Matthew 17:1-8
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James,
and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they
watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and
his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah
appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s
wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three
shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But
even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the
cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with
him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the
ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,”
he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Billy Graham…John Hagee…Joyce
Meyer…Beth Moore…Dr. Phil…Deepak Chopra…the Dalai Lama…Bill
O’Reilly…Anderson Cooper…Rachel Maddow…Megyn Kelly...your pastor…your
children…your spouse or significant other…your home, car and
possessions…your job…your hobby…your favorite team…your pet...your
favorite entertainer or celebrity...
All of these, and countless
other people and things that we could list, have been given a place of
“worship” in the lives of many of us. We have essentially made
“shelters” for people and things that are not nearly as worthy of
adoration as we make them. In fact, God clearly indicates in this
passage that only ONE is worthy of praise and reverence! Even the likes
of Moses and Elijah – both great men of God – are not who we should
place on such a pedestal.
There is nothing wrong with having
respect and admiration for great men and women of God…or people whom we
feel are intelligent and have their finger on the pulse of current
events or seem to have figured out quite a bit about mental health and
sound living. We should honor our spouses, children and pets – and care
deeply about them. We need to work hard, do our best, and make every
effort to be well-rounded and interesting. It’s fine to have hobbies
and to support a team or three – or to enjoy the performances and
talents of someone else.
But we must be careful to remember Who deserves our ultimate worship. We must remember that God chose Jesus…His beloved Son,
to lead and guide us. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins…and
in return, we are told to obey Him…to follow His teachings and make Him the center of our being - not something or someone else.
So
let’s examine our hearts and lives today and see Who we have made the
object of our adoration. Where have we misplaced our loyalties…if only a
little. Where do we need to shift and adjust our focus – and place it
more squarely on Jesus Christ? Are we ready to make only ONE shelter in
our hearts and minds – for the One who truly deserves it? Don’t you
think this is a good day to start?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 30, 2015
Matthew 16:26
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children swimming after church today. Afterwards, as I tried to distribute towels, remove life jackets and water shoes and sack everything wet before we went to the dressing room to change, I promised every child who stayed in his/her seat a Lifesaver ® candy when we got to the car. Every child sat motionless…and then one-by-one, each child popped out of the chair for some random distraction. By the time we got to the dressing room, nobody was in line for a piece of candy!
Oh, the remorse that can come from children ages 6, 4, and 3! They were SORRY! They would never do it again. PAH-LEASE??? Can’t we just have a Lifesaver®? So we started over. Okay…let’s see who can put on their clothes and sit quietly on the bench until we’re all dressed! It sorta worked…and the children redeemed themselves enough to get the candy when we got in the car.
Here’s the thing…you and I are not little kids…and we cannot bargain with God to gain entry into Paradise. All of the possessions and money in the world won’t buy us a ticket to Eternity at the feet of Jesus. Don’t we all know of at least one person who seems to have it all…or “has more money than sense”…yet this person has destroyed his/her life with drugs, alcohol, gambling, a sense of entitlement that ruined any and all personal relationships, and more – and essentially “blown it?” Don’t we know people who seem to have everything going for them…but they don’t appear to have any semblance of a relationship with God – and some downright disavow Him?
If you felt you had blown it completely with God, what would you do to get back your soul? Do you understand that there is only one thing that matters? Do you get it that the key to all of this is to love God with all your heart…to love others as He loves you – and as you love yourself…and to put serving Him above everything and everyone else? This is the “ticket to heaven.” Inviting Jesus into your heart, confessing your sins to Him and asking that He forgive you is the only way to ensure your Eternal Life with Him in Heaven.
We cannot just sit on the bench and promise to never get down again. We can’t say, “I didn’t mean it,” and trust that God will look the other way and let us have the “Lifesaver®.” We are not little kids, and our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ are nothing to negotiate and treat in a cavalier manner. What if we gain the world and lose our soul? The world is NOTHING…Jesus is EVERYTHING! Without Him, the world doesn’t matter.
What would you give to get back your soul? Give your heart to Jesus! Commit fully to His will for your life…to sharing His message with others and loving them as He has commanded. This is the “Lifesaver®” worth achieving! Are you ready to do what is necessary to receive it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children swimming after church today. Afterwards, as I tried to distribute towels, remove life jackets and water shoes and sack everything wet before we went to the dressing room to change, I promised every child who stayed in his/her seat a Lifesaver ® candy when we got to the car. Every child sat motionless…and then one-by-one, each child popped out of the chair for some random distraction. By the time we got to the dressing room, nobody was in line for a piece of candy!
Oh, the remorse that can come from children ages 6, 4, and 3! They were SORRY! They would never do it again. PAH-LEASE??? Can’t we just have a Lifesaver®? So we started over. Okay…let’s see who can put on their clothes and sit quietly on the bench until we’re all dressed! It sorta worked…and the children redeemed themselves enough to get the candy when we got in the car.
Here’s the thing…you and I are not little kids…and we cannot bargain with God to gain entry into Paradise. All of the possessions and money in the world won’t buy us a ticket to Eternity at the feet of Jesus. Don’t we all know of at least one person who seems to have it all…or “has more money than sense”…yet this person has destroyed his/her life with drugs, alcohol, gambling, a sense of entitlement that ruined any and all personal relationships, and more – and essentially “blown it?” Don’t we know people who seem to have everything going for them…but they don’t appear to have any semblance of a relationship with God – and some downright disavow Him?
If you felt you had blown it completely with God, what would you do to get back your soul? Do you understand that there is only one thing that matters? Do you get it that the key to all of this is to love God with all your heart…to love others as He loves you – and as you love yourself…and to put serving Him above everything and everyone else? This is the “ticket to heaven.” Inviting Jesus into your heart, confessing your sins to Him and asking that He forgive you is the only way to ensure your Eternal Life with Him in Heaven.
We cannot just sit on the bench and promise to never get down again. We can’t say, “I didn’t mean it,” and trust that God will look the other way and let us have the “Lifesaver®.” We are not little kids, and our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ are nothing to negotiate and treat in a cavalier manner. What if we gain the world and lose our soul? The world is NOTHING…Jesus is EVERYTHING! Without Him, the world doesn’t matter.
What would you give to get back your soul? Give your heart to Jesus! Commit fully to His will for your life…to sharing His message with others and loving them as He has commanded. This is the “Lifesaver®” worth achieving! Are you ready to do what is necessary to receive it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 29, 2015
Matthew 15:3-9
But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:
These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”
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.
Nathan has developed a new “game” that he likes to play where he hides behind an open door (in the little wedge of space between the door and the wall), peers through the crack where the hinges are…and says, “I’m hiding! You can’t see me!” Whether he realizes that we indeed can see him or not, he revels in his perceived “cover.”
This is his way of saying, “I know you are there, but since you can’t see what I’m really doing behind this door, it doesn’t count!” I’ve warned him repeatedly that he is going to pinch is little fingers in that hinge space someday…and he continues to test this idea. It will be a sad day if/when this happens.
We are all hiding and testing God, in some way. We go to church on Sunday, read our Bible, and “say and do all the right things.” But then we hide behind the “door” of our Christian faith and judge others. We pretend that no one can see us when we commit sins – of all kinds (I’ll let you fill in the blank). We claim the name of Jesus as we interpret scripture to suit our own needs and desires…or to condemn others…and we try to mold the meaning of Christian discipleship to fit the way we want things to be. In a nutshell, we fail to keep the main thing (Jesus), the Main Thing! And someday, a lot of us are going to get our fingers pinched in the doorway.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find a lot of the things that “Christians” hold to so dearly as the be-all-end-all tenets of their faith. Scripture doesn’t say that we have to shove God’s commandments down the throats of others – or plaster them on our walls. There is no Bible verse that tells us that we must pray at a certain hour each day – in a certain place…or that we must offer a prayer before every meal or ballgame. There is no specific commandment that tells us that we are to let every person who thinks or feels differently from us know that we are right – and they are wrong.
If you boil it down to what the Bible does say, you will see that we are commanded to love and respect God…to love others as He loves them and as we love ourselves…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with our words and actions. Everything else is just a smokescreen that the devil likes to use to make us think we are something we aren’t…that we can hide behind God and have it our way – and drag others along for the ride. Yes, someday, a whole lot of us are going to get pinched!
Where are you hiding today? How are you using God and your Christian faith as a “cover” to do as you please? Where have you twisted scripture to suit your desires and attitudes? Are you really ready to step out into the light of day and be who God has called you to be…to serve Him as He desires…to truly dig into His word and find out what He is saying…and to act on His intentions, not your own? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:
These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”
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.
Nathan has developed a new “game” that he likes to play where he hides behind an open door (in the little wedge of space between the door and the wall), peers through the crack where the hinges are…and says, “I’m hiding! You can’t see me!” Whether he realizes that we indeed can see him or not, he revels in his perceived “cover.”
This is his way of saying, “I know you are there, but since you can’t see what I’m really doing behind this door, it doesn’t count!” I’ve warned him repeatedly that he is going to pinch is little fingers in that hinge space someday…and he continues to test this idea. It will be a sad day if/when this happens.
We are all hiding and testing God, in some way. We go to church on Sunday, read our Bible, and “say and do all the right things.” But then we hide behind the “door” of our Christian faith and judge others. We pretend that no one can see us when we commit sins – of all kinds (I’ll let you fill in the blank). We claim the name of Jesus as we interpret scripture to suit our own needs and desires…or to condemn others…and we try to mold the meaning of Christian discipleship to fit the way we want things to be. In a nutshell, we fail to keep the main thing (Jesus), the Main Thing! And someday, a lot of us are going to get our fingers pinched in the doorway.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find a lot of the things that “Christians” hold to so dearly as the be-all-end-all tenets of their faith. Scripture doesn’t say that we have to shove God’s commandments down the throats of others – or plaster them on our walls. There is no Bible verse that tells us that we must pray at a certain hour each day – in a certain place…or that we must offer a prayer before every meal or ballgame. There is no specific commandment that tells us that we are to let every person who thinks or feels differently from us know that we are right – and they are wrong.
If you boil it down to what the Bible does say, you will see that we are commanded to love and respect God…to love others as He loves them and as we love ourselves…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with our words and actions. Everything else is just a smokescreen that the devil likes to use to make us think we are something we aren’t…that we can hide behind God and have it our way – and drag others along for the ride. Yes, someday, a whole lot of us are going to get pinched!
Where are you hiding today? How are you using God and your Christian faith as a “cover” to do as you please? Where have you twisted scripture to suit your desires and attitudes? Are you really ready to step out into the light of day and be who God has called you to be…to serve Him as He desires…to truly dig into His word and find out what He is saying…and to act on His intentions, not your own? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 28, 2015
Matthew 15:13-20
Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”
Peter replied, “What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?”
Jesus then said: Don’t any of you know what I am talking about by now? Don’t you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body? But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our three-year-old nephew, Nathan, is in his “bath phase.” He begs to take a bath at our house…which is more like a “swim” in a small pool with lots of tub toys! One day last week, his mother said that he had three baths in one day…one before coming to our house, a 30-minute soak with us, and another bath that he insisted on taking before bedtime. Nathan is one clean three-year-old!
If only we could soak in a bubble bath and wash our heart clean…what a quick, easy “fix” that would be! But this is not how matters of the heart and Christian faith work…and sadly, Jesus says that our heart is what truly makes us unclean. I want you to notice the list of “unclean” thoughts and actions in this scripture passage that Jesus says come from our heart…and among them, He lists “unfaithfulness in marriage” and “insulting others.” In my mind, Jesus is painting with a broad brush today…and catching a lot of us with each “stroke!”
Most of us would readily agree that things like lying, stealing, and murder are sinful – or “unclean” – actions. But when you start to recognize that putting work, a friendship, the love of possessions and quest for more, or a hobby above your spouse and family falls into the category of “unfaithfulness”…a whole lot of people are caught in the snare. When you stop to think that the unkind comments we all make…the criticisms, judgments and discriminations…are all considered part of “insulting others,” we are all incredibly guilty. Each one of us could use an extra “bath!”
The time has come to stop picking and choosing. We’ve pigeonholed sin into neat little categories…usually those that we feel do not encompass our own thoughts, words, and actions. We’ve excused ourselves and pretended that it’s the other guy who is really unclean and in need of a bath in the blood of Jesus! Dear friend, you and I need this cleansing just as much as anyone. We need to examine our heart and see what lies there…and we need to ask Jesus to wash us clean from the inside out, once and for all.
Are you ready to come before God and allow Him to strip away the dirt and grime of your unclean actions and attitudes? Will this be the day that you get an extra “bath” – one that signifies the beginning of a renewed, pure heart? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”
Peter replied, “What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?”
Jesus then said: Don’t any of you know what I am talking about by now? Don’t you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body? But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our three-year-old nephew, Nathan, is in his “bath phase.” He begs to take a bath at our house…which is more like a “swim” in a small pool with lots of tub toys! One day last week, his mother said that he had three baths in one day…one before coming to our house, a 30-minute soak with us, and another bath that he insisted on taking before bedtime. Nathan is one clean three-year-old!
