1 Corinthians 14:20
To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.
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 will probably step on some toes today, but I feel like I have to share this. On my Facebook feed today, I found a post from an organization claiming that Beyoncé flashed a sign of the devil during her Super Bowl halftime performance this year. Additionally, these folks claim that Beyoncé’s husband, rapper Jay-Z, uses this sign on t-shirts and other products that promote his own celebrity as a public figure and entertainer. The claim is that Beyoncé and Jay-Z are part of a Satanic cult, and they are using their prominence to spread their message. Regardless of how you feel about Beyoncé (and I am neither endorsing nor condemning her and Jay-Z), I do not believe they have a hidden – and/or Satanic – agenda!
What does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 14:20? I’ll tell you! God wants us to be cognizant of evil. He want us to operate in wisdom… to be awake and alert to danger and attempts by the devil to creep into the tiniest corners of our lives. But God wants us to be smart, too. He doesn’t want us to fall for every claim we see and hear. Just because someone makes such statements on behalf of a “Christian” organization doesn’t mean they are speaking the truth – much less for God!
Just as we know that scammers contact us on e-mail and by telephone claiming to represent our bank or credit card company and needing vital information in order to “protect” us, we must be aware that the devil is plenty busy finding so-called “believers” to do his dirty work by keeping Christians riled up unnecessarily and “chasing rabbit trails.” To better understand this passage, I considered the verses before and after it. I also consulted several leading commentaries.
My conclusion is that Paul is reminding us to be innocent and child-like in our faith… to accept Jesus Christ and fully believe in Him even though we have not seen Him with our own eyes… to fully serve as His disciples and share His Good News with others. But at the same time, he is warning us not to get high and mighty in our actions and behaviors as Christians. We are not superior to others… we do not have a “secret code” or “inside scoop.” Moreover, we are not to run off on a tangent… to engage in hateful protests, or promote rumors and – at best – half-truths that look for the “boogey man” behind every rock. Instead of condemning others or acting as if we have it all figured out, we are to operate in child-like humility and faith… to earnestly and continually seek God and His wisdom and will for our lives.
Furthermore, I believe we are called to look out for one another… to share the knowledge and wisdom God provides us with fellow believers and those with whom we are sharing the Good News of Jesus. But we are called to refrain from perpetuating the falsehoods and negativity that some want to offer in the name of God…and in fact, to speak out against these things when we see and hear them being proffered. I know this is not always easy or popular, but serving God is not always a smooth ride. I know that by even sharing this with you today, some could decide not to read these daily devotionals any longer. It’s a chance I’m willing to take. I want to be child-like in my faith… and mature in God’s wisdom. Don’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label Spiritual maturity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual maturity. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 21, 2012
James 1:1-4
From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new program on TLC called “Big Tiny.” It features a brother and sister in Illinois who are in their early twenties. Bri and Brad Jordan are primordial dwarves. Both are featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest siblings, and Bri is the world’s tiniest living woman. At 23 years of age, Bri stands 28 inches tall. Brad, age 20, has 38 inches of height. The two siblings live with their mom in Sandoval, Illinois.
Bri and Brad want so badly to be “normal” young adults. They attend college… Brad actually attends on a cheerleading scholarship. As you might imagine, he is used to top “pyramids” and the other members of the squad toss him into the air in some of their stunts. Brad is a talented gymnast and can do flips across the basketball court with the best of them. Bri is a “girlie girl” all the way and loves to spend time between classes sharing a snack with a table of girlfriends… all of whom are of “normal” size and stature.
Bri and Brad would really love to live on their own like other young adults their age. They have gotten licenses to drive a car (with special adaptations for little people like them), and they are learning to do chores around the house that would be necessary for independent living… laundry, housekeeping, and cooking. I watched an episode that featured them pushing the vacuum across the floor. At just over 2 feet tall, Bri was admittedly terrified of the vacuum, and she could barely push it. She complained afterward that her arms and hands were hurting, and she explained that someone of her small stature has limited upper body strength. The logistics of maneuvering something tall and heavy (like a vacuum or a pile of clean laundry) are quite different than for someone of standard height.
When I watched the siblings climb a step stool and stand on kitchen counters to put soup and mac ‘n cheese in the microwave for lunch, I held my breath! If our little nephew Timothy (who is 38+” tall at age 3) tried to do this, we would have a fit! Yet this is how Bri and Brad will have to manage, if they hope to live independently. And I know their mom will pray every day that God keeps them safe…if/when this happens.
