Daily Devotional for February 2, 2016

Psalm 67:1-7
Our God, be kind and bless us!
    Be pleased and smile.
Then everyone on earth
    will learn to follow you,
    and all nations will see
    your power to save us.
Make everyone praise you
    and shout your praises.
Let the nations celebrate
    with joyful songs,
    because you judge fairly
    and guide all nations.
Make everyone praise you
    and shout your praises.
Our God has blessed the earth
    with a wonderful harvest!
Pray for his blessings
    to continue
    and for everyone on earth
    to worship our God.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
   
It has been four weeks this morning since my mother left for heaven. My mother and I did not physically see each other all that often – even though we lived in the same town.  Mother traveled a lot…and when she was home, she was busy with writing projects and I was busy with little ones.  So we used the telephone and e-mail messages to keep in touch.

One of the frequent topics of conversation between us was politics and the state of the world.  And one of the things that drove my mother nuts was when people would speak with an “exclusive” attitude.  In other words, when people railed against those who practiced other religions…those of other races…and those who discriminated against people who were different from them – in any way…she bristled and was deeply grieved by these words and actions.

As I read this passage, I thought of our conversations…and how Mother and I both shared the desire that EVERYONE would come to know Jesus.  But a lot of us are doing everything in our power to ensure that this doesn’t happen.  How?  By acting superior…ramming our Christian faith down the throats of others…declaring in words and actions that it is “God’s way or the highway” (translation…OUR way).  We really aren’t seeking HIS will…we just want everyone to agree with US!

Go back and CAREFULLY read this passage again.  Learn from the psalmist…be kind and smile…bless others and give them a reason to want to follow our Jesus. Operate in with an attitude of gratitude…with joy and a continual declaration of the blessings of God in your own life.  Demonstrate how God meets your every need – in everything from the joy of your happiest days to the depths of your most profound grief and loss.  Judge fairly – or better yet, don’t judge at all.  Be a walking example of life in Christ that makes others say, “I want what he/she has!”

The world is filled with so much hatred…but if you read scripture, this is nothing new, either!  We seem to be poor, slow learners, when it comes to Christian discipleship and “how to win friends and influence people!”  But we can change this!  We can start today to operate in the words of this Psalm…to praise God and show our gratitude for His blessings…to demonstrate to the world at large how powerful His presence is in our lives…how He makes EVERYTHING better.  We can give them something to seek - JESUS, living in and through us. 

My mother was not perfect.  None of us are.  But over and again during her last days, people spoke of Mother’s kindness and encouragement…and her steadfast Christian faith.  She demonstrated the blessings of Jesus to others…and they noticed.  Can the same be said of you? 

©2016 Debbie Robus