Daily Devotional for December 31, 2016

1 John 1:8-10
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

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.
 
When I was about twelve, I got braces to correct an overbite and a huge gap between my two front teeth. I wore the braces for about two years, and the result was a really nice smile with perfectly aligned teeth. I even had my wisdom teeth removed, because the orthodontist said they might affect my new “alignment” if we allowed them emerge later on.

Despite my efforts to practice good dental health, my perfectly straight row of lower teeth have pushed together a bit over time – probably due to “bruxism” – a condition where I grind my teeth at night. I also started to have a slight gap between two of my upper teeth that was cosmetically bothersome. To compensate for the grinding, the dentist made me a little “retainer” of sorts to wear at night - called a “night guard.”

Many years ago, the dentist made impressions of my teeth to create a model for the night guard. Over time, this device became pretty worn. Last spring, I took in the old models of my teeth and asked the dentist to make me a new device.  For a few weeks, this new night guard fit pretty snugly…but over time, my teeth adjusted. The gap is much smaller now as my teeth have conformed to the fit of this device created from my original impressions.

I could deny that I grind my teeth…but the dentist can prove otherwise.  To say that he is mistaken would be to essentially call him a liar. And while this might offend him…I would be the real loser as my teeth weakened and separated over time. I’m not going to say that my teeth would ever be as badly aligned as they were when I was twelve…but I could surely do some serious damage and negate all of the hard work it took to get a nice, straight smile.

Even worse, I could grind the teeth down so much that they began to crack and break. And besides…my parents really scrimped and scraped to pay for my braces. To fail to do what I need to protect my teeth would be incredibly disrespectful and ungrateful toward them.

The solution is simple. I pop in this little soft plastic night guard each night and sleep with confidence that my teeth are protected – and staying in place.  And honestly, the “solution” with God is pretty simple, too.  All we have to do is acknowledge that we are sinners…then affirm that Jesus died so that our sins are forgiven. Then we must stay in close contact with Him through prayer and Bible study, so that we have the best chance of maintaining alignment with His will for our lives.

Just like my teeth can still shift and change, we are all still capable of sin. To claim we aren’t is the same as saying that God is a liar!  A right relationship with Jesus Christ is our spiritual “night guard.”  When we admit that we are sinners and do all of the “preventative maintenance” necessary to honor Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we will always enjoy His protection and blessings.  To accept Salvation in Jesus Christ - then try to have things our way after the fact - is essentially the same as thumbing our noses at this amazing Gift and indicating that we are plenty capable of keeping ourselves aligned without any help. Honestly, this tells Jesus, “I didn’t really need You in the first place…and any claims You make to the contrary are lies.”

Surely this is not how we want to live.  And there is no time like today to make necessary changes.  Don’t let your spiritual relationship with Jesus weaken or lose its alignment. As you think about the New Year and resolutions to make improvements, put your relationship with Him at the top of the list!  Jesus is already your perfect “Night Guard”…all you have to do is acknowledge that you continually need Him – and enjoy the perfect alignment of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings.  It’s an offer you can’t afford to refuse!  Are you ready to “line up” with Jesus?  Will this be the year that you do?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 15, 2016

John 3:8-9
As he was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the staring crowd.
 
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”
 
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”
 
Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
I truly believe that God allows us to experience many things in order to teach us empathy for others…including not only events like illness, personal loss, and natural disasters…but our own sins, as well.  We are more empathetic when we have walked in another person’s shoes. Someone who has overcome a handicap is probably more understanding toward those like him/her.  No one can talk to a smoker or another person with an addiction about quitting better than one who has already given up the habit. Unfortunately, the only way to truly understand grief and loss seems to be to experience it firsthand.
 
While personal knowledge and experience may increase our “street cred” when commiserating or encouraging someone else…this does not define our calling – and our ability – to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus with others. To put it another way, you do not have to be an adulterer, murderer, or addict in order to offer love, compassion, and encouragement to someone who is.  Why?  Because we all have sinned in some manner…and in the eyes of Jesus, no one is better or worse than another.
 
