1 John 5:5-10
The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus—the
Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing
death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry
and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the
truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion,
bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit,
the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement.
If
we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be
reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying
concerning his Son.
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’m sure you have heard
the phrase, “If you read it on the Internet, then it must be true!”
This is said tongue-in-cheek, of course. But sadly, a lot of people
“buy in” to the word of others – on a wide variety of topics! I was
dismayed to hear some sixth-graders discussing politicians last week at
church. I was disappointed by how (I’m sure with help from their
parents) they appear to believe what these people are peddling…hook,
line, and sinker. Never mind the name calling and infantile behaviors
of some of these folks…these kids are “in” – and you can tell that they
want to be just like the candidate their family is supporting.
So
the question being asked in this scripture passage is this…”Why are we
so eager to believe and support the word of mere human beings, yet we
often fail to accept what God tells us – not once, but three times?
Why will we accept the word of someone who says that the world is
falling apart, and he/she knows how to fix it…but we don’t act like we
believe that with God, all things are possible? Why do we laugh – and
even cheer – when a politician berates, belittles or disparages others –
as we fail to respect Jesus’ holy commandment to “love one another?”
Do
we really know who Jesus is…and how He operates in our lives? If God
spoke to us through Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion…and His Holy Spirit
nudges our hearts and minds every day…why do we not believe that Jesus
is the Son of God? “Oh, we DO believe this!” you may be saying.
Really? Are you acting as if you believe it? Are you following God’s
commandments, demonstrating love, forgiveness, grace, mercy and
compassion to all other people? Are you living each and every
day in a way that says to others, “Jesus is alive within me. His Holy
Spirit flows through me every single day.”?
Many of us are
terribly gullible and naïve. We are ready to believe anyone who comes
along looking impressive and knowledgeable. We trust that whatever is
placed before us – such as on the Internet – MUST be true (which would
explain the picture I got last week on Facebook of a “nursing” mother
rattlesnake with about a dozen “babies” laid out along her side!). We
willingly step in line and follow a lot of people who are peddling
nothing more than veritable “snake oil.” And yet, when presented with
THREE testimonies to the sovereignty and supremacy of Jesus Christ, we
act like we need more proof!
Misplaced priorities and
allegiance? You tell me! Misguided loyalty? I’d say so! Are we
failing to recognize Jesus for Who He really is? Unforgivable! It’s
time to get real…about our faith…about who Jesus is in our heart and
mind…and about how we live for Him. And it begins today. Are you ready
to choose Jesus over the world at large? Don’t you think it’s time you
did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label believing in Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believing in Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 28, 2015
John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will tell you, I have almost stopped watching the news. Everywhere you turn, there are heartbreaks and heartaches…wars, mistreatment of others, and injustice and indignities that at least ought to curl our hair! Just in the last few days, I have learned of the death of two 15-year-old football players in a nearby town – the result of a car accident that left four others injured (some critically). I’ve heard about several people who have cancer or serious illnesses and injuries, the incredible mistreatment of a misbehaving teenage girl in a South Carolina classroom, and the ravages of war in the Middle East.
It’s enough to make us nauseous…to cause us to throw up our hands and ask, “LORD…where have You gone?” And the short answer is, “Nowhere! I’m still right here.” So this begs the question…”Why?” And John 16:33 provides the answer. Jesus has overcome the world. The things that rattle our cages and upset us…the words and actions that dare to rip out our hearts and cause us to doubt and become discouraged…are all part and parcel of this earthly – and often evil – world. And Jesus overcame them all. He died on the cross and took sin upon Himself, so that we have the chance to leave all of this behind someday…and bask in His glory in Paradise.
I don’t mean to sound the “Gloom and Doom Alarm!” There ARE good things happening in this earthly life. We just have to dig a little deeper sometimes to find them. Just today, I attended the adoption hearing for a toddler placed in foster care with a family who is “like family” to Greg and me. In his closing statements, the judge noted that he and his co-workers see and hear terrible things in the courtroom…stories of abuse, neglect and horrific injustices. And he stated that days like these are a joy to them. To see a child who is so obviously loved and well-attended…who is thriving in her new environment and has every prospect of a wonderful and happy life…gives them hope and renews their efforts to serve all children.
