2 Corinthians 2:6-7
Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One evening this week, Timothy did not want to eat dinner. After a few bites, he declared that he was done and ready to play. I told him we would set a timer for 5 minutes, and he could play…but when he heard the “beeps” that five minutes had passed, he would return to the table. He agreed to this. Of course, three-year-olds agree to a lot of things! When the timer sounded, Timothy was not ready to return to the table. I told him that we had an agreement… and he could either return to the table or sit in the “naughty chair.” He chose the chair. I could see that he thought he would sit and watch television there, but I changed the channel from NickJr to the local news station. He burst into tears.
We sat for a few seconds… probably not even a full minute, and then I scooped him up and hugged him. He said, “I’m mad!” I told him I understood, and he added… “I’m mad at myself for sitting in the naughty chair.” I reminded him that he could choose behaviors that would avoid the chair in the future. Then I held Timmy in my lap and fed him the rest of his dinner… and he nearly cleaned his plate. We did not have another problem the rest of the night.
Mealtime is a learning experience. We are all working together to teach the children that we sit at the table as a family and eat at the appointed times. We do not nibble here and there and then run off to play. We also don’t carry food into other rooms and eat it there. And so far, the results have been mixed… although I would say we are making progress. I believe this is because when we do have to chide and chastise - or mete out consequences - we are quick to offer forgiveness and comfort.
I’ll admit… it’s very hard to stay upset with these precious children. All they have to do is look at me with their innocent, sweet faces, and I’m a goner! But I wonder…are we as loving and forgiving with others as we are our little ones? Shouldn’t we be? “But they are old enough to know better!” you’re probably saying. And you are right! But how many times have you done something you knew you shouldn’t… and as much as you regretted it afterward, there was no way to turn back the clock… maybe even as recently as today?
The point that the Apostle Paul is making in this passage is that we must have consequences when people misbehave or sin…but we must also be willing to forgive and help the person move forward, if he/she is truly repentant. If we don’t offer compassion and empathy, we are setting others up to ask, “What’s the use? I’ll never get it right. I may as well quit trying.” Two things happen here… 1) Satan dances with delight; and 2) we fail to extend to others what God grants to us each and every day through the blood of Jesus Christ.
How do you love others? How are you loved? Ask God to give you the wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to lovingly forgive others… then hearten them to do better and overcome their weaknesses once and for all. Consider how God loves and forgives you… how Jesus suffered and died on the cross for this… and pay it forward in His name. Be the person who stood by someone when perhaps nobody else would… and helped to make the difference in his/her life. Thank God for offering you a second chance – and be ready to do the same for others. On any given day, each one of us deserves to spend time in “the naughty chair”… but none of us should be deserted there!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 27, 2013
1 Corinthians 14:20
To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.
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.
I will probably step on some toes today, but I feel like I have to share this. On my Facebook feed today, I found a post from an organization claiming that Beyoncé flashed a sign of the devil during her Super Bowl halftime performance this year. Additionally, these folks claim that Beyoncé’s husband, rapper Jay-Z, uses this sign on t-shirts and other products that promote his own celebrity as a public figure and entertainer. The claim is that Beyoncé and Jay-Z are part of a Satanic cult, and they are using their prominence to spread their message. Regardless of how you feel about Beyoncé (and I am neither endorsing nor condemning her and Jay-Z), I do not believe they have a hidden – and/or Satanic – agenda!
What does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 14:20? I’ll tell you! God wants us to be cognizant of evil. He want us to operate in wisdom… to be awake and alert to danger and attempts by the devil to creep into the tiniest corners of our lives. But God wants us to be smart, too. He doesn’t want us to fall for every claim we see and hear. Just because someone makes such statements on behalf of a “Christian” organization doesn’t mean they are speaking the truth – much less for God!
Just as we know that scammers contact us on e-mail and by telephone claiming to represent our bank or credit card company and needing vital information in order to “protect” us, we must be aware that the devil is plenty busy finding so-called “believers” to do his dirty work by keeping Christians riled up unnecessarily and “chasing rabbit trails.” To better understand this passage, I considered the verses before and after it. I also consulted several leading commentaries.
My conclusion is that Paul is reminding us to be innocent and child-like in our faith… to accept Jesus Christ and fully believe in Him even though we have not seen Him with our own eyes… to fully serve as His disciples and share His Good News with others. But at the same time, he is warning us not to get high and mighty in our actions and behaviors as Christians. We are not superior to others… we do not have a “secret code” or “inside scoop.” Moreover, we are not to run off on a tangent… to engage in hateful protests, or promote rumors and – at best – half-truths that look for the “boogey man” behind every rock. Instead of condemning others or acting as if we have it all figured out, we are to operate in child-like humility and faith… to earnestly and continually seek God and His wisdom and will for our lives.
Furthermore, I believe we are called to look out for one another… to share the knowledge and wisdom God provides us with fellow believers and those with whom we are sharing the Good News of Jesus. But we are called to refrain from perpetuating the falsehoods and negativity that some want to offer in the name of God…and in fact, to speak out against these things when we see and hear them being proffered. I know this is not always easy or popular, but serving God is not always a smooth ride. I know that by even sharing this with you today, some could decide not to read these daily devotionals any longer. It’s a chance I’m willing to take. I want to be child-like in my faith… and mature in God’s wisdom. Don’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.
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.
I will probably step on some toes today, but I feel like I have to share this. On my Facebook feed today, I found a post from an organization claiming that Beyoncé flashed a sign of the devil during her Super Bowl halftime performance this year. Additionally, these folks claim that Beyoncé’s husband, rapper Jay-Z, uses this sign on t-shirts and other products that promote his own celebrity as a public figure and entertainer. The claim is that Beyoncé and Jay-Z are part of a Satanic cult, and they are using their prominence to spread their message. Regardless of how you feel about Beyoncé (and I am neither endorsing nor condemning her and Jay-Z), I do not believe they have a hidden – and/or Satanic – agenda!
What does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 14:20? I’ll tell you! God wants us to be cognizant of evil. He want us to operate in wisdom… to be awake and alert to danger and attempts by the devil to creep into the tiniest corners of our lives. But God wants us to be smart, too. He doesn’t want us to fall for every claim we see and hear. Just because someone makes such statements on behalf of a “Christian” organization doesn’t mean they are speaking the truth – much less for God!
Just as we know that scammers contact us on e-mail and by telephone claiming to represent our bank or credit card company and needing vital information in order to “protect” us, we must be aware that the devil is plenty busy finding so-called “believers” to do his dirty work by keeping Christians riled up unnecessarily and “chasing rabbit trails.” To better understand this passage, I considered the verses before and after it. I also consulted several leading commentaries.
My conclusion is that Paul is reminding us to be innocent and child-like in our faith… to accept Jesus Christ and fully believe in Him even though we have not seen Him with our own eyes… to fully serve as His disciples and share His Good News with others. But at the same time, he is warning us not to get high and mighty in our actions and behaviors as Christians. We are not superior to others… we do not have a “secret code” or “inside scoop.” Moreover, we are not to run off on a tangent… to engage in hateful protests, or promote rumors and – at best – half-truths that look for the “boogey man” behind every rock. Instead of condemning others or acting as if we have it all figured out, we are to operate in child-like humility and faith… to earnestly and continually seek God and His wisdom and will for our lives.
Furthermore, I believe we are called to look out for one another… to share the knowledge and wisdom God provides us with fellow believers and those with whom we are sharing the Good News of Jesus. But we are called to refrain from perpetuating the falsehoods and negativity that some want to offer in the name of God…and in fact, to speak out against these things when we see and hear them being proffered. I know this is not always easy or popular, but serving God is not always a smooth ride. I know that by even sharing this with you today, some could decide not to read these daily devotionals any longer. It’s a chance I’m willing to take. I want to be child-like in my faith… and mature in God’s wisdom. Don’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2013
Galatians 6:1
My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy is watching a new series on NickJr. – Peter Rabbit – based on the beloved children’s books written by Beatrix Potter. Now let’s be clear… Peter Rabbit is a stinker! He steals from Mr. McGregor’s garden, and he is incredibly conniving. He’s not above involving his fellow rabbits, Lily Bobtail and Benjamin Bunny in his escapades, either! But Peter Rabbit is also encouraging and positive. He looks for the good in each situation and leads his friends with optimism and confidence. One of the friends said, “If Peter says he can do it, he can do it!”
What does this have to do with us… and with this scripture passage? Let’s be honest… we’re all stinkers! In our own ways, we lie, cheat and steal…although we may “pretty up” these actions with names like “coloring the truth” and “figuring out a way to make things work to our advantage.” But at the end of the day, we all have our moments.
As Christians, we are called to leave these things behind… to “walk away from Mr. McGregor’s garden,” so to speak. And we are to take our friends with us! The Apostle Paul reminds us that this is not always easy. The temptation is there to step back into our old ways. We must stay awake and alert…“prayed up” for strength and courage to be tough and resilient in our faith.
Helping another person get their life back on track is not easy. We must be extremely careful that in doing so, we do not come across as arrogant or superior. We must also avoid enabling the person… or worse yet, sliding right in alongside them and reverting to our old ways. We must stay faithful, close to God, and confident that He will give us the strength and courage to walk in His wisdom and will. With God’s help and power behind us, we will be able to say with confidence and surety, “I can do this… and so can YOU!”
I’m amazed at how and where God reveals Himself to me… even in a children’s story like Peter Rabbit. I am thankful that He is keeping me on my toes, and I am working hard to always be aware of His presence in each and every situation. With God’s help, I can “stay out of Mr. McGregor’s garden and away from the wolf (Satan) who wants to have me for dinner”…and I can encourage others to do the same. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy is watching a new series on NickJr. – Peter Rabbit – based on the beloved children’s books written by Beatrix Potter. Now let’s be clear… Peter Rabbit is a stinker! He steals from Mr. McGregor’s garden, and he is incredibly conniving. He’s not above involving his fellow rabbits, Lily Bobtail and Benjamin Bunny in his escapades, either! But Peter Rabbit is also encouraging and positive. He looks for the good in each situation and leads his friends with optimism and confidence. One of the friends said, “If Peter says he can do it, he can do it!”
What does this have to do with us… and with this scripture passage? Let’s be honest… we’re all stinkers! In our own ways, we lie, cheat and steal…although we may “pretty up” these actions with names like “coloring the truth” and “figuring out a way to make things work to our advantage.” But at the end of the day, we all have our moments.
As Christians, we are called to leave these things behind… to “walk away from Mr. McGregor’s garden,” so to speak. And we are to take our friends with us! The Apostle Paul reminds us that this is not always easy. The temptation is there to step back into our old ways. We must stay awake and alert…“prayed up” for strength and courage to be tough and resilient in our faith.
Helping another person get their life back on track is not easy. We must be extremely careful that in doing so, we do not come across as arrogant or superior. We must also avoid enabling the person… or worse yet, sliding right in alongside them and reverting to our old ways. We must stay faithful, close to God, and confident that He will give us the strength and courage to walk in His wisdom and will. With God’s help and power behind us, we will be able to say with confidence and surety, “I can do this… and so can YOU!”
I’m amazed at how and where God reveals Himself to me… even in a children’s story like Peter Rabbit. I am thankful that He is keeping me on my toes, and I am working hard to always be aware of His presence in each and every situation. With God’s help, I can “stay out of Mr. McGregor’s garden and away from the wolf (Satan) who wants to have me for dinner”…and I can encourage others to do the same. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 25, 2013
1 Corinthians 13:3-7
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
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.
The quote for this date in my desktop flip calendar came from the late Gilda Radner… “I base my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch.” I like that… and I would add, “…or cinch me too tightly, creep or crawl!” The truth is that our lives are filled with “itchy, scratchy, creeping, crawly, too-tight situations”… and not just in our fashions! The only “garment” that will always fit is the “robe” of love in Christ Jesus. This is the “full armor of God” – but it is never too heavy or uncomfortable. Jesus’ love is easy to wear… and “one size fits all.”
Our pastor reminded us again yesterday that there is at least one broken heart on every pew. You may think you have problems… but wait until you hear the next guy’s! No one is immune to struggles and challenges. I have been asking God to reveal Himself to me and answer several questions… and this scripture popped up on my outline. In a word…God’s answer seems to be… “Love.” I’m not talking “pie-in-the-sky-let’s-just-love-everybody-and-all-will-be-well” love. I’m talking 1 Corinthians 13 love. And there is a difference.