So while you judge the single mother whose significant other has been jailed for possession of drugs, you are overlooking that juicy tidbit of gossip you just shared with your best friend.  While you shake your head and talk about the sexual predator who has moved into your neighborhood, you fail to acknowledge that you called someone (whether you know him/her personally or not) an unkind name – or you posted something derogatory about him/her on social media.
 
While you are busy looking down your nose at people you consider “less than” in some manner, you are completely oblivious to the fact that you have done your fair share of breaking Jesus’ commandments - just by passing judgment on another. If all of your sins were laid bare, the world would most likely see just how despicably you have behaved, as well.

The lesson for us is that while we want to pick up the stone and hurl it, we had best take a long hard look at all that we have asked God to forgive in our own lives first.  The time has come to love others with the love of Christ, which means we are going to have to get down off our high horses and stop judging and condemning others.  We need to start looking at everyone with the attitude that we could easily be the ones that other people are so eager to stone.
 
Look around.  Who could use a smile…a hug…a handshake or an encouraging word that says, “I see you…not your mistakes.”?  Do you love others with the love of Christ, regardless of who they are or what they have done?  Do you understand that others look at you with the same disdain because of your own sins and shortcomings?  When will we "put down the stone and" pick up an attitude of kindness and compassion for others, in order to ensure that they seek complete forgiveness from the only One who can truly give it? 
 
Are you ready to practice true Christian discipleship and love of all people?  Will this be the day that you get started?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 17, 2016

James 5:16
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Timothy just cracks me up sometimes.  He is the world’s worst to tell on himself!  He will have a little “incident” at our house, and we will work through it and say, “It’s over and done.  Let’s move on.”  He might even ask, “Are you going to tell my mom?”  We will tell him that there is no need for anyone else to know about what happened.  And the first thing Timothy will say when he sees his mother is, “I was bad,” or “I had a problem” or some form of a “confession.”

Oh, bless this child and his innocence!  Someday all too soon, he will probably learn to keep his “faults” to himself.  It’s what we do.  We pretend to the world that everything is wonderful…that we don’t make mistakes…that we don’t have struggles with everything from addictions to relationships to physical ailments and illnesses. In the words of the old Gillette Company antiperspirant commercial, we never let them see us sweat!

We are often far too proud to ask for prayer.  This is such a simple request with incredibly powerful results…but we just cannot bring ourselves to do it – not even to our closest friends and relatives.  We barely admit to God that we require help!  We surely don’t want anyone else to know that we are just like everyone else – weak and SINFUL and in need of corporate intercession.

You don’t have to announce your deepest, darkest secrets to the world.  But find someone you love and trust, and let them in just a little.  Admit to this person that you have an area where you need prayer…and allow them to share in your burden – and your petitions.  You will be amazed at the results - and the blessings - as you share your faith and discipleship with another.

So let’s take a page from a 7-year-old’s book today and “tell on ourselves.”  Let’s let others see us sweat, just a little…in order that we can receive the benefits of their prayers and support.  Let’s pray for others and receive THEIR confessions and prayer requests without passing judgment.  And together, let’s begin to heal by the power of Jesus.  Are you ready?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 5, 2015

Romans 3:23-24
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.

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

I promised the children a surprise after church if they would be really good and eat a good lunch.  And they all three did exactly that.  So I told them that we would go swimming at the community Aquatic Center.  We loaded our gear and headed for the pool.  The children were very good as we changed into our swimsuits.  We had a wonderful swim for an hour…every child was happy and well-behaved.  They got out of the pool afterward like little soldiers and politely took a seat as I dried them and wrapped them in towels. 

I had promised that when we got back into the car, each child who had behaved nicely would get a Lifesaver®.  All three children were excited about this sweet treat.  And then “the wheels fell off the bus.”  As we headed for the dressing room to change into our clothes, Zola ran – all the way down the pool deck to the dressing room door.  Despite my calling to her to stop, she continued.  So I told her, “No Lifesaver®.”  Of course, she cried…and buried her little head in her hands.  And the boys were quick to chime in…”We still get Lifesavers®…right?”  “If you are good,” I told them.  “Oh, we’re going to be good!” they both promised.  And they were…until we left the building.