If only we could soak in a bubble bath and wash our heart clean…what a quick, easy “fix” that would be! But this is not how matters of the heart and Christian faith work…and sadly, Jesus says that our heart is what truly makes us unclean. I want you to notice the list of “unclean” thoughts and actions in this scripture passage that Jesus says come from our heart…and among them, He lists “unfaithfulness in marriage” and “insulting others.” In my mind, Jesus is painting with a broad brush today…and catching a lot of us with each “stroke!”
Most of us would readily agree that things like lying, stealing, and murder are sinful – or “unclean” – actions. But when you start to recognize that putting work, a friendship, the love of possessions and quest for more, or a hobby above your spouse and family falls into the category of “unfaithfulness”…a whole lot of people are caught in the snare. When you stop to think that the unkind comments we all make…the criticisms, judgments and discriminations…are all considered part of “insulting others,” we are all incredibly guilty. Each one of us could use an extra “bath!”
The time has come to stop picking and choosing. We’ve pigeonholed sin into neat little categories…usually those that we feel do not encompass our own thoughts, words, and actions. We’ve excused ourselves and pretended that it’s the other guy who is really unclean and in need of a bath in the blood of Jesus! Dear friend, you and I need this cleansing just as much as anyone. We need to examine our heart and see what lies there…and we need to ask Jesus to wash us clean from the inside out, once and for all.
Are you ready to come before God and allow Him to strip away the dirt and grime of your unclean actions and attitudes? Will this be the day that you get an extra “bath” – one that signifies the beginning of a renewed, pure heart? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 27, 2015
Matthew 10:34-39
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me."
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.
Regional sections of our state newspaper carried a front-page article about young man from El Paso/Vilonia, Arkansas, who is beginning his freshman year of college. He is pictured wearing a green jacket and shirt, and the headline is “4-H is My Life.” Now I don’t know this young man, so I have no idea what he truly thinks or feels.
I don’t know if he really said these exact words…and if he did, I’m not sure that he meant them literally.
But I know several people who truly have made something or someone the most important focus of their lives. They have put this interest or person above everything else…even Jesus. I know people who are obsessed with work or a hobby…their own self-interests…or a significant other. There are people who live and breathe for their children or another family member…to the detriment of others around them. There are people who are obsessed with a particular sport or hobby – either as a spectator or a participant. Some people are so focused on their physical diet, exercise, and appearance that everything else is secondary.
I know people who have been told by their family members…it’s me or Jesus. I know spouses and children who have had to make this difficult decision…knowing that to choose Jesus might end their marriage or family relationship. And sadly, there are some people who are so focused on “church” or the activities and causes that they think define their Christian faith that they have totally left Jesus out of the mix.
Some or all of these situations – and countless others – could describe you and me on any given day. And in each instance, we have failed to keep the main thing the main thing! So look at the first verse of this passage again…the one where Jesus says “Don’t think I’ve come to make things cozy.” In other translations, it says, “I came to bring trouble, not peace.”(CEV)
Why would Jesus come to bring trouble? Let’s realize that this is not the typical “trouble” we envision. Jesus wants to “shake things up” a bit…to “rattle our cages” and make us think about Who He truly is…and where our priorities lie. He wants us to discover the depths of His love…and our loyalty. He wants us to be so devoted to Him that we are willing to strip away everything and everyone else…even parents, children, siblings, significant others, careers, possessions, hobbies, and personal desires of every kind.
We must be willing to put aside those things that we think define our Christian faith…the campaigns we wage to make a point about this commandment or that one…our efforts to sway lawmakers and the general public to “put God back” into XYZ…and focus on truly putting God back into our lives – at the very center of our every breath!
This is HARD STUFF! But it is critical. What – or who – is your “life” today? If we are not willing to let go of our own agendas and desires in order to focus totally on Jesus, then He is exactly right – we don’t deserve Him! And that’s just not an option for me…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me."
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.
Regional sections of our state newspaper carried a front-page article about young man from El Paso/Vilonia, Arkansas, who is beginning his freshman year of college. He is pictured wearing a green jacket and shirt, and the headline is “4-H is My Life.” Now I don’t know this young man, so I have no idea what he truly thinks or feels.
I don’t know if he really said these exact words…and if he did, I’m not sure that he meant them literally.
But I know several people who truly have made something or someone the most important focus of their lives. They have put this interest or person above everything else…even Jesus. I know people who are obsessed with work or a hobby…their own self-interests…or a significant other. There are people who live and breathe for their children or another family member…to the detriment of others around them. There are people who are obsessed with a particular sport or hobby – either as a spectator or a participant. Some people are so focused on their physical diet, exercise, and appearance that everything else is secondary.
I know people who have been told by their family members…it’s me or Jesus. I know spouses and children who have had to make this difficult decision…knowing that to choose Jesus might end their marriage or family relationship. And sadly, there are some people who are so focused on “church” or the activities and causes that they think define their Christian faith that they have totally left Jesus out of the mix.
Some or all of these situations – and countless others – could describe you and me on any given day. And in each instance, we have failed to keep the main thing the main thing! So look at the first verse of this passage again…the one where Jesus says “Don’t think I’ve come to make things cozy.” In other translations, it says, “I came to bring trouble, not peace.”(CEV)
Why would Jesus come to bring trouble? Let’s realize that this is not the typical “trouble” we envision. Jesus wants to “shake things up” a bit…to “rattle our cages” and make us think about Who He truly is…and where our priorities lie. He wants us to discover the depths of His love…and our loyalty. He wants us to be so devoted to Him that we are willing to strip away everything and everyone else…even parents, children, siblings, significant others, careers, possessions, hobbies, and personal desires of every kind.
We must be willing to put aside those things that we think define our Christian faith…the campaigns we wage to make a point about this commandment or that one…our efforts to sway lawmakers and the general public to “put God back” into XYZ…and focus on truly putting God back into our lives – at the very center of our every breath!
This is HARD STUFF! But it is critical. What – or who – is your “life” today? If we are not willing to let go of our own agendas and desires in order to focus totally on Jesus, then He is exactly right – we don’t deserve Him! And that’s just not an option for me…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 26, 2015
Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?”
Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have watched national news at all in recent months (or any time, for that matter), you have heard reporters ask someone – especially politicians – a direct question…and the person replies with an answer that is totally about something else. Sometimes, the reporters will even ask…”Why won’t you answer my question?” And the short answer is that the politician or other person doesn’t want to address that particular issue. They want to divert attention and make the discussion about something else entirely.
So when the religious scholar asked Jesus to list the most important commandment, it’s likely he thought that Jesus would change the subject…or redirect the conversation to something else. But Jesus boldly and clearly answered. He made no bones about telling everyone within earshot that we only have one Lord and God…that the most important commandment is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He added that the second most important commandment is to love others as much as we love ourselves.
I’d say Jesus knows us pretty well, doesn’t He? Jesus knows that 99.9% of us operate in the “What’s-in-it-for-me?” realm…and He clearly told us that the Number One question is supposed to be “What’s-in-it-for-God?”…followed closely by “What can I do for the other guy?” So we have some work to do! It’s not exactly easy to shift the focus from ourselves sometimes. And the devil will do everything he can to see that we stay bogged down in selfish thinking.
But I have learned that the more I focus on God…the more I focus on myself. The more I love Him and seek ways to hear from Him and to serve Him…the less I care about whether I get anything out of it or not. I’m not totally “there” yet…but I’m working hard to get closer. When our focus is on loving God…loving others is easier - and there is no need to change the subject. Who is on your heart and mind today…and what is the Number One commandment for YOU?
©2015 Debbie Robus
One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?”
Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have watched national news at all in recent months (or any time, for that matter), you have heard reporters ask someone – especially politicians – a direct question…and the person replies with an answer that is totally about something else. Sometimes, the reporters will even ask…”Why won’t you answer my question?” And the short answer is that the politician or other person doesn’t want to address that particular issue. They want to divert attention and make the discussion about something else entirely.
So when the religious scholar asked Jesus to list the most important commandment, it’s likely he thought that Jesus would change the subject…or redirect the conversation to something else. But Jesus boldly and clearly answered. He made no bones about telling everyone within earshot that we only have one Lord and God…that the most important commandment is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He added that the second most important commandment is to love others as much as we love ourselves.
I’d say Jesus knows us pretty well, doesn’t He? Jesus knows that 99.9% of us operate in the “What’s-in-it-for-me?” realm…and He clearly told us that the Number One question is supposed to be “What’s-in-it-for-God?”…followed closely by “What can I do for the other guy?” So we have some work to do! It’s not exactly easy to shift the focus from ourselves sometimes. And the devil will do everything he can to see that we stay bogged down in selfish thinking.
But I have learned that the more I focus on God…the more I focus on myself. The more I love Him and seek ways to hear from Him and to serve Him…the less I care about whether I get anything out of it or not. I’m not totally “there” yet…but I’m working hard to get closer. When our focus is on loving God…loving others is easier - and there is no need to change the subject. Who is on your heart and mind today…and what is the Number One commandment for YOU?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 25, 2015
Luke 6:37-42
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.
“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
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.
We’ve seen some pretty stark examples in the news media lately of people who criticized others with no regard to their own “ugly sneer.” Sadly, you can probably name several…the list seems quite lengthy on any given day.
It is puzzling to me that we cannot seem to get over ourselves…that we have heard this passage of scripture all of our lives, yet criticism and judgment of others has almost become a global hobby. We seem to take delight in the misery and downfall of others. Perhaps it is because we think this makes us look better. It doesn’t.
I can’t add a whole lot to these words in Luke 6. Read them again and again until they are imprinted on your heart and mind. The next time you start to bombast “the other guy,” stop and take a look in the mirror. There but for the grace of God go you…and on any given day, the spotlight could easily shine a little brightly in your direction!
Here is your exercise for today…sit quietly and think about Jesus. Picture Him on the cross…or walking toward you – His soft-yet-strong, loving arms spread widely to receive you. Imagine that you have just blown it – big time. Still, He is there…embracing you…dying for you…forgiving you…loving you. Now put that person you have just criticized or condemned in your place. Yep! Jesus is still there…what He offers to each of us, He also offers to that person you judged and discarded!
Let this message really soak into the depths of your soul today. Learn to stop yourself mid-criticism, and remember that you serve a God who loves ALL of us – even that person. Get so comfortable with this concept that you make love your all-purpose garment…that treating others with contempt becomes almost a foreign concept! As you begin to go easier on people, discover how much more peaceful your own daily living becomes. Treat others as you wish to be treated…as JESUS treats them. Operate in His love and peace…and trade the devil’s contempt for Christ's continual peace and blessings.
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.
“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
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.
We’ve seen some pretty stark examples in the news media lately of people who criticized others with no regard to their own “ugly sneer.” Sadly, you can probably name several…the list seems quite lengthy on any given day.
It is puzzling to me that we cannot seem to get over ourselves…that we have heard this passage of scripture all of our lives, yet criticism and judgment of others has almost become a global hobby. We seem to take delight in the misery and downfall of others. Perhaps it is because we think this makes us look better. It doesn’t.
I can’t add a whole lot to these words in Luke 6. Read them again and again until they are imprinted on your heart and mind. The next time you start to bombast “the other guy,” stop and take a look in the mirror. There but for the grace of God go you…and on any given day, the spotlight could easily shine a little brightly in your direction!
Here is your exercise for today…sit quietly and think about Jesus. Picture Him on the cross…or walking toward you – His soft-yet-strong, loving arms spread widely to receive you. Imagine that you have just blown it – big time. Still, He is there…embracing you…dying for you…forgiving you…loving you. Now put that person you have just criticized or condemned in your place. Yep! Jesus is still there…what He offers to each of us, He also offers to that person you judged and discarded!
Let this message really soak into the depths of your soul today. Learn to stop yourself mid-criticism, and remember that you serve a God who loves ALL of us – even that person. Get so comfortable with this concept that you make love your all-purpose garment…that treating others with contempt becomes almost a foreign concept! As you begin to go easier on people, discover how much more peaceful your own daily living becomes. Treat others as you wish to be treated…as JESUS treats them. Operate in His love and peace…and trade the devil’s contempt for Christ's continual peace and blessings.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 24, 2015
August 24 ~ Luke 6:32-36
“Do you think you deserve credit for merely loving those who love you? Even the godless do that! And if you do good only to those who do you good—is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even the most wicked will lend to their own kind for full return!
“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked.
“Try to show as much compassion as your Father does."
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Early in my adult life, I worked for a supervisor who had actually stated that one of his goals was to “make or break” first-year employees. He deliberately made things difficult for them, stirred up conflict, and created situations that tested one’s fortitude and courage. After one particularly ugly incident with this man, a co-worker offered me words of kindness and compassion…and some advice I’ve never forgotten. She said, “Kill him with kindness.”
