Romans 8:32
Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
For the last 25 days (or
longer, for those who put up their trees around Halloween!), we have
celebrated Christmas with family members and friends. We’ve decorated
our homes…sent greeting cards…shopped…baked…eaten delectable
foods…wrapped gifts…presented and enjoyed holiday programs…attended
parties…worshipped together…and shared gifts and merriment with each
other. We've celebrated Jesus’ birthday, lit the advent candle, and sung carols to herald His arrival.
The
festivities will continue for a few more days for some of us. For
others, it’s all over but the clean-up! But honestly, Christmas isn’t
over for any who believe in Jesus Christ. In fact…it’s just beginning!
God
knew when He sent Jesus to earth that His would not be an easy life.
He knew that there would be ridicule, misunderstanding, persecution…and a
crucifixion. And He sent Jesus anyway. He sent His Son as a tiny baby
so that we could fully see perfection in human form – from the cradle
to adulthood. Physically, God wanted Jesus to be “one of us.” But all
along, God knew that Jesus would suffer and die for us…that He would
shed His blood as the perfect Lamb - sacrificed for our sins.
God
didn’t just send a baby and say, “Here you go folks…figure out the
rest!” He knew all along just how things would happen – and why. And
that’s why “Christmas” doesn’t end today…or tomorrow…or next week or
next year. When we know Jesus as our Savior, every day is
“Christmas”…and a gift from God Almighty.
Someone noted today
on Facebook that historically, Jesus probably was born in the spring -
not in December…that December 25 is likely not actually Jesus’ real
birth date. It doesn’t matter what day has been chosen to mark the
birth of our Savior. It doesn’t change the fact that some 2050 years
ago, God sent His Son - against all odds - to save us from our sins.
And He has been in the “giving” business ever since.
I don’t
understand God’s grace and generosity. I cannot explain His mercy…or
why He continues to bless us with abundance. It is beyond my
comprehension that God’s gift of Jesus was not enough…that He continues
to meet our every need and lavish us with gifts that we will never
deserve. I honestly don’t know why God didn’t dust off His hands after
sending Jesus to earth and basically say, “Merry Christmas…and to all a
Good Night!” and be done with us. But I’m very glad that He didn’t.
God
loves us beyond anything we can comprehend. He sent Jesus to show us
how to live and serve…and to die for our sins. And now, God walks with
us each and every day…hears our prayers…heals us in every sense of the
word…and blesses us beyond human understanding. I don’t understand His
generosity…but I will never doubt it!
So take down the tree…and
pack away the lights, tinsel and decorations for the next few months.
But don’t pack away “Christmas.” Let the spirit of God’s greatest Gift
live on in your heart each and every day. Embrace His gift of
Salvation…and watch His blessings and abundance flow in your life. Live
and serve with gratitude for such an amazing Gift…and make every day a
reason to celebrate! Merry Christmas!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label God's gift of Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's gift of Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 3, 2016
December 3 ~ Genesis 28:20-22
And Jacob vowed this vow to God: “If God will help and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothes, and will bring me back safely to my father, then I will choose Jehovah as my God! And this memorial pillar shall become a place for worship; and I will give you back a tenth of everything you give me!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We learn at an early age to “bargain.” Little children tell adults, “Just let me have five more minutes…eat one cookie…do XYZ…and I will go straight to bed, brush my teeth, or whatever it is we are wanting them to do at the moment. On the flip side, we adults make promises to children if they will behave a certain way, clean their rooms, or simply brush their teeth and go to bed!
But we adults have truly mastered bargaining…particularly with God. If only He will make life perfect for us, we will serve Him with our whole heart and give back to Him at least a tenth of all we have been given! If only He will get us out of our current mess, we will serve Him with all we have for the rest of our earthly lives! Sounds fair…right?
I can see why Jacob bargained with God. This was Old Testament times. Jesus had not come to earth yet. Jacob felt like this was a fair agreement…and perhaps for the time, it was. But the God who loved us enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for our sins – before we were even born – deserves ALL that we can give Him. Of course, everything we have came from God, so anything we give to Him will essentially be a “re-gift!” But still, to put contingencies on these “gifts” seems as if we don’t believe in His promises. Surely that is not the case!
How about we do this? Why not just cut to the chase and lay it all out before God? What if we simply say, “Lord…I give You my best…all that I can…whatever You desire. You gave me a promise of eternal life with You in Heaven. What can I give You while I’m still on this earth?” Whatever God asks of you, He will equip you to accomplish. Even if it seems impossible - like giving up a circle of “friends” who are not the right crowd for you…breaking a lifelong habit…or putting yourself “out there” in a way you would rather not - God will assure that everything comes together perfectly. If GOD ordains it, you cannot fail.
So let’s quit bargaining with God, revel in His promise of Eternal Life, and serve Him on this earth with every ounce of energy and courage we can muster. Let’s put our faith into action and show the world that with God, anything and everything is possible. And let’s give Him our very best each and every day without a single though about what is in it for us. Are you with really ready to give?
©2016 Debbie Robus
And Jacob vowed this vow to God: “If God will help and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothes, and will bring me back safely to my father, then I will choose Jehovah as my God! And this memorial pillar shall become a place for worship; and I will give you back a tenth of everything you give me!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We learn at an early age to “bargain.” Little children tell adults, “Just let me have five more minutes…eat one cookie…do XYZ…and I will go straight to bed, brush my teeth, or whatever it is we are wanting them to do at the moment. On the flip side, we adults make promises to children if they will behave a certain way, clean their rooms, or simply brush their teeth and go to bed!
But we adults have truly mastered bargaining…particularly with God. If only He will make life perfect for us, we will serve Him with our whole heart and give back to Him at least a tenth of all we have been given! If only He will get us out of our current mess, we will serve Him with all we have for the rest of our earthly lives! Sounds fair…right?