From all indications, Bri and Brad Jordan are incredibly happy, positive, hopeful individuals. They have enormous challenges… health issues that would stymie a senior citizen… and more obstacles than I would ever want to consider. But they both exude joy. They endure everything. And so does their mother. She made the comment on one program that “’Can’t’ doesn’t live in our house!”
My point is that everybody has problems. You cannot always tell for certain what is happening in another person’s life just by looking at him/her. The person who is bright, cheerful and positive may have ten times the issues and challenges of someone who appears sad and grumpy. The most beautiful, tall fashion model or athlete may have ten times the problems of someone with primordial dwarfism like Bri and Brad. Not everyone wears their difficulties and worries on their sleeve! Does this mean we should never share our burdens? Should we keep our troubles bottled inside and never let anyone know what is happening in our life? The answer is a resounding, “NO!”
At the same time, we should not be defined by our troubles… but rather, how we handle them. If we are allowing God to have control, nothing is unmanageable. When we trust God to help us through anything and everything, we can endure it all. And in doing so, we are completed. GOD makes the difference! He handles what we cannot… and strengthens us for the journey.
When others look at us, do they see a person with the weight of the world on his/her shoulders? Or do they see someone who is operating in joy and hope? The difference could lie in large part with WHO we trust to handle our daily cares. When your faith is tested, who helps you to endure? Do you operate in Spiritual maturity… or are you living in lack? I encourage you to redouble your efforts to grow closer to God… to give EVERYTHING to Him, and trust that He will manage all of your troubles and enable you to live with hope and peace. Wear the joy of a faith-filled life in Christ on your sleeve… not your troubles!
©2012 Debbie Robus
From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new program on TLC called “Big Tiny.” It features a brother and sister in Illinois who are in their early twenties. Bri and Brad Jordan are primordial dwarves. Both are featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest siblings, and Bri is the world’s tiniest living woman. At 23 years of age, Bri stands 28 inches tall. Brad, age 20, has 38 inches of height. The two siblings live with their mom in Sandoval, Illinois.
Bri and Brad want so badly to be “normal” young adults. They attend college… Brad actually attends on a cheerleading scholarship. As you might imagine, he is used to top “pyramids” and the other members of the squad toss him into the air in some of their stunts. Brad is a talented gymnast and can do flips across the basketball court with the best of them. Bri is a “girlie girl” all the way and loves to spend time between classes sharing a snack with a table of girlfriends… all of whom are of “normal” size and stature.
Bri and Brad would really love to live on their own like other young adults their age. They have gotten licenses to drive a car (with special adaptations for little people like them), and they are learning to do chores around the house that would be necessary for independent living… laundry, housekeeping, and cooking. I watched an episode that featured them pushing the vacuum across the floor. At just over 2 feet tall, Bri was admittedly terrified of the vacuum, and she could barely push it. She complained afterward that her arms and hands were hurting, and she explained that someone of her small stature has limited upper body strength. The logistics of maneuvering something tall and heavy (like a vacuum or a pile of clean laundry) are quite different than for someone of standard height.
When I watched the siblings climb a step stool and stand on kitchen counters to put soup and mac ‘n cheese in the microwave for lunch, I held my breath! If our little nephew Timothy (who is 38+” tall at age 3) tried to do this, we would have a fit! Yet this is how Bri and Brad will have to manage, if they hope to live independently. And I know their mom will pray every day that God keeps them safe…if/when this happens.
From all indications, Bri and Brad Jordan are incredibly happy, positive, hopeful individuals. They have enormous challenges… health issues that would stymie a senior citizen… and more obstacles than I would ever want to consider. But they both exude joy. They endure everything. And so does their mother. She made the comment on one program that “’Can’t’ doesn’t live in our house!”
My point is that everybody has problems. You cannot always tell for certain what is happening in another person’s life just by looking at him/her. The person who is bright, cheerful and positive may have ten times the issues and challenges of someone who appears sad and grumpy. The most beautiful, tall fashion model or athlete may have ten times the problems of someone with primordial dwarfism like Bri and Brad. Not everyone wears their difficulties and worries on their sleeve! Does this mean we should never share our burdens? Should we keep our troubles bottled inside and never let anyone know what is happening in our life? The answer is a resounding, “NO!”
At the same time, we should not be defined by our troubles… but rather, how we handle them. If we are allowing God to have control, nothing is unmanageable. When we trust God to help us through anything and everything, we can endure it all. And in doing so, we are completed. GOD makes the difference! He handles what we cannot… and strengthens us for the journey.
