January 14 ~ Luke 14:33
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.”
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
This is really a tough verse to wrap our brains around. See, we want to follow Christ, but so often, we have that “Burger King” relationship – we want it our way. So if following Christ means giving up your close friendship with your best drinking buddy, you may stiffen and say, “now wait a minute here!” If following Christ means that you can no longer play violent video games that degrade women, you may ask, “why does this matter?” If following Christ means you can no longer sleep in on Sundays or you have to pass up an after-church breakfast with family and friends to teach a Sunday School class or sing in the choir, you may say, “C’mon now… that’s going too far!”
Maybe you have to sell your tricked-out sports car and buy a modest sedan in order to afford that summer mission trip you are feeling led to take. Maybe you have studied for a career in medicine, with plans to specialize and make lots of money, but God clearly opens doors for you to practice medicine in a poor rural area and live modestly.
Be honest. Is anything really too much to give up for the One Who gave up his own life for you? Is it really asking too much to expect us to be willing to drop everything – and everyone – to follow the ONLY One Who really matters?I certainly hope that Jesus never asks me to give up my family and friends to follow Him. But I hope with all that is in me that I would be willing and faithful enough to do just that if He made it clear that I should. I have plans for my future, and I pray that they are His plans. But if not, I will ditch them in a heartbeat to follow the ones He sets forth. Think of your dearest thing… the one thing (or person) who is most precious to you. If Jesus asked you to walk away from that thing or person, could you do it? Would you? How badly do you want to be His disciple? It’s a daunting question – maybe the biggest question you will ever ask yourself. But it is vital to your Spiritual future and to following the plans that God has for your life. You may never be asked to do this, but you need to know how you would answer.
Do you really want the “Burger King” relationship – or are you up for totally being a disciple of Christ?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 13 ~ Luke 14:28
"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'”
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
So often, we are shortsighted in our vision. We have “a plan,” but it’s not a very far-reaching one. When I was young and planned for my future and the possibility of having children, I never really thought of them as teenagers, much less adults. But babies do grow up! If you are in college and thinking about your future, it may include a degree, a job, and making money… but have you considered where and how you will accomplish all of this? Have you asked yourself seriously if this is what you want to do for the next twenty or thirty years? I’m not saying you have to stay in the career path you choose now, but you need a more far-reaching plan than many of us seem to make.
You may be in what you feel is an exciting, fulfilling relationship. But have you considered growing old with this person? Are you being honest with yourself – and your significant other – about where this is headed and what you see as your future together?
Are you “saving for a rainy day?” Do you have a savings account, a retirement plan, insurance? Have you considered what you would do if you suddenly became very ill and unable to work or finish school? Do you have a plan if your car breaks down and you can’t get back and forth to school or work? And when trouble comes, do you throw up your hands and throw in the towel? Do you start things you can’t finish?
It’s time for a reality check. God has a plan for our lives, but He expects us to use the intelligence and other resources He has given us to help flesh out the plan! I encourage you today to spend some time with Him and try to figure out where He is leading you. Ask yourself if you are doing your part to see His plan to fruition. Have you made the necessary preparations to ensure the plan works? God is counting on us to do our part. He will give us everything we need, but it is up to us to do the leg work!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 12 ~ Luke 8:1
He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When Jesus walked from village to village teaching, preaching, and healing, He was following God’s plan for His life. The people who followed Jesus… the disciples, Mary, Joanna, Susanna and others - were following God’s plan. Did you ever stop to think about how Jesus’ ministry was funded and supported? Obviously God’s plan included people who would accompany Jesus’ group and see that their physical needs were met – food, clothing, shelter. Clearly God sent people with money to buy what was not donated – and He planned the donations, also!
Remember, God’s plan for Jesus called for Him to walk among us as a human being. Certainly Jesus could have miraculously and supernaturally fed Himself and others – and He did that in Matthew 14. But God wanted people to see Jesus as they saw themselves… with needs that HE met… accompanied by people whom HE used to minister to others. And so He planned for these people to show up and step up to the plate.
Has it really soaked in with you that there was a plan for Jesus’ life, too? God didn’t just plan our lives, but He planned the life of His Son, also. He planned the birth, the childhood, the ministry… even the crucifixion. It was all part of God’s plan for Jesus – AND for us – because ultimately, God sent Jesus for you and me! It doesn’t get more awesome and amazing – and humbling – than that!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 11 ~ Zechariah 8:14
“…Don't be afraid. And now here's what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don't cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don't do or say what isn't so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. You are probably thinking, “oh, I would never do that! I’m not that kind of person.” And I am sure that is true. But let’s look at this in context of the other instructions – do the right thing, say and do only what is so, and tell the whole truth.
Let’s say you saw potential in a parcel of land. Maybe it was a good place for a housing subdivision or commercial shopping center. Maybe it had great timber that would be worth a lot of money. But, there was a catch – this property had a tumble-down house on it, and in that house lived an elderly lady on a fixed income. She wasn’t very well educated. You decided that you could talk to the lady and convince her to sell the property to you – for what she did not realize was well below fair market value. You promised to help her qualify for government subsidized housing, convincing her it was nicer and more comfortable than where she currently lived.
Now, suppose that you stood to make many times over what you were spending on this land and could easily have afforded to make a higher offer to this lady – even purchased her a comfortable house and provided her with money for daily living expenses while still realizing a tidy profit. But you comforted yourself that you were improving her present situation, and you convinced yourself that this was generous enough of you to sleep at night. You completed the sale and developed the property – maybe you even sold the timber – and you made a huge profit. And the lonely little lady lived on government assistance for the rest of her days.
