing ever really gets better… there is no gain… no prize.
BUT… with God, ALL things are possible. The hardest step is the first one… that leap of faith that HE truly is going to make your life better. And I won’t tell you there will never be another “bump in the road” – or even a time when you feel like you are running in circles… but God is your ticket to get off that merry-go-round and start to truly live. So what’s keeping you? Wouldn’t you rather be free?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 9 ~ Romans 6:19
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
(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.)
When I was little, I had a toy top. It was made of tin, with a wooden handle that had some sort of spring-loaded action. When you held onto the wooden handle “knob” and pumped up and down, you heard the mechanism inside whirring, and the round metal base of the toy started to spin on its point, and when you let go, this beautiful, bright-colored piece of metal spun around on its axis across the room… at least for a few seconds.
As the momentum started to disappear, the top started to wobble from side to side and “spin” erratically, until it was really teetering and wandering aimlessly in all directions. Then it fell to the ground – “crashed and burned” so to speak. And isn’t that how we do so often? We are “on top of the world” and our colors are bright, and our spin is perfect, and we whir through life thinking we are free. But our “freedom” depends on the “spinner” of the top… whomever or whatever pumped that handle and made us spin. If our “spinner” was Satan, we won’t spin very long before we crash and burn, because he really doesn’t care about our ride, as long as we keep coming back for another. But if GOD is our “Spinner,” the ride is liberating – and eternal! And instead of bright reds, blues and yellows on our top, someday He will change those to golds and silvers, diamonds and rubies!
I know it seems like we are all “spinning madly” most days… but the key is to ask yourself, “Who is at the controls?” If Satan is spinning your world, you will forever be trapped. But if God spins, you win – your freedom, His love and grace, and a spot in heaven for all eternity. Pretty much a no-brainer, isn’t it?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 8 ~ Romans 6:15
[ What Is True Freedom? ] So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
(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 a game on my computer called “Otto’s Magic Blocks.” Have you heard of it? The concept is similar to the old “Pac-Man” in that you have these blocks, and you have a little guy who bounces from block to block, and there are land mines and gremlins that pop up, and the object is to bounce onto every block without being hit. The first round is fairly simple, but as you go up to the next level, as with most games, it gets harder and harder, and by Level 3, I am struggling to beat all the gremlins and get across the board! You get somewhere around 3 chances, and then you are out – game over! Well, you know what that means – you have to try again… and again… and again… and soon, an hour has gone by (or more), and then of course, once you conquer Level 3, you want to do Level 4 at least once!
I’ve learned that the smartest thing for me to do is NEVER open that game and start playing! I become a “slave” to beating the gremlins, and I waste time. Oh, sure, I build dexterity, and maybe strengthen my hand-eye coordination and even work my brain as I “strategize” about the best route to take to avoid being obliterated. But what do I really gain by spending time trying to beat a little pink monster on my computer screen?
And so it is with our sins and the devil, but on a much bigger playing field. We cannot think for one minute that because we gave our heart to Jesus, He will allow us to do whatever we please, whenever we please and forgive us for anything sinful we do. And it is so easy to fall into sin… by Satan’s design. So, we do something sinful, and we quickly ask God to forgive us, but like the game, we decide that one more time won’t hurt – for old times’ sake, maybe. But that one time turns into another, and another, and soon we are right back where we started - Satan’s slave - continually sinning and feeling bad and running to God and begging for His forgiveness. Stop the madness! Get off of the vicious roller coaster and give it up to Jesus. There is HUGE freedom in that. I know it sounds too easy, but just “let go and let God.” “Be still and know that I am God,” we read in Psalm 46:10. When was the last time you were still and let Him work?
©2008 Debbie Robus
For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
(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.)
This is where “the rubber meets the road” so to speak, in the life of Christians. There are so many things in our culture that are “not all that bad,” but for some, particularly non-believers or those not grounded in their faith, they can be a slippery slope. Take some of the latest movies… they have a demonic theme or condone immorality in some manner – or the language is just exorbitantly profane. Now, for those of us who are grounded in our faith, maybe we can watch these things and sift through the garbage and be entertained without being sucked into the underlying messages. Or can we? You know, all it takes is just the tiniest crack in the window for the devil to enter. I’m reminded of the view out my window toward the valley below. Sometimes, when the summertime clouds are just right, there is a bright “V” of light off in the distance, where a small triangle of trees and the landscape are illuminated, while the rest of the valley lies in shadows. In practically the blink of an eye, that landscape can change and everything can be shaded.