Are you kidding me? This person had just treated me horribly…made things incredibly tough for me…acted in a manner that was reprehensible. And now I was supposed to be extra kind to him? I was also reminded by some well-meaning, loving friends and family members that it was hard to feel unkindly toward those for whom we pray. I was already praying – for my own courage and strength in the face of this person’s unkindness. But now I was challenged to pray for him! It almost seemed like too much.
I wish I could say that this was the only time in my life that I worked for a “tyrant” or with co-workers who were unpleasant or had an axe to grind. Sadly, this appears to be more commonplace than we would like to think! But I am grateful that I learned early on to follow Jesus’ words in this scripture passage from Luke 6. My parents taught me as a youngster that retaliation was not the answer…that being who God designed me to be and "taking the high road" would bring far better results. I learned that “killing with kindness” and praying for my “enemies” might not always make the other person nicer…that the path I traveled might not instantly be easier. But in the end, I would have the satisfaction of knowing that I honored my commitment to God…that I demonstrated the love of Christ even to those who were unlovely.
This is not an easy choice. There are days when we all want to fight back and “let ‘em have it!” I can assure you that even in recent months, I have found it very hard to love and tolerate some people who have been incredibly unkind and divisive. When you are hurting, it’s hard to show love and compassion for those who have committed the offenses. But I remind myself of times when both Greg and I were told by someone, “I’ve watched you from afar…I’ve observed how kind and decent you were to XYZ. I’ve seen how you treated them far better than they deserved and held your tongue, even when you could have said plenty.” I know that people are watching...that what we say and do matters…and often what we DON’T say or do is just as significant.
If we want to please God, we have to emulate Jesus. And He gave us the perfect example of how to treat those who mistreat us. Let’s be honest, to do any less puts us in the same category as those who are “wicked.” Take the high road…kill ‘em with kindness…pray for your enemies and those who have hurt or disappointed you in some way. Let them see Jesus in you and your every action and reaction. The satisfaction of knowing that you honored Him with your obedient spirit will be better than any momentary pleasure over an impulsive retaliation.
Don’t let these people steal your joy in Christ. Love others – ALL of them – as Jesus loves you…and find your peace in knowing that you have honored your commitment to love and serve Him in all things.
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Do you think you deserve credit for merely loving those who love you? Even the godless do that! And if you do good only to those who do you good—is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even the most wicked will lend to their own kind for full return!
“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked.
“Try to show as much compassion as your Father does."
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Early in my adult life, I worked for a supervisor who had actually stated that one of his goals was to “make or break” first-year employees. He deliberately made things difficult for them, stirred up conflict, and created situations that tested one’s fortitude and courage. After one particularly ugly incident with this man, a co-worker offered me words of kindness and compassion…and some advice I’ve never forgotten. She said, “Kill him with kindness.”
Are you kidding me? This person had just treated me horribly…made things incredibly tough for me…acted in a manner that was reprehensible. And now I was supposed to be extra kind to him? I was also reminded by some well-meaning, loving friends and family members that it was hard to feel unkindly toward those for whom we pray. I was already praying – for my own courage and strength in the face of this person’s unkindness. But now I was challenged to pray for him! It almost seemed like too much.
I wish I could say that this was the only time in my life that I worked for a “tyrant” or with co-workers who were unpleasant or had an axe to grind. Sadly, this appears to be more commonplace than we would like to think! But I am grateful that I learned early on to follow Jesus’ words in this scripture passage from Luke 6. My parents taught me as a youngster that retaliation was not the answer…that being who God designed me to be and "taking the high road" would bring far better results. I learned that “killing with kindness” and praying for my “enemies” might not always make the other person nicer…that the path I traveled might not instantly be easier. But in the end, I would have the satisfaction of knowing that I honored my commitment to God…that I demonstrated the love of Christ even to those who were unlovely.
This is not an easy choice. There are days when we all want to fight back and “let ‘em have it!” I can assure you that even in recent months, I have found it very hard to love and tolerate some people who have been incredibly unkind and divisive. When you are hurting, it’s hard to show love and compassion for those who have committed the offenses. But I remind myself of times when both Greg and I were told by someone, “I’ve watched you from afar…I’ve observed how kind and decent you were to XYZ. I’ve seen how you treated them far better than they deserved and held your tongue, even when you could have said plenty.” I know that people are watching...that what we say and do matters…and often what we DON’T say or do is just as significant.
If we want to please God, we have to emulate Jesus. And He gave us the perfect example of how to treat those who mistreat us. Let’s be honest, to do any less puts us in the same category as those who are “wicked.” Take the high road…kill ‘em with kindness…pray for your enemies and those who have hurt or disappointed you in some way. Let them see Jesus in you and your every action and reaction. The satisfaction of knowing that you honored Him with your obedient spirit will be better than any momentary pleasure over an impulsive retaliation.
Don’t let these people steal your joy in Christ. Love others – ALL of them – as Jesus loves you…and find your peace in knowing that you have honored your commitment to love and serve Him in all things.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 23, 2015
“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.”
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2015
Leviticus 19:19-10
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.'"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, I’ve observed a child play with more toys than he/she could possibly use. But if you asked him/her, “Are you using that?” or “Are you about done with ABC?”…the child would say, “I need ALL of this!” When kids are little, we try to teach them not to “hog” all of the toys…to leave something for their siblings, friends, or classmates. But somehow, as we grow up, this concept often flies right out the window. We pretty much want it all – even the excess – and we’ll do just about anything to make that happen!
We want all of our money…we don’t want to share any with the poor or needy, and we grumble about paying taxes and charitable giving. Woe to the person who asks us for a few bucks to help XYZ! We pile our plates high with food and think nothing of leaving half of it to be thrown out…but we give little or no thought to feeding the hungry among us.
We are territorial…it is our land…our “stuff”…our country…and we don’t want to share even a postage-stamp-sized corner of it with anyone else! Even worse is how greedy and selfish we are with our church. We don’t want anyone moving in on our territory there, either…from our “positions” of leadership and participation to our friendships with fellow members. We greet those we know and love on Sunday mornings…and have nothing left for a stranger or visitor.
There is a lot of “meat” in this scripture passage from Leviticus about how we operate in greed and selfishness…often without even thinking. Let’s take some time today to examine our hearts and minds and see where we operate in excess. Ask yourself where you might be stockpiling more than you need with no consideration of the person who could really use it…everything from tangible possessions to a friendly smile.
God has blessed us with such abundance. There is no need to be stingy! How we treat these gifts speaks volumes about our faith. This greatly defines our relationship with God and demonstrates our confidence that His love is for EVERYONE…and that He will always meet our every need.
What are your attitudes and behaviors saying to others – and to God – about your Christian faith? Are you ready to leave some of the “gleanings of your harvest” for someone else? Don't you think it's time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.'"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, I’ve observed a child play with more toys than he/she could possibly use. But if you asked him/her, “Are you using that?” or “Are you about done with ABC?”…the child would say, “I need ALL of this!” When kids are little, we try to teach them not to “hog” all of the toys…to leave something for their siblings, friends, or classmates. But somehow, as we grow up, this concept often flies right out the window. We pretty much want it all – even the excess – and we’ll do just about anything to make that happen!
We want all of our money…we don’t want to share any with the poor or needy, and we grumble about paying taxes and charitable giving. Woe to the person who asks us for a few bucks to help XYZ! We pile our plates high with food and think nothing of leaving half of it to be thrown out…but we give little or no thought to feeding the hungry among us.
We are territorial…it is our land…our “stuff”…our country…and we don’t want to share even a postage-stamp-sized corner of it with anyone else! Even worse is how greedy and selfish we are with our church. We don’t want anyone moving in on our territory there, either…from our “positions” of leadership and participation to our friendships with fellow members. We greet those we know and love on Sunday mornings…and have nothing left for a stranger or visitor.
There is a lot of “meat” in this scripture passage from Leviticus about how we operate in greed and selfishness…often without even thinking. Let’s take some time today to examine our hearts and minds and see where we operate in excess. Ask yourself where you might be stockpiling more than you need with no consideration of the person who could really use it…everything from tangible possessions to a friendly smile.
God has blessed us with such abundance. There is no need to be stingy! How we treat these gifts speaks volumes about our faith. This greatly defines our relationship with God and demonstrates our confidence that His love is for EVERYONE…and that He will always meet our every need.
What are your attitudes and behaviors saying to others – and to God – about your Christian faith? Are you ready to leave some of the “gleanings of your harvest” for someone else? Don't you think it's time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 21, 2015
Leviticus 19:35-36
“You must be impartial in judgment. Use accurate measurements—lengths, weights, and volumes—and give full measure, for I am Jehovah your God who brought you from the land of Egypt.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday while I was shopping at Walmart, I wanted to purchase a name-brand shampoo and conditioner. I noticed a big aisle display for “bundles”…two 12-ounce bottles of this particular brand of shampoo and conditioner for $7. The sign on the display said something about a “big savings!” I walked over to the shampoo aisle, and bottles of this same brand of shampoo and conditioner were $3.84 per 12.6 ounce bottle. If you “do the math,” you will see that this “big savings” amounted to one penny per ounce!
Deceptive? Maybe not. But in our culture, particularly in the world of retail, such “ploys” to get our attention are at best a little on the shady side. How many times have you noticed that the price of some favorite product has increased…only to discover that the size or quantity has ever-so-slightly decreased? Maybe there was no deliberate effort to deceive the consumer. But then again, it’s possible that the manufacturer hoped that we would not notice the difference!
My point is that these sorts of deceptions and tricks have become so commonplace that we shrug our shoulders and go on with life, even when we really don’t like what is happening. And I have to think that this sort of “double dealing” has a way of working its way into our own lives, as a result. When we let something become so readily acceptable and commonplace, it’s easy to internalize it and make it a part of our own persona.
I don’t mean to say that paying more for less product at the store without complaining is going to make us all liars and cheaters. But scripture definitely reminds us that God has told us to be honest and fair in all things…business dealings, relationships with others, and even with ourselves. Let’s be real here…that “one more cookie won’t hurt” attitude may just signal a pattern of deception and “fuzzy math and measurement” that will lead to all kinds of problems for us personally!
So double down today in your effort to always “take the high road.” We may not be able to change the practices of the big corporations who make our shampoo and laundry detergent, but we can certainly make every effort to operate in honesty and fairness in our daily living…to err on the side of generosity…and to always leave the judgments and retribution to God Almighty. Demonstrating our loyalty and obedience to God is all that really matters. When we make this our top priority, He will always handle the rest.
©2015 Debbie Robus
“You must be impartial in judgment. Use accurate measurements—lengths, weights, and volumes—and give full measure, for I am Jehovah your God who brought you from the land of Egypt.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday while I was shopping at Walmart, I wanted to purchase a name-brand shampoo and conditioner. I noticed a big aisle display for “bundles”…two 12-ounce bottles of this particular brand of shampoo and conditioner for $7. The sign on the display said something about a “big savings!” I walked over to the shampoo aisle, and bottles of this same brand of shampoo and conditioner were $3.84 per 12.6 ounce bottle. If you “do the math,” you will see that this “big savings” amounted to one penny per ounce!
Deceptive? Maybe not. But in our culture, particularly in the world of retail, such “ploys” to get our attention are at best a little on the shady side. How many times have you noticed that the price of some favorite product has increased…only to discover that the size or quantity has ever-so-slightly decreased? Maybe there was no deliberate effort to deceive the consumer. But then again, it’s possible that the manufacturer hoped that we would not notice the difference!
My point is that these sorts of deceptions and tricks have become so commonplace that we shrug our shoulders and go on with life, even when we really don’t like what is happening. And I have to think that this sort of “double dealing” has a way of working its way into our own lives, as a result. When we let something become so readily acceptable and commonplace, it’s easy to internalize it and make it a part of our own persona.
I don’t mean to say that paying more for less product at the store without complaining is going to make us all liars and cheaters. But scripture definitely reminds us that God has told us to be honest and fair in all things…business dealings, relationships with others, and even with ourselves. Let’s be real here…that “one more cookie won’t hurt” attitude may just signal a pattern of deception and “fuzzy math and measurement” that will lead to all kinds of problems for us personally!
So double down today in your effort to always “take the high road.” We may not be able to change the practices of the big corporations who make our shampoo and laundry detergent, but we can certainly make every effort to operate in honesty and fairness in our daily living…to err on the side of generosity…and to always leave the judgments and retribution to God Almighty. Demonstrating our loyalty and obedience to God is all that really matters. When we make this our top priority, He will always handle the rest.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 20, 2015
Leviticus 19:18
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who is so angry with another person that he/she cannot be in the same room with them? I am sad to say that I do. I know people who can barely be civil to each other and speak a few words - much less share space. I also know people who are so bitter and angry that they have sought ways to harm another person – mentally and emotionally, if not physically. The energy and emotion expended by these folks is exhausting – and sad. And I believe that this breaks God’s heart.
