Colossians 3:8-10
But now you must stop doing such
things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer
say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each
other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.
Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There was a time not so long ago when I could hardly bear to look at pictures of myself as a younger woman. I saw
the “girl” in photos with long blond hair, a slender figure and tanned
skin, and I wondered, “What in the world happened?!” Despite Greg’s best
efforts to assure me that this 58-year-old version of “me” is totally
fine, these pictures made me a little sad.
But I have come to
terms with embracing the young woman in those pictures…and also the
“older model” in more recent ones. Because you see, I hope that the
woman I am today is more and more in step with who Jesus wants me to
be. And that is the goal – or at least, it should be!
The more I
know about Jesus – and the more I KNOW Him…the more I want to let go of
things like judgment, anger, jealousy, gossip, bad attitudes,
frustration, impatience, cynicism, skepticism, discrimination, and
more…and emulate Him as closely as possible. I want to focus on finding
joy in Him…trusting in His promises…and in the delight of sharing His
message with others. I understand that I will miss the mark
often…probably daily! But I keep trying!
There are still traces
of the young woman in this older model…but I hope they are the better
qualities! I am grateful that God has blessed me with good health and
energy, so that I can be the wife, daughter, aunt, sister and friend
that He has called me to be. I am thankful for opportunities to serve
Him – at home, in my church and community…and in the world at large. I
pray that He will continue to work in me so that I am constantly
evolving and changing…for the better.
What about you? Are you
stuck in a rut…still mired in the same ways and habits of your old,
sinful life? Or have you fully committed to becoming a new creature in
Christ? Have you embraced who Jesus is calling you to be…and are you
working becoming that person? Are you making every effort to know Jesus
better and to operate under the guidance of His Holy Spirit? Do you
like who you are today…and more importantly, does Jesus like this
“model” of you? Will this be the day that you let go of old ways and
habits and go “all in” for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label becoming like Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label becoming like Christ. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 11, 2014
1 Corinthians 3:16-18
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like 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.
A friend posted a link on Facebook to an article about a man who has traced his DNA back to a time that he claims makes the account of Adam and Eve as the original humans impossible. You can only imagine the debate this sparked. This friend - an academic genius in my book – spoke of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s creation as an “allegory”. He further commented…”I would rather let a God who cannot be simply defined lead the course of my life, rather than one who can be easily explained by a book. For if such a book were so perfect in explaining everything, then why are there still so many questions unanswered?”
As you can imagine, the “camps” who commented were fairly evenly divided. My friend cited “science” as indisputable. I shared a link to an article that offered a suggestion that “science” and “religion” can co-exist and actually provide complimentary views. But this devotional is not meant to spark a debate about creation science. My point in sharing this example today is to discuss compassion for others…and their points of view. How do we point them to God? How do we get them to turn their face toward Him rather than away from Him? I believe we must delicately balance our reactions…and responses…as well as our own behavior and daily witness. In order to ensure that we remain face-to-face with God…and that we reflect His shining face to others, we must carefully weigh our thoughts, words and actions.
There was so much I wanted to say to this young friend. I wanted to tell him how important God’s word is in my life…how each day I find even the same passage of scripture to be new and fresh. God’s intent through these words and “stories” does not change…but how He uses them to guide my path can shift from one day to the next. So the passage in James 4:8 that says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”(NLT) can say to me one day…”You need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer”…and another time it will tell me that “God is waiting to help you with this issue - scoot on over!” The account of Adam and Eve serves to set the stage for explaining sin…and the devil’s influence in our lives. On another day, God may use this “story” to illustrate to me how much He desires our companionship…and how He recognizes our own need for human company.
We must be ready to defend God’s word…and to share with others how He has cared for us and guided our steps. We also need to know when to back off and let His face shine through us. And this is where so many Christians seem to miss the mark. In our “zeal” to be a “good Christian,” we say and do things that often bring about more harm than help. We turn others off to the living, personal presence of God. In essence, we raise the “veil” and create a sense of mystery and distance.