That’s how it is with us. We “think” we can watch movies with a demonic or “dark” theme and not be affected. We think we can listen to bands that have an unGodly message and profanity and not catch ourselves repeating the lyrics. We think we can hang out with people who are engaged in illegal and/or immoral behavior, and because we don’t participate directly, we’re okay. But Paul reminds us that there is danger for us to become confused, or complacent, and soon we are right in there with the others, doing the very thing we didn’t want to do!
So we must be really smart and alert. We must guard against getting into situations where there is even a chance of temptation. For Christians, the phrase “Don’t go there!” is HUGE! Where are you “going” these days that you need to leave behind?
©2008 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
July 13 ~ 1 Corinthians 8:8
But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
(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.)
When our nephew was small, he came to visit his grandparents, and my mother-in-law served corn on the cob. She didn’t have any of those little skewers that you put in the ends to hold the cob while eating, and my nephew cried. Not understanding what was wrong, this then 4-year-old tried to explain that “that’s now how my mommy does it!” My mother-in-law improvised with toothpicks, and shortly thereafter, we got her some “official” corn-cob-shaped “handles” for her next serving! Did these skewers make the corn edible? Not really, although they were helpful in giving a 4-year-old a “handle” for his corn cob. But in the scheme of things, did this matter? No. And as with many things in our life that seem important to US, they are not on the radar screen for furthering God’s kingdom.
BUT… hanging out with your friends and drinking too much, or doing drugs… driving under the influence… even overeating and laying around like the ultimate “couch potato” and becoming overweight and unhealthy… any of these things that abuses your body displeases God. Why? You are to be an example to others of how to live the fullest, best life in Christ Jesus. When you abuse your body… when you live a life that is unhealthy – and sometimes illegal or immoral – you are not showing others how to live their best life for God. And remember, people ARE watching!
So while God may not care if you have a Snickers bar or an extra piece of pie once in awhile, He does care if you live in a way that disrespects your body – AND His gift of it! God doesn’t care if you eat your meals on a paper plate or the finest china. He doesn’t care whether you have skewers or toothpicks for your corn on the cob. He doesn’t care if you dye your hair or bleach your teeth. But He DOES care how you treat your body in general, and He does want you to respect yourself and shine as an example to others. He wants you to show them how to treat God’s creations like the temples He meant them to be. So, how are you doing? What shape are YOU in these days, and how is your example to others?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------
July 12 ~ 1 Corinthians 7:20
Stay where you were when God called your name. Were you a slave? Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing. I don't mean you're stuck and can't leave. If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it. I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of. On the other hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful "enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of.
(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.)
I was reminded of a scene from an old movie – Shenandoah – about a widower (Jimmy Stewart) and his family who live in Shenandoah, Virginia. This movie is set in the Civil War era, and the man’s young son - “Boy” - finds a Confederate cap while fishing one day, and he starts wearing it. When Union soldiers show up at the farm and see the boy in the cap, they refuse to believe he isn’t truly a Confederate Rebel, and they take him prisoner. They tell a slave on the farm – Gabriel – that he is now free. Gabriel doesn’t understand that term. He asks the widower’s daughter, Jennie, what it means to be free. She tells Gabriel this means he can go wherever he wants. Ultimately, Gabriel joins the Union Army, and ironically, he encounters “Boy” and saves him – the slave “frees” the young boy!
Where am I going with this? This slave didn’t know anything else, and he was probably treated pretty well in Shenandoah. So, when someone said, “You’re free,” he didn’t know what to do with that! He wasn’t even sure he wanted to be free, but he had to try… to go wherever he wanted, as Jennie encouraged him. And we may be pretty comfortable in our sin-filled life. Things may seem to be going our way, and it may be scary to think of giving all of that away to be “free” in Christ. And yes, it may even seem that giving your heart to God means becoming His “slave” and giving up your freedom.
But I assure you, this is not the case. New worlds will open up to those who truly surrender to Christ. I have said this before, but it bears repeating… I didn’t know what freedom was until I completely gave myself over to Jesus. Everything I feared I would “lose” was nothing compared to what I gained. It is a heady thing to be able to say, “Lord, if I lose EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in my life from me, it won’t matter as long as I have YOU!” It took me a LONG, LONG time to say that – and MEAN IT! But for me, that act of submission was the beginning of truly LIVING. What about you? Are you teetering on the fence… afraid to give up what you believe to be your “freedom” for a life of “slavery” to God? Don’t be afraid. Don’t waste another minute! Do it today, and learn, like Gabriel, what it really means to be free. See where God takes you and how amazing the ride can be!