I count myself blessed to say that I have never been one to hold a grudge – at least not for very long. I have people with whom I have established mental and physical boundaries. There are a few folks with whom I have little contact, because it’s just better that way for both of us. There are certain situations and events that I avoid, because I know that they will either offer the opportunity for conflict – or there is a potential for discussions and actions that might upset me. But I do not avoid such people or situations out of judgment or disdain - and certainly not out of anger.
God has shown me how to handle potentially upsetting and unpleasant people and situations. Once in a while, such an encounter will be inevitable. But I have asked Him to guide me…to keep me calm and collected…and to shield me from any lasting feelings of ill will or displeasure. I have asked God to give me a heart for forgiveness and compassion toward others…even those who “rub me the wrong way” in some manner. And while I am a work in progress, I can say that He has generously granted me great peace in this area.
Conflicts and difficult folks are an inevitable part of life. But God wants us to allow Him to handle these people and situations. He wants us to focus on loving all people – at all times. He wants us to offer others kindness…to share a smile and a loving attitude - even when we feel that the person doesn’t deserve it! I get that this is sometimes hard to accomplish…I truly do. But I can assure you that when you surrender these feelings to God and allow Him to handle things, you will experience inexplicable peace and calm. This may not happen instantly, but God will soothe and settle you.
Don’t try to take matters into your own hands…and don’t let anger and resentments fester. Spend some time in prayer and meditation, and ask God to show you how to control your feelings…and to surround you with peace and calm as you surrender these people and situations to Him. Ask God to fill your heart with love and compassion…and let Him handle the rest. He will do this…are you ready to let Him?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who is so angry with another person that he/she cannot be in the same room with them? I am sad to say that I do. I know people who can barely be civil to each other and speak a few words - much less share space. I also know people who are so bitter and angry that they have sought ways to harm another person – mentally and emotionally, if not physically. The energy and emotion expended by these folks is exhausting – and sad. And I believe that this breaks God’s heart.
I count myself blessed to say that I have never been one to hold a grudge – at least not for very long. I have people with whom I have established mental and physical boundaries. There are a few folks with whom I have little contact, because it’s just better that way for both of us. There are certain situations and events that I avoid, because I know that they will either offer the opportunity for conflict – or there is a potential for discussions and actions that might upset me. But I do not avoid such people or situations out of judgment or disdain - and certainly not out of anger.
God has shown me how to handle potentially upsetting and unpleasant people and situations. Once in a while, such an encounter will be inevitable. But I have asked Him to guide me…to keep me calm and collected…and to shield me from any lasting feelings of ill will or displeasure. I have asked God to give me a heart for forgiveness and compassion toward others…even those who “rub me the wrong way” in some manner. And while I am a work in progress, I can say that He has generously granted me great peace in this area.
Conflicts and difficult folks are an inevitable part of life. But God wants us to allow Him to handle these people and situations. He wants us to focus on loving all people – at all times. He wants us to offer others kindness…to share a smile and a loving attitude - even when we feel that the person doesn’t deserve it! I get that this is sometimes hard to accomplish…I truly do. But I can assure you that when you surrender these feelings to God and allow Him to handle things, you will experience inexplicable peace and calm. This may not happen instantly, but God will soothe and settle you.
Don’t try to take matters into your own hands…and don’t let anger and resentments fester. Spend some time in prayer and meditation, and ask God to show you how to control your feelings…and to surround you with peace and calm as you surrender these people and situations to Him. Ask God to fill your heart with love and compassion…and let Him handle the rest. He will do this…are you ready to let Him?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 19, 2015
John 4:21-24
“Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
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.
A pastor friend shared a blog post on Facebook titled “9 Sins the Church is Okay With.”* This is a thought-provoking read that I urge you to make time for. The blogger, Frank Powell, is a college/young adult minister at the Campbell Street Church of Christ in Jackson, TN. Powell outlines nine areas that church members have internalized and readily accepted, even though scripture teaches something contrary. These 9 “sins” are: fear, apathy, gluttony (excess), worry, flattery, comfort, consumerism, patriotism, and lying.
Just as we read in the words of Jesus from this passage of John 4, a lot of us have made “church” something it is not. We have molded our Christian faith into something that fits us, rather than bare our hearts and souls to God and let His Holy Spirit lead where He deems to be the right course. We’ve inserted fear into our witness…we’ve grown too comfortable and complacent with “how we have always done things.” Conversely, we’ve chased the latest and greatest fad with voracious consumerism…we’ve lusted after everything bigger, better, and MORE!
We have waffled from the extreme of complete apathy to one of a constant chase for flattery and affirmation that we are “all that and a bag of chips!” We’ve worried…a lot…about anything and everything! We’ve waved the flag and preached “God and Country!” – and blurred the lines between “church and state.” And we have lied – to ourselves and everyone else!
And then, to make ourselves feel better, we have shined a spotlight on other people and their “sins” (because most of these are purely judgment calls on our part!)…and we’ve set ourselves apart and created an “us vs. them” division. We have declared ourselves and our version of Christian faith to be superior…and woe to those who believe differently!
I’ve done a lot of soul searching lately about divisiveness among Christians. I’ve spent a good deal of time in study and prayer about how to worship with those who feel differently than I do on many issues - great and small. How can I share in corporate worship with people who make no bones about expressing their disdain for others who are different in some way? How can I associate with those who openly question the Christian faith of others…and attempt to set themselves apart in the process? How can I hear the voice of God in the din of those who want to point fingers while they wave flags in one hand and Bibles in the other?
I feel that God is telling me to “be still.” God is assuring me that He is still in control…that His word and will are still clear and pure…and all-encompassing. He loves those who are being attacked…and their attackers. I believe that God is brokenhearted by the discord…but He has not changed – and He is still with us. So I am waiting…and listening…and finding God’s Holy Spirit where I can. He comes to me through the hymns and the beautiful offertories that Mrs. Barbara plays on Sunday mornings…the anthems presented by our choir…the scriptures that are read...and the faithful service and examples of men and women who have been a part of my life - and the life of the church - for decades.
God’s Holy Spirit reveals His message of hope and promise in the faces and words of our little ones who exit their classrooms singing, “The Fruits of the Spirit” and telling us what they discovered about Jesus. When they talk about how God wants them to act and listen and learn…and how much He loves them…I am reminded that He is with me. THIS is God’s Spirit in its purest form…and I am learning to drown out all of the “noise” and immerse myself in Him.
I don’t know what is in your heart…or how God is speaking to you these days. I have no clue whether these 9 “sins” have crept into your heart…or what burdens and struggles you may have. But I do know that the words of this passage are true and right for all of us…that the Father is looking for those who are simply and honestly offering themselves before Him in their worship…those who serve out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves – in constant adoration. I know that it is who we are and how we live that testifies to the purity of our faith.
I hope these words describe you and me and our relationship with God. If we live according to this model, God will handle the rest - to His glory. Are you ready to pare away the baggage and be your true self in worship of our Heavenly Father? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.faithit.com/9-sins-the-church-is-okay-with/
“Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
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.
A pastor friend shared a blog post on Facebook titled “9 Sins the Church is Okay With.”* This is a thought-provoking read that I urge you to make time for. The blogger, Frank Powell, is a college/young adult minister at the Campbell Street Church of Christ in Jackson, TN. Powell outlines nine areas that church members have internalized and readily accepted, even though scripture teaches something contrary. These 9 “sins” are: fear, apathy, gluttony (excess), worry, flattery, comfort, consumerism, patriotism, and lying.
Just as we read in the words of Jesus from this passage of John 4, a lot of us have made “church” something it is not. We have molded our Christian faith into something that fits us, rather than bare our hearts and souls to God and let His Holy Spirit lead where He deems to be the right course. We’ve inserted fear into our witness…we’ve grown too comfortable and complacent with “how we have always done things.” Conversely, we’ve chased the latest and greatest fad with voracious consumerism…we’ve lusted after everything bigger, better, and MORE!
We have waffled from the extreme of complete apathy to one of a constant chase for flattery and affirmation that we are “all that and a bag of chips!” We’ve worried…a lot…about anything and everything! We’ve waved the flag and preached “God and Country!” – and blurred the lines between “church and state.” And we have lied – to ourselves and everyone else!
And then, to make ourselves feel better, we have shined a spotlight on other people and their “sins” (because most of these are purely judgment calls on our part!)…and we’ve set ourselves apart and created an “us vs. them” division. We have declared ourselves and our version of Christian faith to be superior…and woe to those who believe differently!
I’ve done a lot of soul searching lately about divisiveness among Christians. I’ve spent a good deal of time in study and prayer about how to worship with those who feel differently than I do on many issues - great and small. How can I share in corporate worship with people who make no bones about expressing their disdain for others who are different in some way? How can I associate with those who openly question the Christian faith of others…and attempt to set themselves apart in the process? How can I hear the voice of God in the din of those who want to point fingers while they wave flags in one hand and Bibles in the other?
I feel that God is telling me to “be still.” God is assuring me that He is still in control…that His word and will are still clear and pure…and all-encompassing. He loves those who are being attacked…and their attackers. I believe that God is brokenhearted by the discord…but He has not changed – and He is still with us. So I am waiting…and listening…and finding God’s Holy Spirit where I can. He comes to me through the hymns and the beautiful offertories that Mrs. Barbara plays on Sunday mornings…the anthems presented by our choir…the scriptures that are read...and the faithful service and examples of men and women who have been a part of my life - and the life of the church - for decades.
God’s Holy Spirit reveals His message of hope and promise in the faces and words of our little ones who exit their classrooms singing, “The Fruits of the Spirit” and telling us what they discovered about Jesus. When they talk about how God wants them to act and listen and learn…and how much He loves them…I am reminded that He is with me. THIS is God’s Spirit in its purest form…and I am learning to drown out all of the “noise” and immerse myself in Him.
I don’t know what is in your heart…or how God is speaking to you these days. I have no clue whether these 9 “sins” have crept into your heart…or what burdens and struggles you may have. But I do know that the words of this passage are true and right for all of us…that the Father is looking for those who are simply and honestly offering themselves before Him in their worship…those who serve out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves – in constant adoration. I know that it is who we are and how we live that testifies to the purity of our faith.
I hope these words describe you and me and our relationship with God. If we live according to this model, God will handle the rest - to His glory. Are you ready to pare away the baggage and be your true self in worship of our Heavenly Father? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.faithit.com/9-sins-the-church-is-okay-with/
Daily Devotional for August 18, 2015
John 3:16-17
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
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 countless examples in the news media of people who go to great lengths to expose a wrong…to point a finger at someone who is misbehaving or to spotlight how bad a situation has become. But one of the most ridiculous cases of this lately has been the Michigan state representative who sent out a fake e-mail in which he accused himself of having an encounter with a male prostitute. Why on earth would he do this? He said he was trying to cover up an actual affair that he was having with a fellow state representative (female). The representative also alleged that some of his co-workers were conspiring to expose his affair, so he created this elaborate – and ridiculous – ruse to divert attention!
This guy went to an awful lot of trouble just to try and cover his tracks. And he used one of the oldest tricks in the book…he tried to shine a spotlight on someone or something else in order to hide his own mistakes.
We serve a God who would never conspire to expose our sins to the world…much less create a “cover” to redirect attention or distract the attention of others. God does not play such games…and aren’t we glad?! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to live among us, to teach us and serve as the perfect example…then suffer, pour out His flesh and blood for us…and ultimately, to die for us. God welcomed Jesus back to Heaven, where He waits for each of us who give our hearts to Him. There was nothing sneaky or sinister in any of this. There were no plots to expose our failures and our flaws…no finger pointing of any kind. This was all done for one reason…incredible, amazing, incomprehensible, unconditional LOVE.
Until you understand that the message we need to hear is not one of fear and obligation, but rather one of abiding love, you will never truly “get” what it means to have a relationship with God. I know…because I operated from a vantage point of fear and dread for far too many years. God does not want to punish us…He wants to love us…and everything He does for us comes from this context. Until we understand this, we won’t really understand anything about Christian faith.
Some of us are busy trying to “cover our tracks.” We are hiding from God, and creating elaborate – and sometimes ridiculous - ruses and diversions…pointing our finger at the other guy and hoping that God will focus on him/her instead of us. This is a silly game…and we need to stop. God loves ALL of us…His desire is that we embrace Jesus and turn to Him. His grand design for sending Jesus was to rescue us, not to condemn. And are we ever grateful…or at least, we should be!
Will you take some time today to talk to God about the vantage point from which you are operating? If your relationship with God is based in fear and guilt, won’t you ask Him to help you shift to an attitude of serving out of love and gratitude? If you are wasting time and energy creating distractions and diversions to try and be something or someone you aren’t – or to hide from God - won’t you pull back the veil today and “come clean?” God already knows everything…but He wants you to acknowledge this and stand before Him…warts and all. Are you ready to get real with God? Is today “the day?”
