December 31 ~ James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
(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 know that exercise that is used in certain programs where you have one person stand behind another, and the person in front is supposed to fall backward and depend on the one behind to catch him/her? It’s a matter of trust – and faith that the person who is “catching” will actually do just that! Now, you can have all of the faith in the world that the “catcher” will do his/her job, but if you are dropped, your faith will probably be destroyed (along with your backside) – and the “catcher’s” reputation will be in question. If, on the other hand, the “catcher” is ready, willing, and able, and the person falling never lets go… then where is his/her faith? Do you see how faith and works are dependent on one another?
Many people will say that “you can’t get into heaven by being good or doing good deeds” – and in and of itself, this is a true statement. However, we see clearly that “faith without deeds (works or action) is dead.” So, saying you believe in Jesus and His power to save us, to heal us, to be our Comforter and our Guide, and then throwing up your hands at the first sign of trouble is not putting your faith into action. Saying you believe the scriptures and then not loving your neighbor as yourself – in other words… sharing your gifts, your time and your talents – in some ways negates your faith.
Granted, there are mitigating circumstances, sometimes. Or are there? We have been praying for Zoe and Trey’s grandmother, JoAnn Miles, in recent weeks as she has fought for her very life. One could argue that she has been unable to exemplify her faith from her ICU hospital bed. But she has exemplified her faith… through the guestbook notes and posts of those who love her and testify to how she has ministered in their lives. She has witnessed to others through the CaringBridge posts of her daughters - and even a post of her own when she was able. She has blessed the nurses and medical staff who care for her in the way she and her husband react to each other so lovingly and with such unending devotion. So as you see, there is NO EXCUSE! There is no instance in which a true person of faith cannot serve God and put his/her faith into action in whatever way they are able.
Today is the last day of this year. Tomorrow begins a new chapter… a fresh start in many ways. What will you do with this next 365 days? How will you live? Will you let your faith lie dormant, or will you put it into action each and every day? A few years ago, The Prayer of Jabez was written, based upon a simple prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:10. In it, Jabez asked God to “enlarge my coast” – or as one translation words it, to “increase my territory.” The author of The Prayer of Jabez interprets territory to include opportunities to minister and witness to others. Will you seek ways to “increase your territory” as the Prayer of Jabez asks… will you truly live for Jesus in this next year?
If each of us reading this devotional today truly live out our faith in works and actions in 2009, imagine the impact and the possibilities! How exciting it is to think of a year filled with faith and action… how blessed we are to be able to serve our God! Be a blessing this next year. Resolve tonight to have both faith AND deeds in the year ahead… and watch God bless your efforts!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 30 ~ James 1:19-21
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
(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 will be the first to admit that I sometimes have a “short fuse.” I hope I am doing better as I grow in my faith and depend on God more each day. But I know there are times when we all overreact and have outbursts that are less than pretty. I have never been someone who could hold a grudge for very long, thankfully. But I know people who are always angry about something or someone, and I wonder if they realize how that spoils their “Spiritual garden.”
Someone commented recently that spring will be here before we know it. Daffodils and crocus start peeking through the ground in February – and sometimes even late January! Many of us will start to plan our spring gardens and contemplate what to plant, while others will “force” springtime bulbs to bloom indoors for an early glimpse of spring’s glory.
What will we do to cultivate our “Spiritual gardens?” Will we plan for growth and long for the fruits? Will we guard our tongues and our emotions – our anger – and seek God’s guidance and cultivation as the Ultimate Gardener? Will we toss our evil thoughts and words into the garbage – never on the compost heap of our souls? (We don’t want them recycled and worked back into the “soil” of our lives!)
I love this translation of James’ admonition: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. This could be a fantastic New Year’s resolution for each of us. If we did just this, we would be creating amazing “soil” in which God could work. So what is going in your garden for 2009? How will you cultivate your Spiritual garden? Will you give God a humble landscape for His mighty creations?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 29 ~ 1 Timothy 4:15-16
Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
(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.)
For three semesters now, I have been cheering my sister as she returned to college to pursue a degree in Medical Information Technology. “You can do it! You’re doing great! Hang in there!” I tell her. There have been some pretty bumpy spots in the road. Bad weather that made the commute to Searcy dicey… illness… a grueling schedule of work and study… weariness and a sense of being totally overwhelmed have at times felt insurmountable. And yet, the first semester she had a 4.00 – the next a mixture of A’s and B’s… and this semester just completed brought almost all A’s and B’s in such courses as Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Coding. I would have to say that her true character has shown through this ordeal. When it seemed like the challenges were too big… the tasks too difficult… she rose to the occasion. She kept at it… she was not diverted. And I know she will continue to persevere and rise to the challenges of her next – and final – semester!