And so it is with us. This verse in John 16 should serve to bolster our courage and our hope. Our faith should be renewed, and we should be reminded to worry less and pray more - to allow the Savior who has conquered this world to handle it and the challenges that are offered…because He truly can!
I cannot say that I am not affected by the trials and sorrows of this earthly life, because as a human being, I simply am. But I can give them to God to handle and trust Him to do so. I can live in faith and joy that my future – the one that really matters – is secure, peaceful and perfect. I can cheer up…and spread the Good News. And so can you!
©2015 Debbie Robus
I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will tell you, I have almost stopped watching the news. Everywhere you turn, there are heartbreaks and heartaches…wars, mistreatment of others, and injustice and indignities that at least ought to curl our hair! Just in the last few days, I have learned of the death of two 15-year-old football players in a nearby town – the result of a car accident that left four others injured (some critically). I’ve heard about several people who have cancer or serious illnesses and injuries, the incredible mistreatment of a misbehaving teenage girl in a South Carolina classroom, and the ravages of war in the Middle East.
It’s enough to make us nauseous…to cause us to throw up our hands and ask, “LORD…where have You gone?” And the short answer is, “Nowhere! I’m still right here.” So this begs the question…”Why?” And John 16:33 provides the answer. Jesus has overcome the world. The things that rattle our cages and upset us…the words and actions that dare to rip out our hearts and cause us to doubt and become discouraged…are all part and parcel of this earthly – and often evil – world. And Jesus overcame them all. He died on the cross and took sin upon Himself, so that we have the chance to leave all of this behind someday…and bask in His glory in Paradise.
I don’t mean to sound the “Gloom and Doom Alarm!” There ARE good things happening in this earthly life. We just have to dig a little deeper sometimes to find them. Just today, I attended the adoption hearing for a toddler placed in foster care with a family who is “like family” to Greg and me. In his closing statements, the judge noted that he and his co-workers see and hear terrible things in the courtroom…stories of abuse, neglect and horrific injustices. And he stated that days like these are a joy to them. To see a child who is so obviously loved and well-attended…who is thriving in her new environment and has every prospect of a wonderful and happy life…gives them hope and renews their efforts to serve all children.
And so it is with us. This verse in John 16 should serve to bolster our courage and our hope. Our faith should be renewed, and we should be reminded to worry less and pray more - to allow the Savior who has conquered this world to handle it and the challenges that are offered…because He truly can!
I cannot say that I am not affected by the trials and sorrows of this earthly life, because as a human being, I simply am. But I can give them to God to handle and trust Him to do so. I can live in faith and joy that my future – the one that really matters – is secure, peaceful and perfect. I can cheer up…and spread the Good News. And so can you!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 15, 2014
Isaiah 55:8-11
This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.
As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
You’ve probably heard of “Elf on a Shelf”…the phenomenon that started a few years ago with a toy elf and a rhyming story about how he watches over children by day, then flies home to the North Pole to report to Santa each night. Each child names their elf, which gives him his “magic” and the ability to fly back and forth between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If the child touches the elf, he loses his “magic” and cannot fly any more…at least for a few days.
Children have a unique and innocent way of accepting such things. To them, the elf and his antics are real…and the fact that he can talk to Santa is hardly questioned for several years. This usually happens when an older child begins to plant seeds of doubt and suggest that Santa doesn’t truly exist - and the elf doesn’t actually have magical powers. I’m noticing that children often seem to do a better job than many adults do at accepting that God is real. They readily hear the Bible stories and take them to heart. They eagerly acknowledge that Jesus is who the Bible says He is…and that He came to earth and did all of the things the scriptures tell us that He did - until someone starts to plant doubts about this, as well.