Suppose you tell people things that aren’t exactly the truth in order to make them feel obligated one way or another to do things. I always think of those vacuum salesmen and women who knock on doors and want to give a “free demonstration” (followed by high-pressure sales tactics!). I am also reminded of an episode of Andy Griffith in which Opie wanted to sell his bicycle so he could buy another one. He extolled all of the bike’s virtues to his buddy who was interested, but he neglected to divulge the list of problems with the bike. Andy challenged Opie on this and pointed out that a full disclosure was required. Later when Andy wanted to sell his house and failed to point out to potential buyers that the house had a leak and some cracks and other damage, Opie turned the tables. It wasn’t that either one of these fellows were bad people, but they were using an unfair advantage to get what they wanted – in these cases, a sale.
You may not be the richest person in the world. Every “deal” may not be “the big one.” But God will bless your life if you do the right thing, say and do only what is true, speak the whole truth, and never take unfair advantage of others. Plan to live a simple, honest life that pleases God, and He will take care of the rest.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 10 ~ Amos 7:14
But Amos stood up to Amaziah: "I never set up to be a preacher, never had plans to be a preacher. I raised cattle and I pruned trees. Then God took me off the farm and said, 'Go preach to my people Israel.'
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
My former pastor and friend, Bro. John Miles III, used to say, “Never tell God what you plan to do, because He will change your plans!” It’s just possible that God will show you Who is really in charge of the planning process. Little girls plan a fairy tale wedding from an early age and “play house.” Little boys play with guns and balls and dream of being soldiers or pro athletes. Kids with talent and creativity aspire to be actors and actresses and big-name celebrities.
The point I got from this passage is that no matter what you are doing today, God may have other plans for your tomorrow. Just because you are on track today to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, stay-at-home mom, pro athlete, coach, or whatever you are planning doesn’t mean that God may not show you another path tomorrow. You may be in the military today, but God may be using you to witness to soldiers in preparation for missionary service in the years ahead – or to be a team leader in some business venture.
You may be planning a successful career as a prosecuting attorney, and God may want you to be a public defender in an inner city. Today you may be working at a good job and playing golf in your spare time and enjoying the simple life of a small community. Next year God may move you to a community in a colder climate where there aren’t many golf courses and give you a new hobby. Or, He may change your interests, and you may not care about golf any longer!
God may be paving the way for you to become a lay speaker for your church or to drive the van on Sundays. He may be about to move you out of the Sunday School class you love so dearly and into a new one where your Spiritual insights are needed – or where He feels you can grow more in your walk with Him. God may know that poor health – yours or someone else’s – is ahead of you, and He may be planting people and events in your life now that will strengthen you for the days ahead. He may see a huge financial turn-around on the horizon and be planning ways for you to bless others with your newfound wealth.
I guess the point I am trying to get across is that we must not get too cozy or complacent in our lives and “rest on our laurels.” We must not ever close our minds and hearts to new possibilities with God. The old adage that “when God closes a door, He opens a window” is so true. If things aren’t working out like you had planned, stop and ask God what He is planning. I promise you He does have plans for each of us. They may not be grandiose… in fact, His plans might include rest and a slower pace! Wherever God’s plans take you in life, if He makes them, they are sure to be perfect!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 9 ~ Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever made plans to do something and someone else (your parents, friends, spouse, counselor, pastor, boss, etc.) told you that they had other plans, and you must go along with theirs rather than yours? How did that make you feel? Did you trust the person who was making the plans? Did you feel their choices were right for you? Were the results better than you imagined? Were they worse?
God has plans for our lives, and they are good plans. As I’ve said before, God’s plans are not always what we envisioned, and at the time, they may even seem a little crazy! But whatever God takes you to, He will take you through! It may involve hardship. It may involve the break-up of a relationship or giving up old friends and old habits. He may use physical suffering or persecution in the workplace to strengthen you. (Notice I didn’t say God would cause this, but rather He will use it for His glory and your growth! God is not in the business of making plans that will hurt you, and He does NOT cause our misfortunes!)
Jeremiah 29:11 is a powerful verse. God knows the plans He has for your life, and they are good plans – prosperous, successful, healthy plans for a bright future, both on this earth and in Eternity. The plans of other mortals may not always be God-sent or right for you, but GOD’s plans are always on target. If God shows up through scripture, prayer, or just that little Voice that won’t stop nagging you, pay attention. See what He has in store and where He will lead you!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 8 ~ Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:”
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When a woman finds out she is pregnant, the planning starts. Long before most babies arrive, their nursery is filled with furniture, clothing, diapers and baby products, toys, the latest gadgets in baby care, and more. And often, the parents have spent the nine expectant months conjuring up a future for their unborn child. Will he be a future president or an outstanding athlete? Will she be a beauty queen or a famous actress – or a future president? Will they grow up to be healthy, attractive, fit, and financially successful? Will they be happy and well-adjusted? Will they take care of their parents in their old age?!
Many parents will also plan for children who walk in the favor of God. And this is planning extraordinaire! Probably the best plan/hope/dream anyone could have for their child is to wish for them to grow up in the wisdom, love, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is God’s wish for each of us. Long before we were even formed in our mother’s womb, God had planned our life. He loves us so much that He took time to plan us eons ago! He knew us even then… knew how we will “turn out.” If God loves us enough to have planned our lives so long ago, don’t you think He will help us live them?New parents may plan for their children, but they can never plan as fully – or as well – as God has planned for us. His plans are perfect… and holy… and nothing could be better than that!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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