There is another side to this, though… and a very important component. Many of us have also “kept at it” right alongside my sister – in prayer and support. We have not waivered. We have not been diverted. I’ll admit there have been a couple of times when I came close to doubting if this could really be pulled off successfully. Would she miss too many days and fall behind? Would work and school prove just too much to combine? But as the weeks passed – and the prayers flew to heaven – we would say, “That’s another week down… one step closer.” (And I would be a little embarrassed at my lack of faith in my own prayers and God’s power to overcome these obstacles!) My favorite mantra has been, “One bite of this elephant at a time,” and just lately, I reminded my sister that she is one semester away from swallowing the old guy completely.
I don’t know what your “elephant” is, but I know WHO can help you conquer him. Whatever you have on your plate, whatever is challenging you… keep a firm grasp on your faith and following Jesus. Keep on “keepin’ on” and being the person God has called you to be. Put one foot in front of the other and move. Don’t get diverted. In the words of the Nike slogan, “Just Do It!” Be an example to others of the power of prayer and living a life of faith. Be blessed – and be a blessing in the process! You can do it… your “elephant” is going down, praise God! Show the world that believers in Jesus have all the right stuff, and watch what happens!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 28 ~ John 12:47-50
"If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell 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.)
During the holidays, I overheard one of my nieces ask her daughter, “What did I tell you about Christmas gifts?” and the great-niece replied, “That no matter what it was, I better act like I liked it and say ‘Thank You!’” Are we like that about Jesus’ gift of salvation? Do we pretend we like it and even say “Thank you,” then go on our merry way and act however we please? Do we reject the teachings of the Bible as old and outdated and not relevant to our lives today, because if we accept them, we will have to make some changes in our lifestyle?
Do we twist the Gospel to suit our needs? Notice I didn’t say meet our needs, because the Gospel does just that… but it doesn’t always suit OUR needs… or what we perceive as our needs. It doesn’t always “feel good!” So many of us decide to be polite and “play along,” but on the inside, we haven’t fully committed.
We are approaching the start of a New Year. It is a lot like starting a new chapter in a book – or even a new course of study at school. This is a chance to begin all over again, so to speak… to put the past behind us and move ahead – maybe even in a new direction. Let this be the day you choose to fully commit to the teachings of Jesus. Let this be the year you decide to take God seriously and to open your heart and mind to Him. Choose Eternal Life, and accept the steps toward that goal. Resolve today to be a faithful – and honest – follower of Jesus Christ, and see how amazing the coming year can be!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 27 ~ Matthew 7:15-20
"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
(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 remember fairy tales and children’s stories where someone pretends to be nice in order to get what he/she wants, and the other characters are so impressed… the witch who befriended Hansel and Gretel, the wolf who was going to help Little Red Riding Hood… the Cat in the Hat who was so much fun, until he turned the house upside down and scared the children half to death! And who among us has not been at least a tad deceitful ourselves in order to get what we want? The old adage that you get more flies with honey turns into a sweet mess of half-truths to sway people in our direction, and soon we are no better than that wicked witch or the mean old wolf! It isn’t just children who are “nice” for Santa during the early days of December and then “naughty” as all get out as soon as the tree comes down!
I think the key for us in this passage today is not to be wary of false preachers and deceitful leaders… although we should indeed do just that. No, I want us to be careful that WE are not the deceivers… the “sweet-talkers” who will say and do anything to get our own way. Jesus didn’t come to earth for us to be able to say and do whatever pleases us. He came that we might learn to better please HIM… and that is altogether different! So make sure your character is completely impeccable. Make sure that you are the “real deal” all the time – and not just the first 24 days of December! Be sure that who you are and what you say and do line up with the word of God, and your character will never be in question.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 26 ~ Matthew 3:7-10
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
(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, the day after Christmas was a disappointing day. The hoopla of Christmas was over, and it was time to put away all of the gifts and get back to reality. I have known of many people who spend December 26th removing the Christmas tree – or packing it away, along with all decorations that indicate a holiday occurred. In fact, when we were children and decorated live cedar trees, I’m thinking that old dry tree probably made its exit on the day after Christmas, as well! It seemed that after we married, some segment of the family was always celebrating late, and after a few years, I just got into the habit of leaving all of the decorations out until at least New Years Day. Somehow, that doesn’t seem quite as sad and abrupt as cleaning up December 26th.