This is a season of believing in the “magic” of Christmas, Santa Claus and elves. More importantly, this is a time to bolster our confidence in the belief that Jesus Christ is real…that He truly did come to earth as a tiny baby and grow into a man who was called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) This is the time when we reaffirm our belief that God sent Jesus to teach us His ways…and to die for our sins. And the Christmas season is a wonderful time to share His message with the world.
The power of God trumps the “magical powers” of an elf and Santa Claus any day. With balance and care, there is room in our lives for both. Do YOU believe?
©2014 Debbie Robus
This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.
As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
You’ve probably heard of “Elf on a Shelf”…the phenomenon that started a few years ago with a toy elf and a rhyming story about how he watches over children by day, then flies home to the North Pole to report to Santa each night. Each child names their elf, which gives him his “magic” and the ability to fly back and forth between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If the child touches the elf, he loses his “magic” and cannot fly any more…at least for a few days.
Children have a unique and innocent way of accepting such things. To them, the elf and his antics are real…and the fact that he can talk to Santa is hardly questioned for several years. This usually happens when an older child begins to plant seeds of doubt and suggest that Santa doesn’t truly exist - and the elf doesn’t actually have magical powers. I’m noticing that children often seem to do a better job than many adults do at accepting that God is real. They readily hear the Bible stories and take them to heart. They eagerly acknowledge that Jesus is who the Bible says He is…and that He came to earth and did all of the things the scriptures tell us that He did - until someone starts to plant doubts about this, as well.
This is a season of believing in the “magic” of Christmas, Santa Claus and elves. More importantly, this is a time to bolster our confidence in the belief that Jesus Christ is real…that He truly did come to earth as a tiny baby and grow into a man who was called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) This is the time when we reaffirm our belief that God sent Jesus to teach us His ways…and to die for our sins. And the Christmas season is a wonderful time to share His message with the world.
The power of God trumps the “magical powers” of an elf and Santa Claus any day. With balance and care, there is room in our lives for both. Do YOU believe?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 4, 2014
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
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.
This is mid-term Election Day in America. If early voter turnout is any indication, a lot of people have strong convictions one way or the other and recognize the importance of these results for our country. Tomorrow, a lot of people will be pleased with the outcome…and more than a few will not be. For many, the results will bring a mixture of pleasure and disappointment.
But here’s the thing…God is still in control – and with Him, all things are possible. Jesus Christ is still the King of Kings and LORD of Lords! Whether your candidates win the election or not…regardless of the amendments that pass or don’t…we will survive. Some of you may not have lived long enough – or voted in enough elections to believe this, but I can tell you with confidence, that you will live through whatever happens. Will things be “hunky-dory”? Possibly…but probably not. Will there be struggles and times of difficulty? Perhaps. But God can “make a way” as it says in Isaiah 43:19 (“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” NIV)
I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read Isaiah 43 in its entirety. Spend some time with God and talk to Him about your thoughts, your worries and concerns - about the election and everything else - and then THANK HIM...over and over and over for His amazing and perfect love and care. Thank God for “making a way in the wilderness”…for “doing new things” and working all things together for His purposes – and for our good.
Above all else, remember the words of the Apostle Paul to the people of Thessalonica…and “be cheerful no matter what. Pray all the time and thank God – no matter what happens” – because Jesus is ALIVE…and we can count on Him to always take care of our every need. The very thought of Jesus’s love for us should cause us to smile…to be filled with joy, peace and a sense of calm. Our little Timothy recently reminded us that…”I just turn that frown upside down and smile!” Which direction is your “frown” pointing today? Are you demonstrating confidence and hope in Jesus Christ through your attitude and body language? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
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.
This is mid-term Election Day in America. If early voter turnout is any indication, a lot of people have strong convictions one way or the other and recognize the importance of these results for our country. Tomorrow, a lot of people will be pleased with the outcome…and more than a few will not be. For many, the results will bring a mixture of pleasure and disappointment.