I can see why Jacob bargained with God. This was Old Testament times. Jesus had not come to earth yet. Jacob felt like this was a fair agreement…and perhaps for the time, it was. But the God who loved us enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for our sins – before we were even born – deserves ALL that we can give Him. Of course, everything we have came from God, so anything we give to Him will essentially be a “re-gift!” But still, to put contingencies on these “gifts” seems as if we don’t believe in His promises. Surely that is not the case!
How about we do this? Why not just cut to the chase and lay it all out before God? What if we simply say, “Lord…I give You my best…all that I can…whatever You desire. You gave me a promise of eternal life with You in Heaven. What can I give You while I’m still on this earth?” Whatever God asks of you, He will equip you to accomplish. Even if it seems impossible - like giving up a circle of “friends” who are not the right crowd for you…breaking a lifelong habit…or putting yourself “out there” in a way you would rather not - God will assure that everything comes together perfectly. If GOD ordains it, you cannot fail.
So let’s quit bargaining with God, revel in His promise of Eternal Life, and serve Him on this earth with every ounce of energy and courage we can muster. Let’s put our faith into action and show the world that with God, anything and everything is possible. And let’s give Him our very best each and every day without a single though about what is in it for us. Are you with really ready to give?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 29, 2016
1 Chronicles 29:10-20
Then, in front of everyone, David sang praises to the Lord:
I praise you forever, Lord! You are the God our ancestor Jacob worshiped. Your power is great, and your glory is seen everywhere in heaven and on earth. You are king of the entire world, and you rule with strength and power. You make people rich and powerful and famous. We thank you, our God, and praise you.
But why should we be happy that we have given you these gifts? They belong to you, and we have only given back what is already yours. We are only foreigners living here on earth for a while, just as our ancestors were. And we will soon be gone, like a shadow that suddenly disappears.
Our Lord God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone’s heart, and you are pleased when people are honest. Always make us eager to give, and help us be faithful to you, just as our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob faithfully worshiped you. And give Solomon the desire to completely obey your laws and teachings, and the desire to build the temple for which I have provided these gifts.
David then said to the people, “Now it’s your turn to praise the Lord, the God your ancestors worshiped!” So everyone praised the Lord, and they bowed down to honor him and David their king.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’m in all-out decorating mode this week. The children and I started Sunday afternoon, and I continued yesterday. All semblance of “fall” has given way to Christmas, and a magical holiday wonderland is emerging.
I admit…I’m a big kid when it comes to Christmas, and I overdo it with the decorations. But when I see the looks on the children’s faces, every single ornament, snowman and holly sprig is worth it. As they get older, the children are beginning to appreciate the dozens of nativity scenes I display in our piano room…and the different ornaments on the tree that have sentimental significance. And of course, they love “their” tree, the lights, and the singing reindeer!
It is a LOT of work to put this all out…and then take it all down. And I’ll be honest…there was a huge part of me that wanted to just skip it all this year. For the last decade or more, my mother did not put up a Christmas tree or decorate much at her house. She would say…”I’ll just enjoy Debbie’s decorations.” There has been a lump in my throat as I set out some of her treasures that now are part of my collection…and a smile on my face as I remembered how much she enjoyed many of them - like a big golden Santa that was a gift from her friend, Branson entertainer Shoji Tabuchi.
I reminded myself this morning that this effort is a gift. God gave us Jesus - and a zillion reasons to celebrate. We do all we can to maintain the focus on Jesus during this Christmas season…but even the secular decorations contribute to the overall joy and wonder of the holiday season. In total, this transformation of our home says, “Something special is happening…we are celebrating the greatest birthday ever.” We are “making a fuss” to let God know how grateful we are for His best Gift ever…Jesus Christ! And we are saying to others, “We love Jesus enough to celebrate His birth and share this joy and festivity with each of you!”
So I will finish the decorating. I may not put out EVERYTHING this year (who am I kidding?!)…but I will make our home a “party palace for Jesus!” I will give this gift to those who visit…and give the glory to God Almighty. I will praise the Lord and bow down to honor Him with every ornament and piece of tinsel. Let the celebration of Jesus’ birth begin! Now it’s your turn!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Then, in front of everyone, David sang praises to the Lord:
I praise you forever, Lord! You are the God our ancestor Jacob worshiped. Your power is great, and your glory is seen everywhere in heaven and on earth. You are king of the entire world, and you rule with strength and power. You make people rich and powerful and famous. We thank you, our God, and praise you.
But why should we be happy that we have given you these gifts? They belong to you, and we have only given back what is already yours. We are only foreigners living here on earth for a while, just as our ancestors were. And we will soon be gone, like a shadow that suddenly disappears.
Our Lord God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone’s heart, and you are pleased when people are honest. Always make us eager to give, and help us be faithful to you, just as our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob faithfully worshiped you. And give Solomon the desire to completely obey your laws and teachings, and the desire to build the temple for which I have provided these gifts.
David then said to the people, “Now it’s your turn to praise the Lord, the God your ancestors worshiped!” So everyone praised the Lord, and they bowed down to honor him and David their king.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’m in all-out decorating mode this week. The children and I started Sunday afternoon, and I continued yesterday. All semblance of “fall” has given way to Christmas, and a magical holiday wonderland is emerging.
I admit…I’m a big kid when it comes to Christmas, and I overdo it with the decorations. But when I see the looks on the children’s faces, every single ornament, snowman and holly sprig is worth it. As they get older, the children are beginning to appreciate the dozens of nativity scenes I display in our piano room…and the different ornaments on the tree that have sentimental significance. And of course, they love “their” tree, the lights, and the singing reindeer!
It is a LOT of work to put this all out…and then take it all down. And I’ll be honest…there was a huge part of me that wanted to just skip it all this year. For the last decade or more, my mother did not put up a Christmas tree or decorate much at her house. She would say…”I’ll just enjoy Debbie’s decorations.” There has been a lump in my throat as I set out some of her treasures that now are part of my collection…and a smile on my face as I remembered how much she enjoyed many of them - like a big golden Santa that was a gift from her friend, Branson entertainer Shoji Tabuchi.