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------
July 11 ~ Romans 8:18-21
18-21 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
(Scripture 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.)
Have you ever waited a long time for something, and when it finally happened, the experience was even better than you ever imagined? Paul is telling us in this passage that for every time you have had this experience, it pales in comparison to how meeting Jesus will be. No matter how glorious and wonderful and awesome you believe Heaven will be… it will be all of that and more! And knowing this should make all of our trials and struggles on earth easier to bear.
So… the next time you are “feeling poor” and your pockets are fairly empty, think of heaven and the jewels and riches that await you there… and keep on “keepin’ on” for Jesus. The next time you are sick and your body betrays you with aches, pains, diseases and dysfunction, think of how whole you will be in Heaven… your new, perfect body God will bless you with there… and praise Him for all He is doing in your life. If your friends desert you, your marriage falls apart, or you lose a loved one, think of the arms of Jesus wrapping softly around you and drawing you close… imagine the fragrance sweeter than fresh air itself and the total bliss you feel as you cradle in the arms of your Lord… and feel a renewed strength and courage to carry on another day, knowing this reward will be yours someday.
In other words, remember Philippians 4:13, which reminds us that we can do all things through Christ Jesus, Who gives us strength (paraphrasing mine). Remember that NOTHING you can imagine can compare to how grand it will truly be when you reach Heaven. Meanwhile, do EVERYTHING you can to assure that you get there someday. Live for Jesus! Stay faithful! Share the Gospel with others! And get ready for joy and freedom beyond what you could ever imagine!
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------
July 10 ~ Romans 7:4
So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to "marry" a resurrection life and bear "offspring" of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God.
(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 have probably heard the saying that “The definition of insanity is… doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And isn’t that how we live our lives quite often. We are, honestly, somewhat insane, running around and around on the wheel of life, just like Satan’s gerbil… doing things we know are wrong – sinful – and feeling badly about them (but not badly enough!), or even asking God to forgive us and help us. Then we get back on the wheel and start all over. Talk about being stuck in a “dead-end job!”
We have to get off of this “wheel” and exchange the oppressive shackles of Satan for the loving arms of Jesus. And it really is just that simple – and at the same time, just that hard. Because Satan has made that little “wheel” of sin look pretty attractive, and I know sometimes it seems like nothing will ever be as good or as fun or as exciting as the life he offers. But honestly, it’s not a life at all… it is a sentence and a prison and a hopelessness, because nothing ever really changes. Nothing ever really gets better… there is no gain… no prize.
BUT… with God, ALL things are possible. The hardest step is the first one… that leap of faith that HE truly is going to make your life better. And I won’t tell you there will never be another “bump in the road” – or even a time when you feel like you are running in circles… but God is your ticket to get off that merry-go-round and start to truly live. So what’s keeping you? Wouldn’t you rather be free?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 9 ~ Romans 6:19
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
(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.)
When I was little, I had a toy top. It was made of tin, with a wooden handle that had some sort of spring-loaded action. When you held onto the wooden handle “knob” and pumped up and down, you heard the mechanism inside whirring, and the round metal base of the toy started to spin on its point, and when you let go, this beautiful, bright-colored piece of metal spun around on its axis across the room… at least for a few seconds.
As the momentum started to disappear, the top started to wobble from side to side and “spin” erratically, until it was really teetering and wandering aimlessly in all directions. Then it fell to the ground – “crashed and burned” so to speak. And isn’t that how we do so often? We are “on top of the world” and our colors are bright, and our spin is perfect, and we whir through life thinking we are free. But our “freedom” depends on the “spinner” of the top… whomever or whatever pumped that handle and made us spin. If our “spinner” was Satan, we won’t spin very long before we crash and burn, because he really doesn’t care about our ride, as long as we keep coming back for another. But if GOD is our “Spinner,” the ride is liberating – and eternal! And instead of bright reds, blues and yellows on our top, someday He will change those to golds and silvers, diamonds and rubies!
I know it seems like we are all “spinning madly” most days… but the key is to ask yourself, “Who is at the controls?” If Satan is spinning your world, you will forever be trapped. But if God spins, you win – your freedom, His love and grace, and a spot in heaven for all eternity. Pretty much a no-brainer, isn’t it?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 8 ~ Romans 6:15
[ What Is True Freedom? ] So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
(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 a game on my computer called “Otto’s Magic Blocks.” Have you heard of it? The concept is similar to the old “Pac-Man” in that you have these blocks, and you have a little guy who bounces from block to block, and there are land mines and gremlins that pop up, and the object is to bounce onto every block without being hit. The first round is fairly simple, but as you go up to the next level, as with most games, it gets harder and harder, and by Level 3, I am struggling to beat all the gremlins and get across the board! You get somewhere around 3 chances, and then you are out – game over! Well, you know what that means – you have to try again… and again… and again… and soon, an hour has gone by (or more), and then of course, once you conquer Level 3, you want to do Level 4 at least once!