After prayer and careful consideration, I trashed my written response to my friend in favor of the article link and a simple “I love you.” He sees my daily devotional posts. He knows me well…he knows where I stand – and with Whom. Hopefully, he sees the light of Christ permeating my soul and shining through to him…and wants that same Light to shine in and through his life!
As you react and respond to others, consider this scripture passage, and ask yourself if you have humbly invited God to enter your life and transform you. Is your face truly shining with the light of His face? Are you sharing Christ Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with those whom you encounter? Has the veil of confusion and mystique been dropped, so that God’s wisdom, power, love and care can truly be illuminated? Do you offer others compassion – and a glimpse of something that they would wish to run toward, rather an away from? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like 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.
A friend posted a link on Facebook to an article about a man who has traced his DNA back to a time that he claims makes the account of Adam and Eve as the original humans impossible. You can only imagine the debate this sparked. This friend - an academic genius in my book – spoke of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s creation as an “allegory”. He further commented…”I would rather let a God who cannot be simply defined lead the course of my life, rather than one who can be easily explained by a book. For if such a book were so perfect in explaining everything, then why are there still so many questions unanswered?”
As you can imagine, the “camps” who commented were fairly evenly divided. My friend cited “science” as indisputable. I shared a link to an article that offered a suggestion that “science” and “religion” can co-exist and actually provide complimentary views. But this devotional is not meant to spark a debate about creation science. My point in sharing this example today is to discuss compassion for others…and their points of view. How do we point them to God? How do we get them to turn their face toward Him rather than away from Him? I believe we must delicately balance our reactions…and responses…as well as our own behavior and daily witness. In order to ensure that we remain face-to-face with God…and that we reflect His shining face to others, we must carefully weigh our thoughts, words and actions.
There was so much I wanted to say to this young friend. I wanted to tell him how important God’s word is in my life…how each day I find even the same passage of scripture to be new and fresh. God’s intent through these words and “stories” does not change…but how He uses them to guide my path can shift from one day to the next. So the passage in James 4:8 that says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”(NLT) can say to me one day…”You need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer”…and another time it will tell me that “God is waiting to help you with this issue - scoot on over!” The account of Adam and Eve serves to set the stage for explaining sin…and the devil’s influence in our lives. On another day, God may use this “story” to illustrate to me how much He desires our companionship…and how He recognizes our own need for human company.
We must be ready to defend God’s word…and to share with others how He has cared for us and guided our steps. We also need to know when to back off and let His face shine through us. And this is where so many Christians seem to miss the mark. In our “zeal” to be a “good Christian,” we say and do things that often bring about more harm than help. We turn others off to the living, personal presence of God. In essence, we raise the “veil” and create a sense of mystery and distance.
After prayer and careful consideration, I trashed my written response to my friend in favor of the article link and a simple “I love you.” He sees my daily devotional posts. He knows me well…he knows where I stand – and with Whom. Hopefully, he sees the light of Christ permeating my soul and shining through to him…and wants that same Light to shine in and through his life!
As you react and respond to others, consider this scripture passage, and ask yourself if you have humbly invited God to enter your life and transform you. Is your face truly shining with the light of His face? Are you sharing Christ Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with those whom you encounter? Has the veil of confusion and mystique been dropped, so that God’s wisdom, power, love and care can truly be illuminated? Do you offer others compassion – and a glimpse of something that they would wish to run toward, rather an away from? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 9, 2011
Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?" Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" "Yes, we are!" James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide." When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John.
But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ego is a powerful thing… and Satan uses our ego to trip us up more often than most of us want to admit. Look no further than the nightly news to see examples of people whose egos have run amuck… from television and movie stars to politicians to everyday ordinary citizens. Many people often think they are better, smarter, more attractive, or superior to others in some way.