I reminded myself this morning that this effort is a gift. God gave us Jesus - and a zillion reasons to celebrate. We do all we can to maintain the focus on Jesus during this Christmas season…but even the secular decorations contribute to the overall joy and wonder of the holiday season. In total, this transformation of our home says, “Something special is happening…we are celebrating the greatest birthday ever.” We are “making a fuss” to let God know how grateful we are for His best Gift ever…Jesus Christ! And we are saying to others, “We love Jesus enough to celebrate His birth and share this joy and festivity with each of you!”
So I will finish the decorating. I may not put out EVERYTHING this year (who am I kidding?!)…but I will make our home a “party palace for Jesus!” I will give this gift to those who visit…and give the glory to God Almighty. I will praise the Lord and bow down to honor Him with every ornament and piece of tinsel. Let the celebration of Jesus’ birth begin! Now it’s your turn!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 3, 2016
Romans 8:1-4
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I heard some talk show hosts debating the pros and cons of “cheat days”…days when people who are working hard to lose weight and get fit are allowed to “cheat” and eat whatever they want for just that one day. Usually, this is only permitted once a week…and some fitness “experts” say it helps people stay on track and feel like they are not missing out on the foods they love. Others say it makes no sense – that people are not “wired” to stop with just a small sampling of these “forbidden” foods and will often consume so many calories in this day of cheating that they negate all of their efforts throughout the rest of the week. Either way, this “cheat day” represents the human inability of most of us to maintain a rigid regimen of some sort for an extended period of time…much less forever!
I share this to illustrate that a lot of us have the best of intentions. We are determined to lose weight, stop smoking or some other addictive habit, keep our house/car/yard/workspace neater, spend more time in Bible study, visit friends and loved ones more often, read 100 books or more a year, watch less TV, and achieve countless other goals and aspirations. And we start out great…for a day – or maybe even a few weeks. Then we start to falter. One slip here…another there…one missed workout this week, followed by two next week…a television show or two…you know the drill! Pretty soon, we have an arsenal of excuses for why we failed - and an equal number of vows to do better – until we often give up and decide to just “be who we are” and suffer the consequences...even at the risk of death and personal danger to our health and well-being.
As serious as this can be (depending on what we are talking about ) it cannot compare to the severity of our attitude in this regard when it comes to sin. In these verses from Romans 8, the Apostle Paul points out why we cannot be trusted to handle our own atonement for sin. He clearly illustrates that our selfish desires – and our tons of excuses – make it impossible for God to merely set down His Law and expect us to follow it! So God sent Jesus to stand in the gap…to do what we could not…to pay for our sins once and for all.
Understand that this is not a license to live as we please. We cannot ask Jesus to die for our sins and then make every day a “cheat day.” But because of Jesus, we do not have to worry that God will renege on His promise to write our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and give us a seat at His table for all Eternity when we make a misstep.
If we confess our sins and ask forgiveness, Jesus will wash us clean with His own blood. He took our punishment on the cross. We do not have to live in fear or the constant dread that we are going to fail in some way. We are freed to live in His abundance…to do our very best every day because we want to honor and please Him – not because we are afraid to do otherwise. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a far superior plan to trying to follow God’s Law on my own – or even a “cheat day.” I may not have any willpower when it comes to diet and a consistent exercise routine, keeping clutter at bay, and other habits and behaviors I would like to change. But when it comes to Jesus, He has my heart – and my back – and it doesn’t get any better! Can you say the same for yourself?
©2016 Debbie Robus
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I heard some talk show hosts debating the pros and cons of “cheat days”…days when people who are working hard to lose weight and get fit are allowed to “cheat” and eat whatever they want for just that one day. Usually, this is only permitted once a week…and some fitness “experts” say it helps people stay on track and feel like they are not missing out on the foods they love. Others say it makes no sense – that people are not “wired” to stop with just a small sampling of these “forbidden” foods and will often consume so many calories in this day of cheating that they negate all of their efforts throughout the rest of the week. Either way, this “cheat day” represents the human inability of most of us to maintain a rigid regimen of some sort for an extended period of time…much less forever!
I share this to illustrate that a lot of us have the best of intentions. We are determined to lose weight, stop smoking or some other addictive habit, keep our house/car/yard/workspace neater, spend more time in Bible study, visit friends and loved ones more often, read 100 books or more a year, watch less TV, and achieve countless other goals and aspirations. And we start out great…for a day – or maybe even a few weeks. Then we start to falter. One slip here…another there…one missed workout this week, followed by two next week…a television show or two…you know the drill! Pretty soon, we have an arsenal of excuses for why we failed - and an equal number of vows to do better – until we often give up and decide to just “be who we are” and suffer the consequences...even at the risk of death and personal danger to our health and well-being.
As serious as this can be (depending on what we are talking about ) it cannot compare to the severity of our attitude in this regard when it comes to sin. In these verses from Romans 8, the Apostle Paul points out why we cannot be trusted to handle our own atonement for sin. He clearly illustrates that our selfish desires – and our tons of excuses – make it impossible for God to merely set down His Law and expect us to follow it! So God sent Jesus to stand in the gap…to do what we could not…to pay for our sins once and for all.
Understand that this is not a license to live as we please. We cannot ask Jesus to die for our sins and then make every day a “cheat day.” But because of Jesus, we do not have to worry that God will renege on His promise to write our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and give us a seat at His table for all Eternity when we make a misstep.
If we confess our sins and ask forgiveness, Jesus will wash us clean with His own blood. He took our punishment on the cross. We do not have to live in fear or the constant dread that we are going to fail in some way. We are freed to live in His abundance…to do our very best every day because we want to honor and please Him – not because we are afraid to do otherwise. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a far superior plan to trying to follow God’s Law on my own – or even a “cheat day.” I may not have any willpower when it comes to diet and a consistent exercise routine, keeping clutter at bay, and other habits and behaviors I would like to change. But when it comes to Jesus, He has my heart – and my back – and it doesn’t get any better! Can you say the same for yourself?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 18, 2015
Romans 8:31-39
What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? It is exactly as the Scriptures say,
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A Facebook friend posted today that 16 years ago, a high school classmate of hers was involved in an accident that ultimately took the life of a pedestrian. It was dark…the intersection was poorly marked and dangerous…and a man stepped out into the path of this girl’s car. Some 29 years later, the man’s daughter sent this driver a scathing “anniversary message” to tell her that she caused the man’s death. In the most vile language possible, this daughter wished the driver a life of misery and condemned her for the incident that occurred nearly three decades ago.