I’ve learned that the smartest thing for me to do is NEVER open that game and start playing! I become a “slave” to beating the gremlins, and I waste time. Oh, sure, I build dexterity, and maybe strengthen my hand-eye coordination and even work my brain as I “strategize” about the best route to take to avoid being obliterated. But what do I really gain by spending time trying to beat a little pink monster on my computer screen?
And so it is with our sins and the devil, but on a much bigger playing field. We cannot think for one minute that because we gave our heart to Jesus, He will allow us to do whatever we please, whenever we please and forgive us for anything sinful we do. And it is so easy to fall into sin… by Satan’s design. So, we do something sinful, and we quickly ask God to forgive us, but like the game, we decide that one more time won’t hurt – for old times’ sake, maybe. But that one time turns into another, and another, and soon we are right back where we started - Satan’s slave - continually sinning and feeling bad and running to God and begging for His forgiveness. Stop the madness! Get off of the vicious roller coaster and give it up to Jesus. There is HUGE freedom in that. I know it sounds too easy, but just “let go and let God.” “Be still and know that I am God,” we read in Psalm 46:10. When was the last time you were still and let Him work?
©2008 Debbie Robus
Freedom - Week 1
July 7 ~ Romans 6:12
That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
(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.)
Are you still connected to the sins of your past in some little way? Maybe you have quit partying and drinking, but you will still make a booze run for your buddies. Maybe you gave up drugs… but you still smoke pot. Maybe you have quit doing things you know are sinful, but you look the other way when your buddies do them. There is a fine line between condoning sin and being a friend. If you constantly come down on your friends for their sinful behavior, they probably will stop hanging around you – and you will lose the opportunity to witness to them. BUT… if you sit idly by and never say a thing to them, or worse yet, you let them think that what they do is fine with you, then you had just as well jump right in there with them.
Think of it this way. If you go fishing, and you catch a big fish, that fish will squirm and wiggle and try its hardest to get off the line and avoid ending up as your dinner! And let’s say it’s “catch and release.” Once you release the fish, do you honestly think it will swim around your legs and give you a chance to catch it again? I would imagine that fish will swim as hard and fast as possible downstream and away from you for the rest of the day! The fish will not give you any chance to snag him on your line again! So why would we, as Christians, do any differently in our Spiritual lives? Jesus, the Great Fisherman, has caught us and released us (from our sins) and sent us out into the waters of life. If we continue to sin, the next “catch” might be that of Satan, who is always watching and waiting for a chance to trap us in a life of sin again.
This may seem like a dumb analogy, but do you get the picture? You’ve been given your freedom. You don’t have to live in sin ever again… but Satan sure hopes you will. Don’t give him any chance to make an inroad. Stay in God’s word, focus on Him, PRAY, and be free in Christ forever!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 6 ~ Romans 6:3-5
3-5 That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.
(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.)
Have you ever wished you could completely start over… that you could have a totally new life and a second chance? Well, my friend… that is all possible, and more. See, when we surrender to Christ and make Him the Lord of our life, He truly does give us a new life. “Okay,” you are saying, “but I gave my life to Christ a long, long time ago.” I understand your feelings... the “new” may have worn off your new life in Christ, and you may be “in a slump” of sorts.
I know… I’ve been there! But here’s the deal. When you feel this way, it might just be that God is gently reminding you that it doesn’t have to be like this. He did send Jesus to pay the price for your sins, and if you really, honestly are living for Christ and doing the things He asks you to do to stay in His perfect will, you can rise out of that slump. You will be so busy doing things for the Lord that you won’t have time to even think about anything else, and in that, you will find such joy. It has worked for me. When I feel those old feelings creeping in – the emptiness, the loneliness, the boredom – I know that I have stepped away from following Jesus completely and with everything I have. Selfishness has crept in and I’ve lost focus.