But here’s the thing…God is still in control – and with Him, all things are possible. Jesus Christ is still the King of Kings and LORD of Lords! Whether your candidates win the election or not…regardless of the amendments that pass or don’t…we will survive. Some of you may not have lived long enough – or voted in enough elections to believe this, but I can tell you with confidence, that you will live through whatever happens. Will things be “hunky-dory”? Possibly…but probably not. Will there be struggles and times of difficulty? Perhaps. But God can “make a way” as it says in Isaiah 43:19 (“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” NIV)
I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read Isaiah 43 in its entirety. Spend some time with God and talk to Him about your thoughts, your worries and concerns - about the election and everything else - and then THANK HIM...over and over and over for His amazing and perfect love and care. Thank God for “making a way in the wilderness”…for “doing new things” and working all things together for His purposes – and for our good.
Above all else, remember the words of the Apostle Paul to the people of Thessalonica…and “be cheerful no matter what. Pray all the time and thank God – no matter what happens” – because Jesus is ALIVE…and we can count on Him to always take care of our every need. The very thought of Jesus’s love for us should cause us to smile…to be filled with joy, peace and a sense of calm. Our little Timothy recently reminded us that…”I just turn that frown upside down and smile!” Which direction is your “frown” pointing today? Are you demonstrating confidence and hope in Jesus Christ through your attitude and body language? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 21, 2014
Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
According to information found at http://usps.com - the website of the U.S. Postal Service - the "motto" we all can quote in some form is not actually the Postal Service's official slogan.
The postal system is not infallible. When we mail a letter or a package, we must accept that it may not be delivered as expected. This doesn't happen often...but it only takes one undelivered parcel - or a piece of mail that arrives so mangled you can't possibly restore it - to disappoint us and cause us to doubt the "system". When the Postal Service operations work as designed, they are wonderful. But like most "systems" in life, this one isn't perfect.
Here's the thing...Jesus IS perfect! He will never fail to deliver. We can depend on Him to do what He has promised - every single time. When Jesus tells us in Scripture that He will heal us, we can believe it. This may not happen in exactly the manner we desire or expect...or on our timetable...but it will happen! When Jesus tells us that all who call on His name and make Him the LORD of their lives will be with Him in Paradise for all of Eternity, we can rest assured that this will be the case. When Jesus tells us that He is always with us, we can believe Him - and call on Him 24/7 for anything and everything.
My question for today is this...How can we put so much faith and trust in a system like the US Postal Service - and not trust in the words and promises of Jesus Christ? How can we so readily believe that an envelope or package placed in a metal box at the end of our driveway will be sent to someone halfway around the world, yet doubt the power of Jesus Christ to heal us and meet our every need? How can we so blindly accept the assurances of mere mortals that "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"...yet question whether Jesus will truly love us unconditionally, forgive our sins, and offer us unending grace, mercy, restoration - and Eternity in His presence?
The time has come for us to assess our faith...to get into such a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that He is at the top of the list when it comes to trust issues. We may not have confidence in much - especially the "human" things of this world - but we must know who Jesus truly is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. Do you know this today? Are you like the soldier who believed that just asking Jesus to heal His child could make it so? Do you know Who REALLY delivers in your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
According to information found at http://usps.com - the website of the U.S. Postal Service - the "motto" we all can quote in some form is not actually the Postal Service's official slogan.
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.""Official" or not, many of us depend on this sentiment - and the regularity of our mail delivery. We count on bills and payments being delivered promptly. We expect many of the products we order or send to be shipped expeditiously and with some semblance of care. For some of us, accurate and efficient postal delivery is the heart of our business and livelihood! And we have confidence that we can stick a letter or parcel in a mailbox and trust that it will arrive at the appointed destination within a predetermined amount of time.
While the Postal Service has no official motto, the popular belief that it does is a tribute to America's postal workers. The words above, thought to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue and come from Book 8, Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.
