Daily Devotional for April 4, 2015

Luke 23:48-55
A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. All of Jesus' close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.

There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God’s kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided.

Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used. It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and watched how Jesus' body was placed in the tomb. