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.
Our nephew Nathan will be three in
August, and we recently started taking him to church with us. To be
honest, we didn’t feel we could manage all three children by ourselves
when Nathan was younger…particularly if we ate out after church. But
after a lot of prayer and consideration, I recently felt God suggest
that we make adjustments and come home after church with the children –
and maybe do a “take-out” lunch. So far, this has worked very well for
us.
Nowadays, I cannot imagine not including Nathan…in any
activity! So when Timothy and Zola take swim lessons next week, Nathan
will go along, and I will work with him on some swimming basics in
something of a “mini-lesson.” There are still a few things that one
child gets to do without the others, for a variety of reasons, but the
bottom line is that each child is loved equally. Each child has
feelings and needs…thoughts, ideas and opinions…and each child is
important and deserves to be included and acknowledged.
This is
not only my opinion…it is scriptural! God sent Jesus for all of us…and
Jesus taught us to love others as He loves us, which means we must
include everyone! The Bible tells us in John 3:16-18 that God sent His Only Son to live as a man and die on the cross for the sins of everyone.
Jesus’ love is for all people. Let me say that again in case it didn’t
soak into your soul…the love of Jesus Christ is for everyone…each of
us…ALL people!
We don’t get to pick and choose. We
can’t say, “Oh, he’s a Jew or a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or atheist, so
Jesus surely doesn’t love him – and neither should I!” or “There
is no way that Jesus loves sexual predators, those who abuse children
and animals, murderers, and those who would behead others in the name of
their Christian faith! Surely we don’t have to pray for these people
and treat them with love and grace!” The truth is that we cannot pick
people who are “like us” to love and care about…and decide either that
all others are wrong, terribly flawed, or so deeply sinful that there is
no hope for them – so we are right to dismiss or disrespect them.
I
keep thinking about the young man who claims to have shot those nine
Christians in South Carolina. Why were there no bullets left in the
guns when he turned them on himself? Why was he unable to take his own
life? Could it be that God wants him to have another opportunity to
give his heart to Jesus? Wouldn’t this be the some semblance of
vindication and victory for the nine lives he cut short? Who will step
up to minister to him? I am praying that someone does!
I know I
am starting to sound like a broken record, but lately, I have heard so
many “Christians” make comments that were filled with judgment, fear,
and downright hatred for this person/group or that one. I am so
disheartened by this…and I know that God must be totally disgusted.
This is NOT what Jesus taught. Nowhere in scripture will you find where
God says that it is okay for us to be selective with regard to whom we
minister, which persons are deserving of our love and respect, or which
sinners merit a “pass” – and which ones should be condemned.
This
is dangerous territory…and God is not pleased when we take matters into
our own hands. We are all guilty of being judgmental and
discriminatory at one time and in one way or another. Each of us should
fall to our knees and ask God to forgive us. We all need to be asking
God daily to show us a “work-around,” if you will…a new way to look at
things and a new perspective on how we are treating each other. Just as
He showed me a way to include little Nathan in our family activities,
God will give each of us insights into how to be more loving – and
inclusive – in our daily living.
God loved us so much that He
sent Jesus. Does your treatment of others reflect your gratitude and
respect? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label Jesus died for our sins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus died for our sins. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2015
John 19:1-7, 16-22, 31-37
Then Pilate laid open Jesus’ back with a leaded whip, and the soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and robed him in royal purple. “Hail, ‘King of the Jews’!” they mocked, and struck him with their fists.
Pilate went outside again and said to the Jews, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Behold the man!”
At sight of him the chief priests and Jewish officials began yelling, “Crucify! Crucify!”
“You crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
They replied, “By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.
So they had him at last, and he was taken out of the city, carrying his cross to the place known as “The Skull,” in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the signboard was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people read it.
Then the chief priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.”