The postal system is not infallible. When we mail a letter or a package, we must accept that it may not be delivered as expected. This doesn't happen often...but it only takes one undelivered parcel - or a piece of mail that arrives so mangled you can't possibly restore it - to disappoint us and cause us to doubt the "system". When the Postal Service operations work as designed, they are wonderful. But like most "systems" in life, this one isn't perfect.
Here's the thing...Jesus IS perfect! He will never fail to deliver. We can depend on Him to do what He has promised - every single time. When Jesus tells us in Scripture that He will heal us, we can believe it. This may not happen in exactly the manner we desire or expect...or on our timetable...but it will happen! When Jesus tells us that all who call on His name and make Him the LORD of their lives will be with Him in Paradise for all of Eternity, we can rest assured that this will be the case. When Jesus tells us that He is always with us, we can believe Him - and call on Him 24/7 for anything and everything.
My question for today is this...How can we put so much faith and trust in a system like the US Postal Service - and not trust in the words and promises of Jesus Christ? How can we so readily believe that an envelope or package placed in a metal box at the end of our driveway will be sent to someone halfway around the world, yet doubt the power of Jesus Christ to heal us and meet our every need? How can we so blindly accept the assurances of mere mortals that "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"...yet question whether Jesus will truly love us unconditionally, forgive our sins, and offer us unending grace, mercy, restoration - and Eternity in His presence?
The time has come for us to assess our faith...to get into such a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that He is at the top of the list when it comes to trust issues. We may not have confidence in much - especially the "human" things of this world - but we must know who Jesus truly is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. Do you know this today? Are you like the soldier who believed that just asking Jesus to heal His child could make it so? Do you know Who REALLY delivers in your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 9, 2014
Luke 8:43-48
As they went a woman who wanted to be healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding for twelve years, and could find no cure (though she had spent everything she had on doctors). But the instant she touched the edge of his robe, the bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, so many are crowding against you. . . . ”
But Jesus told him, “No, it was someone who deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”
When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him and told why she had touched him and that now she was well.
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
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 lot of people joke that they can look at pictures of food and gain weight...as if the pounds are transferred from the images to the body by osmosis. We all know that there is a step in the middle of that process...one that results from a significant action by us! Our weight gain generally comes from what we put in our mouth – and what we do afterward to burn the ingested calories.
The healing touch of Jesus comes from a form of “osmosis”...the mingling or absorption of His presence in our hearts and minds. We are not necessarily required to physically do anything to receive this blessing. Merely “touching the hem of His garment” is sufficient to get Jesus’ attention.
Do not miss the profound message of this passage!
Imagine being in a crowd of people when Jesus and His entourage pass by you. Just as Jesus gets past you, you reach out and brush the hem of His robe with your fingertips. And immediately, you feel the spark of “electricity” surge through your body. You know in a split second that something has changed...that you are no longer the same person you were less than a minute ago.
Now think about your daily living. Have you ever had a “God moment”? Think about the times when something happened, and you instantly felt blessed or changed...a kind word, gesture or message from someone that generated a deep emotional response...an event that could only be explained as the work of God...a time when you were spared a heartache or even physical injury. Maybe you said, “The angels were with me.” Or perhaps you thought...”Wow! I really needed that!” Who do you think sent those “angels” or whatever it was that you so desperately needed in that moment?
When we minister to others...or when we receive a blessing ourselves...we have felt the touch of Jesus. And by our faith alone...and a whispered prayer for Jesus to draw near to us...we have essentially “touched the hem of His garment”. My point is that nothing physically has to transpire between us and Jesus to experience His healing power. He does not have to come to us in the flesh and lay His hands upon us. We don’t have to take a pill or perform a ritual of some sort. All we have to do is to believe that Jesus can meet our every need...then reach out and “touch His hem.” Jesus will do the rest.
I am also struck by Jesus’ words that He felt the healing power leave His body. When we serve others in His name, Jesus’s blessed anointing flows through us to those who receive our ministry. Stop and think about this...haven’t you felt Jesus’ power “leave you” as you shared blessings with others? Maybe as you felt the urge to pray for another or express love and care for them in some manner, you experienced a deep sense of calm and peace in your own life. Or perhaps your “mission work” left you bone weary – but energized at the same time. This is the power of Jesus working in and through you.