More importantly, though, is what we do with our attitude. When Christmas Day is over, do we pack away our “Christmas attitude” along with the tree and decorations? Do we lose our smiles and our joy and turn into sour, negative grumps? Do we become a more moderate version of Scrooge? Maybe we are not total ogres, but we are not as kind and polite as we were on Christmas Eve… we are not as considerate of others… we don’t think about the hungry and homeless and needy – the sick and infirm. All of a sudden, it’s as if a switch has been pulled, and it is “life as usual” again.
Whoa… wait a minute! Did Christmas mean nothing? If the true meaning of Christmas was the arrival of a Savior who would show us how to serve God and share His message with others... a Lord who would die for our sins so that we could LIVE… then why did our spirits fall today? Christmas isn’t for ONE DAY. The spirit of Christmas should be an every-day-all-year event! So put your party hat back on… celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that it means for us EVERY day, not just December 25th. Pack away the tree and your holiday decorations if you must, but keep your spirit front and center today and always!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 25 ~ Deuteronomy 6:5 and 11:1
6:5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got.
11:1 So love God, your God; guard well his rules and regulations; obey his commandments for the rest of time.
(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, children of all ages throughout the world will race to peek under a Christmas tree and see what Santa has left them. There will be shrieks and squeals of joy as the phrases, “I love it!” and “It’s exactly what I asked for!” are uttered in dozens of languages over gadgets and toys and trinkets of all kinds.
The real gift of this day – the ONLY gift that matters – is the gift of Jesus Christ and His love for us. The only response that has lasting consequences today is “I love YOU, Jesus!”
So while you are drowning in tinsel and paper and ribbon and basking in the afterglow of hot cocoa and cookies and too much turkey and ham, remember to take time to stop and reflect on our Savior. Jesus Christ – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords… today is HIS day! Make Him the Star on your tree. Make Him the reason for celebrating. The rest is just window dressing. Love Jesus with all that is in you – all that you’ve got! HE is the best gift you will ever receive.
Merry Christmas – May God bless you this day and always.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 24 ~ Revelations 3:15-17 "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me as to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul 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.)
Whew! How’s this for a Christmas Eve scripture passage?! I certainly hope that this description from Revelations doesn’t fit how God feels about me today – or YOU! Okay, so you may not brag that you are rich or have it made. You may feel you are truly quite humble. But let me ask you something… “When was the last time you thanked God for all you have?” You know, we don’t create our “wealth” – it is God given. He gives us the talents and abilities to be creative and smart and hard workers. God provides us with jobs, homes, food, clothing – everything!
And what do we give Him in return? Do we help others? Do we give all we can to those who are less fortunate? Here is my challenge. Today is Christmas Eve. There is still time for some “Christmas Spirit” – some self-sacrifice. I am challenging each of us to give something extra today. Put your pocket change in the Salvation Army bucket at the store. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time and have a brief visit – or call someone who is lonely or ill and tell them you are thinking of them. Take a plate of cookies from your kitchen to a shut-in neighbor. Tip extra at the restaurant – or to the car-hop at Sonic! Smile and say “Thank You” to the sales clerks and the bank teller and the guy who takes your money at the car wash! Do at least ONE THING today that is not about YOU!
Today, of all days, remember that YOU ARE NOT IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT! Don’t run from anything God sends your way… HE will see you through it all. And in return, share that good news with others through a self-less gesture of kindness. For that matter, let today be the first in a long line of many self-less gestures. See how long you can keep it going!
O, Holy Night… the stars ARE brightly shining... it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth! We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your selfless act of coming to earth, teaching us, and dying for our sins. We know we can’t ever measure up… but Your sacrifice means we don’t have to try! May your Christmas Eve truly be a blessing – and may you also be a blessing to others this day!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 23 ~ Matthew 5:14-16
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
(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.)
What does it say about us as believers if we act like Scrooges at Christmas… or any other time of the year, for that matter? If we gripe and grumble about the holidays, the weather, our finances, or our out-of-shape body… what does that say to others about our faith? We know that through Christ, we can do ALL things, don’t we? So why are we “hiding our light under a barrel” and acting like sad sacks and grumps?
