John 3:19-21
“This is the crisis we’re in:
God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for
the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really
interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil,
addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near
it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth
and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work
it is.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
I cannot stress often enough what a wonderful study tool I have found in the book, Jesus Calling*. I am not affiliated with this author or
publisher in any way - but these devotionals speak to me every time I
read them. The September 6th entry says in part that (and remember, this
is supposed to be Jesus speaking), “The desire to act independently –
apart from Me – springs from the root of pride. Self-sufficiency is
subtle, insinuating its way into your thoughts and actions without your
realizing it. But apart from Me, you can do nothing: that is, nothing of eternal value.”
The passage goes on to encourage us to depend on Jesus in every situation…but we are reminded that we have to want to
do this. While it would be simpler for Jesus to force us to be
obedient servants, the author explains that freedom to choose is a
“godlike privilege I bestowed on you as My image-bearer.”
Let’s
be honest…the devil makes it pretty easy and attractive for us to live
in darkness. A former pastor used to say that “Sin is fun…otherwise,
nobody would be interested!” When I thought about today’s scripture
passage – and the Jesus Calling entry from a couple of days ago –
I couldn’t help but think how many people who claim to be Christians
have gotten caught up in the collective shadows of dissension that seem
to permeate our country today.
Lines are firmly drawn in the
sand. It’s become cool and popular to speak one’s mind and let the chips
fall where they may…to pit one group against another and deride good
people – just because others seem to like it! There is a good deal of
the “speak now and apologize later” mentality – and the fallout from
this in some cases is permanent and irreparable. We want to be cool…to
fit in…to be accepted. So we go along with rhetoric that divides rather
than unites.
We operate like people who have stepped out of a
building into the brightness of a sunny day without wearing any
sunglasses. We prefer to jump back into the “comfort” of the shadows as
quickly as possible. We are not willing to make the effort to adjust to
the bright light – and enjoy it! We don’t appreciate the warmth of the
sun’s life-giving rays. We have no desire to put on sunscreen and
protective clothing and stick around.
And so it is with Jesus. We don’t
want to do the work. We would rather coast along in the darkness and
act like we’re “all that,” and enjoy the relative “comfort” of fitting
in and not making waves.
Understand this…sometimes, being a
Christian is messy. It takes courage, confidence, hope and faith. It
takes a willingness to step out of the darkness and say, “I’m following
the LIGHT!” We have to swallow our pride and put on the full armor of
God and say, “Wherever You lead, I will follow!” Are YOU courageous
enough to do this? Will you place everything on the line for the One
who has already done this - and so much more - for you?
Aren’t you ready to step out of the darkness and into the brilliant Light of Christ, once and for all? Will this be the day that you do?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*Jesus Calling ~ http://jesuscalling.com – is available at most bookstores and major retailers, including Walmart and Target.
Showing posts with label Jesus Calling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Calling. Show all posts
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Things got a little hectic this past week, and I got behind on reading my daily devotionals from Jesus Calling*. So I caught up this morning…and the thoughts for June 29th could not have paralleled better with this scripture. In part, we were reminded to call on Jesus each morning…to whisper His name and invite Him to come into our thoughts. The writer reminds us that with Jesus on our minds, we don’t face anything alone…He is right beside us to handle anything that arises.
But here’s the thing…we have to ask! We have to knock – and expect Jesus to answer! As I have mentioned in recent days, sometimes our thoughts and feelings are so jumbled that we don’t even know what to ask…and a simple plea of “LORD, You know what I need…will you help me?” is sufficient. I would caution you not to reduce your daily prayers to this on a regular basis. God wants us to lay bare our hearts and define our needs to Him. I believe this helps us to recognize when and how He does answer each one of them.
But there will be times when we simply need to “ask” or “knock”…to invite Jesus to come and sit with us…and handle things. And He will do exactly that!
Stop for a minute today and examine your life and the issues that are on your heart…the joys and the burdens. Whisper the name of Jesus, and invite Him to come and “sit a spell.” Give Him your anxieties…revel in your blessings…talk to Him about “things” and ask Him to give you exactly what you need for this day.
Philippians 4:13 tells us that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Have you asked Him for strength today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Things got a little hectic this past week, and I got behind on reading my daily devotionals from Jesus Calling*. So I caught up this morning…and the thoughts for June 29th could not have paralleled better with this scripture. In part, we were reminded to call on Jesus each morning…to whisper His name and invite Him to come into our thoughts. The writer reminds us that with Jesus on our minds, we don’t face anything alone…He is right beside us to handle anything that arises.
But here’s the thing…we have to ask! We have to knock – and expect Jesus to answer! As I have mentioned in recent days, sometimes our thoughts and feelings are so jumbled that we don’t even know what to ask…and a simple plea of “LORD, You know what I need…will you help me?” is sufficient. I would caution you not to reduce your daily prayers to this on a regular basis. God wants us to lay bare our hearts and define our needs to Him. I believe this helps us to recognize when and how He does answer each one of them.
But there will be times when we simply need to “ask” or “knock”…to invite Jesus to come and sit with us…and handle things. And He will do exactly that!
Stop for a minute today and examine your life and the issues that are on your heart…the joys and the burdens. Whisper the name of Jesus, and invite Him to come and “sit a spell.” Give Him your anxieties…revel in your blessings…talk to Him about “things” and ask Him to give you exactly what you need for this day.
Philippians 4:13 tells us that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Have you asked Him for strength today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2016
James 4:4-6
You people aren’t faithful to God! Don’t you know that if you love the world, you are God’s enemies? And if you decide to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, “God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us”? In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say,
“God opposes everyone
who is proud,
but he is kind to everyone
who is humble.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my Jesus Calling®* passage for April 11, the author (speaking as Jesus) says, “The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.” I was reminded of more than one recent report of an injustice that transpired that seemed incredibly unfair to some of the parties involved…especially children. How can we thank God when a child is being used as a pawn in adult disagreements? How can we thank God when our loan has been refused…we are slapped with exorbitant medical bills that require, at best, a huge co-pay…or the business where we’ve been employed for decades suddenly closes its doors? How can we thank God when He has just called our loved one to Heaven and left us brokenhearted?
We have a hard time being faithful in such moments. We want a “Burger King®” kind of faith, where we are allowed to “have it our way” any time of the day. How can we thank God when He doesn’t give us the desires of our heart?
The bigger question is…”How can we NOT thank God?” Don’t we get that we are telling God how to run things when we make demands of Him? When we tell God, “You need to fix ABC or deal with Sam or Sue,” we are acting as His enemy. We have decided that we know better than God what needs to happen.
Instead, we should look at “unwanted situations” and ask, “What are You trying to show me?” We should humbly ask God to help us handle these events – and to show us how He can be glorified by our actions and reactions to them. Jesus Calling® explains that when we demonstrate such faith, we are freed from resentment – and God is freed to work His ways into the situation and produce a good outcome.
Is this easy to do? Absolutely not! But that’s what makes it an act of faith! The more we let God have control in our lives, the less hold the enemy has on us – and the closer we draw to Him. When we humble ourselves before God and submit to His plans and His will, we are free to bask in His glory and care…and to fully experience His profound kindness. Don’t you want this in your life? I know I do! Are you willing to fully surrender in order to get it? Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
You people aren’t faithful to God! Don’t you know that if you love the world, you are God’s enemies? And if you decide to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, “God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us”? In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say,
“God opposes everyone
who is proud,
but he is kind to everyone
who is humble.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my Jesus Calling®* passage for April 11, the author (speaking as Jesus) says, “The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.” I was reminded of more than one recent report of an injustice that transpired that seemed incredibly unfair to some of the parties involved…especially children. How can we thank God when a child is being used as a pawn in adult disagreements? How can we thank God when our loan has been refused…we are slapped with exorbitant medical bills that require, at best, a huge co-pay…or the business where we’ve been employed for decades suddenly closes its doors? How can we thank God when He has just called our loved one to Heaven and left us brokenhearted?
We have a hard time being faithful in such moments. We want a “Burger King®” kind of faith, where we are allowed to “have it our way” any time of the day. How can we thank God when He doesn’t give us the desires of our heart?
The bigger question is…”How can we NOT thank God?” Don’t we get that we are telling God how to run things when we make demands of Him? When we tell God, “You need to fix ABC or deal with Sam or Sue,” we are acting as His enemy. We have decided that we know better than God what needs to happen.
Instead, we should look at “unwanted situations” and ask, “What are You trying to show me?” We should humbly ask God to help us handle these events – and to show us how He can be glorified by our actions and reactions to them. Jesus Calling® explains that when we demonstrate such faith, we are freed from resentment – and God is freed to work His ways into the situation and produce a good outcome.