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, for it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to order the legs of the men broken to hasten death; then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus; but when they came to him, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his. However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. I saw all this myself and have given an accurate report so that you also can believe. The soldiers did this in fulfillment of the Scripture that says, “Not one of his bones shall be broken,” and, “They shall look on him whom they pierced.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It is a somber day…Good Friday…the day we remember what Jesus did for us – for you, and me, and even that person you don’t particularly like for whatever reason. We remember how Jesus suffered…physically…mentally…emotionally. We remember how, despite his initial protests, Pilate ultimately bowed to “the will of the people” – and Jesus accepted the verdict.
Remember, Jesus could have stopped any or all of this in the blink of an eye. He could have said, “That’s going too far…I will not do this!” Any one of us would probably have done so. But we’re not Jesus, thankfully.
We cannot get to Easter Sunday without going through this day. What is “good” about “Good Friday?” Certainly, this day signals Jesus’ death for our wrongdoings…His exchange of flesh and blood for the sins of each and every one of us. We are also given the ultimate example of suffering for our faith in God. Jesus died that we might live...He chose to allow the brutality that was inflicted upon Him because He knew that it was part of God’s plan. And sometimes, we have to endure some things that seem pretty hard in order to get where God wants us to be.
We may have to walk away from “friendships” or bear some sort of loss…the death of a loved one, termination of our employment, a debilitating injury or illness, bankruptcy…or the rejection – and even ridicule – of those who disagree with our viewpoints. It may take weeks, months or years to see what God was accomplishing in this. And we might not ever understand it all in our earthly lifetime! But if we stay focused on the Jesus…and remember what He did for us on the cross…we can do this thing we call “life” – and all that it entails.
Humbly focus on the cross today. God is with us…even on this dark, somber day. Easter IS coming…but for this day, “look on Him whom they pierced”…Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
“Amazing love…how can it be…that you my King would die for me.”*
©2015 Debbie Robus
*You Are My King (Amazing Love), written by Billy James Foote, released by Newsboys – Adoration: Worship Album 2003
Then Pilate laid open Jesus’ back with a leaded whip, and the soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and robed him in royal purple. “Hail, ‘King of the Jews’!” they mocked, and struck him with their fists.
Pilate went outside again and said to the Jews, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Behold the man!”
At sight of him the chief priests and Jewish officials began yelling, “Crucify! Crucify!”
“You crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
They replied, “By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.
So they had him at last, and he was taken out of the city, carrying his cross to the place known as “The Skull,” in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the signboard was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people read it.
Then the chief priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.”
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, for it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to order the legs of the men broken to hasten death; then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus; but when they came to him, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his. However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. I saw all this myself and have given an accurate report so that you also can believe. The soldiers did this in fulfillment of the Scripture that says, “Not one of his bones shall be broken,” and, “They shall look on him whom they pierced.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It is a somber day…Good Friday…the day we remember what Jesus did for us – for you, and me, and even that person you don’t particularly like for whatever reason. We remember how Jesus suffered…physically…mentally…emotionally. We remember how, despite his initial protests, Pilate ultimately bowed to “the will of the people” – and Jesus accepted the verdict.
Remember, Jesus could have stopped any or all of this in the blink of an eye. He could have said, “That’s going too far…I will not do this!” Any one of us would probably have done so. But we’re not Jesus, thankfully.
We cannot get to Easter Sunday without going through this day. What is “good” about “Good Friday?” Certainly, this day signals Jesus’ death for our wrongdoings…His exchange of flesh and blood for the sins of each and every one of us. We are also given the ultimate example of suffering for our faith in God. Jesus died that we might live...He chose to allow the brutality that was inflicted upon Him because He knew that it was part of God’s plan. And sometimes, we have to endure some things that seem pretty hard in order to get where God wants us to be.
We may have to walk away from “friendships” or bear some sort of loss…the death of a loved one, termination of our employment, a debilitating injury or illness, bankruptcy…or the rejection – and even ridicule – of those who disagree with our viewpoints. It may take weeks, months or years to see what God was accomplishing in this. And we might not ever understand it all in our earthly lifetime! But if we stay focused on the Jesus…and remember what He did for us on the cross…we can do this thing we call “life” – and all that it entails.