When others look at us, do they see a person with the weight of the world on his/her shoulders? Or do they see someone who is operating in joy and hope? The difference could lie in large part with WHO we trust to handle our daily cares. When your faith is tested, who helps you to endure? Do you operate in Spiritual maturity… or are you living in lack? I encourage you to redouble your efforts to grow closer to God… to give EVERYTHING to Him, and trust that He will manage all of your troubles and enable you to live with hope and peace. Wear the joy of a faith-filled life in Christ on your sleeve… not your troubles!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 10, 2012
Deuteronomy 8:2-6
Don’t forget how the Lord your God has led you through the desert for the past forty years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him, so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna, a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. The Lord was teaching you that people need more than food to live - they need every word that the Lord has spoken.
Over the past forty years, your clothing hasn’t worn out, and your feet haven’t swollen. So keep in mind that the Lord has been correcting you, just as parents correct their children. Obey the commands the Lord your God has given you and worship him with fear and trembling.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was talking with a friend last week, and she said, “You and I live in a more ‘grey’ world than some people. Others see everything in black and white.” I’m glad we have “black and white” people who see things so clearly. But let’s face it… some of us are more tender hearted, which often leaves us gullible and vulnerable. To put it more honestly, we are often big suckers for the person with a sob story or the stray puppy. Others can look at certain situations and say, “Nope! That’s not my problem… not my battle!” and move forward with no hindsight or remorse. But many of us take on the weight of the world and internalize not only the problems and needs of others… but much of what happens to us personally.
Somehow I think there must be more “grey” people in the world than the “black and white” variety! As a whole, we seem to quickly jump to a “woe-is-me” mentality when things don’t go our way. We are ready and willing to gripe and complain about everything from being bored to our low-paying job to a lack of respect. We are quick to air our dirty laundry and want the whole world to feel sorry for us! We’re tired, imposed upon, mistreated and under-appreciated… and if we only had XYZ, our lives would be so much better!
In my prayer notes, I’ve written the following… “Sometimes we live as if grace is cheap. We have to live with a sense of obligation to mercy and grace.” In other words, we have to learn to recognize that not everything in life is “black and white.” Some of our experiences are allowed by God in order to test our faith and see just how much we appreciate His grace and mercy!
Let me ask you something… has there ever been a time when you could honestly say that God failed you? Notice I didn’t ask if you have ever failed… I asked, “Has God ever failed you?” There is a difference! When we can learn to look at our daily experiences – and those of others – and see God’s grace and mercy at work, we realize that we can handle anything. We grow from the tests we are given according to how readily we recognize God at work in them.
As we mature in our Christian faith, we can learn to ask, “What is God showing me? How should I respond in order to show proper respect for His love and care?” The answer may truly be a “black and white” response, such as “No, I cannot take in a stray puppy!” But it may also be to stop and thank God for the little you do have instead of your lack of something bigger and better!
We know that God’s grace and mercy did not come cheaply! We know that He gave His only Son to buy it. So what could we possibly give in return that we think even comes close in comparison? We can never out-give God… but we can surely give Him our very best… and that starts with love and respect – even when He gives our faith a little workout! Are you asking God to reveal Himself in your life? Are you recognizing His presence when He does?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t forget how the Lord your God has led you through the desert for the past forty years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him, so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna, a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. The Lord was teaching you that people need more than food to live - they need every word that the Lord has spoken.
Over the past forty years, your clothing hasn’t worn out, and your feet haven’t swollen. So keep in mind that the Lord has been correcting you, just as parents correct their children. Obey the commands the Lord your God has given you and worship him with fear and trembling.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was talking with a friend last week, and she said, “You and I live in a more ‘grey’ world than some people. Others see everything in black and white.” I’m glad we have “black and white” people who see things so clearly. But let’s face it… some of us are more tender hearted, which often leaves us gullible and vulnerable. To put it more honestly, we are often big suckers for the person with a sob story or the stray puppy. Others can look at certain situations and say, “Nope! That’s not my problem… not my battle!” and move forward with no hindsight or remorse. But many of us take on the weight of the world and internalize not only the problems and needs of others… but much of what happens to us personally.
Somehow I think there must be more “grey” people in the world than the “black and white” variety! As a whole, we seem to quickly jump to a “woe-is-me” mentality when things don’t go our way. We are ready and willing to gripe and complain about everything from being bored to our low-paying job to a lack of respect. We are quick to air our dirty laundry and want the whole world to feel sorry for us! We’re tired, imposed upon, mistreated and under-appreciated… and if we only had XYZ, our lives would be so much better!