©2015 Debbie Robus
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
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 countless examples in the news media of people who go to great lengths to expose a wrong…to point a finger at someone who is misbehaving or to spotlight how bad a situation has become. But one of the most ridiculous cases of this lately has been the Michigan state representative who sent out a fake e-mail in which he accused himself of having an encounter with a male prostitute. Why on earth would he do this? He said he was trying to cover up an actual affair that he was having with a fellow state representative (female). The representative also alleged that some of his co-workers were conspiring to expose his affair, so he created this elaborate – and ridiculous – ruse to divert attention!
This guy went to an awful lot of trouble just to try and cover his tracks. And he used one of the oldest tricks in the book…he tried to shine a spotlight on someone or something else in order to hide his own mistakes.
We serve a God who would never conspire to expose our sins to the world…much less create a “cover” to redirect attention or distract the attention of others. God does not play such games…and aren’t we glad?! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to live among us, to teach us and serve as the perfect example…then suffer, pour out His flesh and blood for us…and ultimately, to die for us. God welcomed Jesus back to Heaven, where He waits for each of us who give our hearts to Him. There was nothing sneaky or sinister in any of this. There were no plots to expose our failures and our flaws…no finger pointing of any kind. This was all done for one reason…incredible, amazing, incomprehensible, unconditional LOVE.
Until you understand that the message we need to hear is not one of fear and obligation, but rather one of abiding love, you will never truly “get” what it means to have a relationship with God. I know…because I operated from a vantage point of fear and dread for far too many years. God does not want to punish us…He wants to love us…and everything He does for us comes from this context. Until we understand this, we won’t really understand anything about Christian faith.
Some of us are busy trying to “cover our tracks.” We are hiding from God, and creating elaborate – and sometimes ridiculous - ruses and diversions…pointing our finger at the other guy and hoping that God will focus on him/her instead of us. This is a silly game…and we need to stop. God loves ALL of us…His desire is that we embrace Jesus and turn to Him. His grand design for sending Jesus was to rescue us, not to condemn. And are we ever grateful…or at least, we should be!
Will you take some time today to talk to God about the vantage point from which you are operating? If your relationship with God is based in fear and guilt, won’t you ask Him to help you shift to an attitude of serving out of love and gratitude? If you are wasting time and energy creating distractions and diversions to try and be something or someone you aren’t – or to hide from God - won’t you pull back the veil today and “come clean?” God already knows everything…but He wants you to acknowledge this and stand before Him…warts and all. Are you ready to get real with God? Is today “the day?”
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 17, 2015
James 4:11-12
My friends, don’t say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God’s Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is the first day of public school for children in our state. I have every confidence that there were more than a few children who entered the doors of their classrooms with at least a little trepidation…and probably even MORE mothers who tearfully left them. I still remember one mother who stood at the door to my classroom…tears pouring down her face…and said, “This is SO hard!” I knew that her child would be perfectly fine…and so would she. I could see a part of the “story” that she could not…I knew that within five minutes of her departure, her child would probably be playing with the other children – as happy as a clam. But it was hard to convince this mom…and there may have been a little “eye-rolling” on my part!
I have to admit…as I’ve watched our little ones begin their school “career” one-by-one, I have better understood the tug at a parent’s heartstrings when these “babies” step out into the big world. I see their side of the “story.” I know what it’s like as a teacher for parents to say, “You just don’t understand”…and I know how that feels for the parents. I also know what it’s like for a child to have some natural apprehension about an unfamiliar setting and new people. I “get” all sides. And this has been a good lesson for me in why criticism and condemnation is a bad idea.
So often, we only see our “side” of things. And that’s where we get into trouble. Whether we operate out of fear, misinformation, or just a judgmental spirit, we are sometimes condescending and hypercritical of other people and situations...and often, we don’t have a complete picture that includes all of the information. More importantly, we fail to realize that when we do this to others, we are doing the same to God. So when we criticize the person who we think is “lazy, different, or worthless,” we are essentially saying that God does not have the power or desire to make changes in these people…that He intentionally creates “junk”…and this is simply not the case.
When we are judgmental of another person for their choices…or because of their size and appearance, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, struggles of some kind, socio-economic status, or even their spiritual beliefs…we are declaring that God created divisions among us and surely must love us more than the other guy. And we should know better!
As the late Maya Angelou said (and I’m paraphrasing)…“When we know better, we must do better.” If we trust God and believe that He has created us and loves each of us equally, we must act like it. This doesn’t leave any room for criticism and condemnation. Just as surely as the first day of school will come and go and all will settle into their roles and routines, we must trust God to show each of us our “role” and routine…and leave the “fixing” to Him. We.can.do.this! Are you with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
My friends, don’t say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God’s Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is the first day of public school for children in our state. I have every confidence that there were more than a few children who entered the doors of their classrooms with at least a little trepidation…and probably even MORE mothers who tearfully left them. I still remember one mother who stood at the door to my classroom…tears pouring down her face…and said, “This is SO hard!” I knew that her child would be perfectly fine…and so would she. I could see a part of the “story” that she could not…I knew that within five minutes of her departure, her child would probably be playing with the other children – as happy as a clam. But it was hard to convince this mom…and there may have been a little “eye-rolling” on my part!
I have to admit…as I’ve watched our little ones begin their school “career” one-by-one, I have better understood the tug at a parent’s heartstrings when these “babies” step out into the big world. I see their side of the “story.” I know what it’s like as a teacher for parents to say, “You just don’t understand”…and I know how that feels for the parents. I also know what it’s like for a child to have some natural apprehension about an unfamiliar setting and new people. I “get” all sides. And this has been a good lesson for me in why criticism and condemnation is a bad idea.
So often, we only see our “side” of things. And that’s where we get into trouble. Whether we operate out of fear, misinformation, or just a judgmental spirit, we are sometimes condescending and hypercritical of other people and situations...and often, we don’t have a complete picture that includes all of the information. More importantly, we fail to realize that when we do this to others, we are doing the same to God. So when we criticize the person who we think is “lazy, different, or worthless,” we are essentially saying that God does not have the power or desire to make changes in these people…that He intentionally creates “junk”…and this is simply not the case.
When we are judgmental of another person for their choices…or because of their size and appearance, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, struggles of some kind, socio-economic status, or even their spiritual beliefs…we are declaring that God created divisions among us and surely must love us more than the other guy. And we should know better!
As the late Maya Angelou said (and I’m paraphrasing)…“When we know better, we must do better.” If we trust God and believe that He has created us and loves each of us equally, we must act like it. This doesn’t leave any room for criticism and condemnation. Just as surely as the first day of school will come and go and all will settle into their roles and routines, we must trust God to show each of us our “role” and routine…and leave the “fixing” to Him. We.can.do.this! Are you with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 16, 2015
James 2:8
Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s command, “You must love and help your neighbors just as much as you love and take care of yourself.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The boys were playing with some new toys they chose as rewards for good behavior. Timothy had quickly passed over a bag of plastic spiders, ants and beetles because the kids really do not like bugs. Instead, he selected a plastic chameleon. So Nathan readily chose the bugs! Then things got interesting, as Timothy immediately had “buyer’s remorse” and wanted to play with the bugs. The more he wanted to play with them, the more Nathan did NOT want to share! So we had to have a little “lesson” in sharing and how to think as much (or more) of the other guy as you care for yourself! There were a few tears, but in the end, the brothers figured out how to play together and get along…and love won!
Forty-one years ago today, Greg and I promised to love each other “till death do us part.” We promised a lot of things that we probably didn’t fully grasp at ages 17 and 20…certainly not like we understand them today. I’m pretty sure that we didn’t fully realize that the love it would take to sustain more than four decades of marriage would surpass our young definitions of this word. We couldn’t possibly envision the patience our love would require as we built a business together…the strength we would need to share in order to lift each other through illnesses and injuries…the hope and faith that would be required as we consoled each other in times of grief and loss. We readily signed on to be the biggest cheerleader for each other…but I don’t think we had a clue that there would be days that we might have to cheer even when we really didn’t feel like doing so.
To say that a happy marriage does not require hard work would be a lie. But I can tell you one thing for sure…it’s a whole lot easier when God is at the center. When each party makes a concerted effort to love God with his/her whole heart…and then to love one’s spouse with as much tender care as God gives to us…things fall into place with amazing precision. “Bumps in the road” aren’t as bumpy…there is nothing that cannot be prayed over and worked through. The art of “give and take” becomes second nature…and we both find ourselves putting the needs and desires of the other ahead of our own.
These same principles apply to any relationship. You have to think as much of the other guy as you do yourself, or there will be trouble and conflict. You have to consider his/her feelings at every turn. I’m talking about much more than leaving the last piece of pie or deciding who gets to pick the restaurant or movie. It’s more than letting someone have the last word - or sharing your “toys” and possessions.
God wants us to be so steeped our love for Him AND our love for each other that it becomes the rhythm of our lives. He wants us to be so comfortable in sharing and living unselfishly that we discover what it truly means to be His disciple. He wants us to understand how Jesus loves us…and to emulate this in our daily living. I am grateful and blessed to be loved by God…and to be able to share His love with others…especially my Greg. And I thank Him for teaching me to love others without judgment and conditions. I am a work in progress, but I am certainly making the effort to do this!
Whoever God places in your path, my prayer is that you would love each of them with the love of Christ. You may not always get to share their “bugs and spiders,” but you will impart something far more valuable - unconditional love and acceptance. And God will use your efforts to do amazing things! Are you ready to see for yourself?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s command, “You must love and help your neighbors just as much as you love and take care of yourself.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The boys were playing with some new toys they chose as rewards for good behavior. Timothy had quickly passed over a bag of plastic spiders, ants and beetles because the kids really do not like bugs. Instead, he selected a plastic chameleon. So Nathan readily chose the bugs! Then things got interesting, as Timothy immediately had “buyer’s remorse” and wanted to play with the bugs. The more he wanted to play with them, the more Nathan did NOT want to share! So we had to have a little “lesson” in sharing and how to think as much (or more) of the other guy as you care for yourself! There were a few tears, but in the end, the brothers figured out how to play together and get along…and love won!
Forty-one years ago today, Greg and I promised to love each other “till death do us part.” We promised a lot of things that we probably didn’t fully grasp at ages 17 and 20…certainly not like we understand them today. I’m pretty sure that we didn’t fully realize that the love it would take to sustain more than four decades of marriage would surpass our young definitions of this word. We couldn’t possibly envision the patience our love would require as we built a business together…the strength we would need to share in order to lift each other through illnesses and injuries…the hope and faith that would be required as we consoled each other in times of grief and loss. We readily signed on to be the biggest cheerleader for each other…but I don’t think we had a clue that there would be days that we might have to cheer even when we really didn’t feel like doing so.
To say that a happy marriage does not require hard work would be a lie. But I can tell you one thing for sure…it’s a whole lot easier when God is at the center. When each party makes a concerted effort to love God with his/her whole heart…and then to love one’s spouse with as much tender care as God gives to us…things fall into place with amazing precision. “Bumps in the road” aren’t as bumpy…there is nothing that cannot be prayed over and worked through. The art of “give and take” becomes second nature…and we both find ourselves putting the needs and desires of the other ahead of our own.
These same principles apply to any relationship. You have to think as much of the other guy as you do yourself, or there will be trouble and conflict. You have to consider his/her feelings at every turn. I’m talking about much more than leaving the last piece of pie or deciding who gets to pick the restaurant or movie. It’s more than letting someone have the last word - or sharing your “toys” and possessions.
God wants us to be so steeped our love for Him AND our love for each other that it becomes the rhythm of our lives. He wants us to be so comfortable in sharing and living unselfishly that we discover what it truly means to be His disciple. He wants us to understand how Jesus loves us…and to emulate this in our daily living. I am grateful and blessed to be loved by God…and to be able to share His love with others…especially my Greg. And I thank Him for teaching me to love others without judgment and conditions. I am a work in progress, but I am certainly making the effort to do this!
Whoever God places in your path, my prayer is that you would love each of them with the love of Christ. You may not always get to share their “bugs and spiders,” but you will impart something far more valuable - unconditional love and acceptance. And God will use your efforts to do amazing things! Are you ready to see for yourself?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 15, 2015
James 2:21-24
Don’t you remember that even our father Abraham was declared good because of what he did when he was willing to obey God, even if it meant offering his son Isaac to die on the altar? You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to; his faith was made complete by what he did—by his actions, his good deeds. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, that Abraham trusted God, and the Lord declared him good in God’s sight, and he was even called “the friend of God.” So you see, a man is saved by what he does, as well as by what he believes.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, Timothy wanted me to play “Spiderman” with him. What this amounted to was that I pretended that a “villain” was after me…and Timothy pretended to be Spiderman and rescued me with his “webs” that he “shot” from his hands to capture the bad guy. He thought of several villains for me to pretend were attacking…and then he said, “Now, you think of one.” I chose Cat Woman. He said, “No, no! Cat Woman goes with Batman. Well, okay…I’ll be Batman.”
So Timothy pretended to be Batman (and he changed his “voice” to fit the character). I told him that Cat Woman was bothering me, and he looked a little frustrated and said, “Well…she’s kinda my wife, so I can’t really do anything about that! But I guess I could talk to her and see if she will leave you alone.”