Humbly focus on the cross today. God is with us…even on this dark, somber day. Easter IS coming…but for this day, “look on Him whom they pierced”…Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
“Amazing love…how can it be…that you my King would die for me.”*
©2015 Debbie Robus
*You Are My King (Amazing Love), written by Billy James Foote, released by Newsboys – Adoration: Worship Album 2003
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2015
Isaiah 53:6
We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
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 have all heard stories of people who were falsely accused of crimes they did not commit – and imprisoned for them – only to be acquitted through DNA testing years later. Sadly, I am sure that some of these persons were never vindicated…and some probably were put to death. I’ve seen television interviews with more than one victim of false accusation…and many have looked their accusers squarely in the eye and forgiven them. While some of those who pointed the finger genuinely believed they “had the right guy”, I still marvel at the grace and compassion of the accused who could say, “It’s alright…I understand…and I do not begrudge you.”
Were I to cause someone else to take punishment that he/she did not deserve, I imagine that I would be greatly grieved by this. And hopefully, you would feel the same way. But we don’t seem to understand that this is our exact relationship with Jesus! All of the horrific things that happened to Him are a direct result of OUR sins and wrongdoings. While none of us would stand up and say, “HE did it! Punish HIM!”…this is essentially what we do every day. God sent Jesus to take our sins…to stand in the gap for us and take on our guilts – and the consequences. And Jesus says, “It’s okay…I still love you.”
I am astounded that someone to Whom I have been so ugly could be so loving and kind. I cannot comprehend the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Someone who suffered so greatly in my stead. I cannot fathom that He would want a fellowship with ME! But this is in fact the case. We – who left God’s path to follow our own – are loved, loved, LOVED by Him…and He is available to us 24/7!
Let this soak into your soul today. As you make the choices of your day, consider the ramifications – and consequences – of each. Think of Jesus suffering for your guilts and sins…and check your words and actions accordingly. God is always with us...even when we are acting in a manner that causes Him to suffer. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to at least try to live up to His love and care?
©2015 Debbie Robus
We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
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 have all heard stories of people who were falsely accused of crimes they did not commit – and imprisoned for them – only to be acquitted through DNA testing years later. Sadly, I am sure that some of these persons were never vindicated…and some probably were put to death. I’ve seen television interviews with more than one victim of false accusation…and many have looked their accusers squarely in the eye and forgiven them. While some of those who pointed the finger genuinely believed they “had the right guy”, I still marvel at the grace and compassion of the accused who could say, “It’s alright…I understand…and I do not begrudge you.”
Were I to cause someone else to take punishment that he/she did not deserve, I imagine that I would be greatly grieved by this. And hopefully, you would feel the same way. But we don’t seem to understand that this is our exact relationship with Jesus! All of the horrific things that happened to Him are a direct result of OUR sins and wrongdoings. While none of us would stand up and say, “HE did it! Punish HIM!”…this is essentially what we do every day. God sent Jesus to take our sins…to stand in the gap for us and take on our guilts – and the consequences. And Jesus says, “It’s okay…I still love you.”
I am astounded that someone to Whom I have been so ugly could be so loving and kind. I cannot comprehend the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Someone who suffered so greatly in my stead. I cannot fathom that He would want a fellowship with ME! But this is in fact the case. We – who left God’s path to follow our own – are loved, loved, LOVED by Him…and He is available to us 24/7!
Let this soak into your soul today. As you make the choices of your day, consider the ramifications – and consequences – of each. Think of Jesus suffering for your guilts and sins…and check your words and actions accordingly. God is always with us...even when we are acting in a manner that causes Him to suffer. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to at least try to live up to His love and care?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 29, 2014
Isaiah 53:4-5
Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed!
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.
Pick someone...anyone...who is truly important to you. I don’t care if you choose a “significant other”, your spouse, a child, a parent, your best friend – or even your beloved pet. Now imagine that every time you sin, this person (or pet) takes a beating. Every time you get sick, this person or animal will be whipped until bloody. And you will feel better...right?