The healing power of Jesus is all around us. In effect, Jesus “passes by us” many times a day. Will we recognize Him? Will we trust Jesus so profoundly that we “reach out and touch His hem” with the confidence that His healing, love and care will flow into us...and through us to others as we minister in His name? Isn’t it time we did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
As they went a woman who wanted to be healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding for twelve years, and could find no cure (though she had spent everything she had on doctors). But the instant she touched the edge of his robe, the bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, so many are crowding against you. . . . ”
But Jesus told him, “No, it was someone who deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”
When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him and told why she had touched him and that now she was well.
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
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 lot of people joke that they can look at pictures of food and gain weight...as if the pounds are transferred from the images to the body by osmosis. We all know that there is a step in the middle of that process...one that results from a significant action by us! Our weight gain generally comes from what we put in our mouth – and what we do afterward to burn the ingested calories.
The healing touch of Jesus comes from a form of “osmosis”...the mingling or absorption of His presence in our hearts and minds. We are not necessarily required to physically do anything to receive this blessing. Merely “touching the hem of His garment” is sufficient to get Jesus’ attention.
Do not miss the profound message of this passage!
Imagine being in a crowd of people when Jesus and His entourage pass by you. Just as Jesus gets past you, you reach out and brush the hem of His robe with your fingertips. And immediately, you feel the spark of “electricity” surge through your body. You know in a split second that something has changed...that you are no longer the same person you were less than a minute ago.
Now think about your daily living. Have you ever had a “God moment”? Think about the times when something happened, and you instantly felt blessed or changed...a kind word, gesture or message from someone that generated a deep emotional response...an event that could only be explained as the work of God...a time when you were spared a heartache or even physical injury. Maybe you said, “The angels were with me.” Or perhaps you thought...”Wow! I really needed that!” Who do you think sent those “angels” or whatever it was that you so desperately needed in that moment?
When we minister to others...or when we receive a blessing ourselves...we have felt the touch of Jesus. And by our faith alone...and a whispered prayer for Jesus to draw near to us...we have essentially “touched the hem of His garment”. My point is that nothing physically has to transpire between us and Jesus to experience His healing power. He does not have to come to us in the flesh and lay His hands upon us. We don’t have to take a pill or perform a ritual of some sort. All we have to do is to believe that Jesus can meet our every need...then reach out and “touch His hem.” Jesus will do the rest.
I am also struck by Jesus’ words that He felt the healing power leave His body. When we serve others in His name, Jesus’s blessed anointing flows through us to those who receive our ministry. Stop and think about this...haven’t you felt Jesus’ power “leave you” as you shared blessings with others? Maybe as you felt the urge to pray for another or express love and care for them in some manner, you experienced a deep sense of calm and peace in your own life. Or perhaps your “mission work” left you bone weary – but energized at the same time. This is the power of Jesus working in and through you.
The healing power of Jesus is all around us. In effect, Jesus “passes by us” many times a day. Will we recognize Him? Will we trust Jesus so profoundly that we “reach out and touch His hem” with the confidence that His healing, love and care will flow into us...and through us to others as we minister in His name? Isn’t it time we did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 12, 2014
1 Kings 8:56
Praise the Lord! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I promise!” These two words often roll off the tongue fairly easily, don’t they? I promise I will be on time...study hard...never say or do that again...call/write/visit...love you forever and ever, no matter what may happen. But here’s the thing...we’re HUMAN. So we often “write checks we can’t cash.” We can’t see the “bumps in the road” or the mitigating circumstances that may arise. We can’t fully know what twists and turns lie ahead...and how we will react and respond to them. So we make promises – hopefully with all of the best intentions in the world – and then “life” gets in the way of our delivery.