“But you don’t understand,” you may say… “I just lost my job, or my mother is hospitalized and gravely ill, or the bank foreclosed on my home, my car died and I failed the one class I needed to graduate.” Again… serving God ain’t for sissies! I do understand your concerns. I know what it’s like to have a parent in the hospital on Christmas Eve. I know what it’s like to lose a loved one just before the holidays. I’ve seen people very near and dear to me lose everything financially and wonder what was next. I know soldiers in Iraq who won’t be home for Christmas and single mothers who wonder how they will rear their children alone. I know elderly people who have absolutely NO living relatives nearby to bring them as much as a plate of Christmas cookies.
I guess what really reminded me of how we are to let our light shine for Christ in all circumstances happened in 1980. My husband’s grandfather died a few days before Christmas in Iowa City, Iowa. We traveled there to attend his funeral – on Christmas Eve. It was snowy and cold – probably as cold as I have ever been – and the dreariness of the weather added to the sadness of those days. Christmas Day dawned, and we arrived at Grandma’s house for a visit. Neighbors had brought all sorts of Christmas goodies to share, and a small Christmas tree was twinkling in a corner of the dining room. Grandma sat on the couch, and as each person entered, she would greet them cheerfully, “Merry Christmas!” My husband’s grandmother talked about the scriptures and the promise of the Christmas story and Christ’s return someday – and how we had no excuse for not being happy. I was amazed at her tenacity and courage. She had just buried her husband, yet she was wishing others a “Merry Christmas!” – and she meant it!
There will ALWAYS be reasons to be sad and throw a pity party. There will ALWAYS be excuses to just crawl back into bed and pull up the covers and pretend things are not happening. But JESUS did NOT come to earth so that we could run and hide when the going got tough! Jesus came to show us how to LIVE in and through ALL circumstances in our lives, and to prompt others to open up to God in the process. So how brightly are you shining – this Christmas and in the days afterward?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 22 ~ James 3:10-12
10-12 My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are 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.)
I’m probably not going to win any new friends with today’s message. Just this week, I watched a Dr. Phil episode (yes, Dr. Phil!) about a woman who goes totally overboard with Christmas – decorations cover every inch of every room of her house. She buys stupid gag gifts all year that make her laugh, and then she wraps them as presents for her children and grandchildren. She starts decorating in October and gets it all packed away in time for Easter! She could not stop smiling and laughing the whole hour… even when she was the brunt of many jokes/snide comments by Dr. Phil and others.
The other guest on the show absolutely detests Christmas. She pays her family and friends $50 each NOT to get her a gift. She shops for others – but only out of a sense of obligation. She cannot stand the greeting “Merry Christmas,” and she doesn’t attend any holiday family get-togethers or any celebrations/services that refer to Christmas. She seemed like one of the most miserable people I’ve ever seen! Her justification for her attitude was that “Christmas has become too commercial and doesn’t focus on the birth of Christ any more.”
Surprisingly, once upon a time, this woman celebrated like everyone else. Something happened to change her attitude, and she mentioned an “ex-mother-in-law who is a saint,” so I suspect a messy divorce colored her thinking. I know people who have dismissed Christmas for this reason – or a myriad of others. Maybe they associate it with the painful loss of a loved one. Maybe they do not have a lot of family or friends nearby and can’t face the holidays “alone.” Maybe they are sick or physically disabled, and just the though of having to make extra effort to be cheerful, much less maneuver around, for the holidays is frustrating.
If we looked long and hard enough, every single one of us could come up with a reason that celebrating Christmas is just too much effort (and a few of us wouldn’t have to look that long!) so we are “opting out” this year. Let me ask you something… “When the chips are down, does God opt out on you?” When things aren’t going well, is that a license to turn our backs on God and stop being kind to others, sharing the message of Christ, and even going to church? Then why should celebrating Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ – be any different? I’m not saying you have to buy a talking Christmas wreath or a toilet seat that plays “Jingle Bells.” But in my opinion, refusing to celebrate Christmas is NOT an option for Christians. You can’t gush fresh water one day and pond scum the next, and you can’t “skip Christmas!” and glorify God. So pull yourself up by the bootstraps, grab a candy cane and spread some cheer. This is the season of GREAT NEWS! Unto us is born a Savior, and He is Christ the King!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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