Wouldn’t you be mortified if you thought that your well-being...mentally, physically or spiritually...depended on the suffering and mistreatment of someone else? Yet this is exactly the exchange that Jesus offers us. He was wounded, beaten, and pressed down by our sorrows and sins...all so that we could have peace and healing of all kinds – and Eternal Life in His presence!
Crazy, isn’t it? Heart-wrenching even! Yet we essentially brandish the whip and hammer the nails day in and day out. We press the thorns of the crown deeper into His head and either take His forgiveness and restoration for granted...or we thumb our nose and effectively say, “I really don’t care what He did for me.”
Here’s a challenge for each of us...the next time you are tempted to be unkind to someone else...to pass judgment...to criticize...or to berate...hear the lash of the whip as it tears Jesus’ flesh – for you. The next time you are healed of a sickness or injury...think of the Roman soldiers spitting on our Savior – for you. The next time you turn your back on God and try to do things your way...the next time you go days without talking to God or studying His word and then wondering why things aren’t going so well...think of Jesus hanging on the cross as nails dig through His hands and feet and people mock Him – all for you.
When we stop and remember Jesus...when we focus on what He did for us – it surely must seem a little harder to disappoint and disrespect Him. Hopefully, we will pay closer attention to how we are acting and thinking as we think of Jesus and what He did for us – what He does for us each and every day. He suffered greatly...for us. Believe it...He really loves us that much!
We cannot fathom another breathing thing suffering such horrors because of anything we have said or done. So why can we so readily accept this treatment of Jesus on our behalf? Isn’t it time for a mental shift? Don’t we need to refocus our awareness...and re-direct our efforts to live in a way that glorifies the tremendous sacrifices of our Great Healer? Will this be the day that you say, “By His stripes I am healed...and I will serve Him forever with each word and action!”? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed!
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.
Pick someone...anyone...who is truly important to you. I don’t care if you choose a “significant other”, your spouse, a child, a parent, your best friend – or even your beloved pet. Now imagine that every time you sin, this person (or pet) takes a beating. Every time you get sick, this person or animal will be whipped until bloody. And you will feel better...right?
Wouldn’t you be mortified if you thought that your well-being...mentally, physically or spiritually...depended on the suffering and mistreatment of someone else? Yet this is exactly the exchange that Jesus offers us. He was wounded, beaten, and pressed down by our sorrows and sins...all so that we could have peace and healing of all kinds – and Eternal Life in His presence!
Crazy, isn’t it? Heart-wrenching even! Yet we essentially brandish the whip and hammer the nails day in and day out. We press the thorns of the crown deeper into His head and either take His forgiveness and restoration for granted...or we thumb our nose and effectively say, “I really don’t care what He did for me.”
Here’s a challenge for each of us...the next time you are tempted to be unkind to someone else...to pass judgment...to criticize...or to berate...hear the lash of the whip as it tears Jesus’ flesh – for you. The next time you are healed of a sickness or injury...think of the Roman soldiers spitting on our Savior – for you. The next time you turn your back on God and try to do things your way...the next time you go days without talking to God or studying His word and then wondering why things aren’t going so well...think of Jesus hanging on the cross as nails dig through His hands and feet and people mock Him – all for you.
When we stop and remember Jesus...when we focus on what He did for us – it surely must seem a little harder to disappoint and disrespect Him. Hopefully, we will pay closer attention to how we are acting and thinking as we think of Jesus and what He did for us – what He does for us each and every day. He suffered greatly...for us. Believe it...He really loves us that much!
We cannot fathom another breathing thing suffering such horrors because of anything we have said or done. So why can we so readily accept this treatment of Jesus on our behalf? Isn’t it time for a mental shift? Don’t we need to refocus our awareness...and re-direct our efforts to live in a way that glorifies the tremendous sacrifices of our Great Healer? Will this be the day that you say, “By His stripes I am healed...and I will serve Him forever with each word and action!”? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2014
Matthew 27:27-29; 31-40; 45-56
The governor’s soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops. They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, “Hey, you king of the Jews!” Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.
When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
They came to a place named Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull.” There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it.
They came to a place named Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull.” There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it.