In this passage, Paul isn’t telling us that a “peace-and-love-mumu-type-love” from the 1970s will make everything okay. He is saying that the love of Christ is our “one-size-fits-all” garment… because this love has many facets. The love Paul speaks of is patient, kind, calm and enduring. So when you are struggling in a relationship with another person – friend, family member, co-worker, classmate or teacher, significant other, or even a fellow believer… remember to put on your “love robe.” When you have challenges of any kind, don’t forget to put on your “raincoat” of kind, humble, self-less, trusting, optimistic, persistent love. Even though others give up on you and your relationship... God never gives up. He keeps on loving… and so should we.
This does not mean that we allow others to walk over us… or that we look the other way when there is injustice or disobedience. But we are called to handle every situation with the love of Christ. Sure… there will be times when you are angry, frustrated, insulted, and deeply wounded. You may be the person on the pew with a broken heart! But the love of Christ is what will sustain you… and you must never stop extending that love to others. I’ve talked to God a lot lately about how hard this is… how I often find it difficult to be a loving disciple when what I really want to do is yell, kick and scream! And each time, I hear Him saying… “Now you know how I feel most of the time!” And I am truly humbled.
I feel so shrouded in the protective love of God… covered by the “robe” of Jesus’ grace, mercy, kindness and forgiveness. I know that God has a closet full of “robes” that He wants to distribute to others… and we are the vehicle for this circulation. How are you doing? Are you fully operating in 1 Corinthians 13 love? Does the love of Christ fit you like a silken, flowing robe that never binds, creeps, crawls or itches? What are you wearing these days? Do you need to make a “wardrobe change?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
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.
The quote for this date in my desktop flip calendar came from the late Gilda Radner… “I base my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch.” I like that… and I would add, “…or cinch me too tightly, creep or crawl!” The truth is that our lives are filled with “itchy, scratchy, creeping, crawly, too-tight situations”… and not just in our fashions! The only “garment” that will always fit is the “robe” of love in Christ Jesus. This is the “full armor of God” – but it is never too heavy or uncomfortable. Jesus’ love is easy to wear… and “one size fits all.”
Our pastor reminded us again yesterday that there is at least one broken heart on every pew. You may think you have problems… but wait until you hear the next guy’s! No one is immune to struggles and challenges. I have been asking God to reveal Himself to me and answer several questions… and this scripture popped up on my outline. In a word…God’s answer seems to be… “Love.” I’m not talking “pie-in-the-sky-let’s-just-love-everybody-and-all-will-be-well” love. I’m talking 1 Corinthians 13 love. And there is a difference.
In this passage, Paul isn’t telling us that a “peace-and-love-mumu-type-love” from the 1970s will make everything okay. He is saying that the love of Christ is our “one-size-fits-all” garment… because this love has many facets. The love Paul speaks of is patient, kind, calm and enduring. So when you are struggling in a relationship with another person – friend, family member, co-worker, classmate or teacher, significant other, or even a fellow believer… remember to put on your “love robe.” When you have challenges of any kind, don’t forget to put on your “raincoat” of kind, humble, self-less, trusting, optimistic, persistent love. Even though others give up on you and your relationship... God never gives up. He keeps on loving… and so should we.
This does not mean that we allow others to walk over us… or that we look the other way when there is injustice or disobedience. But we are called to handle every situation with the love of Christ. Sure… there will be times when you are angry, frustrated, insulted, and deeply wounded. You may be the person on the pew with a broken heart! But the love of Christ is what will sustain you… and you must never stop extending that love to others. I’ve talked to God a lot lately about how hard this is… how I often find it difficult to be a loving disciple when what I really want to do is yell, kick and scream! And each time, I hear Him saying… “Now you know how I feel most of the time!” And I am truly humbled.
I feel so shrouded in the protective love of God… covered by the “robe” of Jesus’ grace, mercy, kindness and forgiveness. I know that God has a closet full of “robes” that He wants to distribute to others… and we are the vehicle for this circulation. How are you doing? Are you fully operating in 1 Corinthians 13 love? Does the love of Christ fit you like a silken, flowing robe that never binds, creeps, crawls or itches? What are you wearing these days? Do you need to make a “wardrobe change?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 24, 2013
Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
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.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren talks about how knowing your purpose simplifies your life. He says there is no way we can do all everyone wants us to do. We have a big enough challenge finding time to do God’s will! Pastor Warren says that if you can’t seem to get it all done, you’re probably trying to do too much! This sounds like a direct contradiction to the scripture passage you just read… right? Maybe not!
See, a lot of us aren’t necessarily sitting on our hands… but quite a few of us are strolling off down paths that go nowhere. We fill our lives with people who don’t encourage us or help us to grow in our faith. We spend too much time on meaningless activities. We start way too many projects that we never finish.
God wants us to figure out where to best spend our time… then get busy doing what He has called us to do. So rather than sign up for every activity at school, pick and choose those you feel God wants you to pursue… and really work hard to do your best. Instead of volunteering for every ministry at your church and not being able to serve well in any of them, ask God to show you where you can make the biggest impact for Him. Then pour your heart and soul into that ministry. Give 110% and be someone who is reliable, dependable, and accountable.
Too many people bite off more than they can chew. I know… I’ve spread myself too thinly and tried to do too much. It’s not that I chose to participate in more than was physically possible… but I wasn’t very effective in many of the activities. When you are trying to do too much – even if it is God’s work – you can’t possibly be fully helpful in every ministry. Think of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades… master of none.” God wants us to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love as He directs… but He wants us to be able to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually have the stamina to give our very best.
Won’t God equip us for such things? Yes. But God also gave us a brain… and He expects us to use it. He wants us to operate faithfully… to do His will. He also wants us to use the common sense that He gave us to know when to say “when.” We all know people who seem to have their finger in every pie… who seem to sign up for every committee, church and community project, hold down a fulltime class schedule or job (or both)… and maybe run a household, as well. But just how effective are they? Are they cutting corners and letting certain obligations or aspects of their ministries slide?
I encourage you to spend some time talking to God. Ask Him, “LORD, what is my purpose? Where do you want me to serve? What activities and ministries do I need to let go in order to be more successful at serving in your name? Where should I be focusing my efforts… and where have I strolled off down a path that goes nowhere?” Allow God to work in and through you. There is no shame in limiting your ministries, if you are giving your very best to those you keep and operating within the will of God. Where do you need to “trim the fat” or alter your course? Are you ready to run on the road God called you to travel?
©2013 Debbie Robus
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
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.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren talks about how knowing your purpose simplifies your life. He says there is no way we can do all everyone wants us to do. We have a big enough challenge finding time to do God’s will! Pastor Warren says that if you can’t seem to get it all done, you’re probably trying to do too much! This sounds like a direct contradiction to the scripture passage you just read… right? Maybe not!
See, a lot of us aren’t necessarily sitting on our hands… but quite a few of us are strolling off down paths that go nowhere. We fill our lives with people who don’t encourage us or help us to grow in our faith. We spend too much time on meaningless activities. We start way too many projects that we never finish.
God wants us to figure out where to best spend our time… then get busy doing what He has called us to do. So rather than sign up for every activity at school, pick and choose those you feel God wants you to pursue… and really work hard to do your best. Instead of volunteering for every ministry at your church and not being able to serve well in any of them, ask God to show you where you can make the biggest impact for Him. Then pour your heart and soul into that ministry. Give 110% and be someone who is reliable, dependable, and accountable.
Too many people bite off more than they can chew. I know… I’ve spread myself too thinly and tried to do too much. It’s not that I chose to participate in more than was physically possible… but I wasn’t very effective in many of the activities. When you are trying to do too much – even if it is God’s work – you can’t possibly be fully helpful in every ministry. Think of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades… master of none.” God wants us to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love as He directs… but He wants us to be able to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually have the stamina to give our very best.
Won’t God equip us for such things? Yes. But God also gave us a brain… and He expects us to use it. He wants us to operate faithfully… to do His will. He also wants us to use the common sense that He gave us to know when to say “when.” We all know people who seem to have their finger in every pie… who seem to sign up for every committee, church and community project, hold down a fulltime class schedule or job (or both)… and maybe run a household, as well. But just how effective are they? Are they cutting corners and letting certain obligations or aspects of their ministries slide?
I encourage you to spend some time talking to God. Ask Him, “LORD, what is my purpose? Where do you want me to serve? What activities and ministries do I need to let go in order to be more successful at serving in your name? Where should I be focusing my efforts… and where have I strolled off down a path that goes nowhere?” Allow God to work in and through you. There is no shame in limiting your ministries, if you are giving your very best to those you keep and operating within the will of God. Where do you need to “trim the fat” or alter your course? Are you ready to run on the road God called you to travel?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2013
Romans 15:1-2
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
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.
Someone shared with me that her friend was really hurting after the loss of a close family member. This person said, “It’s all just family drama… but she has a LOT of problems right now.” Knowing both parties well, I quickly pointed out… “She has no more problems than you have… they are just different.” And the truth is that all of us have problems. While it may seem that some have more than others – or that one person’s problems are more insurmountable than those of another – each one of us is dealing with something. And often, the true measure comes not in how many tribulations or troubles a person has… but more in how they handle them.
So when you have your own “heapin’ helpin’ of troubles”… or you have overcome tremendous obstacles through faith in God… and you see another who is struggling to cope…share your story. Say to him/her, “I know this is not the same thing, but when XYZ happened to me, this is how God helped me handle it.” Or tell the person, “I can see that you are hurting, and I get it. I’ve been tested. And I can tell you that God is still on your side.” Show the person whose faith is faltering that God does answer prayers… that He does bring us out of tests, trials, and great big messes… that nothing is impossible with God – or too difficult for Him to handle.
Be prepared to “put your money where your mouth is.” Don’t be one of those people who asks, “How are you?” as you walk away or start talking about something else. Ask…and wait around for the answer! Be engaged and present in the conversation. When you offer to help someone else, mean it. Show up! Be ready to work! Say what you mean and mean what you say! You may have had other plans… you may be in a hurry at the grocery store when you encounter someone who wants to tell you a litany of troubles. But you may be the very presence of God for that person in the moment. Convenience is not always a part of the mature Christian’s vocabulary.
Almost two decades ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. This book was born out of more than one situation where I heard the sentence, “I just didn’t know what to say or do” uttered… and the person chose to say and do nothing. Even a simple “I’m sorry,” or “I’m here” – or even better… “I’m praying” beats that! I discovered that a lot of loving, kind, well-meaning Christians simply didn’t know how to handle a lot of situations in everyday life… but I’d met several who did. So I wrote a book and shared what I observed in others that worked… and what works for me.
The point is that we have to be prepared to stand up and be accountable to God by being available to help others. We have to offer grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and encouragement to those who truly need it… and we often have to be awake and alert to spot them! We must be willing to set aside our own agendas in order to help a friend. In doing so, we are saying, “LORD… I’m here… send me!” You can see that to do nothing gives God the opposite message!
So what will you do? Will you sit back and do nothing? Will you “rest on your laurels”… bask in your own salvation and let someone else see to the needs of others? Or will you step up and share the tremendous gift of Jesus Christ by lending a helping hand to those in need? Your problems may be huge… you may need help yourself. Sometimes, in order to receive help for ourselves, we must first be willing to give a hand to others. Are you willing to do this? Are you looking after the good of others in Jesus’ name? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
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.
Someone shared with me that her friend was really hurting after the loss of a close family member. This person said, “It’s all just family drama… but she has a LOT of problems right now.” Knowing both parties well, I quickly pointed out… “She has no more problems than you have… they are just different.” And the truth is that all of us have problems. While it may seem that some have more than others – or that one person’s problems are more insurmountable than those of another – each one of us is dealing with something. And often, the true measure comes not in how many tribulations or troubles a person has… but more in how they handle them.