In the comments to this post, another friend noted that her father died seven years ago, after his motorcycle hit a deer. It was night time, the man was wearing rain gear, and a nursing student mistook him for a garbage bag…and subsequently ran over him. At the memorial for this man, his wife invited the driver to share Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family. One of these families fully understands and embraces this passage in Romans 8…the other has a long way to go.
A couple of weeks ago when the Supreme Court issued its ruling on same sex marriages, many people changed their avatar on Facebook to have a rainbow overlay. The White House was illuminated in multi-colored lighting. This signified that the long fight for same sex couples was over…that they can now enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples, including shared health care and death benefits, the ability to qualify for public housing, the right to joint adoption, and much more.
For those of us who have gay loved ones and friends, this was indeed a day to celebrate. Perhaps you disagree…and that is your right. But a day or two after this ruling, I was with a group of Christian women who declared that “It’s God’s rainbow, and we want it back.” I cannot tell you how devastating this comment was to me…and to others. And I’ll admit – I am struggling against passing judgment on those who spoke it. Clearly some of us have embraced the words from the Apostle Paul…while others are still works in progress.
For countless Christians who happen to be gay, this type of talk from brothers and sisters in Christ is dumbfounding. It goes against everything Paul is telling the Romans in these verses. If we are God’s children…His chosen ones for whom He sent Jesus to die on a cross, how can any fellow Christian fail to accept us? I say this on behalf of not only those whose sexual orientation is different from ours…but also for those whose politics are different, those who choose to look and dress differently, those who don’t make as much money or live in a neighborhood as nice as ours - or drive a car as big and expensive as the one we drive.
I say this on behalf of those whose skin is a different color, or those who come from a different country and may speak with an accent. I say this on behalf of those whose ethnicity is different from ours. I say this on behalf of devastated people who have had to grapple with the aftermath of tragic accidents – including the pain and bitterness of victims’ families.
We are called to love all people…those who believe as we do – and those who do not. Why? Because this is how God loves us! Nothing can separate us from God’s love. It is His utmost desire that all who He created come to know Jesus. How will we ever manage this if we show such disdain and disgust toward others?
I am not asking you to change your opinions about gay marriage…people of other ethnicities, races and religions…or your politics. I am not discounting pain and suffering…or the feelings of those who feel victimized. As I pointed out to Timothy recently, we have freedom of choice. Judgment of others’ decisions is not ours. Leave that to God.
I echo the words of the Apostle Paul…“If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them?” Who are you judging…and in doing so, who are you mistreating? It is God’s rainbow…but He shared it with all.of.us! His gift of Jesus was for everyone who will accept Him. It’s time we started honoring God’s gifts instead of using them to discriminate and disparage others. “In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.” Is your conduct reflecting this victory - and more? Don’t you think it’s time it did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? It is exactly as the Scriptures say,
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!“For you we face death all day long. We are
like sheep on their way to be butchered.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A Facebook friend posted today that 16 years ago, a high school classmate of hers was involved in an accident that ultimately took the life of a pedestrian. It was dark…the intersection was poorly marked and dangerous…and a man stepped out into the path of this girl’s car. Some 29 years later, the man’s daughter sent this driver a scathing “anniversary message” to tell her that she caused the man’s death. In the most vile language possible, this daughter wished the driver a life of misery and condemned her for the incident that occurred nearly three decades ago.
In the comments to this post, another friend noted that her father died seven years ago, after his motorcycle hit a deer. It was night time, the man was wearing rain gear, and a nursing student mistook him for a garbage bag…and subsequently ran over him. At the memorial for this man, his wife invited the driver to share Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family. One of these families fully understands and embraces this passage in Romans 8…the other has a long way to go.
A couple of weeks ago when the Supreme Court issued its ruling on same sex marriages, many people changed their avatar on Facebook to have a rainbow overlay. The White House was illuminated in multi-colored lighting. This signified that the long fight for same sex couples was over…that they can now enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples, including shared health care and death benefits, the ability to qualify for public housing, the right to joint adoption, and much more.
For those of us who have gay loved ones and friends, this was indeed a day to celebrate. Perhaps you disagree…and that is your right. But a day or two after this ruling, I was with a group of Christian women who declared that “It’s God’s rainbow, and we want it back.” I cannot tell you how devastating this comment was to me…and to others. And I’ll admit – I am struggling against passing judgment on those who spoke it. Clearly some of us have embraced the words from the Apostle Paul…while others are still works in progress.
For countless Christians who happen to be gay, this type of talk from brothers and sisters in Christ is dumbfounding. It goes against everything Paul is telling the Romans in these verses. If we are God’s children…His chosen ones for whom He sent Jesus to die on a cross, how can any fellow Christian fail to accept us? I say this on behalf of not only those whose sexual orientation is different from ours…but also for those whose politics are different, those who choose to look and dress differently, those who don’t make as much money or live in a neighborhood as nice as ours - or drive a car as big and expensive as the one we drive.
I say this on behalf of those whose skin is a different color, or those who come from a different country and may speak with an accent. I say this on behalf of those whose ethnicity is different from ours. I say this on behalf of devastated people who have had to grapple with the aftermath of tragic accidents – including the pain and bitterness of victims’ families.
We are called to love all people…those who believe as we do – and those who do not. Why? Because this is how God loves us! Nothing can separate us from God’s love. It is His utmost desire that all who He created come to know Jesus. How will we ever manage this if we show such disdain and disgust toward others?
I am not asking you to change your opinions about gay marriage…people of other ethnicities, races and religions…or your politics. I am not discounting pain and suffering…or the feelings of those who feel victimized. As I pointed out to Timothy recently, we have freedom of choice. Judgment of others’ decisions is not ours. Leave that to God.