Have you ever heard of S.A.D. – Seasonal Affective Disorder? It’s a condition where people feel extremely sad or depressed, particularly in winter months or times when the weather is dark and dreary for several days in a row. The “cure” is often bright light – a lamp that simulates daylight. And frequently the symptoms improve or disappear when the sun comes out again. Often, we are afflicted with Spiritual S.A.D. We give in to the darkness and let it cloud our hearts and our thinking. And our “cure” is to keep walking in the Light of Christ. We must keep His word and Spirit burning brightly in our daily living. We must rise in Him and live FOR Him, each and every day. Step out into the Sonshine, and feel the joy His freedom brings us!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 5 ~ John 8:34-38
34-38 Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
(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.)
I thought long and hard about this passage and how it applied to us today. I looked at the passage in probably six different translations. And here’s what I came away with… on this earth, we may be “slaves” to someone or something… our parents, our spouses, our boyfriends or girlfriends, our boss or our job – even our church leaders. We may feel like we have to do whatever they say and act however they want us to act and think and believe like they tell us. BUT… if these things do not line up with the Word of God, we are choosing a life of sin, and in essence, we are choosing to remain enslaved to whatever earthly master we are serving.
I’m not saying to be disobedient to your parents. I am not saying to pick a fight with your spouse or your girlfriend or boyfriend. I am not saying to be disrespectful of your church leaders, your teacher, or your boss. But you do have a choice. Jesus paid an extremely high price for your Spiritual freedom. Whatever it costs us to follow Him pales in comparison… and I promise you, the reward – the FREEDOM – it brings will be totally worth it.
So how do you apply this? When your dad says, “let’s play golf this Sunday,” tell him you’ll be glad to – after church! When your husband or wife would rather go to Tunica than tithe, make sure YOUR portion of the tithe doesn’t go with them! When your church leaders want to start a program you feel is counter to the purposes of your church, you must speak up! If your boss asks you to do something you know is unethical at best – and maybe even dishonest or illegal, you must say “No!” God will protect you. Jesus has bought your freedom… He will never let you down. We can choose to be slaves to our old ways and the life Satan chooses for us, or we can choose freedom in Jesus Christ. Only one choice makes any sense to me – what about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 4 ~ Luke 4:16-21
16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,
God's Spirit is on me;
he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to
the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, "This is God's year to act!"
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."
(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.)
Today is the day we celebrate our country’s independence from England. Over time, I think we have come to relate to July 4th as a day of picnics, parties, swimming, and of course fireworks – and also we have deemed it our Independence Day from ALL other nations and rulers.
Do you have a Spiritual Independence Day? Do you remember the day you gave your heart to Jesus Christ? Do you have a day that you celebrate each year as your “Spiritual Independence Day?” I have to admit, I don’t remember the date, nor do I have such a day, but maybe I should! But honestly, shouldn’t EVERY day be “Spiritual Independence Day”? Shouldn’t we celebrate every day because of the tremendous things Jesus has done for us? He set the burdened and battered FREE! Isn’t that ALL of us? Aren’t we all burdened and battered at one time or another by Satan and his evil acts? Shouldn’t we be proud that we are free in Christ and celebrate His ransom of our souls?Today, as you celebrate our country and our freedoms, take a moment to thank God for sending His Son to give us the only real freedom that matters… freedom from our sins. And as you light fireworks and cut the cake and grill a burger, consider that you are celebrating a little more this year than most… and make this holiday more special than ever!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 3 ~ Jeremiah 34:15
"'And now, you—what have you done? First you turned back to the right way and did the right thing, decreeing freedom for your brothers and sisters—and you made it official in a solemn covenant in my Temple. And then you turned right around and broke your word, making a mockery of both me and the covenant, and made them all slaves again, these men and women you'd just set free. You forced them back into slavery.
(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.)
Have you ever said, “Tomorrow, I am starting a diet! I am no longer going to be a slave to my weight. I’m going to do it!” And “tomorrow” came, and you did fairly well, but by the end of the week, you were right back to your old habits and eating the wrong things, and the diet had flown out the window. OR… you have repented of your sins and promised God that “from now on, I’m going to follow you, and I am not going to go back to my sinful ways,” and maybe you even make a formal covenant with God – join a church, profess your faith before a congregation – and then, before long, you are a slave to your sinful ways again. OR… maybe you publicly denounce racism and discrimination – you make a BIG deal out of how “politically correct” and forward thinking you are – and then in secret, you bash other races, you are sexist, you are intolerant.
Do you see that in doing these things, you are forfeiting your freedom? In doing these things, you are a slave to the very thing you wish to avoid or remove. Ask God to help you to develop character, resolve, and HIS will power. Ask Him to help you truly free yourself of these tricks and tools of the devil and be completely, honestly “loosed” in Christ.Trust me on this one – the biggest freedom you will ever experience is letting go of your heart and your desires and giving yourself completely over to God. HE will carry all of your worries and issues. He WILL set you free.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 2 ~ Isaiah 61:1-7
1-7 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God. You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.