Nathan was our “line leader,” and I told him to stop at the yellow stripe at the end of the sidewalk.  He took off running and ran right into the street.  Thankfully, the parking lot was virtually empty and there were no cars – and I knew this before we ever left the front door. Still, he had disobeyed.  I called to him to return and he continued running.  When he did turn around and come to me, I told him it was too late…no Lifesaver® for him, either.  I will tell you, it is terribly hard to give one child candy and watch the other two cry…even when you know it is for their own good.  I told the children that “this hurts my heart.”  And it really did!

Timothy asked, “Are you mad at me?”  I told him no…I was not mad at any of them…but I was disappointed that two had chosen to misbehave after we had experienced such a wonderful afternoon.  I knew that all three children were tired and ready for naps, but that was no excuse.  Nathan said through tears, “I want to go take a nap so I can mind better tomorrow!”  I almost melted…but he still didn’t get any candy.

Let me make this perfectly clear…I am NOT God – nor do I dare to compare myself to Him in any way.  But I do love these children like they were my own.  And when they make a mistake and misbehave, it breaks my heart.  In any given hour, each one of the three of them can have a misstep.  None of them are perfect…and neither are you and I.  We are all capable of sin, because we are human. The only “person” to ever live in the flesh who is perfect is Jesus Christ…and we simply cannot and will not ever be Him.

But we can strive to be more like Jesus.  We can work hard to please God…to behave nicely so that we get the “Lifesaver® blessings” and more that He so wants to give us each and every day.  We all fall short of God’s glory and expectations…but we must keep on trying to “mind better tomorrow,” just like this sweet little three-year-old.

I learn lessons from these children every day.  And this time, I am reminded that I serve a God of second, third, fourth and even hundredth chances…and I am humbled.  I fall short, just as you do…but God is there to pick me up and restore me when I acknowledge my faults and humbly strive to do better.  Have you felt God’s mercy and compassion over your own mistakes?  Have you committed to doing your best for Him in the future?  Will this be the day that you make that promise?  Don’t you think it should be?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 16, 2015

Proverbs 10:9
A good man has firm footing, but a crook will slip and fall.

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 weeks ago as we emerged from church, Timothy was telling me all about Cain and Abel…how Cain was so dishonest and unkind – and how Cain even killed his brother, Abel.  I agreed with Timothy about how terribly Cain behaved, and he looked up at me and asked, “Did you know him?” Yes, I appear to be as old as the stories of the Garden of Eden!

Our church-wide Sunday school curriculum focuses on the “Creation Story” from Genesis this month.  Next month, the study will be on Adam and Eve…and making good choices.  I was reviewing the teaching guide for pre-K in preparation to substitute this Sunday, and I noticed that the theme for October 11th is “Making Good Choices.”  The following Sunday, the theme is “Sometimes Bad Things Happen to Good People,”…and the FOLLOWING Sunday, it is “Sometimes GOOD things Happen to BAD People!”

I am glad that our little ones are learning lessons about honesty and integrity, because playing fast and loose with the truth and how we treat others is a slippery slope.  Sadly, lots of children learn at an early age how to manipulate the truth to suit their own agendas.  They figure out how to pin blame on others, to deny culpability, or simply to make up things to sway outcomes in their favor.  And sometimes, they learn to take out their frustrations, quite literally, on their siblings!

By the time we are adults, we have often managed to make a bigger mess by trying to cover our tracks.  It may seem like some people “get away with murder,” but almost always, attempts to be “shady” backfire.  The truth has a way of coming out – sometimes in unpleasant and embarrassing ways.  Attempts to explain away misdeeds often end up making us look more foolish than ever. How we treat others will reflect on our character…and follow us into every arena – business, social, personal and spiritual.

Sometimes a simple and sincere, “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong” would serve us far better than the lies, exaggerations and manipulations we offer.  Often, pausing to check our thoughts, words and actions BEFORE we do something would save everyone a world of heartache, frustration – and possibly - embarrassment.

God calls us to operate honestly and with integrity.  With His help, we can do the work on the “front end” to prevent any opportunity for a need to “backpedal” after the fact.  We can ask Him to help us always speak the truth…to walk in His ways and demonstrate kindness and integrity in all that we say and do. When we walk with God and honor our commitment to Him…when we operate in honesty and fairness…there is no need to even think about exposure and consequences.