I echo the words of the Apostle Paul…“If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them?” Who are you judging…and in doing so, who are you mistreating? It is God’s rainbow…but He shared it with all.of.us! His gift of Jesus was for everyone who will accept Him. It’s time we started honoring God’s gifts instead of using them to discriminate and disparage others. “In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.” Is your conduct reflecting this victory - and more? Don’t you think it’s time it did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 11, 2015
John 3:17-18
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. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our cat Lucy had the most demure appearance – and she was a sweet cat. She could sit and look pretty – and innocent! But in truth, she had her “ways” – and she ran this household! Mabel, our calico cat and Lucy’s litter mate, stays mostly upstairs with Greg during the day…while Lucy stayed mostly with me downstairs – usually in my office. Both cats had certain spaces in the house they claimed as “theirs”...Lucy more than Mabel. We would catch the “girls” giving each other loving face washings…but like all siblings, we had to break up a few squabbles, too!
So Mabel has spent the last few days tiptoeing around…looking for Lucy. It’s as if she is quite certain that Lucy will emerge unexpectedly from some nook or cranny – that she is waiting just around the corner to pounce. Clearly, she has “trust issues”. And this is how we often react to God. We are quite sure that He is waiting in the wings to come down on us for something we said or did…to remind us just how awful and unworthy we are of His love and care. And nothing could be further from the truth.
Read this passage again. God did not send Jesus to earth just so He could say, “See how bad you are? You are NOTHING like Jesus! What is wrong with you?!” In truth, God sent Jesus to say, “I know you have issues…I know you aren’t perfect…but you are loved anyway. Trust me…believe in me…and I will fix everything!”
Author and speaker Jen Hatmaker has just released a few chapters of her newest book,*For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards, which will be released in mid-August 2015. In the chapter titled “Dear Church…” she writes…
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/Love-Fighting-Grace-Impossible-Standards/dp/0718031822/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426102938&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=hatmaker+for+the+lov
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. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our cat Lucy had the most demure appearance – and she was a sweet cat. She could sit and look pretty – and innocent! But in truth, she had her “ways” – and she ran this household! Mabel, our calico cat and Lucy’s litter mate, stays mostly upstairs with Greg during the day…while Lucy stayed mostly with me downstairs – usually in my office. Both cats had certain spaces in the house they claimed as “theirs”...Lucy more than Mabel. We would catch the “girls” giving each other loving face washings…but like all siblings, we had to break up a few squabbles, too!
So Mabel has spent the last few days tiptoeing around…looking for Lucy. It’s as if she is quite certain that Lucy will emerge unexpectedly from some nook or cranny – that she is waiting just around the corner to pounce. Clearly, she has “trust issues”. And this is how we often react to God. We are quite sure that He is waiting in the wings to come down on us for something we said or did…to remind us just how awful and unworthy we are of His love and care. And nothing could be further from the truth.
Read this passage again. God did not send Jesus to earth just so He could say, “See how bad you are? You are NOTHING like Jesus! What is wrong with you?!” In truth, God sent Jesus to say, “I know you have issues…I know you aren’t perfect…but you are loved anyway. Trust me…believe in me…and I will fix everything!”
Author and speaker Jen Hatmaker has just released a few chapters of her newest book,*For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards, which will be released in mid-August 2015. In the chapter titled “Dear Church…” she writes…
Church people are regular old sinners too. If I could fix this, I would. As it turns out, the church isn’t a gathering of shiny new pennies. It lets anyone in the door! All sorts of hooligans fill the sanctuaries: kind and good ones, angry and cynical ones, mean and judgmental ones, smart and funny ones, broken and sad ones, weird and awkward ones, precious and loving ones, scared and wounded ones, brave and passionate ones, insiders and outliers, newbies and lifers and trying-one-more-timers. Just a whole bunch of human people. Every church has all these folks. It is just the hottest mess, but clearly you belong here because everyone does. Find your little faith tribe (it exists) and learn to love it with all the grace and humility you can muster.I don’t know about you, but I take heart in knowing that God is not waiting to pounce on me for all of my misgivings. I am forever thankful that He loves regular old sinners and hooligans like me…and I am trusting that He will cover me in His love, grace and mercy every minute of the day. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/Love-Fighting-Grace-Impossible-Standards/dp/0718031822/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426102938&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=hatmaker+for+the+lov
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2014
Luke 2:25-32
That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.
“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Here we are…Christmas Day 2014! For some of you, the tree is already back in the box! For others, this is a big day of celebration…with holiday activities scheduled for days to come.
Last night, I watched a Christmas Eve candlelight service on TV, and the pastor said that Christmas is a magnifier. If things are going great in our lives…then “Christmas” is even bigger and better. If things are not going well, then “Christmas” makes everything seem worse.
My prayer for each of us today is that we could utter the words of Simeon…that we could say, “I have seen Him as God promised. Jesus is the Light that will shine upon the nations…our glory…our Savior. He is all that I need! I am content!”
May Christmas be more than just a day on the calendar – or a season of the year. May you celebrate more than just the wonderful birth of Jesus on this day. Truly celebrate HIM…today, tomorrow, and always…and make EVERY day a Merry Christmas Day!
©2014 Debbie Robus
That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.
“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Here we are…Christmas Day 2014! For some of you, the tree is already back in the box! For others, this is a big day of celebration…with holiday activities scheduled for days to come.
Last night, I watched a Christmas Eve candlelight service on TV, and the pastor said that Christmas is a magnifier. If things are going great in our lives…then “Christmas” is even bigger and better. If things are not going well, then “Christmas” makes everything seem worse.
My prayer for each of us today is that we could utter the words of Simeon…that we could say, “I have seen Him as God promised. Jesus is the Light that will shine upon the nations…our glory…our Savior. He is all that I need! I am content!”