(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.)
As I read this passage, the words “rubble” and “ruins” stood out to me. The phrase, “raise a new city out of the wreckage” was emphatic, and followed by “feast on the bounty of nations” and “your joy go on forever.” What does this mean for us? How does this apply to our lives today? Where is the freedom in this for us?
And then it hit me… on September 11, 2001, countless families were forever changed. Buildings – and lives – lay in ruins and rubble. Wreckage was certainly everywhere. And at the time, it seemed like nothing would ever be good again – for the people of New York City and the surrounding area – and all of us.
I have said before that I correspond with two families who lost men at Ground Zero. Both were firefighters for Ladder Company 21 who left home that morning to do their job and never came back. Keith Glascoe left a wife and two children – and a baby on the way. Joe Henry left his parents, a girlfriend, brothers, and other family and friends who now mourn his passing. Today, Keith Glascoe, Jr. and his two brothers are growing and flourishing. The pictures their mother sends me show happy, smiling faces – and mischievous sparkling eyes. Joe Henry’s mother, Alice, sends me clippings and notes to update me on their family and the birth of their grandson, Patrick Joseph – named after his uncle Joey.
In the wreckage, ruin, and rubble of a horrible day, God has given these families a new joy. He has raised them and blessed them. Sure, they would love to have Joe and Keith back again. But they have not allowed the horrific loss of these men to imprison them. Because, you see, that is what Satan wants. He wants the bad things in our lives to weigh us down so heavily that we can’t move. He wants to steal our joy and our ability to live and breathe and enjoy everything God has given us. But God offers us freedom from all of that. It won’t be easy… and there will most certainly be losses along the way… but He will comfort those who mourn… He will give beautiful roses for your ashes… all we have to do is choose Him. What about you… don’t you want to be free?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 1
Proverbs 12:24
The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
(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 be asking… “C’mon now… who really finds freedom in their work? Lazing around is true freedom.” But is it? Think of what you accomplish with your work… income, a sense of satisfaction, perhaps you are working toward a goal in your studies – or your occupation allows you to help people on a daily basis. Maybe your work provides you with instant visual results that are gratifying – mowing lawns, painting houses, creating ads or web design.
On the other hand, what does laziness produce? Lazy people find work unsatisfying and unproductive because they do not enjoy the God-given ability to get things done. Even the possibility of helping someone else does not motivate a lazy person. And honestly, lazy people usually don’t seem to be very happy with their lives. They certainly don’t appear to be “going places,” do they?
God has given us each skills and abilities, and it is up to us to find ways to utilize them. God does not desire that we be lazy and waste our gifts. Many people around the world would give their right arm to have the freedom to work as we do… to go about our day and do what we do. Let’s not squander it. Let’s find things to do that give us purpose and celebrate our God-given freedom. A day or two of laziness may rejuvenate us, but don’t become known for being lazy. Stay diligent…enjoy the freedom of doing what you love and seeing the fruits of your labors.
©2008 Debbie Robus
That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
(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.)
Are you still connected to the sins of your past in some little way? Maybe you have quit partying and drinking, but you will still make a booze run for your buddies. Maybe you gave up drugs… but you still smoke pot. Maybe you have quit doing things you know are sinful, but you look the other way when your buddies do them. There is a fine line between condoning sin and being a friend. If you constantly come down on your friends for their sinful behavior, they probably will stop hanging around you – and you will lose the opportunity to witness to them. BUT… if you sit idly by and never say a thing to them, or worse yet, you let them think that what they do is fine with you, then you had just as well jump right in there with them.
Think of it this way. If you go fishing, and you catch a big fish, that fish will squirm and wiggle and try its hardest to get off the line and avoid ending up as your dinner! And let’s say it’s “catch and release.” Once you release the fish, do you honestly think it will swim around your legs and give you a chance to catch it again? I would imagine that fish will swim as hard and fast as possible downstream and away from you for the rest of the day! The fish will not give you any chance to snag him on your line again! So why would we, as Christians, do any differently in our Spiritual lives? Jesus, the Great Fisherman, has caught us and released us (from our sins) and sent us out into the waters of life. If we continue to sin, the next “catch” might be that of Satan, who is always watching and waiting for a chance to trap us in a life of sin again.
This may seem like a dumb analogy, but do you get the picture? You’ve been given your freedom. You don’t have to live in sin ever again… but Satan sure hopes you will. Don’t give him any chance to make an inroad. Stay in God’s word, focus on Him, PRAY, and be free in Christ forever!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 6 ~ Romans 6:3-5
3-5 That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.