The GREAT NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He never tells us that He will do something and then fails us. We can fully believe that God will do what He has said that He will do. God promised Moses that He would deliver his people out of Egypt. And he did...it just took forty years.
In Exodus 6:6-8, God promised Moses...
Whether you realize it or not, God has made many promises to each of us. If you have surrendered to God and asked Him to forgive your sins by the blood of Jesus Christ...
Where have you failed to listen to God? Where have you blocked His promises for your life and delayed His answers and blessings? Will this be the day that you recognize the strength and power of God’s promises... feel His healing touch...and allow Him to work every area of your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Praise the Lord! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I promise!” These two words often roll off the tongue fairly easily, don’t they? I promise I will be on time...study hard...never say or do that again...call/write/visit...love you forever and ever, no matter what may happen. But here’s the thing...we’re HUMAN. So we often “write checks we can’t cash.” We can’t see the “bumps in the road” or the mitigating circumstances that may arise. We can’t fully know what twists and turns lie ahead...and how we will react and respond to them. So we make promises – hopefully with all of the best intentions in the world – and then “life” gets in the way of our delivery.
The GREAT NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He never tells us that He will do something and then fails us. We can fully believe that God will do what He has said that He will do. God promised Moses that He would deliver his people out of Egypt. And he did...it just took forty years.
In Exodus 6:6-8, God promised Moses...
- I will punish the Egyptians and free you from slavery.
- I will accept you as my people.
- I will be your God.
- I will bring you into the land that I solemnly promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it will be yours.
Whether you realize it or not, God has made many promises to each of us. If you have surrendered to God and asked Him to forgive your sins by the blood of Jesus Christ...
- God has promised to be all that you need. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he replied, 'My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.' So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am."
- God has promised to meet all of your needs. Philippians 4:19 tells us, "I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!"
- God has promised to always work on your behalf. In Romans 8:28, we read..."We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose..."
- God has promised that you will not be tempted beyond what you can handle with His help. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that..."You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations."
- God has promised to save you, if you believe in Jesus Christ. Mark 16:16 declares that... "Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."
- God has promised that death is not the end! In Acts2:32, we see that...”All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!"
- God has promised to protect you as His child and give you eternal life. In John 10:27, we are told..."My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me..."
Where have you failed to listen to God? Where have you blocked His promises for your life and delayed His answers and blessings? Will this be the day that you recognize the strength and power of God’s promises... feel His healing touch...and allow Him to work every area of your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 25, 2013
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.
Last week at Vacation Bible School, the children learned the Bible verse from John 3:16. As I talked with the students who came through my crafts class (roughly ages 7-12), I asked them what this verse meant to them. In the more traditional translation, they were told that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish. What did the word “perish” mean to them? You can’t tell a child that they will never die… because in the mortal sense, all of us will die someday. So how do you explain this verse in a way that makes sense?
I believe this translation from The Message goes a long way toward doing exactly this! God loved us to enough to sacrifice His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – to send Him into the world to fight the devil, and to suffer on the cross for our sins… to “stand in the crosshairs on our behalf”. If we believe this and trust Jesus, we can have a whole and lasting life… help with all of our troubles…peace and comfort in every situation… and the promise of forever at His feet in heaven when our human bodies give out. If we do not choose Jesus, we choose to perish, which means we ultimately choose the “death sentence” of hell – whether we say this out loud or not.
Children understand choices. They make them every day. We tell even smaller children, “You can choose to throw that temper tantrum and go to ‘Time Out,’ or you can choose to stop your screaming and play nicely. You get to choose – eat your dinner and you get ice cream; don’t eat your dinner, and there will be no dessert!” So when we tell them, “You can choose to believe that God loves you… that Jesus wants to be your ‘Forever Friend’ and help you with anything and everything. When you get to heaven, Jesus will stand before God and tell Him that ‘I’ve covered his/her sins. He is part of our family forever.’ Or, you can choose to trust the devil, and he will lie to you and tell you your life is good – but it will all end very badly someday. When your earthly life ends, there will be nobody there to stand up for you. This is what it means to ‘perish.’”