The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. Then they sat down to guard him. Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and shouted, “So you’re the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God’s Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o’clock. Then about that time Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. Others said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah will come and save him.” Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died.
At once the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. Graves opened, and many of God’s people were raised to life. Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”
Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were some of these women.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I just watched a video of a kindergarten program in which the daughter of one of MY kindergarten students portrayed a “cloud”. It was adorable, and amazingly, all of the “raindrops”, “clouds”, and other characters performed well. No one had a meltdown or left the stage…and the children even sang on key for the most part in front of a packed house!
I’ve been to dance recitals and other events where one or more of the participants did not fare so well. Children screamed and cried…teenagers and adults forgot their lines or “froze” on stage, as the crowd looked on…sometimes sympathetically, and other times with laughs, heckling, or ridicule. Recently, someone even threw a shoe at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she gave a public speech!
I also heard lately that the reason public executions were outlawed in America is because they drew large crowds that were difficult to manage. Apparently, we humans are natural-born gawkers…for anything and everything. And sadly, sometimes the gorier the event, the better - in the eyes of many!
So it should come as no surprise that a crowd gathered to see Jesus persecuted and crucified… to witness His public humiliation and mutilation…to mock Him, taunt Him, and yes – to spit on Him. In He Chose the Nails, pastor-author Max Lucado writes about how spitting on someone doesn’t physically hurt them… it is purely an act to “degrade the soul”. And many apparently felt the need to degrade Jesus that day.
Imagine how it must have felt to be stripped and beaten before the masses, including your mother and your closest friends and family members – both male and female. Imagine having to watch their anguish as you suffered. It wasn’t bad enough to be flogged and tortured…some felt the need to try to trick Him with “water” that was a mix of wine and vinegar. Imagine how that liquid must have stung as it touched Jesus’ open wounds. I encourage you to read the account of the crucifixion in all four Gospels…Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. One of these reports indicates that the soldiers broke the legs of the criminals on either side to hasten their death. But when they came to Jesus, He appeared to have already died…so they left his legs intact. But they pierced his side with a spear and caused the blood and water to pour out of him. And I’m sure many in the crowd cheered at this sight.
All of this decimated our LORD’s body…and degraded His soul. And those who taunted Him and suggested that He climb down and save Himself were right about one thing...Jesus could have chosen to do exactly that! But He stayed… He suffered…He endured. Because your name…and mine…and the names of millions of others were on His tongue and etched into His heart. He loves us so much that He could not succumb to the devil’s final attempt to entice Him.
In the darkness of that horrific day…in the brutality and loneliness of this revolting, gruesome, ghastly, incomprehensibly inhuman abuse…Jesus stayed on that cross…for me…and for you. No One else could have done what He did. No One else will ever love you this much. What have you done for Him lately?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2014
Isaiah 53
Has anyone believed us
or seen the mighty power
of the Lord in action?
2 Like a young plant or a root
that sprouts in dry ground,
the servant grew up
obeying the Lord.
He wasn’t some handsome king.
Nothing about the way he looked
made him attractive to us.
3 He was hated and rejected;
his life was filled with sorrow
and terrible suffering.
No one wanted to look at him.
We despised him and said,
“He is a nobody!”
4 He suffered and endured
great pain for us,
but we thought his suffering
was punishment from God.
5 He was wounded and crushed
because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
he made us completely well.
6 All of us were like sheep
that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
the punishment we deserved.
7 He was painfully abused,
but he did not complain.
He was silent like a lamb
being led to the butcher,
as quiet as a sheep
having its wool cut off.
8 He was condemned to death
without a fair trial.
Who could have imagined
what would happen to him?
His life was taken away
because of the sinful things
my people had done.
9 He wasn’t dishonest or violent,
but he was buried in a tomb
of cruel and rich people.
10 The Lord decided his servant
would suffer as a sacrifice
to take away the sin
and guilt of others.
Now the servant will live
to see his own descendants.
He did everything
the Lord had planned.
11 By suffering, the servant
will learn the true meaning
of obeying the Lord.
Although he is innocent,
he will take the punishment
for the sins of others,
so that many of them
will no longer be guilty.