May Christmas be more than just a day on the calendar – or a season of the year. May you celebrate more than just the wonderful birth of Jesus on this day. Truly celebrate HIM…today, tomorrow, and always…and make EVERY day a Merry Christmas Day!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 24, 2014
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
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 few years ago, I made a “pact” with a few family members that we adults would NOT exchange Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts would only be given to the children. This year, my cousin’s wife broke, “the rule.” I was all prepared to put up a fuss, until I saw her gather the gift bag from under her Christmas tree. “Yours was the first gift I bought,” she said. “You are SO easy to shop for!” I don’t think anyone has EVER told me that before!
My cousin was practically giddy as I pulled the tissue from the sack and retrieved a gift that was so thoughtful…so practical…so ME! And in that moment, I realized how much thought she had given to this present…how she had really considered ME and what I would enjoy…and then she had purchased something that no one else in a million years would think to give me…beautiful new dish towels and a wonderful baking pan.
Here’s the thing…God has given each of us the Ultimate Gift…Jesus Christ. Jesus is that one-in-a-million Gift. God thoughtfully considered each of us…He designed Jesus perfectly to live among us - to teach us and to die for our sins. He gets totally giddy every time one of us accepts His gift and invites Jesus to be the LORD of our life. And He delights over and again in watching us live for Him, serve Him, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.
I told my cousin that I just might bake her something delicious in the new pan someday. But even if I don’t, she will take joy and delight in knowing that I am using her gift to prepare food for Greg and others. And she knows how much I love her. It’s the same with God. He doesn’t expect us to give Him anything in return except our love and devotion - and our very best Christian discipleship.
As you open packages in the next few days, consider the Ultimate Gift you have received from God. Jesus isn’t wrapped in a box or tucked into a gift bag under your Christmas tree…but He is the best gift you will ever receive. I thank God for His perfect present to me…and to you. I pray you have “opened” your heart to His love…and that He will be at the center of your celebration this Christmas season…and always.
©2014 Debbie Robus
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
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 few years ago, I made a “pact” with a few family members that we adults would NOT exchange Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts would only be given to the children. This year, my cousin’s wife broke, “the rule.” I was all prepared to put up a fuss, until I saw her gather the gift bag from under her Christmas tree. “Yours was the first gift I bought,” she said. “You are SO easy to shop for!” I don’t think anyone has EVER told me that before!
My cousin was practically giddy as I pulled the tissue from the sack and retrieved a gift that was so thoughtful…so practical…so ME! And in that moment, I realized how much thought she had given to this present…how she had really considered ME and what I would enjoy…and then she had purchased something that no one else in a million years would think to give me…beautiful new dish towels and a wonderful baking pan.
Here’s the thing…God has given each of us the Ultimate Gift…Jesus Christ. Jesus is that one-in-a-million Gift. God thoughtfully considered each of us…He designed Jesus perfectly to live among us - to teach us and to die for our sins. He gets totally giddy every time one of us accepts His gift and invites Jesus to be the LORD of our life. And He delights over and again in watching us live for Him, serve Him, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.
I told my cousin that I just might bake her something delicious in the new pan someday. But even if I don’t, she will take joy and delight in knowing that I am using her gift to prepare food for Greg and others. And she knows how much I love her. It’s the same with God. He doesn’t expect us to give Him anything in return except our love and devotion - and our very best Christian discipleship.
As you open packages in the next few days, consider the Ultimate Gift you have received from God. Jesus isn’t wrapped in a box or tucked into a gift bag under your Christmas tree…but He is the best gift you will ever receive. I thank God for His perfect present to me…and to you. I pray you have “opened” your heart to His love…and that He will be at the center of your celebration this Christmas season…and always.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 20, 2014
1 Peter 5:5-6
And now you have become living building-stones for God’s use in building his house. What’s more, you are his holy priests; so come to him—you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ — and offer to God those things that please him. As the Scriptures express it, “See, I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone of my church, and I will never disappoint those who trust in 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.
A couple of Sundays ago, we took Timothy and Zola home from church activities, and their mother was waiting with baby brother Nathan to create a “gingerbread train”. I’m pretty sure this was a “store-bought kit”, although my niece may have baked the gingerbread pieces herself. However, the children used icing and candies to put together a “train engine” and at least one “car”. I commended my niece for tackling this project with children who are 5, 3, and 2! These sorts of things do not come together easily!
To begin such a project, you have to have a foundation point…an “anchor” of sorts that is sturdy and solid…like a line of icing on the plate or some other reinforcement. Each subsequent piece builds on the first…and the last step is to add the decorative parts! If that first piece is not placed just so…everything that follows is a waste of time.
This is just how it is in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Had God not sent Jesus to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone, there would be no “church” – at least none of any substance! Our little ones were so impressed and pleased with the results of their creativity and hard work. And God is pleased with us when we build upon His precious Gift and trust in Him to support us through all things.
This week, as we look toward the celebration of Jesus’ birth, ask yourself about your “Cornerstone”. Are you trusting Jesus to be your anchor and building your life upon His teachings and promises? Are you counting on salvation through His precious blood to be the sturdy, solid line upon which you build everything else in your life and beyond? Is everything you do a pleasing “adornment” to the foundation of hope and faith that Christ has laid for us? Are you a “living building-stone” for God? Wouldn’t this be a great week to become one?
©2014 Debbie Robus
And now you have become living building-stones for God’s use in building his house. What’s more, you are his holy priests; so come to him—you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ — and offer to God those things that please him. As the Scriptures express it, “See, I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone of my church, and I will never disappoint those who trust in 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.
A couple of Sundays ago, we took Timothy and Zola home from church activities, and their mother was waiting with baby brother Nathan to create a “gingerbread train”. I’m pretty sure this was a “store-bought kit”, although my niece may have baked the gingerbread pieces herself. However, the children used icing and candies to put together a “train engine” and at least one “car”. I commended my niece for tackling this project with children who are 5, 3, and 2! These sorts of things do not come together easily!
To begin such a project, you have to have a foundation point…an “anchor” of sorts that is sturdy and solid…like a line of icing on the plate or some other reinforcement. Each subsequent piece builds on the first…and the last step is to add the decorative parts! If that first piece is not placed just so…everything that follows is a waste of time.