So often, we are like the Timothy/Batman character. We tell God…I hear you calling for me to do XYZ…but my hands are tied. There’s really not much I can do. (Insert excuses here!) We claim weakness of some sort…lack of time…desire to pursue other interests…feelings of inferiority, and more. We blame our family, our job, and our studies. Sometimes, we like how things are going…even when we know that what we are doing is not really what God wants. And sometimes, we just simply are not willing to do what God asks, whether we readily admit this or not.
Do these sound like the actions of someone who has unwavering faith in God to handle every single detail? Does this reflect the confidence of someone who truly believes that when God calls us to do something, He will adjust our schedules, smooth out the rough spots, and fully equip us to do it? Is our trust in God as strong as that of Abraham? Could we place our child upon an altar, draw a sharp knife, and prepare to sacrifice him/her because we “heard” or “felt” an unseen God tell us to do this?
Just how big is our faith, anyway?! When we claim to trust in God for all things, are we making a point…or are we making a difference? Do our words and actions demonstrate our confidence and obedience…or have we tailored a Christian “faith” that suits our timetable and personal desires? Do our excuses sound about as lame as those of a six-year-old “Batman” who claims he has little control over a villain?
Look…true Christian faith is scary sometimes. God calls us to step up – and out – and to do some pretty daunting things. Speaking up is hard for some of us, while others find it a stretch to give up control – of lots of things! But all we have to do is think about Jesus…how He obeyed God…how he suffered and sacrificed – and stood up for you and me, in amazing, incomprehensible ways.
Now I ask you again…how big is your faith…and are you ready to show it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Don’t you remember that even our father Abraham was declared good because of what he did when he was willing to obey God, even if it meant offering his son Isaac to die on the altar? You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to; his faith was made complete by what he did—by his actions, his good deeds. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, that Abraham trusted God, and the Lord declared him good in God’s sight, and he was even called “the friend of God.” So you see, a man is saved by what he does, as well as by what he believes.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, Timothy wanted me to play “Spiderman” with him. What this amounted to was that I pretended that a “villain” was after me…and Timothy pretended to be Spiderman and rescued me with his “webs” that he “shot” from his hands to capture the bad guy. He thought of several villains for me to pretend were attacking…and then he said, “Now, you think of one.” I chose Cat Woman. He said, “No, no! Cat Woman goes with Batman. Well, okay…I’ll be Batman.”
So Timothy pretended to be Batman (and he changed his “voice” to fit the character). I told him that Cat Woman was bothering me, and he looked a little frustrated and said, “Well…she’s kinda my wife, so I can’t really do anything about that! But I guess I could talk to her and see if she will leave you alone.”
So often, we are like the Timothy/Batman character. We tell God…I hear you calling for me to do XYZ…but my hands are tied. There’s really not much I can do. (Insert excuses here!) We claim weakness of some sort…lack of time…desire to pursue other interests…feelings of inferiority, and more. We blame our family, our job, and our studies. Sometimes, we like how things are going…even when we know that what we are doing is not really what God wants. And sometimes, we just simply are not willing to do what God asks, whether we readily admit this or not.
Do these sound like the actions of someone who has unwavering faith in God to handle every single detail? Does this reflect the confidence of someone who truly believes that when God calls us to do something, He will adjust our schedules, smooth out the rough spots, and fully equip us to do it? Is our trust in God as strong as that of Abraham? Could we place our child upon an altar, draw a sharp knife, and prepare to sacrifice him/her because we “heard” or “felt” an unseen God tell us to do this?
Just how big is our faith, anyway?! When we claim to trust in God for all things, are we making a point…or are we making a difference? Do our words and actions demonstrate our confidence and obedience…or have we tailored a Christian “faith” that suits our timetable and personal desires? Do our excuses sound about as lame as those of a six-year-old “Batman” who claims he has little control over a villain?
Look…true Christian faith is scary sometimes. God calls us to step up – and out – and to do some pretty daunting things. Speaking up is hard for some of us, while others find it a stretch to give up control – of lots of things! But all we have to do is think about Jesus…how He obeyed God…how he suffered and sacrificed – and stood up for you and me, in amazing, incomprehensible ways.
Now I ask you again…how big is your faith…and are you ready to show it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 14, 2015
James 2:19-20
Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too—so strongly that they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our little ones shower us with demonstrations of love and affection. We get hugs, kisses, and lots of “I love yous!”…and we are grateful for every single gesture. As they get older, they are learning that acts of respect demonstrate love, also…things like helping without being asked, picking up toys and responding right away to a summons, and showing kindness and consideration to each other do not go unnoticed. We see their efforts to prove their love to us…and while we would love them anyway, these endeavors are not without merit – and we make sure the children know that we have taken note of them.
The point is that God would love us whether we ever publicly lived out our faith in Him or not. Certainly, the thief on the cross had neither the time nor the means for demonstrating his faith in Jesus…but I have no doubt that he is in Paradise today, just as Jesus promised him. Still, Jesus commanded us to demonstrate our faith. He used words like “go”…”make disciples”…”teach”…”heal”…”minister”…”baptize”…and “share the Good News.”
Jesus did not follow this up with, “If you don’t do this, I won’t love you.” I believe that He gave these directives with the understanding that we would surely want to serve in the name of One who had given so much on our behalf…that we would want to tell others about Him, and give them the opportunity to have Jesus as their Savior, too!
So don’t serve Jesus out of fear…serve Him out of faith! Serve because you love Jesus so much and want others to know about His incredible message and gift. Serve in His name because it’s the only thing that makes sense. To accept His suffering and death for our sins and then do nothing in return seems incredibly preposterous…and downright ungrateful.
People who are truly faith-filled act like it. They “walk the walk” to reinforce their claim of unfailing love for Jesus Christ…and others know their true position by not only their words, but also their actions. People who are truly full of faith in Jesus Christ are busy serving Him as the Holy Spirit leads them. Are you one of them?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too—so strongly that they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our little ones shower us with demonstrations of love and affection. We get hugs, kisses, and lots of “I love yous!”…and we are grateful for every single gesture. As they get older, they are learning that acts of respect demonstrate love, also…things like helping without being asked, picking up toys and responding right away to a summons, and showing kindness and consideration to each other do not go unnoticed. We see their efforts to prove their love to us…and while we would love them anyway, these endeavors are not without merit – and we make sure the children know that we have taken note of them.
The point is that God would love us whether we ever publicly lived out our faith in Him or not. Certainly, the thief on the cross had neither the time nor the means for demonstrating his faith in Jesus…but I have no doubt that he is in Paradise today, just as Jesus promised him. Still, Jesus commanded us to demonstrate our faith. He used words like “go”…”make disciples”…”teach”…”heal”…”minister”…”baptize”…and “share the Good News.”
Jesus did not follow this up with, “If you don’t do this, I won’t love you.” I believe that He gave these directives with the understanding that we would surely want to serve in the name of One who had given so much on our behalf…that we would want to tell others about Him, and give them the opportunity to have Jesus as their Savior, too!
So don’t serve Jesus out of fear…serve Him out of faith! Serve because you love Jesus so much and want others to know about His incredible message and gift. Serve in His name because it’s the only thing that makes sense. To accept His suffering and death for our sins and then do nothing in return seems incredibly preposterous…and downright ungrateful.
People who are truly faith-filled act like it. They “walk the walk” to reinforce their claim of unfailing love for Jesus Christ…and others know their true position by not only their words, but also their actions. People who are truly full of faith in Jesus Christ are busy serving Him as the Holy Spirit leads them. Are you one of them?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 13, 2015
James 2:14-17
My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A friend posted a picture on Facebook this morning of a chalkboard that said, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person…your behavior does.” As I read this passage from James 2, I decided that God must think that this is a pretty important message for us today!
So let’s unpack a little. Are you a person who is “all talk and no action?” Are you the first in line to rant about the injustices of this world…and the last to actually get off your duff and do something about them? When was the last time you physically did something for someone else? I am not talking about writing a check or making a donation…although these are sometimes important ways to help others. I’m talking about actually preparing a dish or a meal (even take-out) for someone who is sick, injured, busy, or just plain HUNGRY! I’m talking about offering to provide rides or kiddie carpool…or to sit with a child, elderly person, or even a pet for a few hours or a day – or longer, if you are able – to give someone a much-needed break.
I’m talking about sending a thoughtful and heartfelt note of encouragement to someone who is going through something difficult…or recognition and congratulations to someone who has had a happy experience, reached a milestone, or achieved a new level of accomplishment. I'm talking about offering to run an errand or lend a helping hand...and actually following through on the proposal.
I’m talking about doing whatever you are able to physically do…and I realize that sometimes, for some of us, prayer IS what we can do. But by golly, let’s do it to the best of our abilities. When we tell someone we will pray for them…let’s actually lift them in prayer and ask God to meet their needs. And let’s not just do this once and forget it…let's keep on praying!
There's one more thing…people ARE watching…but they don’t need a “show.” They don’t need to hear what you did for this person or that one…or how long and hard you prayed for "Suzy." If we are living out our faith and following through with our thoughts and actions, others will see it…and they will want this same relationship with Jesus for themselves.
So what does your behavior say about you today? When others look at you, do they see someone who puts his/her faith into action? Don’t you think it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A friend posted a picture on Facebook this morning of a chalkboard that said, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person…your behavior does.” As I read this passage from James 2, I decided that God must think that this is a pretty important message for us today!
So let’s unpack a little. Are you a person who is “all talk and no action?” Are you the first in line to rant about the injustices of this world…and the last to actually get off your duff and do something about them? When was the last time you physically did something for someone else? I am not talking about writing a check or making a donation…although these are sometimes important ways to help others. I’m talking about actually preparing a dish or a meal (even take-out) for someone who is sick, injured, busy, or just plain HUNGRY! I’m talking about offering to provide rides or kiddie carpool…or to sit with a child, elderly person, or even a pet for a few hours or a day – or longer, if you are able – to give someone a much-needed break.
I’m talking about sending a thoughtful and heartfelt note of encouragement to someone who is going through something difficult…or recognition and congratulations to someone who has had a happy experience, reached a milestone, or achieved a new level of accomplishment. I'm talking about offering to run an errand or lend a helping hand...and actually following through on the proposal.
I’m talking about doing whatever you are able to physically do…and I realize that sometimes, for some of us, prayer IS what we can do. But by golly, let’s do it to the best of our abilities. When we tell someone we will pray for them…let’s actually lift them in prayer and ask God to meet their needs. And let’s not just do this once and forget it…let's keep on praying!
There's one more thing…people ARE watching…but they don’t need a “show.” They don’t need to hear what you did for this person or that one…or how long and hard you prayed for "Suzy." If we are living out our faith and following through with our thoughts and actions, others will see it…and they will want this same relationship with Jesus for themselves.
So what does your behavior say about you today? When others look at you, do they see someone who puts his/her faith into action? Don’t you think it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 12, 2015
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Unless you have been under a rock lately, you know that there are almost two dozen "contenders" to be the next President of the United States…and to hear many of them tell it, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon them, and they have been anointed to save the world! Were it not so sad and serious, it might almost be laughable, as each of these men and women rushes to outdo the others in their efforts to convince “we the people” how lofty and noble they are…and how qualified they are to lead us!
It will probably take the better part of this next year to sift through all of the noise and figure out who truly might be at least partly suited to be our next President. I know that it will take a lot of prayer and careful consideration as we formulate our opinions and come to what hopefully will be a wise conclusion.
Meanwhile, let there be NO question about who has been anointed by God to bring the Good News to each of us - the “suffering and afflicted” referenced by the prophet Isaiah. Let us be assured that Jesus Christ has indeed come “to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.”
My prayer is that we never get confused about this…that we never doubt…and that we live in such a way that others are certain of where we stand – and with WHOM we stand! It doesn’t matter whether you and I agree about who should lead our nation…but it matters profoundly that we agree about Who leads our hearts and souls…and controls the destiny of our every breath - and our Eternity.
Do you live in a way that demonstrates your faith and confidence in the Good News of Jesus Christ? Have you received His anointing upon your life…and are you busy acting on His behalf in a way that brings glory and honor to Jesus? When others look at you, do they want what (and Who) you have in their life? Or are you one more arrogant and confusing “voice” in the mix?
The time has come for us to figure out who we are as Christ’s disciples…and to pare down, in many instances, to what He has anointed…and discard anything that we have added. Are you really ready to do this? Are you prepared to deliver the unadulterated, pure and true Good News to others in every aspect of your daily living? Will you stand out from the crowd for Jesus in a good way? Or are you just one more in a line of noisy distractions?
©2015 Debbie Robus
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Unless you have been under a rock lately, you know that there are almost two dozen "contenders" to be the next President of the United States…and to hear many of them tell it, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon them, and they have been anointed to save the world! Were it not so sad and serious, it might almost be laughable, as each of these men and women rushes to outdo the others in their efforts to convince “we the people” how lofty and noble they are…and how qualified they are to lead us!