This is a hard reality… one we don’t like to think about…one that on the surface paints Christianity as cold and calculated – an “either/or” situation. And in some ways, it is. But don’t miss the beauty and peace of this passage. God loved us SO MUCH that He was willing to send is one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, love us, and teach us how to get along… and then die a horrible, gruesome, agonizing death so that we can LIVE… FOREVER and EVER and EVER! All we have to do is choose Jesus! All we have to do is love Him back, and He takes care of absolutely, positively everything else! Yes, the alternative is essentially a “death sentence.” Yes, those who choose not to believe are destined for an eternity in hell… if not hell on earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The choice is so simple… and beautiful… and filled with peace and joy. Choose Jesus. Choose JESUS! CHOOSE JESUS!!!
At the end of our VBS, I believe many of the children totally “got this”. If little children can understand God’s words in John 3:16-18, why can’t we? What is keeping us from believing with childlike faith? The stakes are so high… the rewards are so great… the peace is indescribable. Will you choose to perish with the devil… or will you choose to live with Jesus? You’ve been given an amazing, incredible gift in Jesus Christ… won’t you accept Him and invite Him into your heart forever?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“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.
Last week at Vacation Bible School, the children learned the Bible verse from John 3:16. As I talked with the students who came through my crafts class (roughly ages 7-12), I asked them what this verse meant to them. In the more traditional translation, they were told that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish. What did the word “perish” mean to them? You can’t tell a child that they will never die… because in the mortal sense, all of us will die someday. So how do you explain this verse in a way that makes sense?
I believe this translation from The Message goes a long way toward doing exactly this! God loved us to enough to sacrifice His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – to send Him into the world to fight the devil, and to suffer on the cross for our sins… to “stand in the crosshairs on our behalf”. If we believe this and trust Jesus, we can have a whole and lasting life… help with all of our troubles…peace and comfort in every situation… and the promise of forever at His feet in heaven when our human bodies give out. If we do not choose Jesus, we choose to perish, which means we ultimately choose the “death sentence” of hell – whether we say this out loud or not.
Children understand choices. They make them every day. We tell even smaller children, “You can choose to throw that temper tantrum and go to ‘Time Out,’ or you can choose to stop your screaming and play nicely. You get to choose – eat your dinner and you get ice cream; don’t eat your dinner, and there will be no dessert!” So when we tell them, “You can choose to believe that God loves you… that Jesus wants to be your ‘Forever Friend’ and help you with anything and everything. When you get to heaven, Jesus will stand before God and tell Him that ‘I’ve covered his/her sins. He is part of our family forever.’ Or, you can choose to trust the devil, and he will lie to you and tell you your life is good – but it will all end very badly someday. When your earthly life ends, there will be nobody there to stand up for you. This is what it means to ‘perish.’”
This is a hard reality… one we don’t like to think about…one that on the surface paints Christianity as cold and calculated – an “either/or” situation. And in some ways, it is. But don’t miss the beauty and peace of this passage. God loved us SO MUCH that He was willing to send is one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, love us, and teach us how to get along… and then die a horrible, gruesome, agonizing death so that we can LIVE… FOREVER and EVER and EVER! All we have to do is choose Jesus! All we have to do is love Him back, and He takes care of absolutely, positively everything else! Yes, the alternative is essentially a “death sentence.” Yes, those who choose not to believe are destined for an eternity in hell… if not hell on earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The choice is so simple… and beautiful… and filled with peace and joy. Choose Jesus. Choose JESUS! CHOOSE JESUS!!!
At the end of our VBS, I believe many of the children totally “got this”. If little children can understand God’s words in John 3:16-18, why can’t we? What is keeping us from believing with childlike faith? The stakes are so high… the rewards are so great… the peace is indescribable. Will you choose to perish with the devil… or will you choose to live with Jesus? You’ve been given an amazing, incredible gift in Jesus Christ… won’t you accept Him and invite Him into your heart forever?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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