This is just how it is in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Had God not sent Jesus to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone, there would be no “church” – at least none of any substance! Our little ones were so impressed and pleased with the results of their creativity and hard work. And God is pleased with us when we build upon His precious Gift and trust in Him to support us through all things.
This week, as we look toward the celebration of Jesus’ birth, ask yourself about your “Cornerstone”. Are you trusting Jesus to be your anchor and building your life upon His teachings and promises? Are you counting on salvation through His precious blood to be the sturdy, solid line upon which you build everything else in your life and beyond? Is everything you do a pleasing “adornment” to the foundation of hope and faith that Christ has laid for us? Are you a “living building-stone” for God? Wouldn’t this be a great week to become one?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 17, 2014
John 3:16-18
“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. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A woman complained to a psychologist that very dear, old friends had a habit of giving Christmas gifts that were quite expensive and/or elaborate…and she and her husband could not afford to reciprocate. She asked the psychologist how to handle this…and the reply was – “Remember ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ who gave what he could. If your friends can afford to give more costly gifts...and they seem to want to do this – let them. Give what you can in return, and don’t worry about it.”
I thought about “The Little Drummer Boy”, a Christmas song composed in 1958 by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone. In part, the words say “I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum…That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum”. No truer words were ever spoken. We can never give Jesus a gift that is anywhere NEAR the value of what He has given us…and He doesn’t care! Jesus is not interested in the monetary value or the magnitude of our gift.
God did not send His Only Son to earth in anticipation of what we might do for Him in return. All we have to do is give Him our heart and our commitment to always do our very best…to honor Jesus with our words, actions and service to others. If you remember the last verses of this song, the “Little Drummer Boy” asks Mary if she would like to hear him play his drum, and she nods her approval. The “Little Drummer Boy” plays his drum…and Jesus smiles at him.
Jesus smiles at us and takes great delight when we follow Him faithfully and give Him our very best. This is the only gift that He desires. What are you giving Him these days?
©2014 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. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A woman complained to a psychologist that very dear, old friends had a habit of giving Christmas gifts that were quite expensive and/or elaborate…and she and her husband could not afford to reciprocate. She asked the psychologist how to handle this…and the reply was – “Remember ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ who gave what he could. If your friends can afford to give more costly gifts...and they seem to want to do this – let them. Give what you can in return, and don’t worry about it.”
I thought about “The Little Drummer Boy”, a Christmas song composed in 1958 by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone. In part, the words say “I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum…That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum”. No truer words were ever spoken. We can never give Jesus a gift that is anywhere NEAR the value of what He has given us…and He doesn’t care! Jesus is not interested in the monetary value or the magnitude of our gift.
God did not send His Only Son to earth in anticipation of what we might do for Him in return. All we have to do is give Him our heart and our commitment to always do our very best…to honor Jesus with our words, actions and service to others. If you remember the last verses of this song, the “Little Drummer Boy” asks Mary if she would like to hear him play his drum, and she nods her approval. The “Little Drummer Boy” plays his drum…and Jesus smiles at him.
Jesus smiles at us and takes great delight when we follow Him faithfully and give Him our very best. This is the only gift that He desires. What are you giving Him these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 9, 2014
Isaiah 9:2-5
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
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 did quite a bit of shopping today…and by that, I mean I visited several stores. Everywhere I went, people were busily seeking that “just-right” Christmas gift, talking about how they wished they were done with their shopping, and generally stressing out over the holidays and all that they still have to do. One lady I’d never seen in my life turned to me on the baking supplies aisle and said, “Why does Christmas have to come so soon after Thanksgiving?!” She was lamenting how much food costs and how she has to prepare a dish for her church’s potluck!
Somehow, I am thinking this was not part of God’s plan when He sent Jesus to this earth. When the shepherds and scholars saw the bright light in the east that signaled the birth of our Messiah, I don’t figure their first thought was, “Great! Now they will want us to bring our specialty dish to a potluck!”…or even “What on earth will I get for Aunt Sue this year?”
My point is that we’ve gotten so caught up in the “busyness” of Christmas that we have totally forgotten the significance of this month and its celebrations. Even if we have considered the birth of the Christ Child…we have not really stopped to remember the impact that His earthly life had for each of us. Most certainly, we’ve given little thought to the chains of sin’s bondage that He broke for us…how He destroyed the hold of Satan over our lives and gave us salvation in Him… a gift that we can never deserve - much less repay.
We’re so busy rushing from one store to the next, marking things off our lists, and making sure that everyone has the perfect holiday that we have totally forgotten about Jesus. In one of the stores I visited this morning, I met a high school classmate who now lives in another community. I asked what brought her to our town, and she replied, “We came to visit my father-in-law, and I needed to lay flowers on family graves.” Her words caught my attention!
I noted that she had time in this busy season to visit an older person who might be lonely. She set aside her own agenda to think of others…something Jesus does for us every single day! I was reminded that there are those who need a visit from me. There are people who are sick and suffering – and Christmas is the farthest thing from their mind right now. There are others who aren’t celebrating the holidays…or at least not the birth of Jesus Christ. Many will enjoy the parties and festivities but never consider the real reason for our holiday.
So today, I encourage you to stop and consider the “Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death” – the Light of Jesus Christ. As you go about the holiday celebrations and rituals – the parties and the “chores of the season” – consider Jesus. How would He view these things? Would His “to-do” list look like yours? Are you truly remembering to do things for others, as Jesus would wish? Will the Light of Christ be visible in your actions and attitudes this season? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
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 did quite a bit of shopping today…and by that, I mean I visited several stores. Everywhere I went, people were busily seeking that “just-right” Christmas gift, talking about how they wished they were done with their shopping, and generally stressing out over the holidays and all that they still have to do. One lady I’d never seen in my life turned to me on the baking supplies aisle and said, “Why does Christmas have to come so soon after Thanksgiving?!” She was lamenting how much food costs and how she has to prepare a dish for her church’s potluck!