(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.)
Have you ever wished you could completely start over… that you could have a totally new life and a second chance? Well, my friend… that is all possible, and more. See, when we surrender to Christ and make Him the Lord of our life, He truly does give us a new life. “Okay,” you are saying, “but I gave my life to Christ a long, long time ago.” I understand your feelings... the “new” may have worn off your new life in Christ, and you may be “in a slump” of sorts.
I know… I’ve been there! But here’s the deal. When you feel this way, it might just be that God is gently reminding you that it doesn’t have to be like this. He did send Jesus to pay the price for your sins, and if you really, honestly are living for Christ and doing the things He asks you to do to stay in His perfect will, you can rise out of that slump. You will be so busy doing things for the Lord that you won’t have time to even think about anything else, and in that, you will find such joy. It has worked for me. When I feel those old feelings creeping in – the emptiness, the loneliness, the boredom – I know that I have stepped away from following Jesus completely and with everything I have. Selfishness has crept in and I’ve lost focus.
Have you ever heard of S.A.D. – Seasonal Affective Disorder? It’s a condition where people feel extremely sad or depressed, particularly in winter months or times when the weather is dark and dreary for several days in a row. The “cure” is often bright light – a lamp that simulates daylight. And frequently the symptoms improve or disappear when the sun comes out again. Often, we are afflicted with Spiritual S.A.D. We give in to the darkness and let it cloud our hearts and our thinking. And our “cure” is to keep walking in the Light of Christ. We must keep His word and Spirit burning brightly in our daily living. We must rise in Him and live FOR Him, each and every day. Step out into the Sonshine, and feel the joy His freedom brings us!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 5 ~ John 8:34-38
34-38 Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
(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.)
I thought long and hard about this passage and how it applied to us today. I looked at the passage in probably six different translations. And here’s what I came away with… on this earth, we may be “slaves” to someone or something… our parents, our spouses, our boyfriends or girlfriends, our boss or our job – even our church leaders. We may feel like we have to do whatever they say and act however they want us to act and think and believe like they tell us. BUT… if these things do not line up with the Word of God, we are choosing a life of sin, and in essence, we are choosing to remain enslaved to whatever earthly master we are serving.
I’m not saying to be disobedient to your parents. I am not saying to pick a fight with your spouse or your girlfriend or boyfriend. I am not saying to be disrespectful of your church leaders, your teacher, or your boss. But you do have a choice. Jesus paid an extremely high price for your Spiritual freedom. Whatever it costs us to follow Him pales in comparison… and I promise you, the reward – the FREEDOM – it brings will be totally worth it.
So how do you apply this? When your dad says, “let’s play golf this Sunday,” tell him you’ll be glad to – after church! When your husband or wife would rather go to Tunica than tithe, make sure YOUR portion of the tithe doesn’t go with them! When your church leaders want to start a program you feel is counter to the purposes of your church, you must speak up! If your boss asks you to do something you know is unethical at best – and maybe even dishonest or illegal, you must say “No!” God will protect you. Jesus has bought your freedom… He will never let you down. We can choose to be slaves to our old ways and the life Satan chooses for us, or we can choose freedom in Jesus Christ. Only one choice makes any sense to me – what about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 4 ~ Luke 4:16-21
16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,
God's Spirit is on me;
he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to
the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, "This is God's year to act!"
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."
(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.)
Today is the day we celebrate our country’s independence from England. Over time, I think we have come to relate to July 4th as a day of picnics, parties, swimming, and of course fireworks – and also we have deemed it our Independence Day from ALL other nations and rulers.
Do you have a Spiritual Independence Day? Do you remember the day you gave your heart to Jesus Christ? Do you have a day that you celebrate each year as your “Spiritual Independence Day?” I have to admit, I don’t remember the date, nor do I have such a day, but maybe I should! But honestly, shouldn’t EVERY day be “Spiritual Independence Day”? Shouldn’t we celebrate every day because of the tremendous things Jesus has done for us? He set the burdened and battered FREE! Isn’t that ALL of us? Aren’t we all burdened and battered at one time or another by Satan and his evil acts? Shouldn’t we be proud that we are free in Christ and celebrate His ransom of our souls?Today, as you celebrate our country and our freedoms, take a moment to thank God for sending His Son to give us the only real freedom that matters… freedom from our sins. And as you light fireworks and cut the cake and grill a burger, consider that you are celebrating a little more this year than most… and make this holiday more special than ever!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 3 ~ Jeremiah 34:15
"'And now, you—what have you done? First you turned back to the right way and did the right thing, decreeing freedom for your brothers and sisters—and you made it official in a solemn covenant in my Temple. And then you turned right around and broke your word, making a mockery of both me and the covenant, and made them all slaves again, these men and women you'd just set free. You forced them back into slavery.