It will probably take the better part of this next year to sift through all of the noise and figure out who truly might be at least partly suited to be our next President. I know that it will take a lot of prayer and careful consideration as we formulate our opinions and come to what hopefully will be a wise conclusion.
Meanwhile, let there be NO question about who has been anointed by God to bring the Good News to each of us - the “suffering and afflicted” referenced by the prophet Isaiah. Let us be assured that Jesus Christ has indeed come “to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.”
My prayer is that we never get confused about this…that we never doubt…and that we live in such a way that others are certain of where we stand – and with WHOM we stand! It doesn’t matter whether you and I agree about who should lead our nation…but it matters profoundly that we agree about Who leads our hearts and souls…and controls the destiny of our every breath - and our Eternity.
Do you live in a way that demonstrates your faith and confidence in the Good News of Jesus Christ? Have you received His anointing upon your life…and are you busy acting on His behalf in a way that brings glory and honor to Jesus? When others look at you, do they want what (and Who) you have in their life? Or are you one more arrogant and confusing “voice” in the mix?
The time has come for us to figure out who we are as Christ’s disciples…and to pare down, in many instances, to what He has anointed…and discard anything that we have added. Are you really ready to do this? Are you prepared to deliver the unadulterated, pure and true Good News to others in every aspect of your daily living? Will you stand out from the crowd for Jesus in a good way? Or are you just one more in a line of noisy distractions?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 11, 2015
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise and shrewd in their own eyes!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I recently viewed a movie called The Ultimate Gift, based on the best-selling book by Jim Stovall. The synopsis at IMDb.com says, “A deceased billionaire leaves his spoiled adult grandson a series of odd tasks to perform in order to receive ‘the ultimate gift,’ with the resentful grandson having no idea what that might be.” Even though this movie was released in 2006 – and a sequel, The Ultimate Life, was shown in theaters in 2013 – I encourage you to rent this one and watch it.
I won’t spoil the plot for you, but the twelve gifts this grandfather offers are: work; money (as in how to handle it wisely); unconditional love; friends; laughter; giving; family; problems; learning; dreams; gratitude; and the gift of a day. A message of Christian faith is subtly woven through this film. These “gifts” all come with lessons that most of us could probably stand to revisit from time to time.
Too many of us think we are “all that and a bag of chips”…that people care a whole lot more about what we think, say and do than is really the case…that we can talk or buy our way out of any scrape…that there will always be a “rich grandfather” to bail us out of any trouble we encounter. The verses in Isaiah 5 that surround this one say that many think they are “heroes” who can hold large amounts of liquor…take bribes and manipulate the justice system to suit their own agendas…or tell lies and twist things to fit their own beliefs and values. Have I stepped on any toes yet?
At one point in the movie, the lead character is sitting in a hospital chapel with a little girl, looking at a large statue of Jesus Christ positioned on the altar. He tells the child that he doesn’t know a whole lot about God, but…”I can promise you that those arms are meant for you.”
While the “gifts” demonstrated in this movie are important…the true “Ultimate Gift” is to dwell in the arms of Jesus…both figuratively in this life…and literally forever in Eternity. But God has called us to live according to His plans in the meantime…to faithfully and responsibly exercise the 12 “gifts” described here, and to humbly serve Him in everything we say and do. We are called to take ownership of our words and actions and to make sure that they line up with God’s will and design for our lives.
The challenge for each of us today is to determine what God wants us to do…and get busy doing it! This movie might serve as a good “starting point” for ideas. Spending some time in prayer and contemplation is another. Our life is indeed a precious gift from God that demands a level of care and appreciation in direct proportion to its value. How well are your efforts stacking up these days? Are you honoring God’s gifts? Isn’t it time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Woe to those who are wise and shrewd in their own eyes!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I recently viewed a movie called The Ultimate Gift, based on the best-selling book by Jim Stovall. The synopsis at IMDb.com says, “A deceased billionaire leaves his spoiled adult grandson a series of odd tasks to perform in order to receive ‘the ultimate gift,’ with the resentful grandson having no idea what that might be.” Even though this movie was released in 2006 – and a sequel, The Ultimate Life, was shown in theaters in 2013 – I encourage you to rent this one and watch it.
I won’t spoil the plot for you, but the twelve gifts this grandfather offers are: work; money (as in how to handle it wisely); unconditional love; friends; laughter; giving; family; problems; learning; dreams; gratitude; and the gift of a day. A message of Christian faith is subtly woven through this film. These “gifts” all come with lessons that most of us could probably stand to revisit from time to time.
Too many of us think we are “all that and a bag of chips”…that people care a whole lot more about what we think, say and do than is really the case…that we can talk or buy our way out of any scrape…that there will always be a “rich grandfather” to bail us out of any trouble we encounter. The verses in Isaiah 5 that surround this one say that many think they are “heroes” who can hold large amounts of liquor…take bribes and manipulate the justice system to suit their own agendas…or tell lies and twist things to fit their own beliefs and values. Have I stepped on any toes yet?
At one point in the movie, the lead character is sitting in a hospital chapel with a little girl, looking at a large statue of Jesus Christ positioned on the altar. He tells the child that he doesn’t know a whole lot about God, but…”I can promise you that those arms are meant for you.”
While the “gifts” demonstrated in this movie are important…the true “Ultimate Gift” is to dwell in the arms of Jesus…both figuratively in this life…and literally forever in Eternity. But God has called us to live according to His plans in the meantime…to faithfully and responsibly exercise the 12 “gifts” described here, and to humbly serve Him in everything we say and do. We are called to take ownership of our words and actions and to make sure that they line up with God’s will and design for our lives.
The challenge for each of us today is to determine what God wants us to do…and get busy doing it! This movie might serve as a good “starting point” for ideas. Spending some time in prayer and contemplation is another. Our life is indeed a precious gift from God that demands a level of care and appreciation in direct proportion to its value. How well are your efforts stacking up these days? Are you honoring God’s gifts? Isn’t it time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 10, 2015
Isaiah 13:15-16
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 9, 2015
Isaiah 29:13-15
The Lord has said: “These people praise me with their words, but they never really think about me. They worship me by repeating rules made up by humans.
So once again I will do things that shock and amaze them, and I will destroy the wisdom of those who claim to know and understand.”
You are in for trouble, if you try to hide your plans from the Lord! Or if you think what you do in the dark can’t be seen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“God wants you to be happy.”
“God will not give you more than you can handle.”
“God works in mysterious ways.”
“If you can envision and believe it, you will receive it.”
“If you work hard enough, you'll be successful.”
“Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“This, too, shall pass.”
“To thine own self be true.”
Would it surprise you to learn that NONE of these phrases actually appears in God’s Holy Word? Still, I bet you have heard at least one of these quoted as if the words came directly from the pages of your Bible! This is but a sampling of the ways in which we twist God’s words to suit our own agendas. And by virtue of repetition, several of these “tenets” have become part of the “makeup” of many a Christian’s core beliefs and values.
While some of these phrases did have a somewhat scriptural origin…do you see how they have been manipulated and the meaning has changed? For instance, money is not the root of all evil…but the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) “causes all kinds of trouble.”
Likewise, some will take the middle section of this scripture passage where Isaiah prophecies that God will shock, amaze, and destroy those who disobey or twist His words to mean that everything from natural disasters to AIDS and other diseases are God’s punishment upon us. If you prayerfully and carefully read this passage, you will see that God is saying that those who turn His words and commands into something that He did not intend will be disappointed and corrected. God will not stand for this! He will not allow His message to be tainted…and He will make things right…but not by bringing plagues and disasters!
Finally, we come to the third section of this passage, in which we are reminded that God knows everything. So whether you talk about others in a derogatory manner in the privacy of your own home – or with people you believe agree with your stance - or you voice your opinions in a public venue…God knows. When you work behind the scenes to create divisiveness toward a group of people or a particular ideology, you are breaking Jesus’ commandment to “love one another.” When you make up the rules as you go along and hope that God will forgive you later…or you think that your Salvation in Jesus has given you a “free pass” or somehow elevated you in status, you have totally blown it!
I know I talk about this a lot. But it seems like a large number of “Christians” today are operating in man-made rules. They are judgmental, pious, unloving, and divisive…and they try to justify it all in the name of Jesus. I believe that God’s heart is breaking over this. I pray that you are not among them. But the only way we can know if we are in God’s will and serving as genuine disciples of Christ is to stay in constant contact with Him…to study His word night and day, and beg God to impress upon our hearts His true meaning…and to sift through and discard the ugliness and confusion that the devil tries to intersperse.
Will you join me in renewing your efforts to operate in God’s truth? Will you rekindle your love for the words and wisdom of our Heavenly Father…and vow to operate only from His vantage point? Are you ready to step out into the Light of Christ and “disciple” confidently from that position? Is this the day that you will begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
The Lord has said: “These people praise me with their words, but they never really think about me. They worship me by repeating rules made up by humans.
So once again I will do things that shock and amaze them, and I will destroy the wisdom of those who claim to know and understand.”
You are in for trouble, if you try to hide your plans from the Lord! Or if you think what you do in the dark can’t be seen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“God wants you to be happy.”
“God will not give you more than you can handle.”
“God works in mysterious ways.”
“If you can envision and believe it, you will receive it.”
“If you work hard enough, you'll be successful.”
“Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“This, too, shall pass.”
“To thine own self be true.”
Would it surprise you to learn that NONE of these phrases actually appears in God’s Holy Word? Still, I bet you have heard at least one of these quoted as if the words came directly from the pages of your Bible! This is but a sampling of the ways in which we twist God’s words to suit our own agendas. And by virtue of repetition, several of these “tenets” have become part of the “makeup” of many a Christian’s core beliefs and values.
While some of these phrases did have a somewhat scriptural origin…do you see how they have been manipulated and the meaning has changed? For instance, money is not the root of all evil…but the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) “causes all kinds of trouble.”
Likewise, some will take the middle section of this scripture passage where Isaiah prophecies that God will shock, amaze, and destroy those who disobey or twist His words to mean that everything from natural disasters to AIDS and other diseases are God’s punishment upon us. If you prayerfully and carefully read this passage, you will see that God is saying that those who turn His words and commands into something that He did not intend will be disappointed and corrected. God will not stand for this! He will not allow His message to be tainted…and He will make things right…but not by bringing plagues and disasters!
Finally, we come to the third section of this passage, in which we are reminded that God knows everything. So whether you talk about others in a derogatory manner in the privacy of your own home – or with people you believe agree with your stance - or you voice your opinions in a public venue…God knows. When you work behind the scenes to create divisiveness toward a group of people or a particular ideology, you are breaking Jesus’ commandment to “love one another.” When you make up the rules as you go along and hope that God will forgive you later…or you think that your Salvation in Jesus has given you a “free pass” or somehow elevated you in status, you have totally blown it!
I know I talk about this a lot. But it seems like a large number of “Christians” today are operating in man-made rules. They are judgmental, pious, unloving, and divisive…and they try to justify it all in the name of Jesus. I believe that God’s heart is breaking over this. I pray that you are not among them. But the only way we can know if we are in God’s will and serving as genuine disciples of Christ is to stay in constant contact with Him…to study His word night and day, and beg God to impress upon our hearts His true meaning…and to sift through and discard the ugliness and confusion that the devil tries to intersperse.
Will you join me in renewing your efforts to operate in God’s truth? Will you rekindle your love for the words and wisdom of our Heavenly Father…and vow to operate only from His vantage point? Are you ready to step out into the Light of Christ and “disciple” confidently from that position? Is this the day that you will begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 8, 2015
Hebrews 13:18-21
Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to keep it that way. I especially need your prayers right now so that I can come back to you sooner.
And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House.
This morning, someone posted a photo on Facebook of a beautiful impressionistic painting by an Australian-born artist named Robert Hagan*. This lovely piece featured three barefoot ladies in long dresses who appear to be friends standing on a sandy beach. The accompanying quote was from novelist Nicholas Sparks**…"You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by."
We would do well to apply this in our own lives. Talk is cheap…a lot of people say a LOT of things. But what do they DO? How do they treat others? Does their daily living back up their words…and does it please God? Because in the end, pleasing Him is truly all that matters.
We all know people who “talk a good game”…who say they care about others, that they don’t care about money or possessions…that “faith and family” matter most to them. And we also know a lot of people who say these things and then act in a totally opposite manner. They are the first to rant about their “hard-earned money” going to pay for programs to help those in need…or to judge those who think or act differently. They look down their noses at those who attend worship and don’t dress as nicely or drive a fancy car – or have tousled, unruly children or a disabled elderly relative who needs the aisle seat (which is where they ALWAYS sit!). And then they proudly sport a bumper sticker that advertises their home church – and a “fish magnet with a cross.”