12 The Lord will reward him
with honor and power
for sacrificing his life.
Others thought he was a sinner,
but he suffered for our sins
and asked God to forgive us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A post appeared on Facebook with a link to a story about a company who set up online job interviews for the “World’s Toughest Job”. The “interviewers” spoke via the Internet with dozens of applicants. Some of the criteria for the job included: working up to 135 hours per week (at least one person was told, “Basically, this is a 24/7 position.)…no scheduled breaks…you must be able to stand most of the time, bend and stretch – and lift approximately 75 pounds…a psychology degree was preferred, but a pleasant disposition and the ability to solve problems and act as a mediator were a necessity. You had to be able to work in a chaotic environment…possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive a mini-van…and be proficient in coordinating schedules, multi-tasking, and handling surprises.
Applicants had to have a good grasp of finance…and medicine. At least one candidate was told, “It would be nice if you had degrees in medicine, finance, culinary arts, and psychology.” Most importantly…there was NO PAY for this position! The majority of the applicants folded pretty quickly. But a few asked questions and stuck around to hear more. At the end of the “interview”, the applicant was told that there really was no job vacancy. I’m sure some of you have already guessed that this was the position of being a mom…and the interviewers suggested to each applicant that he/she might want to give Mom a call and thank her!
There are conflicting views about who is referenced in Isaiah 53, but I believe that this is a prophecy of Jesus and His crucifixion. Scriptures in the Gospels that reference this passage seem to confirm this. And as I read the verses and thought of Jesus, I thought of this mock interview by comparison. What if these were among the criteria on the interview:
Who among us could handle these criteria? We might make it past the first two…maybe even the third and fourth items. But it wouldn’t take long for us to fall by the wayside. We are not up to this! In the “mock interview”, the person in charge told those who applied that millions of people were already doing the “World’s Toughest Job”. But I can assure you, not even a dozen people would line up to try to fill Jesus’ shoes! And any who say they could are liars…or delusional…or both!
None of us could ever for even one minute consider coming close to Jesus. And yet, everything He did was for us. Every supernatural act of stamina, love, mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness, endurance, tolerance, healing, and nurture was for you…and for me…and for everyone else. As we inch closer to the cross, think of all that Jesus did for you…all that He DOES for you each and every day. Because you see, Jesus is still with you. He left His Holy Spirit to be your companion and comforter. Some of us don’t recognize the Holy Spirit, but He is available...He desires to help you with every single aspect of your life.
Yes, Mom’s have one of the world’s toughest jobs. But Jesus holds the title of World’s Only Savior. He is the only One who could have done such things. He is the only One who will ever love us to this extent. It turns out that the whole gimmick with the “World’s Toughest Job” was created by a card company… http://cardstore.com. Mother’s Day is coming, and this was a fairly effective way to get people thinking about their moms! Several in the video publicly thanked their mothers, while others said they were going to call “Mom” right away.
What will it take to get you to think about Jesus and the cross? Will this criteria and scripture passage be enough to make you think of Him and the sacrifices He made on your behalf? Will it be sufficient to make you fall to your knees and thank Him…to ask, “What can I do for YOU in return?” Don’t you think it should? Jesus was the ONLY One who could have done what He did. Now what will you do for Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Has anyone believed us
or seen the mighty power
of the Lord in action?
2 Like a young plant or a root
that sprouts in dry ground,
the servant grew up
obeying the Lord.
He wasn’t some handsome king.
Nothing about the way he looked
made him attractive to us.
3 He was hated and rejected;
his life was filled with sorrow
and terrible suffering.
No one wanted to look at him.
We despised him and said,
“He is a nobody!”
4 He suffered and endured
great pain for us,
but we thought his suffering
was punishment from God.
5 He was wounded and crushed
because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
he made us completely well.
6 All of us were like sheep
that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
the punishment we deserved.
7 He was painfully abused,
but he did not complain.
He was silent like a lamb
being led to the butcher,
as quiet as a sheep
having its wool cut off.
8 He was condemned to death
without a fair trial.
Who could have imagined
what would happen to him?