Aren’t you ready to walk upright…to live with a clear conscience in the truths of Jesus Christ?  It’s never too late to make this change and “come clean” in His name.  Won’t you call on Him to help you this?  Will this be the day that you regain your firm footing with Jesus?  Don’t you think it should be?
    
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 31, 2014

1 John 1:8-10
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

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.

At the start of the summer, my friend Melissa telephoned me one night with a dilemma.  Her son Ladd’s baseball pants had just arrived...and they were far too big.  I think this was maybe a Tuesday night – and his first game was on Friday. “Do you think there is any way you could take them up for us?” she asked.  I told her that I would be glad to take a look and see what I could do, and she and Ladd came over and brought his two baseball uniforms.  These pants were more than just a little too big...and as I contemplated how to fix them – or IF I could fix them, 8-year-old Ladd said, “It’s okay.  I’ll just wear them like this.  They’re not really that bad.”

The pants really were “that bad”...particularly one pair. They were too long, and the seat hung nearly to his knees.  I made some temporary adjustments and let Ladd try them on to see if I was getting anywhere, and his little face just “lit up” when he saw how much better the pants were fitting.  Melissa said, “We hated to ask you to do this, but we didn’t know who else to call.”  I told her that I would have been insulted if she had NOT called me.  I’m not a professional seamstress, but God blessed me with a grandmother and mother who taught me to sew, and I am able to do a fairly decent job of it.  The thought that my little friend would have played baseball all summer in those baggy, uncomfortable pants tugged at my heartstrings.  I was thrilled to be able to come to his rescue.

Have you ever tried to help someone who you knew was in need...and this person would not let you?  It was clearly evident that the person required help...an elderly man or woman who needed a ride to the store or to a doctor visit...someone who was sick and refused to let you even bring over a meal, much less do anything for them inside their house...or even a friend or classmate who could use a ride to school, work, or church.  When people like this say, “I’m okay...I don’t need anything” – and you know better - it’s enough to make you crazy...right?

Even worse is when you learn later that the person you tried to help has told someone either that “I managed all on my own”...or uttered the ultimate insult...”No one cared enough to help me!”  This may make you feel misunderstood – as if you offered to help with ulterior motives or hopes of “glory” and recognition, when you truly were just trying to offer support or service.  You may feel insulted...because in essence, the person in need has just called you a “liar” as he/she discounted your offers of love and assistance.  You would have gladly come to their aid any way you could...and asked nothing in return.  And now, you’ve not only been deprived of this opportunity...you have been somewhat disrespected in the bargain.

Now think about God and how we treat Him.  He stands ready to help us...to lift us up and tackle our burdens.  He knows our needs even better than we do...yet we pretend that we don’t need Him to help us with anything.  We claim we are “doing okay”...that if we have committed any sins, they really weren’t that bad...and we relegate God to a back room for when things really go wrong.  We like to say that we are humble, but in truth, our inability to acknowledge God’s grace and mercy and accept His help and forgiveness – and often that of our friends and neighbors – is nothing more than arrogance and/or pride – which are both sins in themselves.

If you are one of those people who cannot accept help from others, get over yourself.  Quit robbing them of the blessing of serving you in Jesus’ name.  If you have claimed to be sinless...or you have failed to give God credit for His grace, mercy and forgiveness in your life, it’s time you got busy figuring out who He really is – and getting better acquainted!

When I delivered Ladd’s pants to him the day of his first game, he was over-the-moon thrilled with the results.  But he was not any happier than I was.  To see him so relieved and confident made my heart swell.  Too often, we don’t think about how we deprive God of opportunities to be delighted and pleased with us.  All He wants is for us to turn to Him...to ask for His help...and to accept His grace and mercy.  What He pours out on us in return is truly astonishing...and totally undeserved...but incredibly comforting nonetheless.  Won’t you allow God – and others – to help you?  Aren’t you ready to come clean and move forward?  Will today be the day you begin?

©2014 Debbie Robus