So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me - the whole congregation saying Amen! - to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
(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.)
My friend Marcy posted on Facebook one day… “All of my friends say I have A.D.D. but I don't underst...oh look, a squirrel...gotta go!! :-)” It was a joke – and it was very funny. But some days, I feel just like Marcy – easily distracted. I’m posting the devos… “oh, wait… the coffee is ready… there is an interesting news story on television… hey, there’s that booklet of coupons I meant to clip yesterday… oh look, a squirrel…oh, yeah, the devo!”
Is this also how many of us treat our life as a Christian? Do we start out well… church on Sunday, Bible study and prayer time in the morning, sharing God’s love throughout the day…”oh, wait… I need to do this or that, so church isn’t happening today… got up late, so no Bible study or prayer time this morning… having a bad day – got no extra love to share with anyone… and oh, look, a squirrel!” For me, the gist of God’s message this scripture passage can be summed up in three words… “Focus, people – FOCUS!”
God has equipped us with everything we need to serve Him well and to live and work for Christ. He knows it won’t be easy, so He never leaves us to handle things alone. But more often than not, WE walk away in some form or fashion. We cannot do this. We have to stay focused on serving God and worshipping Him, because NOTHING else matters. We have to work together – with God AND each other – through the good times and bad. We have to throw ourselves into this work of living for Jesus. And when we “see a squirrel,” we have to put it out of our minds and stay on course! So the next time you are distracted, think about the phrase, “oh look, a squirrel” and remind yourself where your priorities – and your focus – must lie. Keep your eyes on Jesus - and your thoughts on serving Him!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 6 ~ Ephesians 6:10-12
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
(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 one of the Little Rock TV stations brings a helicopter to a high school football game, the team wears its best uniforms. The band looks sharp, and everything is prepared just so. Often, when guests come for dinner or a party, the “good stuff” is used instead of paper plates and plastic flatware. A professional musician would much prefer to use his/her instruments, band and back-up singers to those who might be “on-hand” at a local venue.
Why do we work so hard to make everything just right for a wedding and reception, prom night, graduation day and other special occasions? Could it have something to do with the thought that these are once-in-a-lifetime events, and we want them to be memorable?
Can I tell you something? EVERY day is a memorable day with God. EVERY minute of every day we live for Jesus calls for us to bring out “the good stuff” and make it count! When it comes to serving God and fighting the devil, there is no such thing as “just another day,” with room to skimp on the details. God IS strong – He IS the very best… and He wants us to give Him OUR very best, all day, all the time. The good news is that God has given us everything we need to accomplish this! We don’t have to have a fundraiser for new uniforms. We don’t need to rush to the store and buy fancy napkins and serving dishes. No special instruments or support staff must be acquired. We already have it all. God supplies our every need… and He expects us to give Him our very best in return.
So “put on the full armor of God” – be strong and take courage – and give Him your very best every minute of every day. With God, each day is a special occasion. For Him, nothing less than our best will do.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 5 ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
(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 recently watched Slumdog Millionaire – the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai, India, who manages to get on the game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and wins a lot of money. I won’t give away too much of the story, but against impossible odds, this boy perseveres and ultimately places himself in this position. His primary goal is not the money, but rescuing a girl he has loved since childhood. His is a love without stopping… and he gives it all he has. He holds tight to his convictions… he is incredibly resolute.
Is there something or someone in your life for which you would make tremendous sacrifices… even risk your life? Perhaps you are a parent and feel this way about your children. Maybe you have a friend or spouse you love so deeply that nothing could get in the way of you trying to save them from peril. Perhaps you love a pet so much you would risk life and limb to protect it.
Are your convictions about your faith in Jesus Christ as strong? Would you risk life and limb to defend your God? Do you love Him without stopping, or when things get a little rough, do you walk away and try things on your own terms? I know this is hard to hear, and I know that none of us want to accept this, but sacrificing all for the One who has sacrificed everything for us… Jesus Christ… is the only fight of this magnitude that really matters. Yes, we would defend our children, our friends, and our pets, but we must be even more ready to uphold our faith in God. Nothing else…NO ONE ELSE…matters as much as He does. So read this passage again, and think of Jesus as you read it. Keep your eyes open (and see Jesus); hold tight to your convictions (and stand up for your faith in Christ), give it all you’ve got (serve Him with everything you have in you); be resolute (don’t back down or turn away); and love without stopping (forever love Jesus, Who loved you enough to die on the cross for your sins).
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 4 ~ Zechariah 8:12-13
"My core survivors will get everything they need—and more. You've gotten a reputation as a bad-news people, you people of Judah and Israel, but I'm coming to save you. From now on, you're the good-news people. Don't be afraid. Keep a firm grip on what I'm doing."
(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.)
CNN anchor T.J. Holmes is an Arkansas native. You may have seen him as a newscaster at KTHV-Channel 11 a few years ago. He appears to be a “rising star” in the news business, and he represents his home state well. Recently, T.J. posted on Facebook and Twitter that the day’s news stories were unusually bleak… and he was understandably depressed. He said, “The news is so sad this morning: 2 killed at a graduation in AZ, a mother who tossed her kids in the river, a dad and his 3 daughters killed in a plane crash, a U.S. soldier being buried on Memorial Day weekend, etc. Stuff is getting to me today. Somebody, please, share some good news with me.”