Christians are not immune. We want to be first! We want to sit to the right or left of Jesus! We want others to recognize what great faithful servants we are and revere us in some way. But when we are faced with the ultimate question… “Are you able to drink from the same cup that Jesus drank (i.e. suffer, bleed and die on a cross)?” we become humble in a hurry!
If we want to serve God as well as we possibly can… if we want to model Christian behavior for others and walk the walk of faith that we like to talk about so much, we have to humble ourselves. We have to serve others with absolutely no thought of what is in it for us. We have to focus on Jesus, no matter the cost… and toss our own desires and agendas aside. Every time we start to ask ourselves “What’s in this for me?” we must turn around and ask, “Could I drink from Jesus’ cup?”
Today we start the season of Lent… a time when Christians traditionally sacrifice something to become more like Christ. When we think about what Jesus sacrificed for us, this “traditional purpose” of Lent sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it?! This year, instead of “giving up” something for Lent, why not do what my pastor suggested… why not add something… like an extra fifteen minutes of prayer and Bible study each day.
For me, Lent means it’s time to get out my copy of The Purpose Driven Life and begin studying “40 Days of Purpose.” I renew my relationship in Christ by reminding myself just how important I am to Him… and how much He sacrificed on my behalf (and on yours, as well!). If you don’t have a copy of this book, check your church library. Or choose another way to spend time each of the next 40 days in worship and closer communion with Christ.
At the end of this 40-day season of Lent, we will celebrate Easter… and hopefully you will have developed a new habit of spending more time in humble communion with Christ. Could you drink the cup of Christ? Jesus tells us that in some ways, we will do just that. We will have to sacrifice our earthly, sinful life and humbly come before Christ to serve in His name. Sounds like a bargain to me! I pray that we will all become more humble… more faithful… more willing to serve. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make this happen?
©2011 Debbie Robus
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?" Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" "Yes, we are!" James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide." When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John.
But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ego is a powerful thing… and Satan uses our ego to trip us up more often than most of us want to admit. Look no further than the nightly news to see examples of people whose egos have run amuck… from television and movie stars to politicians to everyday ordinary citizens. Many people often think they are better, smarter, more attractive, or superior to others in some way.
Christians are not immune. We want to be first! We want to sit to the right or left of Jesus! We want others to recognize what great faithful servants we are and revere us in some way. But when we are faced with the ultimate question… “Are you able to drink from the same cup that Jesus drank (i.e. suffer, bleed and die on a cross)?” we become humble in a hurry!
If we want to serve God as well as we possibly can… if we want to model Christian behavior for others and walk the walk of faith that we like to talk about so much, we have to humble ourselves. We have to serve others with absolutely no thought of what is in it for us. We have to focus on Jesus, no matter the cost… and toss our own desires and agendas aside. Every time we start to ask ourselves “What’s in this for me?” we must turn around and ask, “Could I drink from Jesus’ cup?”
Today we start the season of Lent… a time when Christians traditionally sacrifice something to become more like Christ. When we think about what Jesus sacrificed for us, this “traditional purpose” of Lent sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it?! This year, instead of “giving up” something for Lent, why not do what my pastor suggested… why not add something… like an extra fifteen minutes of prayer and Bible study each day.
For me, Lent means it’s time to get out my copy of The Purpose Driven Life and begin studying “40 Days of Purpose.” I renew my relationship in Christ by reminding myself just how important I am to Him… and how much He sacrificed on my behalf (and on yours, as well!). If you don’t have a copy of this book, check your church library. Or choose another way to spend time each of the next 40 days in worship and closer communion with Christ.
At the end of this 40-day season of Lent, we will celebrate Easter… and hopefully you will have developed a new habit of spending more time in humble communion with Christ. Could you drink the cup of Christ? Jesus tells us that in some ways, we will do just that. We will have to sacrifice our earthly, sinful life and humbly come before Christ to serve in His name. Sounds like a bargain to me! I pray that we will all become more humble… more faithful… more willing to serve. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make this happen?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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