In my prayer notes, I’ve written the following… “Sometimes we live as if grace is cheap. We have to live with a sense of obligation to mercy and grace.” In other words, we have to learn to recognize that not everything in life is “black and white.” Some of our experiences are allowed by God in order to test our faith and see just how much we appreciate His grace and mercy!
Let me ask you something… has there ever been a time when you could honestly say that God failed you? Notice I didn’t ask if you have ever failed… I asked, “Has God ever failed you?” There is a difference! When we can learn to look at our daily experiences – and those of others – and see God’s grace and mercy at work, we realize that we can handle anything. We grow from the tests we are given according to how readily we recognize God at work in them.
As we mature in our Christian faith, we can learn to ask, “What is God showing me? How should I respond in order to show proper respect for His love and care?” The answer may truly be a “black and white” response, such as “No, I cannot take in a stray puppy!” But it may also be to stop and thank God for the little you do have instead of your lack of something bigger and better!
We know that God’s grace and mercy did not come cheaply! We know that He gave His only Son to buy it. So what could we possibly give in return that we think even comes close in comparison? We can never out-give God… but we can surely give Him our very best… and that starts with love and respect – even when He gives our faith a little workout! Are you asking God to reveal Himself in your life? Are you recognizing His presence when He does?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2012
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
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.
The saying goes… “If you want to make God laugh… tell Him your plans!” At least once a day, my husband and I ask each other, “What’s your plan for today/tomorrow?” Most often, the answer is, “I really don’t have one.” We’ve learned to plan for the unexpected… that each day is different… and most plans need to be fairly “loose!” So when something arises to change our plans, we try very hard to “go with the flow”… to let God guide our days and nights and free us of worries and concerns when things take a left turn!
Life is about the journey, and the most important part of living in Spiritual maturity lies in how we make the journey. If we act like someone who is not a Christian when things go wrong or we don’t get “our way”… when our plans are interrupted… what is the point of trusting God? Who would believe us anyway?
I will be the first to admit that there are times when I panic… or when I get disgruntled and disappointed because I had something planned and it didn’t happen as I had hoped. But I’m also learning that life is what happens when we show up. If we will stay close to God in prayer and ask Him, “What are YOUR plans for me today/tomorrow?”… He will show us amazing things. And when we hit a bump in the road, we should learn to say, “Okay, LORD… this was not what I expected. I’m asking You to handle this, because I cannot.”
Let’s learn to live in the sense of God’s wholeness… to settle down and replace worry with a focus on Jesus. Let’s show others that the life of a mature, Spirit-filled Christian has no room for panic and frustration over plans that changed directions or didn’t materialize. Let’s show the devil that he doesn’t matter… that GOD is bigger than anything he throws at us. Life is a journey… and with God alongside, the trip can be something quite amazing!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
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.
The saying goes… “If you want to make God laugh… tell Him your plans!” At least once a day, my husband and I ask each other, “What’s your plan for today/tomorrow?” Most often, the answer is, “I really don’t have one.” We’ve learned to plan for the unexpected… that each day is different… and most plans need to be fairly “loose!” So when something arises to change our plans, we try very hard to “go with the flow”… to let God guide our days and nights and free us of worries and concerns when things take a left turn!
Life is about the journey, and the most important part of living in Spiritual maturity lies in how we make the journey. If we act like someone who is not a Christian when things go wrong or we don’t get “our way”… when our plans are interrupted… what is the point of trusting God? Who would believe us anyway?
I will be the first to admit that there are times when I panic… or when I get disgruntled and disappointed because I had something planned and it didn’t happen as I had hoped. But I’m also learning that life is what happens when we show up. If we will stay close to God in prayer and ask Him, “What are YOUR plans for me today/tomorrow?”… He will show us amazing things. And when we hit a bump in the road, we should learn to say, “Okay, LORD… this was not what I expected. I’m asking You to handle this, because I cannot.”
Let’s learn to live in the sense of God’s wholeness… to settle down and replace worry with a focus on Jesus. Let’s show others that the life of a mature, Spirit-filled Christian has no room for panic and frustration over plans that changed directions or didn’t materialize. Let’s show the devil that he doesn’t matter… that GOD is bigger than anything he throws at us. Life is a journey… and with God alongside, the trip can be something quite amazing!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)