So when you have your own “heapin’ helpin’ of troubles”… or you have overcome tremendous obstacles through faith in God… and you see another who is struggling to cope…share your story. Say to him/her, “I know this is not the same thing, but when XYZ happened to me, this is how God helped me handle it.” Or tell the person, “I can see that you are hurting, and I get it. I’ve been tested. And I can tell you that God is still on your side.” Show the person whose faith is faltering that God does answer prayers… that He does bring us out of tests, trials, and great big messes… that nothing is impossible with God – or too difficult for Him to handle.
Be prepared to “put your money where your mouth is.” Don’t be one of those people who asks, “How are you?” as you walk away or start talking about something else. Ask…and wait around for the answer! Be engaged and present in the conversation. When you offer to help someone else, mean it. Show up! Be ready to work! Say what you mean and mean what you say! You may have had other plans… you may be in a hurry at the grocery store when you encounter someone who wants to tell you a litany of troubles. But you may be the very presence of God for that person in the moment. Convenience is not always a part of the mature Christian’s vocabulary.
Almost two decades ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. This book was born out of more than one situation where I heard the sentence, “I just didn’t know what to say or do” uttered… and the person chose to say and do nothing. Even a simple “I’m sorry,” or “I’m here” – or even better… “I’m praying” beats that! I discovered that a lot of loving, kind, well-meaning Christians simply didn’t know how to handle a lot of situations in everyday life… but I’d met several who did. So I wrote a book and shared what I observed in others that worked… and what works for me.
The point is that we have to be prepared to stand up and be accountable to God by being available to help others. We have to offer grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and encouragement to those who truly need it… and we often have to be awake and alert to spot them! We must be willing to set aside our own agendas in order to help a friend. In doing so, we are saying, “LORD… I’m here… send me!” You can see that to do nothing gives God the opposite message!
So what will you do? Will you sit back and do nothing? Will you “rest on your laurels”… bask in your own salvation and let someone else see to the needs of others? Or will you step up and share the tremendous gift of Jesus Christ by lending a helping hand to those in need? Your problems may be huge… you may need help yourself. Sometimes, in order to receive help for ourselves, we must first be willing to give a hand to others. Are you willing to do this? Are you looking after the good of others in Jesus’ name? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2013
Ephesians 4:31-32
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave 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.
One of the hardest things to do is to forgive someone who has offended us. And let’s be honest, our natural tendency when we have been insulted or wounded in some way is to vent to others. If someone speaks unkindly about us or makes claims that are inaccurate at best – or downright untruthful – we rush to “set the record straight” with the general public… if not directly with the person who upset us. It usually doesn’t do any good… or make that person behave nicely… but at least for a while, we seem to feel better.
But how do we treat the person who has offended us afterward? What do we do when someone who has hurt us or shown us unkindness has a problem of his/her own – or a crisis? Do we sit back and laugh? Do we declare this to be “karma?” Or do we extend the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ… and offer a kind word or a helping hand? Are we gentle with these people? Do we forgive as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave us?
This is a terribly hard thing to do sometimes. When we have been insulted… our trust has been violated… someone has attempted to stain our reputation… or we have been treated with incredible disrespect…it is often difficult to feel generous and gentle - much less sensitive toward the person who did this. But nothing about obedience to God involves our feelings. It’s not about us. If we want to fully obey God… to wholeheartedly be His disciple and share the love of Jesus Christ with others, we have to be willing to love them without any strings attached.
I will be the first to tell you that I struggle with this. I am not good at “being the bigger person.” I want to rail to God and ask, “Why, LORD? What did I do to deserve this? How can I make this person understand the damage he/she did to me and/or my reputation? How can I ever be kind toward this person again?” And maybe you feel the same way. The answer is not necessarily one we want to hear… but it’s really quite simple. God says, “I already did this for you. Now…are you still unwilling to do this for someone else?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave 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.
One of the hardest things to do is to forgive someone who has offended us. And let’s be honest, our natural tendency when we have been insulted or wounded in some way is to vent to others. If someone speaks unkindly about us or makes claims that are inaccurate at best – or downright untruthful – we rush to “set the record straight” with the general public… if not directly with the person who upset us. It usually doesn’t do any good… or make that person behave nicely… but at least for a while, we seem to feel better.
But how do we treat the person who has offended us afterward? What do we do when someone who has hurt us or shown us unkindness has a problem of his/her own – or a crisis? Do we sit back and laugh? Do we declare this to be “karma?” Or do we extend the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ… and offer a kind word or a helping hand? Are we gentle with these people? Do we forgive as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave us?
This is a terribly hard thing to do sometimes. When we have been insulted… our trust has been violated… someone has attempted to stain our reputation… or we have been treated with incredible disrespect…it is often difficult to feel generous and gentle - much less sensitive toward the person who did this. But nothing about obedience to God involves our feelings. It’s not about us. If we want to fully obey God… to wholeheartedly be His disciple and share the love of Jesus Christ with others, we have to be willing to love them without any strings attached.
I will be the first to tell you that I struggle with this. I am not good at “being the bigger person.” I want to rail to God and ask, “Why, LORD? What did I do to deserve this? How can I make this person understand the damage he/she did to me and/or my reputation? How can I ever be kind toward this person again?” And maybe you feel the same way. The answer is not necessarily one we want to hear… but it’s really quite simple. God says, “I already did this for you. Now…are you still unwilling to do this for someone else?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 20, 2013
Romans 14:1
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
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.
This evening we attended a regional basketball tournament at our local high school gym. Our senior high girls team was competing. It never fails… fans on both sides of the court are always unhappy with the referees - and the games tonight were no exception. Every time the refs did something the fans didn’t agree with, someone would jump out of his/her seat – or yell something loud and ugly. At one point, a player fell to the court and appeared to be hurt… and the referee called a foul on one of our team members for stepping on her. A fan behind me stood up and yelled something to the ref about how the girl charged with the foul was “just walking.” I wanted to turn around and say, “Really? If that were your daughter lying on the court, your attitude would be 100% different!”
Granted, there have been all sorts of sporting events where the officiating truly was terrible… toward both sides. But most of the time, the calls all even out - with just about the same percentage of good and bad calls made for each side. There are plenty of times when we fans do not like a call made by a referee… and do we ever tell them! We “hand them our glasses” so they can see what they missed. We yell and scream, boo and stomp our feet. In general, we treat these folks poorly. We never consider that these are husbands, fathers, grandfathers, mothers, sisters, or brothers who live and work among us by day… and call sporting events on the side for a few extra bucks. Referees are not just under-appreciated – they are often truly despised.
I’m afraid this is exactly how we treat many of our fellow believers. We decide before the game ever starts, so to speak, that they are not in our league. They are mistaken because they don’t see everything our way. Or we figure that they must be weak in their faith…because the things they say and do clearly indicate they are not as pure as we are. We fail to consider that not everyone is where we are in their faith walk. Not everyone has gone through the “stuff” we’ve gone through… or been taught and tested like we have. It might just be that the other guy has endured a whole lot more than we have… more than we can ever imagine… and he/she simply handled it differently than we would have. It doesn’t mean they are wrong… or less of a Christian. We fail to recognize that fellow believers are people just like us… with hopes and dreams, insecurities and heartaches, and a deep desire for acceptance - just like us.
At the end of the day, we all need to treat each other more gently. We need to recognize that we are unique individuals… each with our own story… and each incredibly precious to God. His arms are open wide to welcome every single one of us! Shouldn’t our arms and hearts be open, too?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
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.
This evening we attended a regional basketball tournament at our local high school gym. Our senior high girls team was competing. It never fails… fans on both sides of the court are always unhappy with the referees - and the games tonight were no exception. Every time the refs did something the fans didn’t agree with, someone would jump out of his/her seat – or yell something loud and ugly. At one point, a player fell to the court and appeared to be hurt… and the referee called a foul on one of our team members for stepping on her. A fan behind me stood up and yelled something to the ref about how the girl charged with the foul was “just walking.” I wanted to turn around and say, “Really? If that were your daughter lying on the court, your attitude would be 100% different!”
Granted, there have been all sorts of sporting events where the officiating truly was terrible… toward both sides. But most of the time, the calls all even out - with just about the same percentage of good and bad calls made for each side. There are plenty of times when we fans do not like a call made by a referee… and do we ever tell them! We “hand them our glasses” so they can see what they missed. We yell and scream, boo and stomp our feet. In general, we treat these folks poorly. We never consider that these are husbands, fathers, grandfathers, mothers, sisters, or brothers who live and work among us by day… and call sporting events on the side for a few extra bucks. Referees are not just under-appreciated – they are often truly despised.
I’m afraid this is exactly how we treat many of our fellow believers. We decide before the game ever starts, so to speak, that they are not in our league. They are mistaken because they don’t see everything our way. Or we figure that they must be weak in their faith…because the things they say and do clearly indicate they are not as pure as we are. We fail to consider that not everyone is where we are in their faith walk. Not everyone has gone through the “stuff” we’ve gone through… or been taught and tested like we have. It might just be that the other guy has endured a whole lot more than we have… more than we can ever imagine… and he/she simply handled it differently than we would have. It doesn’t mean they are wrong… or less of a Christian. We fail to recognize that fellow believers are people just like us… with hopes and dreams, insecurities and heartaches, and a deep desire for acceptance - just like us.
At the end of the day, we all need to treat each other more gently. We need to recognize that we are unique individuals… each with our own story… and each incredibly precious to God. His arms are open wide to welcome every single one of us! Shouldn’t our arms and hearts be open, too?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 19, 2013
February 19 ~ Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
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.
I was listening to a segment on NBC’s The TODAY show about sticky social situations. A woman wrote in and said that she and her husband live in Vermont - where it snows a lot, of course. Every time it snows, this woman’s husband blows off the driveway of an elderly neighbor when he cleans his own driveway. The neighbor has never acknowledged that the man does this… never thanked him… nothing. And he has been doing this for years. The wife asked, “How does he stop?” The panel had several suggestions, including asking the woman if she would like for him to continue – or had she made other arrangements… the wife telling her in private that it would be nice if she spoke to the husband about this once in a while and expressed gratitude… and my favorite – keep blowing off the driveway and say nothing!
When I read this scripture passage, I was reminded of the question on this television segment. The whole purpose in clearing the elderly woman’s driveway should not be to get a “thank you” or to be a hero in any way. In life, there will be a lot of things that we do for others that are never acknowledged or don’t appear to be appreciated. But this is not the point! We should be willing to put ourselves aside… to forget about our own gratification and accolades long enough to help others.
There will be a lot of “thankless jobs” in life. If you are truly serving God in doing them, you won’t care. Stop and think about your own life. Where have you made certain things about you that should really be about God? Where are you acting out of selfishness, jealousy, or an obsession with gaining your own advantage? Have you really gotten anything out of your pursuit of a life in Christ? Is your mission truly to be more like Him and to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others… or are you more interested in what you He can do for you?
Go back and read this again… if you have really gotten anything out of your journey with Christ, you will pay it forward. If you are more concerned with what’s in it for you than what you can give, maybe it’s time to take a breather and fully examine your discipleship and your commitment. If you are waiting for the elderly lady next door to thank you for clearing her driveway, so to speak, you probably need a “discipleship makeover.” Today seems like a pretty good day to begin… doesn’t it?!
©2013 Debbie Robus
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
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.
I was listening to a segment on NBC’s The TODAY show about sticky social situations. A woman wrote in and said that she and her husband live in Vermont - where it snows a lot, of course. Every time it snows, this woman’s husband blows off the driveway of an elderly neighbor when he cleans his own driveway. The neighbor has never acknowledged that the man does this… never thanked him… nothing. And he has been doing this for years. The wife asked, “How does he stop?” The panel had several suggestions, including asking the woman if she would like for him to continue – or had she made other arrangements… the wife telling her in private that it would be nice if she spoke to the husband about this once in a while and expressed gratitude… and my favorite – keep blowing off the driveway and say nothing!
When I read this scripture passage, I was reminded of the question on this television segment. The whole purpose in clearing the elderly woman’s driveway should not be to get a “thank you” or to be a hero in any way. In life, there will be a lot of things that we do for others that are never acknowledged or don’t appear to be appreciated. But this is not the point! We should be willing to put ourselves aside… to forget about our own gratification and accolades long enough to help others.