Did he ever get an earful! One hundred people responded, and many of them sent messages of Good News in Jesus Christ! Sharon wrote, “Good news? God is good and He is in the blessing business.” Jennifer said, “God woke YOU up this morning and put you in your right mind!!! Stay encouraged!” Darius added, “Good news for me is that the Bible says we haven’t seen, heard, or imagined the good things that God has in store for us. Hold on to that hope.”
We all get discouraged from time to time. None of us likes a steady dose of bleak news. But we all must remember the advice of the Facebook friends… God is still God… He is still on the throne. I find it wonderful and amazing that people who don’t even know this young reporter took time to stop and share the love and peace of God with him… to encourage him to stay strong and have faith. T.J. Holmes later posted that “I read every one of your comments – helped put things in perspective.” The good news… the BEST news… is that God woke us up this morning and put us in our right minds, and that He has amazing things in store for us. We must not be afraid. When bad news comes our way, we must keep a firm grip on God’s promises and know that He is our hope and our strength. And we must encourage one another… even via posts on Facebook… to do the same!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 3 ~ Zechariah 8:9-10
A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
"Get a grip on things. Hold tight, you who are listening to what I say through the preaching of the prophets. The Temple of God-of-the-Angel-Armies has been reestablished. The Temple is being rebuilt. We've come through a hard time: You worked for a pittance and were lucky to get that; the streets were dangerous; you could never let down your guard; I had turned the world into an armed camp.
(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 watched a National Geographic program in HD about Yosemite National Park. I mention it was in HD, because much of the story was about a rock climber who scaled El Capitan, and in High Definition television, it was almost like being on the face of the rock formation with the climber! One false move, and he could have been toast! His grip had to be more than sure… it had to be infallible. The climb was dangerous, tedious, and not for the inexperienced or faint-of-heart! But this climber had done his homework. He was patient – he took his time and chose his steps carefully. He never let down his guard. And his reward, some three or four days later, was a vista most of us will only ever see on television or by way of a photographer’s camera lens. The climber was ecstatic. He was rewarded for his efforts with views that thrilled him - and the exhilaration of having conquered all fears, trials and struggles to reach the summit.
In our life with Christ, we are much like the rock climber. We have hard times and struggles, but we have small victories and giant rewards, too. And through it all, we must never let down our guard. God is with us… He is guiding us and instructing us – and protecting us! But we must do our part. We must stay awake and alert and pay careful attention to where we put our hands and feet – and to our thoughts and what we say and do. We must get a tight grip on this life in Christ and never let go!We can do this… God will help us. And the summit will be spectacular, breathtaking, exhilarating – and so worth our efforts!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 2 ~ 2 Haggai 2:4-5
"'So get to work, Zerubbabel!'—God is speaking.
"'Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!'
"'Get to work, all you people!'—God is speaking.
"'Yes, get to work! For I am with you.' The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! 'Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I'm living and breathing among you right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back.'
(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’ve got spirit, yes we do! We’ve got spirit, how ‘bout you?” Cheerleaders repeat this chant from coast to coast at sporting events throughout the year.
Do you see that this is the chant of Christians, too? As Christians, “We’ve got Spirit, with a capital ‘S’!” God is with us, living and breathing among us. This is not the time to be timid or lazy in our faith. This is the time to “get in there and fight, fight, fight!”… to continue the cheerleading analogy. The question is… “How hard are we working to share Him with others?” Are we tapping into the Holy Spirit within us? Are we motivated to get to work for Him? Shouldn’t we be? “We’ve got Spirit… yes, we do!” God IS speaking… now we all need to get to work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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June 1 ~ Daniel 10:18-19
"Then this humanlike figure touched me again and gave me strength. He said, 'Don't be afraid, friend. Peace. Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.'
"Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, 'Go ahead, let my master speak. You've given me courage.'
(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.)
If you have ever been to the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, you may have seen the “Big Electric Show.” The website description calls this show a “hair-raising good time.” I have seen this experiment, but I’ve never done myself. But I imagine that as your hair starts to rise on your head, you feel a “surge” in your body!Now think about courage… imagine it surging through your body as if you were touching an electrostatic generator. Do you ever feel this way? Do you have moments when you call on God for strength and courage, and you feel it surge up within you? Let me ask this another way… when you summon wisdom, strength and courage from God and His word, do you feel a sense of peace and calm? That is also a “surge” of sorts!
God may not charge us with electrical static or cause our hair to stand on end (although he certainly could!), but He IS working in us and filling us with strength and courage. He IS with us, and working in and through us. ALMIGHTY GOD is our “electrostatic machine!” Sometimes we just need to connect with Him and then be still and listen – and FEEL His presence. What about you… is your hair figuratively “standing on end” today with the “surge” of God’s strength and courage? If not, do you need to reach out and reconnect with Him?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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