His life was taken away
because of the sinful things
my people had done.
9 He wasn’t dishonest or violent,
but he was buried in a tomb
of cruel and rich people.
10 The Lord decided his servant
would suffer as a sacrifice
to take away the sin
and guilt of others.
Now the servant will live
to see his own descendants.
He did everything
the Lord had planned.
11 By suffering, the servant
will learn the true meaning
of obeying the Lord.
Although he is innocent,
he will take the punishment
for the sins of others,
so that many of them
will no longer be guilty.
12 The Lord will reward him
with honor and power
for sacrificing his life.
Others thought he was a sinner,
but he suffered for our sins
and asked God to forgive us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A post appeared on Facebook with a link to a story about a company who set up online job interviews for the “World’s Toughest Job”. The “interviewers” spoke via the Internet with dozens of applicants. Some of the criteria for the job included: working up to 135 hours per week (at least one person was told, “Basically, this is a 24/7 position.)…no scheduled breaks…you must be able to stand most of the time, bend and stretch – and lift approximately 75 pounds…a psychology degree was preferred, but a pleasant disposition and the ability to solve problems and act as a mediator were a necessity. You had to be able to work in a chaotic environment…possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive a mini-van…and be proficient in coordinating schedules, multi-tasking, and handling surprises.
Applicants had to have a good grasp of finance…and medicine. At least one candidate was told, “It would be nice if you had degrees in medicine, finance, culinary arts, and psychology.” Most importantly…there was NO PAY for this position! The majority of the applicants folded pretty quickly. But a few asked questions and stuck around to hear more. At the end of the “interview”, the applicant was told that there really was no job vacancy. I’m sure some of you have already guessed that this was the position of being a mom…and the interviewers suggested to each applicant that he/she might want to give Mom a call and thank her!
There are conflicting views about who is referenced in Isaiah 53, but I believe that this is a prophecy of Jesus and His crucifixion. Scriptures in the Gospels that reference this passage seem to confirm this. And as I read the verses and thought of Jesus, I thought of this mock interview by comparison. What if these were among the criteria on the interview:
- You must appear simple and ordinary…no flashy clothes or jewelry…you cannot drive a nice car or live in a fancy home.
- You must walk everywhere (and there is a lot of walking!)…or occasionally ride a donkey.
- You must be willing to share meals and lodging with perfect strangers…even the poor, prostitutes, drunkards and lepers.
- You must be able to accept ridicule and persecution without flinching.
- You must heal the sick, raise the dead to new life, and feed the masses…even when there is no food available.
- You must resolve conflicts without violence or showing your temper.
- You must be able to endure physical, mental and emotional abuse of the most wretched kind.
- You must be willing to be beaten to a pulp, flogged in public, crowned with thorns, stripped naked and nailed to a cross.
- You must be able to carry a wooden cross weighing between 80 and 110 pounds for about 1/3 of a mile – after you have been beaten and mutilated.
- You must be willing to take the blame for the sins of the world at large, even though you are totally innocent.
- You must be willing to be put to death for any and all accusations…even though every one of them will be false.
- You must remain loving, compassionate, merciful and forgiving of all who have mistreated or betrayed you…and you must encourage others to do the same.
- You must do everything your boss (our Heavenly Father) tells you…without question.
Who among us could handle these criteria? We might make it past the first two…maybe even the third and fourth items. But it wouldn’t take long for us to fall by the wayside. We are not up to this! In the “mock interview”, the person in charge told those who applied that millions of people were already doing the “World’s Toughest Job”. But I can assure you, not even a dozen people would line up to try to fill Jesus’ shoes! And any who say they could are liars…or delusional…or both!
None of us could ever for even one minute consider coming close to Jesus. And yet, everything He did was for us. Every supernatural act of stamina, love, mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness, endurance, tolerance, healing, and nurture was for you…and for me…and for everyone else. As we inch closer to the cross, think of all that Jesus did for you…all that He DOES for you each and every day. Because you see, Jesus is still with you. He left His Holy Spirit to be your companion and comforter. Some of us don’t recognize the Holy Spirit, but He is available...He desires to help you with every single aspect of your life.