There will be a lot of “thankless jobs” in life. If you are truly serving God in doing them, you won’t care. Stop and think about your own life. Where have you made certain things about you that should really be about God? Where are you acting out of selfishness, jealousy, or an obsession with gaining your own advantage? Have you really gotten anything out of your pursuit of a life in Christ? Is your mission truly to be more like Him and to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others… or are you more interested in what you He can do for you?
Go back and read this again… if you have really gotten anything out of your journey with Christ, you will pay it forward. If you are more concerned with what’s in it for you than what you can give, maybe it’s time to take a breather and fully examine your discipleship and your commitment. If you are waiting for the elderly lady next door to thank you for clearing her driveway, so to speak, you probably need a “discipleship makeover.” Today seems like a pretty good day to begin… doesn’t it?!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2013
Romans 12:20-21
Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
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.
There is a familiar adage that says “Living well is the best revenge.” This scripture passage seems to be saying … “Loving others well in Jesus name is the best ‘revenge.’” I don’t really like the word revenge… but if we can think of this in terms of “getting the best of evil,” then it would seem that “revenge” has its place in the life of a Christian.
Think about the people you encounter. Hopefully you don’t have any true “enemies,” but there may very well be people in your life who offend you… hurt your feelings… treat you poorly… cause you embarrassment or speak unkindly or untruthfully about you. And your temptation may be to retaliate… or to revel in this person’s misfortunes and shortcomings. This would be like taking delight in learning that your childhood bully grew up to be unsuccessful in life and relationships – or now weighs just shy of 300 pounds! Or you might have studied under a difficult professor who later lost tenure or was dismissed for some transgression he/she committed at the university – or a boss who lost his/her job for wrongdoing… and you and your former classmates or co-workers celebrated this news.
Any time we take pleasure in another person’s misfortune – even if it seems they “got what they had coming” – we have let evil get the best of us. Instead, learn to pray for those who insult or injure you in some fashion. When an opportunity arises to show them kindness, take full advantage of it. Greet the person who has spoken ill of you to others with a smile and a handshake. In other words, “kill ‘em with kindness!” - to quote another good old adage!
More than once, I have heard of someone who was mistreated and chose to repay this unkindness with love, grace and mercy… and the person who was being mean or abusive took notice. In many instances, he/she came back and asked, “Why did you treat me so well after what I did to you? I did not deserve this!” Whether you ever have this experience or not, set yourself in position for it. Be ready to say, “I did this for you because this is what Jesus does for me every single day.” This may not come easily at first, but if you really begin to practice getting the best of evil by doing good, you can get better at it!
Revenge may feel good for the moment, but I guarantee you, loving others – even those whom you feel don’t deserve it – really does feel better for the long haul. Think of Jesus and what He does for you every single day. Remind yourself that the goal is to be more like Him. Don’t let evil get the best of you… learn to love others well in the name of Jesus instead. See for yourself exactly how your generosity can affect others. Celebrate the love of Jesus by sharing it with EVERYONE you encounter… even your “enemies.”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
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.
There is a familiar adage that says “Living well is the best revenge.” This scripture passage seems to be saying … “Loving others well in Jesus name is the best ‘revenge.’” I don’t really like the word revenge… but if we can think of this in terms of “getting the best of evil,” then it would seem that “revenge” has its place in the life of a Christian.
Think about the people you encounter. Hopefully you don’t have any true “enemies,” but there may very well be people in your life who offend you… hurt your feelings… treat you poorly… cause you embarrassment or speak unkindly or untruthfully about you. And your temptation may be to retaliate… or to revel in this person’s misfortunes and shortcomings. This would be like taking delight in learning that your childhood bully grew up to be unsuccessful in life and relationships – or now weighs just shy of 300 pounds! Or you might have studied under a difficult professor who later lost tenure or was dismissed for some transgression he/she committed at the university – or a boss who lost his/her job for wrongdoing… and you and your former classmates or co-workers celebrated this news.
Any time we take pleasure in another person’s misfortune – even if it seems they “got what they had coming” – we have let evil get the best of us. Instead, learn to pray for those who insult or injure you in some fashion. When an opportunity arises to show them kindness, take full advantage of it. Greet the person who has spoken ill of you to others with a smile and a handshake. In other words, “kill ‘em with kindness!” - to quote another good old adage!
More than once, I have heard of someone who was mistreated and chose to repay this unkindness with love, grace and mercy… and the person who was being mean or abusive took notice. In many instances, he/she came back and asked, “Why did you treat me so well after what I did to you? I did not deserve this!” Whether you ever have this experience or not, set yourself in position for it. Be ready to say, “I did this for you because this is what Jesus does for me every single day.” This may not come easily at first, but if you really begin to practice getting the best of evil by doing good, you can get better at it!
Revenge may feel good for the moment, but I guarantee you, loving others – even those whom you feel don’t deserve it – really does feel better for the long haul. Think of Jesus and what He does for you every single day. Remind yourself that the goal is to be more like Him. Don’t let evil get the best of you… learn to love others well in the name of Jesus instead. See for yourself exactly how your generosity can affect others. Celebrate the love of Jesus by sharing it with EVERYONE you encounter… even your “enemies.”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 17, 2013
Philippians 3:15-16
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
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.
One of the hardest things about a diet and exercise regimen is sticking to it for the long haul. In the early stages, as you begin to drop pounds and inches – and feel better – you probably find it easy to stay focused. For one thing, the results are clearly visible. You see the number change on the scales. You notice that your clothes are now fitting loosely. You may even discover muscle tone and definition when you look at your body in the mirror.
But then the plateaus come… the weight becomes harder to lose, and your visible results seem stymied. You are still making progress, but it is as if your vision has become blurred – you just can’t see as much of an effect. This is when a lot of us “fall off the wagon” and return to our old habits. But actually, this is when the real work begins. If you thought your workouts were hard at the onset… get ready for even bigger challenges now. The exercises may seem a little easier… but the determination and perseverance may become even more of test.
Our spiritual life is much the same. When we first commit to Jesus - or even to a Bible study or a renewed pledge to be a better Disciple - we are all in, “gung-ho,” filled with determination, excitement and satisfaction at how God’s Holy Spirit is sustaining our longings and building us up with wisdom, courage and hope. But over time, our initial energy may wane. We may settle into a routine and grow weary of the day-to-day “spiritual exercise” regimen.
Maintaining the initial level of spiritual fire requires hard work… and a lot of us lack the discipline, commitment and determination for it on our own. This is not because God didn’t equip us for the journey… but rather, because we are human – and Satan is standing in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to weaken our resolve. He is perfectly content to keep us hovering on his side of the line between an all-out commitment to attaining everything that God wants to give us – and “playing Christian” when it suits our needs and whims.
When I think about all that God has in store for me, I cannot even comprehend it. I feel so blessed already. But like that last five pounds or few inches that seem so hard to lose, I know that the harder I work and the more diligent I remain, the more I will “gain.” When it comes to God’s blessings and plans for me, I’m incredibly greedy… I want it all!
On one of my workout DVDs, trainer Jillian Michaels points to one of her athletes and says, “Look at those abs! They don’t come without hard work. And I would do just about anything to have abs like that…wouldn’t you? You have to work for this!” We need to approach our life in Christ the same way! We need to be willing to do just about anything God requires of us in order to receive all He has in store for us. This includes not only spending time in His presence, studying His word and listening for His voice… but also offering others grace, mercy, love, compassion, and forgiveness in His name.
The trainers in the gyms and on our workout videos don’t rest on their laurels… and neither can we! In order to achieve maximum results, we are going to have to remain vigorous in our efforts to exercise and eat right… and to “work out” with God on a daily basis. How committed are you? Have you fully identified your goals… and are you focused on achieving them? Today is a great day to renew your dedication to become all that you can be… mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Focus on getting all that God has in store for you… and make every effort to do whatever it takes to get there. Let others see in you a person who has clear vision, the Holy Spirit in his/her heart, and a deep desire to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in every way. Let’s get on the right track… and stay there! Are you with me?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
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.
One of the hardest things about a diet and exercise regimen is sticking to it for the long haul. In the early stages, as you begin to drop pounds and inches – and feel better – you probably find it easy to stay focused. For one thing, the results are clearly visible. You see the number change on the scales. You notice that your clothes are now fitting loosely. You may even discover muscle tone and definition when you look at your body in the mirror.
But then the plateaus come… the weight becomes harder to lose, and your visible results seem stymied. You are still making progress, but it is as if your vision has become blurred – you just can’t see as much of an effect. This is when a lot of us “fall off the wagon” and return to our old habits. But actually, this is when the real work begins. If you thought your workouts were hard at the onset… get ready for even bigger challenges now. The exercises may seem a little easier… but the determination and perseverance may become even more of test.
Our spiritual life is much the same. When we first commit to Jesus - or even to a Bible study or a renewed pledge to be a better Disciple - we are all in, “gung-ho,” filled with determination, excitement and satisfaction at how God’s Holy Spirit is sustaining our longings and building us up with wisdom, courage and hope. But over time, our initial energy may wane. We may settle into a routine and grow weary of the day-to-day “spiritual exercise” regimen.
Maintaining the initial level of spiritual fire requires hard work… and a lot of us lack the discipline, commitment and determination for it on our own. This is not because God didn’t equip us for the journey… but rather, because we are human – and Satan is standing in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to weaken our resolve. He is perfectly content to keep us hovering on his side of the line between an all-out commitment to attaining everything that God wants to give us – and “playing Christian” when it suits our needs and whims.
When I think about all that God has in store for me, I cannot even comprehend it. I feel so blessed already. But like that last five pounds or few inches that seem so hard to lose, I know that the harder I work and the more diligent I remain, the more I will “gain.” When it comes to God’s blessings and plans for me, I’m incredibly greedy… I want it all!
On one of my workout DVDs, trainer Jillian Michaels points to one of her athletes and says, “Look at those abs! They don’t come without hard work. And I would do just about anything to have abs like that…wouldn’t you? You have to work for this!” We need to approach our life in Christ the same way! We need to be willing to do just about anything God requires of us in order to receive all He has in store for us. This includes not only spending time in His presence, studying His word and listening for His voice… but also offering others grace, mercy, love, compassion, and forgiveness in His name.
The trainers in the gyms and on our workout videos don’t rest on their laurels… and neither can we! In order to achieve maximum results, we are going to have to remain vigorous in our efforts to exercise and eat right… and to “work out” with God on a daily basis. How committed are you? Have you fully identified your goals… and are you focused on achieving them? Today is a great day to renew your dedication to become all that you can be… mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Focus on getting all that God has in store for you… and make every effort to do whatever it takes to get there. Let others see in you a person who has clear vision, the Holy Spirit in his/her heart, and a deep desire to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in every way. Let’s get on the right track… and stay there! Are you with me?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 16, 2013
Romans 12:16
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
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.
Timothy and I were at the park, and a group of children had shown up to play. Timothy was in heaven to have “friends” to run and climb with – a partner on the see-saw – and someone else to enjoy the swings with him. But when the children all suddenly turned and headed for the merry-go-round, Timothy yelled, “Hey! Wait for me.” Then under his breath, he said something about “idiots.” I stopped him and explained that this was not nice… that we could not call people an ugly name like that. I made sure he understood that this was not acceptable. A few days later, we were watching the Dr. Seuss movie “Horton Hears a Who” on video, and one of the characters stormed into an “office” and said to his “secretary”… “I’m not an idiot! Do I look like an idiot?” In that moment, I knew where my little nephew had learned about “idiots”… and I knew that a lifelong battle with parroting what he sees and hears had begun.
My point is that it’s easy to get caught up in this. We hear people say all sorts of things on television, in the movies, and in our daily living… and unkind things creep into our vocabulary. Innocent children who gleefully play together on a playground with no socio-economic boundaries will soon enough learn that this child’s parents can afford more than that one’s… and that some children wear nicer clothes than others and get to do things that are out of reach for others. Just this week, my cousin texted me a picture of her child’s Valentine’s Day box… a darling hand-made creation. I wondered, “How many children in this little girl’s class will not have a beautiful box for their Valentines? Will they feel like the “great nobody” because of this? It starts early!