Somehow, I am thinking this was not part of God’s plan when He sent Jesus to this earth. When the shepherds and scholars saw the bright light in the east that signaled the birth of our Messiah, I don’t figure their first thought was, “Great! Now they will want us to bring our specialty dish to a potluck!”…or even “What on earth will I get for Aunt Sue this year?”
My point is that we’ve gotten so caught up in the “busyness” of Christmas that we have totally forgotten the significance of this month and its celebrations. Even if we have considered the birth of the Christ Child…we have not really stopped to remember the impact that His earthly life had for each of us. Most certainly, we’ve given little thought to the chains of sin’s bondage that He broke for us…how He destroyed the hold of Satan over our lives and gave us salvation in Him… a gift that we can never deserve - much less repay.
We’re so busy rushing from one store to the next, marking things off our lists, and making sure that everyone has the perfect holiday that we have totally forgotten about Jesus. In one of the stores I visited this morning, I met a high school classmate who now lives in another community. I asked what brought her to our town, and she replied, “We came to visit my father-in-law, and I needed to lay flowers on family graves.” Her words caught my attention!
I noted that she had time in this busy season to visit an older person who might be lonely. She set aside her own agenda to think of others…something Jesus does for us every single day! I was reminded that there are those who need a visit from me. There are people who are sick and suffering – and Christmas is the farthest thing from their mind right now. There are others who aren’t celebrating the holidays…or at least not the birth of Jesus Christ. Many will enjoy the parties and festivities but never consider the real reason for our holiday.
So today, I encourage you to stop and consider the “Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death” – the Light of Jesus Christ. As you go about the holiday celebrations and rituals – the parties and the “chores of the season” – consider Jesus. How would He view these things? Would His “to-do” list look like yours? Are you truly remembering to do things for others, as Jesus would wish? Will the Light of Christ be visible in your actions and attitudes this season? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2014
Romans 8:1-2
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I have been blessed with the good fortune to live on a bluff with a panoramic view to the east and northeast… across the river valley – and on a good day, into the next county. So as the weather fronts pass through our area, we are sometimes treated to a stark - and literal - visual image of low-lying black clouds that are cleared away by strong winds. I have stood at the windows and watched a dark cloud band literally be blown farther and farther east until it disappeared over the horizon. When I read this passage, I immediately could picture this in my mind, and it gave me pause to consider my new life in Christ in this context.
If you backtrack to Romans 7 and read the last few verses, you see where Paul is wrestling with his human dilemma of wanting to be sinless and do what God desires…yet doing the opposite much of the time. The sinful mind and the Christian heart seem to be locked in some sort of battle. Paul says in Romans 7:21-23: “It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.” In verse 24, he says, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” And in verse 25, we find the response…”The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
So in the first two verses of Romans 8, we are presented with the incredible compassion of God through Jesus Christ…so much love and empathy for us that he sacrificed Jesus and allowed Him to suffer “brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death” so that the “low-lying black cloud” of our sins could be blown away by the strong wind of Christ’s Holy Spirit! If you really stop and think of it… if you truly form that mental image of the black storm cloud being forcefully blown away and completely out of view…this is almost overwhelming. We are not truly capable of imagining a love such as this! And yet…this is what Jesus offers to each of us.
Now here’s the thing…we are not Jesus. We cannot possibly love like He does…nor are we as individuals capable of the powerful things that Christ accomplishes. But with His power and through His Holy Spirit, we are able to offer grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion… and love…even when our sinful head says “That is the last thing you want to do!” So the question becomes…are you operating in the strong wind of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit? Or are you allowing the sinful rationale of the devil’s dark cloud to control you? Are you sharing the tremendous gift of compassion that Christ extends to you with others in your midst…and honoring your commitment and gratitude to Him in the process?
Many in your midst are operating under a dark cloud of some sort. If Christ found you worth the sacrifice…worth the “redeeming wind” of His love and compassion…don’t you think you should pay this forward to others in His name? Isn’t this a good day to stir up the breeze?
©2014 Debbie Robus
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I have been blessed with the good fortune to live on a bluff with a panoramic view to the east and northeast… across the river valley – and on a good day, into the next county. So as the weather fronts pass through our area, we are sometimes treated to a stark - and literal - visual image of low-lying black clouds that are cleared away by strong winds. I have stood at the windows and watched a dark cloud band literally be blown farther and farther east until it disappeared over the horizon. When I read this passage, I immediately could picture this in my mind, and it gave me pause to consider my new life in Christ in this context.
If you backtrack to Romans 7 and read the last few verses, you see where Paul is wrestling with his human dilemma of wanting to be sinless and do what God desires…yet doing the opposite much of the time. The sinful mind and the Christian heart seem to be locked in some sort of battle. Paul says in Romans 7:21-23: “It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.” In verse 24, he says, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” And in verse 25, we find the response…”The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
So in the first two verses of Romans 8, we are presented with the incredible compassion of God through Jesus Christ…so much love and empathy for us that he sacrificed Jesus and allowed Him to suffer “brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death” so that the “low-lying black cloud” of our sins could be blown away by the strong wind of Christ’s Holy Spirit! If you really stop and think of it… if you truly form that mental image of the black storm cloud being forcefully blown away and completely out of view…this is almost overwhelming. We are not truly capable of imagining a love such as this! And yet…this is what Jesus offers to each of us.
Now here’s the thing…we are not Jesus. We cannot possibly love like He does…nor are we as individuals capable of the powerful things that Christ accomplishes. But with His power and through His Holy Spirit, we are able to offer grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion… and love…even when our sinful head says “That is the last thing you want to do!” So the question becomes…are you operating in the strong wind of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit? Or are you allowing the sinful rationale of the devil’s dark cloud to control you? Are you sharing the tremendous gift of compassion that Christ extends to you with others in your midst…and honoring your commitment and gratitude to Him in the process?
Many in your midst are operating under a dark cloud of some sort. If Christ found you worth the sacrifice…worth the “redeeming wind” of His love and compassion…don’t you think you should pay this forward to others in His name? Isn’t this a good day to stir up the breeze?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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