Yes, Mom’s have one of the world’s toughest jobs. But Jesus holds the title of World’s Only Savior. He is the only One who could have done such things. He is the only One who will ever love us to this extent. It turns out that the whole gimmick with the “World’s Toughest Job” was created by a card company… http://cardstore.com. Mother’s Day is coming, and this was a fairly effective way to get people thinking about their moms! Several in the video publicly thanked their mothers, while others said they were going to call “Mom” right away.
What will it take to get you to think about Jesus and the cross? Will this criteria and scripture passage be enough to make you think of Him and the sacrifices He made on your behalf? Will it be sufficient to make you fall to your knees and thank Him…to ask, “What can I do for YOU in return?” Don’t you think it should? Jesus was the ONLY One who could have done what He did. Now what will you do for Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2012
John 3:16
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think of at least one person you love and believe you couldn’t live without. Now… imagine if the only way to save millions of people was to sacrifice the life of that person. Would you do it? COULD you?
This is exactly what God did for us. He looked at each one of us… sinful and imperfect… and said, “It would be worth it.” He was willing to allow His one and only Son to suffer and die in order to potentially save the rest of us. Even crazier is the fact that this was not guaranteed. God still allows us free will, which means that some will actually choose NOT to claim Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives. Some will declare that God does not exist, while others will turn their backs on Him at some point. Some will mock Him and worship other gods instead. Still… God looked at all of these possible outcomes and said, “It’s worth the sacrifice… and the risk."
I don’t know if you have ever watched someone you love suffer in pain or sickness. Maybe you have stood by a friend or family member who was going through an emotional trauma and offered them your support and encouragement. If so, you have some idea of how hard it is to observe your loved one in discomfort – if not downright agony. Now imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch His Son be ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, tortured, mocked, bloodied… and crucified. Still, He said, “It’s all worth it.”
Do you get that He was thinking of YOU? YOU were worth all of this. YOU were so loved that God was willing to trade the life of Jesus for yours. YOU have so much value to God that He does not wish for any harm to come to a single hair on your head…so He numbers them. YOU are so important to God that He cares about every aspect of what is happening in your life… every single day. And He was willing to allow His only Son to die the most horrific death imaginable in order to pay the price for YOUR life.
Who could love you more than this? Who could handle the worries of your day better? Who should have your unending faith, trust and loyalty? Who do you worship… and Who is the LORD of YOUR life?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think of at least one person you love and believe you couldn’t live without. Now… imagine if the only way to save millions of people was to sacrifice the life of that person. Would you do it? COULD you?
This is exactly what God did for us. He looked at each one of us… sinful and imperfect… and said, “It would be worth it.” He was willing to allow His one and only Son to suffer and die in order to potentially save the rest of us. Even crazier is the fact that this was not guaranteed. God still allows us free will, which means that some will actually choose NOT to claim Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives. Some will declare that God does not exist, while others will turn their backs on Him at some point. Some will mock Him and worship other gods instead. Still… God looked at all of these possible outcomes and said, “It’s worth the sacrifice… and the risk."
I don’t know if you have ever watched someone you love suffer in pain or sickness. Maybe you have stood by a friend or family member who was going through an emotional trauma and offered them your support and encouragement. If so, you have some idea of how hard it is to observe your loved one in discomfort – if not downright agony. Now imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch His Son be ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, tortured, mocked, bloodied… and crucified. Still, He said, “It’s all worth it.”
Do you get that He was thinking of YOU? YOU were worth all of this. YOU were so loved that God was willing to trade the life of Jesus for yours. YOU have so much value to God that He does not wish for any harm to come to a single hair on your head…so He numbers them. YOU are so important to God that He cares about every aspect of what is happening in your life… every single day. And He was willing to allow His only Son to die the most horrific death imaginable in order to pay the price for YOUR life.
Who could love you more than this? Who could handle the worries of your day better? Who should have your unending faith, trust and loyalty? Who do you worship… and Who is the LORD of YOUR life?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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