So what can we do? Certainly we cannot make fancy Valentine’s boxes for every elementary school child. We can’t take every kid to Disneyworld or make sure that everyone has designer clothing, fancy cars and lives in a big, expensive house. But we can treat others fairly and equally. We can check our language… and even our thoughts… and make sure that we make a concerted effort to get along with everybody. We can teach our children that nobody is better than another person… we can model humility, acceptance of others, and genuine friendship. We can refrain from criticizing or belittling others… even in the privacy of our own homes. We can ask God to help us love others as Jesus loves us… and to accept each of His children as precious in His sight.
We can live in a way that demonstrates our gratitude that Jesus died for Nobodies like each of us… and turned us into Somebodies. We can recognize that not only are we heirs to His throne… but so are all who have given their hearts to Him… and all who will accept Him. My cousin recently lost his 42-year-old wife, Angie, to breast cancer. I can’t tell you how many people commented that Angie loved everybody… and she truly did. Angie didn’t see race, creed or color. She did not care if you were dressed in diamonds and furs… or covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings. It didn’t matter to her if you smelled like a million bucks… or like you hadn’t showered in days. She really didn’t notice whether you were drop-dead gorgeous – or missing most of your teeth. Angie only cared that you knew Jesus… and everyone who met her knew this. We need more “Angies” in the world. We need to be so busy letting others know how much Jesus loves them – and how much we love them in His name – that nothing else matters.
None of us have the excuse of being three years old any longer. We will continue to watch Dr. Seuss movies at my house… but I will make sure that the children understand that what we see in movies is not always acceptable or proper in our relationships with others. It’s time to take responsibility for our actions… and for our role as Disciples of Christ. We need to be truthful, kind, patient, loving, genuine, and humble. We need to treat others fairly… and to shower them with the same love and acceptance that Jesus offers to us. This won’t be easy for some of us. We’ve been operating according to the world’s standards for a long time now. But we really don’t have a choice. This is what God has called us to do… and truly, nothing else matters. I know that I have work to do in this area… but I’m ready and willing to do whatever it takes. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
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.
Timothy and I were at the park, and a group of children had shown up to play. Timothy was in heaven to have “friends” to run and climb with – a partner on the see-saw – and someone else to enjoy the swings with him. But when the children all suddenly turned and headed for the merry-go-round, Timothy yelled, “Hey! Wait for me.” Then under his breath, he said something about “idiots.” I stopped him and explained that this was not nice… that we could not call people an ugly name like that. I made sure he understood that this was not acceptable. A few days later, we were watching the Dr. Seuss movie “Horton Hears a Who” on video, and one of the characters stormed into an “office” and said to his “secretary”… “I’m not an idiot! Do I look like an idiot?” In that moment, I knew where my little nephew had learned about “idiots”… and I knew that a lifelong battle with parroting what he sees and hears had begun.
My point is that it’s easy to get caught up in this. We hear people say all sorts of things on television, in the movies, and in our daily living… and unkind things creep into our vocabulary. Innocent children who gleefully play together on a playground with no socio-economic boundaries will soon enough learn that this child’s parents can afford more than that one’s… and that some children wear nicer clothes than others and get to do things that are out of reach for others. Just this week, my cousin texted me a picture of her child’s Valentine’s Day box… a darling hand-made creation. I wondered, “How many children in this little girl’s class will not have a beautiful box for their Valentines? Will they feel like the “great nobody” because of this? It starts early!
So what can we do? Certainly we cannot make fancy Valentine’s boxes for every elementary school child. We can’t take every kid to Disneyworld or make sure that everyone has designer clothing, fancy cars and lives in a big, expensive house. But we can treat others fairly and equally. We can check our language… and even our thoughts… and make sure that we make a concerted effort to get along with everybody. We can teach our children that nobody is better than another person… we can model humility, acceptance of others, and genuine friendship. We can refrain from criticizing or belittling others… even in the privacy of our own homes. We can ask God to help us love others as Jesus loves us… and to accept each of His children as precious in His sight.
We can live in a way that demonstrates our gratitude that Jesus died for Nobodies like each of us… and turned us into Somebodies. We can recognize that not only are we heirs to His throne… but so are all who have given their hearts to Him… and all who will accept Him. My cousin recently lost his 42-year-old wife, Angie, to breast cancer. I can’t tell you how many people commented that Angie loved everybody… and she truly did. Angie didn’t see race, creed or color. She did not care if you were dressed in diamonds and furs… or covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings. It didn’t matter to her if you smelled like a million bucks… or like you hadn’t showered in days. She really didn’t notice whether you were drop-dead gorgeous – or missing most of your teeth. Angie only cared that you knew Jesus… and everyone who met her knew this. We need more “Angies” in the world. We need to be so busy letting others know how much Jesus loves them – and how much we love them in His name – that nothing else matters.
None of us have the excuse of being three years old any longer. We will continue to watch Dr. Seuss movies at my house… but I will make sure that the children understand that what we see in movies is not always acceptable or proper in our relationships with others. It’s time to take responsibility for our actions… and for our role as Disciples of Christ. We need to be truthful, kind, patient, loving, genuine, and humble. We need to treat others fairly… and to shower them with the same love and acceptance that Jesus offers to us. This won’t be easy for some of us. We’ve been operating according to the world’s standards for a long time now. But we really don’t have a choice. This is what God has called us to do… and truly, nothing else matters. I know that I have work to do in this area… but I’m ready and willing to do whatever it takes. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2013
Colossians 3:12-13
God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the last few years, I’ve studied The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren, during the forty days of Lent. As I read the lesson for today, I found this quote… “When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.” I thought about my own life and how things have changed. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would “put up with” toys scattered all over my house, crumbs on the floor, and a bedroom décor that included a crib, playpen, diapers, children’s toiletries, and stuffed animals. And then our nephews and great-niece came along and changed everything.
We had welcomed nieces and nephews to our family before. I kept a small box of children’s toys tucked away in the closet for when they occasionally visited. Ours was a “grown-up” world where we watched documentaries and paid close attention to world news, took hikes into nearby parks, bought vintage treasures at auctions, and slept late. Now, toys are stored along one wall of our living room, we watch almost as much NickJr. and PBS Kids as national news, “play” in local parks, and shop for second-hand toys, clothes and books. Sleep late? Probably not if there is a toddler in the house!
Our lives were perfectly complete before these children came along. We found meaning and purpose in the projects we pursued, time spent with our family and friends, and serving others through church and community projects. But as I pick raisins and cereal from the living room rug or scrub a dirty high chair tray coated with spaghetti and carrots, I think about these precious children. Any momentary irritation or frustration with their messy behaviors dissipates. I watched a screaming toddler at Wal-Mart one afternoon. I recognized his “melt-down” as I heard his mother say that it was naptime. He had “hit the wall” and totally run out of gas… and he had no clue how to handle this except to scream and cry.
There was a time when I would have been frustrated and aggravated by this noise and interruption to my shopping experience. I would have probably wondered to myself, “Why doesn’t this mother do something with her child?!” Now I get it… I’ve experienced some of these sudden-onset meltdowns, and I know how embarrassing they can be for the mom – and how frustrating they are for the child. I recognize the opportunity that my husband and I have been granted to participate in the early growth and nurture of our own little ones’ lives. My heart has softened with love and compassion for them… and acceptance of this new “life purpose!” I pray that God will help me to always operate in kindness, gentleness and patience!
When I thought about the scripture passage for today in this context, I considered what God must think about us. We are His children… and He “puts up with” each one. Yes, many of our actions and behaviors are juvenile… irritating and frustrating to Him. Still, God forgives us… He sees the potential that lies within each of His children. He may at times be firm or mete out consequences when we need them. But God is also gentle, kind, and patient with us. As Pastor Warren points out, “God specializes in giving people a fresh start.”
So as we encounter people who irritate us… as life changes and we are thrust into unfamiliar, uncomfortable – or even seemingly unbearable – situations… we must remember that God has given us a purpose. He has chosen us as His own special people, and it is up to us to find meaning in each setting and circumstance. Sometimes you may have to dig pretty deeply! There may be people who totally rub you the wrong way… those whose presence drives you bonkers and truly seems intrusive or unbearable. Remember… others may also feel the same way about you!
God sees something in each of us that others may not see. If He is willing to “put up with” us and grant us a fresh start, how can we do any less for others? Isn’t today a good day to examine your heart - and your life’s meaning and purpose… to discover where you need to treat others with a little patience, kindness, compassion and forgiveness? Maybe you need a fresh start… or maybe you need to offer one to someone else (at least in your heart). Wouldn’t this be a great day for both?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the last few years, I’ve studied The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren, during the forty days of Lent. As I read the lesson for today, I found this quote… “When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.” I thought about my own life and how things have changed. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would “put up with” toys scattered all over my house, crumbs on the floor, and a bedroom décor that included a crib, playpen, diapers, children’s toiletries, and stuffed animals. And then our nephews and great-niece came along and changed everything.
We had welcomed nieces and nephews to our family before. I kept a small box of children’s toys tucked away in the closet for when they occasionally visited. Ours was a “grown-up” world where we watched documentaries and paid close attention to world news, took hikes into nearby parks, bought vintage treasures at auctions, and slept late. Now, toys are stored along one wall of our living room, we watch almost as much NickJr. and PBS Kids as national news, “play” in local parks, and shop for second-hand toys, clothes and books. Sleep late? Probably not if there is a toddler in the house!
Our lives were perfectly complete before these children came along. We found meaning and purpose in the projects we pursued, time spent with our family and friends, and serving others through church and community projects. But as I pick raisins and cereal from the living room rug or scrub a dirty high chair tray coated with spaghetti and carrots, I think about these precious children. Any momentary irritation or frustration with their messy behaviors dissipates. I watched a screaming toddler at Wal-Mart one afternoon. I recognized his “melt-down” as I heard his mother say that it was naptime. He had “hit the wall” and totally run out of gas… and he had no clue how to handle this except to scream and cry.
There was a time when I would have been frustrated and aggravated by this noise and interruption to my shopping experience. I would have probably wondered to myself, “Why doesn’t this mother do something with her child?!” Now I get it… I’ve experienced some of these sudden-onset meltdowns, and I know how embarrassing they can be for the mom – and how frustrating they are for the child. I recognize the opportunity that my husband and I have been granted to participate in the early growth and nurture of our own little ones’ lives. My heart has softened with love and compassion for them… and acceptance of this new “life purpose!” I pray that God will help me to always operate in kindness, gentleness and patience!
When I thought about the scripture passage for today in this context, I considered what God must think about us. We are His children… and He “puts up with” each one. Yes, many of our actions and behaviors are juvenile… irritating and frustrating to Him. Still, God forgives us… He sees the potential that lies within each of His children. He may at times be firm or mete out consequences when we need them. But God is also gentle, kind, and patient with us. As Pastor Warren points out, “God specializes in giving people a fresh start.”
So as we encounter people who irritate us… as life changes and we are thrust into unfamiliar, uncomfortable – or even seemingly unbearable – situations… we must remember that God has given us a purpose. He has chosen us as His own special people, and it is up to us to find meaning in each setting and circumstance. Sometimes you may have to dig pretty deeply! There may be people who totally rub you the wrong way… those whose presence drives you bonkers and truly seems intrusive or unbearable. Remember… others may also feel the same way about you!
God sees something in each of us that others may not see. If He is willing to “put up with” us and grant us a fresh start, how can we do any less for others? Isn’t today a good day to examine your heart - and your life’s meaning and purpose… to discover where you need to treat others with a little patience, kindness, compassion and forgiveness? Maybe you need a fresh start… or maybe you need to offer one to someone else (at least in your heart). Wouldn’t this be a great day for both?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2013
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Unless you’ve been in a coma, you know that today is Valentine’s Day… a day when we are supposed to shower others with love in the form of cards than range from “mushy and gooey” to downright silly, flowers, balloons, candy – especially chocolate – and other gifts. More than $4 billion will be spent on jewelry alone, according to an article at www.forbes.com. Overall, this will be an $18.6 billion dollar event! People will propose marriage – and others will actually tie the knot.
Tomorrow, baskets and bins in retail outlets throughout the world will be filled with discounted leftovers. The price of fresh roses and other flowers will go down - and let’s be honest…people will not be as tender and loving toward one another. It’s as if this one day of the year wields some sort of magical power over most of us. If someone purchases one of these items today to share with a loved one, is the love any less genuine? Can your February 14th gestures of love convey how you feel about others for the rest of the year?