Might I remind all of us that people are watching…and well they should be! More importantly, God is watching. He always knows whether what we do lines up with what we say, what He commanded – and what we agreed to do in return. Like the Apostle Paul, my prayer is that we would all be continually ready to please God and do what is right…that our conscience might indeed be clear…and that we would strive to keep it that way! How well are you doing?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.roberthagan.com
** http://nicholassparks.com
Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to keep it that way. I especially need your prayers right now so that I can come back to you sooner.
And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House.
This morning, someone posted a photo on Facebook of a beautiful impressionistic painting by an Australian-born artist named Robert Hagan*. This lovely piece featured three barefoot ladies in long dresses who appear to be friends standing on a sandy beach. The accompanying quote was from novelist Nicholas Sparks**…"You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by."
We would do well to apply this in our own lives. Talk is cheap…a lot of people say a LOT of things. But what do they DO? How do they treat others? Does their daily living back up their words…and does it please God? Because in the end, pleasing Him is truly all that matters.
We all know people who “talk a good game”…who say they care about others, that they don’t care about money or possessions…that “faith and family” matter most to them. And we also know a lot of people who say these things and then act in a totally opposite manner. They are the first to rant about their “hard-earned money” going to pay for programs to help those in need…or to judge those who think or act differently. They look down their noses at those who attend worship and don’t dress as nicely or drive a fancy car – or have tousled, unruly children or a disabled elderly relative who needs the aisle seat (which is where they ALWAYS sit!). And then they proudly sport a bumper sticker that advertises their home church – and a “fish magnet with a cross.”
Might I remind all of us that people are watching…and well they should be! More importantly, God is watching. He always knows whether what we do lines up with what we say, what He commanded – and what we agreed to do in return. Like the Apostle Paul, my prayer is that we would all be continually ready to please God and do what is right…that our conscience might indeed be clear…and that we would strive to keep it that way! How well are you doing?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.roberthagan.com
** http://nicholassparks.com
Daily Devotional for August 7, 2015
Hebrews 13:1-3
Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should. Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it. Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On December 20, 1981, my grandparents’ farm house burned to the ground. They got out with their clothing, vehicles, and a few personal belongings that they grabbed as they ran out the door. The fire burned so hot that even cast iron skillets and their claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This would be devastating for anyone, but my grandparents were in their early 70s and newly retired - and my grandfather’s health was declining - so it was particularly stressful for them.
My dad rushed to arrange for a new house to be constructed on the property…and it was finished in a record 3+ months. Meanwhile, dear friends who wintered in a southern state graciously insisted that my grandmother and grandfather stay in their house. This was a tremendously generous offer, and we never forgot it!
After several run-ins with the law over the use and sale of drugs, my cousin J.D. was sent to prison for several years. I felt God calling me to write to J.D. – to offer encouragement and remind him how much Jesus did for him…how much he was loved - even in prison. A mutual friend went to the prison with me one Saturday for a visit. This was a life-changing experience for me. For three hours, we sat in this big “common room” with countless prisoners and their families…guards positioned around the perimeter alongside dozens of vending machines that offered everything from ice cream to sodas and candy bars. We had been told to bring plenty of change…and J.D. and the other prisoners shopped at those machines virtually non-stop for the entire visit.
One of the things that struck me was that we were really not supposed to touch the prisoners…although we were allowed a brief “hello” and “good-bye” hug. I looked at the people in that room…husbands/boyfriends with wives/girlfriends and children…mothers and siblings visiting sons…cousins like me…friends…and the prisoners themselves. I had no clue what crimes any of these men had committed (other than my cousin)…although J.D. pointed to a few and enlightened us. But in general, everyone in the room was on equal footing – at least in our eyes. And honestly, they held the same position in the eyes of Jesus. He didn’t see their crimes in degrees of severity…He saw broken people who needed restitution.
My grandparents and the couple who ministered to them so sweetly are all in heaven now. And J.D. has become a completely new creature in Christ Jesus and now serves as an evangelist throughout the mid-South. But my association with all of these people forever changed my perspective about the directives of this passage in Hebrews… and my experiences with Timothy, Zola and Nathan have solidified my resolve to view others as Jesus does – and to serve as He commands.
When I see someone in need, I think…”that could be Timothy or Zola someday.” When I hear people shouting for the execution of someone who has committed a heinous crime, I ask myself, “What if that were Nathan?” When I discover that “uncontrollable” children are being handcuffed in public schools… teenagers who made a senseless mistake are being labeled lifelong sex offenders…and returning veterans who cannot find work are filling homeless shelters…I remind myself that these are the precious children of SOMEBODY. And more importantly, I try to remember that they are all beloved and invaluable to Jesus.
So the next time you start to judge or condemn someone…to call them an ugly name…or to look down your nose at a person who has disappointed in some way or is “less fortunate,” ask yourself, “How would Jesus feel?” Consider what He thinks of this person…and remember that in His eyes, you are their equal - no worse, but certainly no better.
I am saddened that it took such tragic events to grab my attention, in some cases…but I am thankful that God used these experiences to mold my attitude and bring me to a better understanding of the commandment to “love one another.” My prayer is that you might learn from my encounters…and be spared the heartache and frustration of similar hard lessons. I pray that we would all begin to look around for opportunities to minister to others in Jesus’ name…to let them know how precious they are to Him…and to genuinely let them know how deeply we care. Are you ready to show others concern as Jesus would? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should. Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it. Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On December 20, 1981, my grandparents’ farm house burned to the ground. They got out with their clothing, vehicles, and a few personal belongings that they grabbed as they ran out the door. The fire burned so hot that even cast iron skillets and their claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This would be devastating for anyone, but my grandparents were in their early 70s and newly retired - and my grandfather’s health was declining - so it was particularly stressful for them.
My dad rushed to arrange for a new house to be constructed on the property…and it was finished in a record 3+ months. Meanwhile, dear friends who wintered in a southern state graciously insisted that my grandmother and grandfather stay in their house. This was a tremendously generous offer, and we never forgot it!
After several run-ins with the law over the use and sale of drugs, my cousin J.D. was sent to prison for several years. I felt God calling me to write to J.D. – to offer encouragement and remind him how much Jesus did for him…how much he was loved - even in prison. A mutual friend went to the prison with me one Saturday for a visit. This was a life-changing experience for me. For three hours, we sat in this big “common room” with countless prisoners and their families…guards positioned around the perimeter alongside dozens of vending machines that offered everything from ice cream to sodas and candy bars. We had been told to bring plenty of change…and J.D. and the other prisoners shopped at those machines virtually non-stop for the entire visit.
One of the things that struck me was that we were really not supposed to touch the prisoners…although we were allowed a brief “hello” and “good-bye” hug. I looked at the people in that room…husbands/boyfriends with wives/girlfriends and children…mothers and siblings visiting sons…cousins like me…friends…and the prisoners themselves. I had no clue what crimes any of these men had committed (other than my cousin)…although J.D. pointed to a few and enlightened us. But in general, everyone in the room was on equal footing – at least in our eyes. And honestly, they held the same position in the eyes of Jesus. He didn’t see their crimes in degrees of severity…He saw broken people who needed restitution.
My grandparents and the couple who ministered to them so sweetly are all in heaven now. And J.D. has become a completely new creature in Christ Jesus and now serves as an evangelist throughout the mid-South. But my association with all of these people forever changed my perspective about the directives of this passage in Hebrews… and my experiences with Timothy, Zola and Nathan have solidified my resolve to view others as Jesus does – and to serve as He commands.
When I see someone in need, I think…”that could be Timothy or Zola someday.” When I hear people shouting for the execution of someone who has committed a heinous crime, I ask myself, “What if that were Nathan?” When I discover that “uncontrollable” children are being handcuffed in public schools… teenagers who made a senseless mistake are being labeled lifelong sex offenders…and returning veterans who cannot find work are filling homeless shelters…I remind myself that these are the precious children of SOMEBODY. And more importantly, I try to remember that they are all beloved and invaluable to Jesus.
So the next time you start to judge or condemn someone…to call them an ugly name…or to look down your nose at a person who has disappointed in some way or is “less fortunate,” ask yourself, “How would Jesus feel?” Consider what He thinks of this person…and remember that in His eyes, you are their equal - no worse, but certainly no better.
I am saddened that it took such tragic events to grab my attention, in some cases…but I am thankful that God used these experiences to mold my attitude and bring me to a better understanding of the commandment to “love one another.” My prayer is that you might learn from my encounters…and be spared the heartache and frustration of similar hard lessons. I pray that we would all begin to look around for opportunities to minister to others in Jesus’ name…to let them know how precious they are to Him…and to genuinely let them know how deeply we care. Are you ready to show others concern as Jesus would? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 6, 2015
Hebrews 11:6
You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last night, I saw a commercial that featured Ron Reagan…son of President Ronald Reagan, who was speaking for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In this 30-second spot, Reagan asks for support for “the nation's largest and most effective association of atheists and agnostics.” He ends his comments with this…”Ron Reagan…lifelong atheist…not afraid of burning in hell.”
Don’t rush to judge Ron Reagan…or his organization. If you go to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s website and poke around, you will see that their primary mission is to protect the separation of church and state. Try to understand why Reagan and other atheists do not believe that God exists. Could this be in part because of how we Christians behave? Could our words and actions…our judgments and the “causes” we fight for so vehemently…actually belie God’s existence and fuel their thoughts?
Do we demonstrate to others that God not only exists…but that He is the Author and Finisher of our faith? Does our demeanor suggest that we trust God in all things…or are we often observed wringing our hands and worrying over every situation – even while calling on God to handle things? Could it be that our model of Christian discipleship and faith is anything but faithful and confident?
I will be honest…a lot of what I see and hear from Christians is not all that faith-filled. It doesn’t demonstrate a surety that God exists and is who He says He is…that He can do everything the Bible says that He can do. Our words and actions do not affirm that God is autonomous, supreme, omnipotent, all-powerful…and that He loves His children and wants only what is best for them.
I’m afraid that what others see from many of us is someone who is fearful of everything and everyone – particularly those who are different from us in some way. I’m concerned that others look at many of us and see someone who falls apart at the first hint of trouble…someone who is quick to judge, narrow-minded, and has an air of superiority and special privilege because of Who we claim to serve. I truly believe that we might be driving away those who are, at best, “on the fence” about whether God exists…and fully confirming the suspicions of those who have already decided this.
In countless instances, we’ve become so busy making a point that we’re no longer making a difference. And in doing so, I believe that we have also denied God, in large part. But we can change this. We can start to examine our lives…and our behaviors…and we can ask God to show us how and where we need to make adjustments. We can start to operate more in faith and confidence…and show the world Who our God really is – every single minute of the day. It’s not up to us to change the minds of others…but when we leave God room to work and give Him the opportunity, He can – and will – show up in ways we never even imagined.
When others look at you, what – and Who – do they see? Do you really, truly believe in God…and are you depending on Him - for everything? Is this what others see? Don’t you think it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last night, I saw a commercial that featured Ron Reagan…son of President Ronald Reagan, who was speaking for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In this 30-second spot, Reagan asks for support for “the nation's largest and most effective association of atheists and agnostics.” He ends his comments with this…”Ron Reagan…lifelong atheist…not afraid of burning in hell.”
Don’t rush to judge Ron Reagan…or his organization. If you go to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s website and poke around, you will see that their primary mission is to protect the separation of church and state. Try to understand why Reagan and other atheists do not believe that God exists. Could this be in part because of how we Christians behave? Could our words and actions…our judgments and the “causes” we fight for so vehemently…actually belie God’s existence and fuel their thoughts?
Do we demonstrate to others that God not only exists…but that He is the Author and Finisher of our faith? Does our demeanor suggest that we trust God in all things…or are we often observed wringing our hands and worrying over every situation – even while calling on God to handle things? Could it be that our model of Christian discipleship and faith is anything but faithful and confident?
I will be honest…a lot of what I see and hear from Christians is not all that faith-filled. It doesn’t demonstrate a surety that God exists and is who He says He is…that He can do everything the Bible says that He can do. Our words and actions do not affirm that God is autonomous, supreme, omnipotent, all-powerful…and that He loves His children and wants only what is best for them.
I’m afraid that what others see from many of us is someone who is fearful of everything and everyone – particularly those who are different from us in some way. I’m concerned that others look at many of us and see someone who falls apart at the first hint of trouble…someone who is quick to judge, narrow-minded, and has an air of superiority and special privilege because of Who we claim to serve. I truly believe that we might be driving away those who are, at best, “on the fence” about whether God exists…and fully confirming the suspicions of those who have already decided this.
In countless instances, we’ve become so busy making a point that we’re no longer making a difference. And in doing so, I believe that we have also denied God, in large part. But we can change this. We can start to examine our lives…and our behaviors…and we can ask God to show us how and where we need to make adjustments. We can start to operate more in faith and confidence…and show the world Who our God really is – every single minute of the day. It’s not up to us to change the minds of others…but when we leave God room to work and give Him the opportunity, He can – and will – show up in ways we never even imagined.
When others look at you, what – and Who – do they see? Do you really, truly believe in God…and are you depending on Him - for everything? Is this what others see? Don’t you think it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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