Daily Devotional for January 1, 2017

1 John 2:1-2
My children, I am writing this so that you won’t sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Happy New Year! I hope yours is off to a great start (and includes some black-eyed peas, greens, pork – and maybe big ole piece of cornbread!!!). Sweet tea is optional!

Okay, enough about our Southern traditions...but I do have a point in sharing them.  I saw a meme on Facebook this morning that offered an explanation for why we eat these foods on New Year’s Day.  Rather than go into detail about each dish, let me just say that the collective reason is – HOPE!  We hope that these foods will bring us good luck in the coming year.  Yes, it is a “superstition”…and okay, maybe it’s ridiculous.  But what is NOT silly is hope in Jesus…and that’s where these verses from 1 John 2 come into play.

When Jesus takes away our sins, we all know that this doesn’t mean we will never sin again…right?  We surrender our hearts to Jesus…He washes us clean…and we make every effort to stay that way.  But scripture tells us over and again that, as human beings, we will never be completely free of sin or a sinful nature.  Only Jesus can claim this perfection.

BUT...because of Jesus, we can humbly acknowledge our failures and shortcomings, and ask forgiveness...and Jesus will petition God on our behalf.  Because of Jesus, we always have hope.  HE is the assurance that we are claimed and sanctified before God…that our seat at the Heavenly Table is forever secure.

Just as I will probably never stop eating peas and greens on New Year’s Day, I will never stop depending on Jesus to stand in the gap for me and ask God to continually forgive my sins.  And He will do this for you – and all of the world’s people – just as surely.  All you have to do is genuinely and humbly surrender your sinful nature to Jesus…to beg His forgiveness and accept His generous gift of Salvation.  THEN…you must make every effort to live a holy and acceptable life…to serve Jesus and share His Good News with others.

Because we have the promise of salvation and an Eternal Home…we are free to live with hope and confidence…and encourage others to do the same.  Will this be the year that you fully let go and let God have control?  Will you live in expectation that Jesus has your back?  I pray that this is the case.

Old habits die hard, so I’ll probably keep eating peas and greens on New Year’s Day.  But I know that with Jesus standing in the gap for us, anything and everything is possible…with no “good luck” meals required!

©2017 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 9, 2016

Romans 8:31-39
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

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 saw a video on Facebook about a man named Tyrone Obaseki, who suffered horribly as a child in the Texas state “system” for orphans and foster children.  He was tossed from one facility and orphanage to another…was placed in psychiatric hospitals, drugged, confined to a board in a straight jacket for hours on end, and abused by a foster family, among other things.  Today, Tyrone is a college graduate, mental health counselor, and motivational speaker.  He has also written a book, soon to be released, that details his 18 years in the state “system” and how he overcame his experiences.

Tyrone points out in his video that the foster family with whom he lived did one thing right…they told him about Jesus. Even as these foster parents abused Tyrone, they took him to church, where he learned about the love of Christ. I have to believe that this faith and hope in Jesus sustained Tyrone in large part.  Yes, he is one of those extraordinary individuals who somehow overcame incredible adversity.  But in my heart, I feel like his knowledge of Jesus gave him an “edge.”  Somehow, he managed to realize that Jesus was with him…and that He was standing in the gap and petitioning God to rescue him.  Tyrone Obaseki made it through, and now he stands poised to help countless other children who may be in a similar situation.

What is the message for us?  Surely most of us have never had to endure such horrors…bullying, sedation and “medication” with mind-altering drugs, restraint, molestation, verbal abuse and more.  Hopefully, you have never been in a situation where you felt like there was no human being to whom you could turn for help.  But I’d be willing to bet that you have experienced times in your life where you wondered how things could ever turn around.  I imagine that most of us have had at least one instance where we felt like we wanted to throw in the towel and say, “I’ve had enough!”  Surely you have gone through something in your life that made you feel like (at least temporarily) the odds were stacked against you.

And yet, we know that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God…because of Jesus Christ.  We know that Jesus is standing with God right this minute, arbitrating on our behalf.  He is saying, “What about So-and-so and his/her struggle. Shouldn’t we help them?”  Jesus is reminding God that He shed His own blood and suffered unbelievably, so that we could have abundant life…both now and for all Eternity.  He is calling on God to fill us with hope, courage, and strength…and the confidence that with Him as our Heavenly Father, we are never truly alone.

Wherever you are today…whatever your circumstances…Jesus is standing in the gap for you.  He is interceding on your behalf with God, because He loved you enough to DIE for you.  If you have surrendered your heart to Him, your name is forever written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…and God has a place for you with Him for all eternity.  He’s not about to abandon you!  There may be days when you feel like you are alone…but all you have to do is reach out to God, and He will be there with you.  There may be times of hardship…even suffering…but as you draw near to God, He will surely wrap His arms around you and fill you with a sense of His presence – and hope for your future. 

We need to be sharing this GOOD NEWS with others.  We need to be encouraging and reassuring others of their importance to God…and how steadfast His love and care is for them.  There are people of all ages who need to hear this message…and God is counting on us to share it.  Just as Tyrone Obaseki has a mission…we do, also.  Are you fazed by the events of the day…or are you trusting Jesus to mediate with God on your behalf?  Are you operating in the power and hope of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for you…and do others see this confidence and faith in action?  Isn’t it time they did?
   
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 28, 2015

John 14:6-7
Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen 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.
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A large portion of the South is currently experiencing historic flooding.  One hour, roadways and fields are dry and open…and the next hour, they are submerged in water.  The surges have often come quickly and swiftly - and drastically changed the landscape significantly in a dangerous manner.  I saw a photo this week of some cattle stranded on a small area of pasture land that is now surrounded by rising floodwaters, creating an island of sorts.  This was an aerial photo that had been taken by a drone. 

There is no way to reach the cattle by car or truck…but I suppose they COULD be rescued by pontoon boat…although it would probably be an arduous project that would have to be accomplished one cow at a time!  Wouldn’t it be great if we could magically create a bridge to span the gap between that patch of dry land and another and walk the cows to safety?!  But that’s a pipe dream.  In truth, some sort of boat or large raft probably represents the only way to rescue the cattle.  So the farmer has two choices…try to perform this rescue – or leave the cows there and hope that the waters don’t rise so much that they drown.

In many ways, we are like the cattle on the island.  We are completely surrounded with only one way to safety…and that is salvation through Jesus Christ.  He stands in the gap between the island of sin on which we are standing and the safety of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love.  We have two choices – stay where we are and hope for the best…or allow Jesus to rescue us.  And in choosing Jesus, we choose God, because as we are told in this passage, Jesus is God in flesh on this earth.  If we believe in Him and “see” Him…we “see” God, also.

I know this can be confusing, and I don’t mean to muddy the water here (pardon the corny flood reference!).  What you really need to understand is that you have two choices – to remain stuck on the island of sin, or to ask Jesus to rescue you and live in the safety and blessings of His love and protection.  Don’t be stubborn or foolish!  That island is NOT where you want to be!  Let go and let God have control…and enjoy the freedom and safety of “dry land” once and for all.  And pray for all whose lives have been turned upside down by these spring flood waters.  God knows their needs…but it doesn’t ever hurt to remind Him of them!

©2015 Debbie Robus

NOTE:  If you wish to help those who have been affected by the recent flooding, go to https://www.redcross.org/combined-donate.