I do not mean to belittle Valentine’s Day. I love sending Valentines to my little nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. I enjoy making heart-shaped treats for them and imagining their little faces when they get a surprise in the mail or on their doorstep. Although we long ago agreed to stop exchanging gifts and cards, it gives me great joy to leave love notes for my husband, or to make him a special holiday breakfast… or to share a celebratory lunch or dinner. But sending gifts and cards is relatively easy. In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren reminds us that …”If you only serve when it’s convenient, you’re not a real servant.” It would follow that if you only love on Valentine’s Day, you very well may be only pretending to love others.
The challenge for all of us is to look around and figure out who – and how – we can love 365 days a year. Where can we show others the love of Jesus with genuine words and acts of affection and honor? How can we step out of our comfort zone in order to be obedient disciples of Christ? Is the love of Jesus Christ (and grace, mercy and forgiveness that His love encompasses) so profound in our own lives that we are ready and willing to drop everything to share it with someone else? What is so important in our own lives that we don’t have time to love another in the name of Jesus… and why do we think this requires gifts, cards, candy, or jewelry?
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to think about love. This is a great time to examine our hearts and find any corners where our expressions of love might be less than authentic. Ask God to show you where you love others conveniently or give lip service instead of genuine care and concern. Let Him show you how to love others every day of the year… to extend to them the grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion that Jesus showers us with continually. Be a real servant and a true disciple. Make every day Valentine’s Day in Jesus’ name. Allow Jesus to use you for His glory… and get ready to be loved like mad in the bargain!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 13, 2013
2 Timothy 2:22-26
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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.
There are a lot of parallels in working with children and old people. One of these involves trying to reason with either age group. You can sometimes tell a child a dozen times that… “this square puzzle piece does not fit in that round hole”… but the child has to figure this out on his/her own to fully learn the lesson. You may gently suggest to an elderly loved one that “perhaps it’s time to consider downsizing or moving to a retirement village or assisted living facility.” But if the senior still has his/her mental faculties, you cannot make this decision yourself. At both ends of this generational spectrum, the temptation is often there to yell and scream – if only inside your own head! Why can’t these people see what you see? Why do they have to insist on their own way?
Stop and read these last two sentences again… and think about Jesus. Why can’t we see what He sees? Why do we insist on having things our own way instead of listening to Him? What if Jesus yelled and screamed at us when we disobeyed or chose the wrong path? Do you see that sometimes the best tactic is to keep cool, stay patient, and gently listen and lead? Do you operate with a gracious, merciful and forgiving heart toward others… as Jesus does toward each of us?
In my own experience, I’ll admit that I’ve tried yelling and screaming. I’ve been impatient and argumentative. And I know for a fact that this method pretty much never works! I’ve sat back and watched little children figure things out on their own… and seen the joy and confidence spread over their faces as they “got it.” I’ve watched my own grandmother come to the conclusion that she needed to move to an assisted living facility. I’ve seen the peace and satisfaction that she and my great-aunt both experienced when they set aside their car keys and decided they were no longer able to drive… versus the angst my grandfather endured when this decision was imposed upon him.
I have also seen the “kicking and screaming” – both literal and figurative – that have resulted when often-well-meaning Christians tried to force their beliefs and practices on others. And I have seen the beauty of the moment that someone genuinely, humbly surrendered to Jesus and truly felt the warmth and glory of His touch. I am firmly convinced that we would see more of the latter if we could learn to curb our urge to operate in the former!
There is a lot of “meat” in this scripture passage for all of us. Don’t miss it! Study the words of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy and apply them to your own life. Find a balance between patience and treating others firmly… between being a good listener while gently teaching and leading…between keeping your cool and making your point. Always think of Jesus. Remind yourself of His gentle rhythms…how He continually operated in love and forgiveness, grace and mercy – while demonstrating obedience to God and respect for His laws. See firsthand how effective your witness can be when you apply these approaches to your own interactions with others.
Let others see Jesus in your words and actions… and prepare to see Jesus at work in ways you never dreamed were possible. It’s time we moved over and let Jesus have control. Are you willing to step aside and let Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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.
There are a lot of parallels in working with children and old people. One of these involves trying to reason with either age group. You can sometimes tell a child a dozen times that… “this square puzzle piece does not fit in that round hole”… but the child has to figure this out on his/her own to fully learn the lesson. You may gently suggest to an elderly loved one that “perhaps it’s time to consider downsizing or moving to a retirement village or assisted living facility.” But if the senior still has his/her mental faculties, you cannot make this decision yourself. At both ends of this generational spectrum, the temptation is often there to yell and scream – if only inside your own head! Why can’t these people see what you see? Why do they have to insist on their own way?
Stop and read these last two sentences again… and think about Jesus. Why can’t we see what He sees? Why do we insist on having things our own way instead of listening to Him? What if Jesus yelled and screamed at us when we disobeyed or chose the wrong path? Do you see that sometimes the best tactic is to keep cool, stay patient, and gently listen and lead? Do you operate with a gracious, merciful and forgiving heart toward others… as Jesus does toward each of us?
In my own experience, I’ll admit that I’ve tried yelling and screaming. I’ve been impatient and argumentative. And I know for a fact that this method pretty much never works! I’ve sat back and watched little children figure things out on their own… and seen the joy and confidence spread over their faces as they “got it.” I’ve watched my own grandmother come to the conclusion that she needed to move to an assisted living facility. I’ve seen the peace and satisfaction that she and my great-aunt both experienced when they set aside their car keys and decided they were no longer able to drive… versus the angst my grandfather endured when this decision was imposed upon him.
I have also seen the “kicking and screaming” – both literal and figurative – that have resulted when often-well-meaning Christians tried to force their beliefs and practices on others. And I have seen the beauty of the moment that someone genuinely, humbly surrendered to Jesus and truly felt the warmth and glory of His touch. I am firmly convinced that we would see more of the latter if we could learn to curb our urge to operate in the former!
There is a lot of “meat” in this scripture passage for all of us. Don’t miss it! Study the words of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy and apply them to your own life. Find a balance between patience and treating others firmly… between being a good listener while gently teaching and leading…between keeping your cool and making your point. Always think of Jesus. Remind yourself of His gentle rhythms…how He continually operated in love and forgiveness, grace and mercy – while demonstrating obedience to God and respect for His laws. See firsthand how effective your witness can be when you apply these approaches to your own interactions with others.
Let others see Jesus in your words and actions… and prepare to see Jesus at work in ways you never dreamed were possible. It’s time we moved over and let Jesus have control. Are you willing to step aside and let Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 13, 2013
Romans 5:6-8
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to 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.
In his autobiography, Gypsy Smith: His Life, His Work, evangelist Rodney “Gypsy” Smith writes about how his father, Cornelius, played his fiddle in taverns throughout England. Cornelius always got drunk when he performed in these taverns. All of this changed on the day he found Jesus and was converted. When Cornelius Smith found Jesus, he vowed to never again play in a tavern. One Christmas, the family was hungry and without food. Cornelius knew that he could earn money for his family by taking his fiddle and going to a tavern to perform. But he refused to betray the commitment he had made to Jesus Christ…who died on the cross for sinners like him.
Gathering his family together, Cornelius Smith suggested that they sing a hymn… “The Lord Will Provide.” Here are the words of this hymn, written in 1894 by Mrs. A. W. Cook…
In some way or other the Lord will provide;
It may not be my way, It may not be thy way;
And yet, in His own way, “The Lord will provide.”
At some time or other the Lord will provide;
It may not be my time; It may not be thy time;
And yet, in His own time, “The Lord will provide.”
Despond then no longer; the Lord will provide;
And this be the token, No word He hath spoken
Was ever yet broken: “The Lord will provide.”
March on then right boldly; the sea shall divide,
The path-way made glorious, With shoutings victorious
We’ll join in the chorus: “The Lord will provide.”
Then, we’ll trust in the Lord,
And He will provide; Yes, we’ll trust in the Lord,
And He will provide.
Soon after singing this hymn, a local missionary knocked on the Smith’s door and told Cornelius that a shop in town was holding three legs of mutton and some other groceries for the family. All they had to do was go and collect the food. The Lord had provided.
Long before Cornelius Smith turned his life around, Jesus was providing for him. Jesus knew exactly what would happen… how this man would spend much of his young life drunk or passed out in taverns, and still He felt Cornelius was worth the sacrifice of His very life. He knows you… and me… our families and friends… the homeless guy we pretend is not there… the drunk who can’t seem to stay out of bars or away from the bottle… and the coed in your dorm who seems headed for disaster.
Jesus knows each of us better than we will ever know ourselves. He knew us before the Roman soldiers arrested Him… long before He was beaten and nailed to a cross. And still, He thought we were worth the sacrifice. Jesus knew that we needed Him to provide for us… and provide He did. Now that we have made a commitment to follow Him, Jesus continues to provide and sacrifice on our behalf. See, Jesus knows that even His disciples will have days/weeks/months where things don’t go so well… where the “cupboards are bare,” so to speak. He knows we will have challenges, setbacks, and pitfalls… and still He provides.
It may look pretty bleak in your corner of the world today. You may have taken a step or more backward… you may feel that you have fallen away from God and don’t deserve the sacrifices of Jesus – or His forgiveness. You may be ready to “pick up your fiddle and go back to the tavern.” I’m here to tell you that Jesus will ALWAYS provide… if only we will trust Him to do so.
Read the words of this beautiful hymn again… “Despond then no longer; the Lord will provide.” Humble yourself before God and thank Him for the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. Ask God to forgive you yet again for whatever you may have done that separated you from your connection with Jesus. Remember that Jesus isn’t the one who walked away. But if you will take steps to come back to Him, He will welcome you with open arms. And yes, He will provide.
Once we have recognized Jesus’ sacrifices and claimed them, we must trust Him to fulfill His promises… to provide for us according to His will…to love us even though we will never deserve this gift. I don’t know about you, but it boggles my mind to think that Jesus could love me… could give his life for mine… that He could truly care about my needs and want to meet every single one of them. But this is the truth! So I will “march on right boldly… join in the chorus, with shoutings victorious… and trust in the LORD”… that He will provide. Will you add your voice to the choir?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to 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.
In his autobiography, Gypsy Smith: His Life, His Work, evangelist Rodney “Gypsy” Smith writes about how his father, Cornelius, played his fiddle in taverns throughout England. Cornelius always got drunk when he performed in these taverns. All of this changed on the day he found Jesus and was converted. When Cornelius Smith found Jesus, he vowed to never again play in a tavern. One Christmas, the family was hungry and without food. Cornelius knew that he could earn money for his family by taking his fiddle and going to a tavern to perform. But he refused to betray the commitment he had made to Jesus Christ…who died on the cross for sinners like him.
Gathering his family together, Cornelius Smith suggested that they sing a hymn… “The Lord Will Provide.” Here are the words of this hymn, written in 1894 by Mrs. A. W. Cook…
In some way or other the Lord will provide;
It may not be my way, It may not be thy way;
And yet, in His own way, “The Lord will provide.”
At some time or other the Lord will provide;
It may not be my time; It may not be thy time;
And yet, in His own time, “The Lord will provide.”
Despond then no longer; the Lord will provide;
And this be the token, No word He hath spoken
Was ever yet broken: “The Lord will provide.”
March on then right boldly; the sea shall divide,
The path-way made glorious, With shoutings victorious
We’ll join in the chorus: “The Lord will provide.”
Then, we’ll trust in the Lord,
And He will provide; Yes, we’ll trust in the Lord,
And He will provide.
Soon after singing this hymn, a local missionary knocked on the Smith’s door and told Cornelius that a shop in town was holding three legs of mutton and some other groceries for the family. All they had to do was go and collect the food. The Lord had provided.
Long before Cornelius Smith turned his life around, Jesus was providing for him. Jesus knew exactly what would happen… how this man would spend much of his young life drunk or passed out in taverns, and still He felt Cornelius was worth the sacrifice of His very life. He knows you… and me… our families and friends… the homeless guy we pretend is not there… the drunk who can’t seem to stay out of bars or away from the bottle… and the coed in your dorm who seems headed for disaster.