Is this easy to do? Absolutely not! But that’s what makes it an act of faith! The more we let God have control in our lives, the less hold the enemy has on us – and the closer we draw to Him. When we humble ourselves before God and submit to His plans and His will, we are free to bask in His glory and care…and to fully experience His profound kindness. Don’t you want this in your life? I know I do! Are you willing to fully surrender in order to get it? Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2016
John 14:15-16
“If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you.
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 few years ago, my mother gave me a leather-bound copy of a devotional book, Jesus Calling*. Inside the front cover, Mother wrote a note that said in part, “I hope you’ll be reading the same page on the same day.” I have to say, I was not diligent in reading this book each day. I know my mother read hers virtually non-stop…and the pages of her copy are marked and the leather cover is fairly worn to prove it.
Since Mother died a little over a month ago, I’ve been reading Jesus Calling pretty well every day. Even though I didn’t read the same page as her when she was alive on this earth…I am comforted by these words now – as if somehow, she is with me through them. And indeed, the first four words of the passage for today were: “I AM WITH YOU.”
I honestly don’t know if those who have graduated to heaven are still “with us”…but I know that the Holy Spirit is…and He comforts, shields and guides us each and every day. I don’t think it is a stretch to assume that He uses whatever methods and measures work in the moment to accomplish His goals - even a daily devotional book shared by a mother with her daughter.
My mother was always sharing a book or a card or SOMETHING to encourage someone else. Just yesterday as I sorted through drawers, her husband mentioned her “gift drawer”…a place in her office where she kept little “inspirational books” and other items that could be given to someone who needed a lift. In this way, my mother “fed the sheep” as the Holy Spirit led her. And we are all called to do this!
I’m not saying that we all need a “gift drawer” – or that we should start buying books and cards to share with others. But I do believe that the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us, according to God’s plans and will for our lives – and the abilities with which He has entrusted us. OUR JOB is to discover what we are supposed to do…WHO we are supposed to “feed”…and then do this as the Holy Spirit guides us.
As you go about your day, hear the Holy Spirit telling you, “I AM WITH YOU.” Feel His presence. Rest in the comfort and safety of His protection and care…and in the confidence that He will never leave you. Trust the Comforter to also be your constant guide and “activity director.” And when and where He leads, make sure you follow! Are you ready to answer the call and “feed some sheep?” Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.jesuscalling.com
“If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you.
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 few years ago, my mother gave me a leather-bound copy of a devotional book, Jesus Calling*. Inside the front cover, Mother wrote a note that said in part, “I hope you’ll be reading the same page on the same day.” I have to say, I was not diligent in reading this book each day. I know my mother read hers virtually non-stop…and the pages of her copy are marked and the leather cover is fairly worn to prove it.
Since Mother died a little over a month ago, I’ve been reading Jesus Calling pretty well every day. Even though I didn’t read the same page as her when she was alive on this earth…I am comforted by these words now – as if somehow, she is with me through them. And indeed, the first four words of the passage for today were: “I AM WITH YOU.”
I honestly don’t know if those who have graduated to heaven are still “with us”…but I know that the Holy Spirit is…and He comforts, shields and guides us each and every day. I don’t think it is a stretch to assume that He uses whatever methods and measures work in the moment to accomplish His goals - even a daily devotional book shared by a mother with her daughter.
My mother was always sharing a book or a card or SOMETHING to encourage someone else. Just yesterday as I sorted through drawers, her husband mentioned her “gift drawer”…a place in her office where she kept little “inspirational books” and other items that could be given to someone who needed a lift. In this way, my mother “fed the sheep” as the Holy Spirit led her. And we are all called to do this!
I’m not saying that we all need a “gift drawer” – or that we should start buying books and cards to share with others. But I do believe that the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us, according to God’s plans and will for our lives – and the abilities with which He has entrusted us. OUR JOB is to discover what we are supposed to do…WHO we are supposed to “feed”…and then do this as the Holy Spirit guides us.
As you go about your day, hear the Holy Spirit telling you, “I AM WITH YOU.” Feel His presence. Rest in the comfort and safety of His protection and care…and in the confidence that He will never leave you. Trust the Comforter to also be your constant guide and “activity director.” And when and where He leads, make sure you follow! Are you ready to answer the call and “feed some sheep?” Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.jesuscalling.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)