(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.)
Have you ever said, “Tomorrow, I am starting a diet! I am no longer going to be a slave to my weight. I’m going to do it!” And “tomorrow” came, and you did fairly well, but by the end of the week, you were right back to your old habits and eating the wrong things, and the diet had flown out the window. OR… you have repented of your sins and promised God that “from now on, I’m going to follow you, and I am not going to go back to my sinful ways,” and maybe you even make a formal covenant with God – join a church, profess your faith before a congregation – and then, before long, you are a slave to your sinful ways again. OR… maybe you publicly denounce racism and discrimination – you make a BIG deal out of how “politically correct” and forward thinking you are – and then in secret, you bash other races, you are sexist, you are intolerant.
Do you see that in doing these things, you are forfeiting your freedom? In doing these things, you are a slave to the very thing you wish to avoid or remove. Ask God to help you to develop character, resolve, and HIS will power. Ask Him to help you truly free yourself of these tricks and tools of the devil and be completely, honestly “loosed” in Christ.Trust me on this one – the biggest freedom you will ever experience is letting go of your heart and your desires and giving yourself completely over to God. HE will carry all of your worries and issues. He WILL set you free.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 2 ~ Isaiah 61:1-7
1-7 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God. You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.
(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.)
As I read this passage, the words “rubble” and “ruins” stood out to me. The phrase, “raise a new city out of the wreckage” was emphatic, and followed by “feast on the bounty of nations” and “your joy go on forever.” What does this mean for us? How does this apply to our lives today? Where is the freedom in this for us?
And then it hit me… on September 11, 2001, countless families were forever changed. Buildings – and lives – lay in ruins and rubble. Wreckage was certainly everywhere. And at the time, it seemed like nothing would ever be good again – for the people of New York City and the surrounding area – and all of us.
I have said before that I correspond with two families who lost men at Ground Zero. Both were firefighters for Ladder Company 21 who left home that morning to do their job and never came back. Keith Glascoe left a wife and two children – and a baby on the way. Joe Henry left his parents, a girlfriend, brothers, and other family and friends who now mourn his passing. Today, Keith Glascoe, Jr. and his two brothers are growing and flourishing. The pictures their mother sends me show happy, smiling faces – and mischievous sparkling eyes. Joe Henry’s mother, Alice, sends me clippings and notes to update me on their family and the birth of their grandson, Patrick Joseph – named after his uncle Joey.
In the wreckage, ruin, and rubble of a horrible day, God has given these families a new joy. He has raised them and blessed them. Sure, they would love to have Joe and Keith back again. But they have not allowed the horrific loss of these men to imprison them. Because, you see, that is what Satan wants. He wants the bad things in our lives to weigh us down so heavily that we can’t move. He wants to steal our joy and our ability to live and breathe and enjoy everything God has given us. But God offers us freedom from all of that. It won’t be easy… and there will most certainly be losses along the way… but He will comfort those who mourn… He will give beautiful roses for your ashes… all we have to do is choose Him. What about you… don’t you want to be free?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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July 1
Proverbs 12:24
The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
(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 be asking… “C’mon now… who really finds freedom in their work? Lazing around is true freedom.” But is it? Think of what you accomplish with your work… income, a sense of satisfaction, perhaps you are working toward a goal in your studies – or your occupation allows you to help people on a daily basis. Maybe your work provides you with instant visual results that are gratifying – mowing lawns, painting houses, creating ads or web design.
On the other hand, what does laziness produce? Lazy people find work unsatisfying and unproductive because they do not enjoy the God-given ability to get things done. Even the possibility of helping someone else does not motivate a lazy person. And honestly, lazy people usually don’t seem to be very happy with their lives. They certainly don’t appear to be “going places,” do they?
God has given us each skills and abilities, and it is up to us to find ways to utilize them. God does not desire that we be lazy and waste our gifts. Many people around the world would give their right arm to have the freedom to work as we do… to go about our day and do what we do. Let’s not squander it. Let’s find things to do that give us purpose and celebrate our God-given freedom. A day or two of laziness may rejuvenate us, but don’t become known for being lazy. Stay diligent…enjoy the freedom of doing what you love and seeing the fruits of your labors.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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