Jesus knows each of us better than we will ever know ourselves. He knew us before the Roman soldiers arrested Him… long before He was beaten and nailed to a cross. And still, He thought we were worth the sacrifice. Jesus knew that we needed Him to provide for us… and provide He did. Now that we have made a commitment to follow Him, Jesus continues to provide and sacrifice on our behalf. See, Jesus knows that even His disciples will have days/weeks/months where things don’t go so well… where the “cupboards are bare,” so to speak. He knows we will have challenges, setbacks, and pitfalls… and still He provides.
It may look pretty bleak in your corner of the world today. You may have taken a step or more backward… you may feel that you have fallen away from God and don’t deserve the sacrifices of Jesus – or His forgiveness. You may be ready to “pick up your fiddle and go back to the tavern.” I’m here to tell you that Jesus will ALWAYS provide… if only we will trust Him to do so.
Read the words of this beautiful hymn again… “Despond then no longer; the Lord will provide.” Humble yourself before God and thank Him for the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. Ask God to forgive you yet again for whatever you may have done that separated you from your connection with Jesus. Remember that Jesus isn’t the one who walked away. But if you will take steps to come back to Him, He will welcome you with open arms. And yes, He will provide.
Once we have recognized Jesus’ sacrifices and claimed them, we must trust Him to fulfill His promises… to provide for us according to His will…to love us even though we will never deserve this gift. I don’t know about you, but it boggles my mind to think that Jesus could love me… could give his life for mine… that He could truly care about my needs and want to meet every single one of them. But this is the truth! So I will “march on right boldly… join in the chorus, with shoutings victorious… and trust in the LORD”… that He will provide. Will you add your voice to the choir?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 11, 2013
James 1:5-8
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
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.
In our publishing business, my husband and I handled a lot of “customer service” calls. One of the things I heard over and over was, “This is probably a dumb question, but…” My response was always, “There are no dumb questions.” I will grant you… some of the questions seemed pretty ridiculous, because the answers seemed obvious to us. But for the person asking, these were serious queries. The last thing we wanted to do was to make him/her feel inferior or foolish.
When I read this passage today, I thought about how we come to God with our questions and problems. I wonder if we truly realize that He has every answer! God knows exactly what we should do and how everything will play out…and there are no “dumb questions” when we are talking with Him. More importantly, we can trust that God will not only hear our prayers… He will answer them and guide our steps.
How do you know that what you are hearing is truly God’s answer? This is a huge question… one that we wrestle with every day. Some look for “signs”… others go with a “gut feeling”… and yes, some “worry their prayers” half to death – wringing their hands and wondering if they made the right choices. And sometimes, you have well-meaning – even wise and caring – advisors telling you that your “answers” are not the right ones. What do you do with all of this?
My experience has shown me that there will be times when things readily fall into place, and I feel that I heard correctly from God. Everything may not play out exactly as I anticipated… but in the end, I see God’s hand in the results. There will also be a few times when I miss the mark… when I think God has led me in one direction, and I learn that I was not quite on target. The GOOD NEWS is that even in these times, God doesn’t desert me. If I faithfully and genuinely trust Him for outcomes, He will work even when I have misinterpreted His message. There may be some bumps in the road… challenges and hurdles I didn’t anticipate – much less want… but God will show me how to correct my course and get back on track.
The KEY is to communicate with God about everything, to faithfully work to follow His will… and then to trust Him for the outcomes. The one thing we must not do is “worry our prayers” and second-guess them. If we have humbly and earnestly sought God’s will in prayer, we cannot play the “woulda-shoulda-coulda” game afterward.
This is not easy. But God never promised us easy. I heard Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, say that he once asked a man how he was doing. The man replied, “I’m doing very well… under the circumstances.” Pastor Warren’s reply was, “What are you doing under them? Being under your circumstances is like being under a mattress… you’ll smother! Get on top of them!” God wants us to come to him with all of our questions, problems, and concerns… and to trust Him to show us how to sit on top of them. He wants us to trust Him for the right answers… and the outcomes.
My question to all of us today is this… “Where are we sitting? Are we under the “mattress” of our circumstances? Have we deemed our questions/situations to be too dumb for God to handle? Do we fully trust His ability to answer us? Do we trust our ability to hear from Him… and are we following through on His answers with confidence? Have we stopped “worrying our prayers” and started trusting God to guide us in all situations? Isn’t it time we did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
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.
In our publishing business, my husband and I handled a lot of “customer service” calls. One of the things I heard over and over was, “This is probably a dumb question, but…” My response was always, “There are no dumb questions.” I will grant you… some of the questions seemed pretty ridiculous, because the answers seemed obvious to us. But for the person asking, these were serious queries. The last thing we wanted to do was to make him/her feel inferior or foolish.
When I read this passage today, I thought about how we come to God with our questions and problems. I wonder if we truly realize that He has every answer! God knows exactly what we should do and how everything will play out…and there are no “dumb questions” when we are talking with Him. More importantly, we can trust that God will not only hear our prayers… He will answer them and guide our steps.
How do you know that what you are hearing is truly God’s answer? This is a huge question… one that we wrestle with every day. Some look for “signs”… others go with a “gut feeling”… and yes, some “worry their prayers” half to death – wringing their hands and wondering if they made the right choices. And sometimes, you have well-meaning – even wise and caring – advisors telling you that your “answers” are not the right ones. What do you do with all of this?
My experience has shown me that there will be times when things readily fall into place, and I feel that I heard correctly from God. Everything may not play out exactly as I anticipated… but in the end, I see God’s hand in the results. There will also be a few times when I miss the mark… when I think God has led me in one direction, and I learn that I was not quite on target. The GOOD NEWS is that even in these times, God doesn’t desert me. If I faithfully and genuinely trust Him for outcomes, He will work even when I have misinterpreted His message. There may be some bumps in the road… challenges and hurdles I didn’t anticipate – much less want… but God will show me how to correct my course and get back on track.
The KEY is to communicate with God about everything, to faithfully work to follow His will… and then to trust Him for the outcomes. The one thing we must not do is “worry our prayers” and second-guess them. If we have humbly and earnestly sought God’s will in prayer, we cannot play the “woulda-shoulda-coulda” game afterward.
This is not easy. But God never promised us easy. I heard Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, say that he once asked a man how he was doing. The man replied, “I’m doing very well… under the circumstances.” Pastor Warren’s reply was, “What are you doing under them? Being under your circumstances is like being under a mattress… you’ll smother! Get on top of them!” God wants us to come to him with all of our questions, problems, and concerns… and to trust Him to show us how to sit on top of them. He wants us to trust Him for the right answers… and the outcomes.
My question to all of us today is this… “Where are we sitting? Are we under the “mattress” of our circumstances? Have we deemed our questions/situations to be too dumb for God to handle? Do we fully trust His ability to answer us? Do we trust our ability to hear from Him… and are we following through on His answers with confidence? Have we stopped “worrying our prayers” and started trusting God to guide us in all situations? Isn’t it time we did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 10, 2013
Luke 22:34
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If we are to be totally honest, there are probably at least one or two people who could deny knowing us, and we really wouldn’t care! But for the most part, when someone treats us poorly… fails to acknowledge us… or even betrays us by skipping out when the chips are down… we are insulted, disappointed, and sometimes deeply hurt. And I am sure that Jesus felt the same way when Peter told more than one person that he had no relationship with Him… that he didn’t know Him… that he had not been in His company.
Jesus had every right to throw up His hands and say to Peter, “That’s it! I’m done with you.” But we know better, don’t we?! Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t operate this way… and neither should we. Now understand me… I am not saying that people have license to walk all over us… mistreat us… come and go in our lives according to their whims or how we react toward them, and suffer no consequences. Everyone deserves respect and fair treatment. But there will come a time in each person’s life when someone mistreats him/her… and your first reaction may be to say, “That’s it! I’m done!”
Think about that significant other you thought was so wonderful when you first met… and now you can’t believe you ever gave him/her the time of day. Consider the person who pretended to be your friend, then took advantage of your time, talents, knowledge, or possessions... and ran for the hills. What about the person who embarrassed you or tried to make you look ridiculous to others? You probably are pretty angry and disgusted with him/her…right? And you may have good reason to be!
Nobody should be another person’s doormat. But at the same time, we must be ready and willing to offer forgiveness, grace, and mercy to those who “deny” us in some way. We have all treated Jesus terribly… and He still finds a way to forgive us. We have all denied Him in one way or another… yet He loves us. We may not have actually uttered the words, “I don’t know Him,” but we have done this in ways great and small… from failing to love others in His name to ignoring the gentle whisper of His Holy Spirit to acting like fools on more than one occasion.
We lie, cheat, steal, gossip…take advantage of others’ generosity…treat people poorly…walk, talk and dress like someone who has no pride or respect…mistreat our bodies with food, drugs and alcohol…and fail to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with those we encounter. In short, we do not live as disciples of Christ… we are not acting in a manner that would make us suitable representatives of the hands and feet of Jesus… and our actions essentially are a denial of our Jesus Christ, who gave His very life on the cross for ours. And still He forgives us.
Just like with Peter, Jesus knows what we will do before we do it. He allows us the rope for either a rescue - or a hanging… and the choice is ours. Jesus stands ready to offer us grace, mercy and forgiveness – if only we will ask Him. Can you say that you do the same for others? We all “deny” Jesus… and others will “deny” us. What will you do when this happens? Just how committed to are you to Christ? Isn’t it time you decided?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If we are to be totally honest, there are probably at least one or two people who could deny knowing us, and we really wouldn’t care! But for the most part, when someone treats us poorly… fails to acknowledge us… or even betrays us by skipping out when the chips are down… we are insulted, disappointed, and sometimes deeply hurt. And I am sure that Jesus felt the same way when Peter told more than one person that he had no relationship with Him… that he didn’t know Him… that he had not been in His company.
Jesus had every right to throw up His hands and say to Peter, “That’s it! I’m done with you.” But we know better, don’t we?! Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t operate this way… and neither should we. Now understand me… I am not saying that people have license to walk all over us… mistreat us… come and go in our lives according to their whims or how we react toward them, and suffer no consequences. Everyone deserves respect and fair treatment. But there will come a time in each person’s life when someone mistreats him/her… and your first reaction may be to say, “That’s it! I’m done!”
Think about that significant other you thought was so wonderful when you first met… and now you can’t believe you ever gave him/her the time of day. Consider the person who pretended to be your friend, then took advantage of your time, talents, knowledge, or possessions... and ran for the hills. What about the person who embarrassed you or tried to make you look ridiculous to others? You probably are pretty angry and disgusted with him/her…right? And you may have good reason to be!
Nobody should be another person’s doormat. But at the same time, we must be ready and willing to offer forgiveness, grace, and mercy to those who “deny” us in some way. We have all treated Jesus terribly… and He still finds a way to forgive us. We have all denied Him in one way or another… yet He loves us. We may not have actually uttered the words, “I don’t know Him,” but we have done this in ways great and small… from failing to love others in His name to ignoring the gentle whisper of His Holy Spirit to acting like fools on more than one occasion.
We lie, cheat, steal, gossip…take advantage of others’ generosity…treat people poorly…walk, talk and dress like someone who has no pride or respect…mistreat our bodies with food, drugs and alcohol…and fail to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with those we encounter. In short, we do not live as disciples of Christ… we are not acting in a manner that would make us suitable representatives of the hands and feet of Jesus… and our actions essentially are a denial of our Jesus Christ, who gave His very life on the cross for ours. And still He forgives us.
Just like with Peter, Jesus knows what we will do before we do it. He allows us the rope for either a rescue - or a hanging… and the choice is ours. Jesus stands ready to offer us grace, mercy and forgiveness – if only we will ask Him. Can you say that you do the same for others? We all “deny” Jesus… and others will “deny” us. What will you do when this happens? Just how committed to are you to Christ? Isn’t it time you decided?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 9, 2013
James 1:12
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I read a post on Facebook from the mother of two small children, both of whom are very sick. One is in the PICU at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock… the other is at home with his dad, battling pneumonia. These two 4-year-olds have literally fought for their lives since birth. Their sister didn’t make it to her first birthday and spent all 10 months of her life in the hospital. In the last few days, one of these children lost some teeth and had a visit from the tooth fairy. Both siblings now attend “school”… their name for Mother’s Day Out. Life was starting to feel a little “normal” for this family… now things have changed drastically in a matter of days.
As I thought about this family, I was reminded of another mother whose adult son is undergoing radiation treatments following the removal of a cancerous brain tumor. This woman balances daily 60-mile-round-trip shuttles of her son to his radiation treatments with the care of herself, her husband, and her household. I know another woman who is struggling with decisions about the future of her elderly mother… and wrestling with the possibility of placing her in a skilled care facility. I know from personal experience that this is a daunting test of faith.
Just a few days ago, I read about a friend on Facebook whose dog has gone blind and appeared to be in constant pain, so they took him to have his eyes removed. There are all sorts of things that test our faith each and every day. I know that you can probably tell me half a dozen stories of your own. Like those whose situations I have described, I hope the people you call to mind have not given up. On any particular day, our tests can seem more than a little overwhelming.
Perhaps YOU are struggling with a situation in your own life. Maybe your challenge is not of a physical nature… but more a test of character and emotional fortitude. Maybe you are dealing with an overbearing professor or a relationship issue… and your feelings are raw. Perhaps someone has disappointed or betrayed you. Forgiveness may seem like the last thing you want to consider… but to fail to do so would be the same as giving up. And I’ll be honest…some days, this seems like a good option! But we know better… and scripture tells us that we must press on toward the mark…look to Jesus… trust Him to number our steps, and love Him for making a way where we can see none.
Forgiveness takes courage… and often requires a lot of faith. Today may very well bring tests of both for you... how well will you perform?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I read a post on Facebook from the mother of two small children, both of whom are very sick. One is in the PICU at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock… the other is at home with his dad, battling pneumonia. These two 4-year-olds have literally fought for their lives since birth. Their sister didn’t make it to her first birthday and spent all 10 months of her life in the hospital. In the last few days, one of these children lost some teeth and had a visit from the tooth fairy. Both siblings now attend “school”… their name for Mother’s Day Out. Life was starting to feel a little “normal” for this family… now things have changed drastically in a matter of days.
As I thought about this family, I was reminded of another mother whose adult son is undergoing radiation treatments following the removal of a cancerous brain tumor. This woman balances daily 60-mile-round-trip shuttles of her son to his radiation treatments with the care of herself, her husband, and her household. I know another woman who is struggling with decisions about the future of her elderly mother… and wrestling with the possibility of placing her in a skilled care facility. I know from personal experience that this is a daunting test of faith.
Just a few days ago, I read about a friend on Facebook whose dog has gone blind and appeared to be in constant pain, so they took him to have his eyes removed. There are all sorts of things that test our faith each and every day. I know that you can probably tell me half a dozen stories of your own. Like those whose situations I have described, I hope the people you call to mind have not given up. On any particular day, our tests can seem more than a little overwhelming.
Perhaps YOU are struggling with a situation in your own life. Maybe your challenge is not of a physical nature… but more a test of character and emotional fortitude. Maybe you are dealing with an overbearing professor or a relationship issue… and your feelings are raw. Perhaps someone has disappointed or betrayed you. Forgiveness may seem like the last thing you want to consider… but to fail to do so would be the same as giving up. And I’ll be honest…some days, this seems like a good option! But we know better… and scripture tells us that we must press on toward the mark…look to Jesus… trust Him to number our steps, and love Him for making a way where we can see none.
Forgiveness takes courage… and often requires a lot of faith. Today may very well bring tests of both for you... how well will you perform?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 8, 2013
Luke 17:3-4
“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive 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.
The other night, Timothy was sitting at the table drinking a cup of milk. He was holding his “Puff” – a loosely stuffed toy Puffalump bear that had been his mother’s when she was little. He said, “Aunt Debbie, Puff keeps hitting me in the head!” I told him to ask Puff to stop. He replied, “I did, and he keeps hitting me.” So I suggested that perhaps Puff should sit in another chair in “time out” until he could be nice. Timmy had an adorable conversation with “Puff,” lovingly chastising him and explaining why he had to go to “time out.” After a minute or so, he asked if Puff could come out again. I asked, “Is he ready to be nice?” He took Puff in his hands and asked, “Puff, did you think about what you did? Do you think you are ready to be nice?” Apparently Puff said “Yes”… but a few seconds later, he was “hitting” Timmy again and had to return to the chair!
This was a game… and a bit of role playing on Timothy’s part. He wants to please… and when he misbehaves, he is always sorry – for the moment. But at 3½, he is still sorting through how to honor his commitments. So we are quick to forgive him. But part of good “parenting” or teaching is making sure you forgive the child… but do not forget nor endorse the transgression. In other words, I can forgive Timothy’s “Puff” all day long for hitting him, but I cannot tolerate this behavior – and there will have to be consequences.
Here’s a grown-up example… in the book Adult Children of Alcoholics, author Janet Geringer Woititz, Ed.D., writes of alcoholics (and others) who ask for forgiveness…”The promises of reform, although shortlived, are believed because those who care want to believe them, and, as a result, they unknowingly become part of the disease pattern.” In other words, we want to forgive others… we are commanded to do so in scripture. But as a dear pastor friend of mine reminds me, there is a fine line between enabling and helping.
What does this mean for us as Christians? How do we know when we are truly operating in forgiveness… and when we have crossed the line into enabling? I am not sure I have an answer for you… but God does. We must stay in very close contact with God… we must study scriptures on forgiveness and fairness. We most certainly must not judge others. At the same time, we have to be very sure that the “offender” is forgiven and loved… but not supported in wrongdoing or poor judgment. In other words, as with Timothy or his toy, we may hug the child or the bear and tell them we love them – and then march them off to sit in a “time out” chair!
I have thought a lot about this as I studied these scripture passages on forgiveness. I have asked myself… “What does this scenario look like in terms of me as the offender and Jesus as the One who is being asked to forgive? What happens if He turns His back on me… and why doesn’t He do this?” I have concluded that Jesus never fails me, even when I deserve it. But sometimes He allows me to wallow in my own screw-ups for a while, so that I learn from my mistakes. And maybe that is the answer for us today. We must be careful to remain nonjudgmental… but maybe we are called to say, “You messed up, buddy… you’ll have to make restitution for this. There will have to be some fences mended – and trust will have to be regained over time. But I still love you… and I forgive you.”
You don’t necessarily have to forgive others in person. You do have to forgive them in your heart. Hear me well on this… unforgiveness will eat a hole in your soul – and it could separate you from God. I can’t say for certain that God will not forgive us when we don’t forgive others, but scripture makes it pretty clear that it’s not worth taking the chance! Ask God to give you a spirit of wisdom… and courage. When someone has behaved wrongly – whether toward you or someone else – forgive him/her in a spirit of love, grace and mercy. If you do this in person, extend forgiveness to the offender… but also offer to help him/her figure out how to move forward and rectify the situation once and for all.
One more thing… forgiveness is not about YOU… it’s totally about being obedient to God with regard to how you treat others. Do not make this about your feelings… how hurt or offended you are by this person. Jesus doesn’t do this. He doesn’t say, “After all I did for you, this is how you repay Me?” He may think it – and He would have every right to lower the boom on us – but this is where we see His amazing grace and mercy in play. So we must stay focused on helping this person who needs forgiveness to align his/her heart – and actions – with God. Remember that God knows you are hurting and offended…and He cares for you, as well. But if we are modeling Christian behavior, we will ask Him to help us put our feelings aside and focus on the needs of others.
Today is a great day to ask God to show us how to give the “Puffs” of our lives another chance at redemption without helping to push them further over the edge. Jesus is our Helper… not our enabler. Model Him to others and see just how richly God will reward you for doing so. Do this to honor Jesus and His amazing, unending capacity to offer grace, mercy, love and forgiveness to us. Forgive others over and again for His glory… and begin to heal your own heart in the process.
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive 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.
The other night, Timothy was sitting at the table drinking a cup of milk. He was holding his “Puff” – a loosely stuffed toy Puffalump bear that had been his mother’s when she was little. He said, “Aunt Debbie, Puff keeps hitting me in the head!” I told him to ask Puff to stop. He replied, “I did, and he keeps hitting me.” So I suggested that perhaps Puff should sit in another chair in “time out” until he could be nice. Timmy had an adorable conversation with “Puff,” lovingly chastising him and explaining why he had to go to “time out.” After a minute or so, he asked if Puff could come out again. I asked, “Is he ready to be nice?” He took Puff in his hands and asked, “Puff, did you think about what you did? Do you think you are ready to be nice?” Apparently Puff said “Yes”… but a few seconds later, he was “hitting” Timmy again and had to return to the chair!
This was a game… and a bit of role playing on Timothy’s part. He wants to please… and when he misbehaves, he is always sorry – for the moment. But at 3½, he is still sorting through how to honor his commitments. So we are quick to forgive him. But part of good “parenting” or teaching is making sure you forgive the child… but do not forget nor endorse the transgression. In other words, I can forgive Timothy’s “Puff” all day long for hitting him, but I cannot tolerate this behavior – and there will have to be consequences.
Here’s a grown-up example… in the book Adult Children of Alcoholics, author Janet Geringer Woititz, Ed.D., writes of alcoholics (and others) who ask for forgiveness…”The promises of reform, although shortlived, are believed because those who care want to believe them, and, as a result, they unknowingly become part of the disease pattern.” In other words, we want to forgive others… we are commanded to do so in scripture. But as a dear pastor friend of mine reminds me, there is a fine line between enabling and helping.
What does this mean for us as Christians? How do we know when we are truly operating in forgiveness… and when we have crossed the line into enabling? I am not sure I have an answer for you… but God does. We must stay in very close contact with God… we must study scriptures on forgiveness and fairness. We most certainly must not judge others. At the same time, we have to be very sure that the “offender” is forgiven and loved… but not supported in wrongdoing or poor judgment. In other words, as with Timothy or his toy, we may hug the child or the bear and tell them we love them – and then march them off to sit in a “time out” chair!
I have thought a lot about this as I studied these scripture passages on forgiveness. I have asked myself… “What does this scenario look like in terms of me as the offender and Jesus as the One who is being asked to forgive? What happens if He turns His back on me… and why doesn’t He do this?” I have concluded that Jesus never fails me, even when I deserve it. But sometimes He allows me to wallow in my own screw-ups for a while, so that I learn from my mistakes. And maybe that is the answer for us today. We must be careful to remain nonjudgmental… but maybe we are called to say, “You messed up, buddy… you’ll have to make restitution for this. There will have to be some fences mended – and trust will have to be regained over time. But I still love you… and I forgive you.”
You don’t necessarily have to forgive others in person. You do have to forgive them in your heart. Hear me well on this… unforgiveness will eat a hole in your soul – and it could separate you from God. I can’t say for certain that God will not forgive us when we don’t forgive others, but scripture makes it pretty clear that it’s not worth taking the chance! Ask God to give you a spirit of wisdom… and courage. When someone has behaved wrongly – whether toward you or someone else – forgive him/her in a spirit of love, grace and mercy. If you do this in person, extend forgiveness to the offender… but also offer to help him/her figure out how to move forward and rectify the situation once and for all.
One more thing… forgiveness is not about YOU… it’s totally about being obedient to God with regard to how you treat others. Do not make this about your feelings… how hurt or offended you are by this person. Jesus doesn’t do this. He doesn’t say, “After all I did for you, this is how you repay Me?” He may think it – and He would have every right to lower the boom on us – but this is where we see His amazing grace and mercy in play. So we must stay focused on helping this person who needs forgiveness to align his/her heart – and actions – with God. Remember that God knows you are hurting and offended…and He cares for you, as well. But if we are modeling Christian behavior, we will ask Him to help us put our feelings aside and focus on the needs of others.
Today is a great day to ask God to show us how to give the “Puffs” of our lives another chance at redemption without helping to push them further over the edge. Jesus is our Helper… not our enabler. Model Him to others and see just how richly God will reward you for doing so. Do this to honor Jesus and His amazing, unending capacity to offer grace, mercy, love and forgiveness to us. Forgive others over and again for His glory… and begin to heal your own heart in the process.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)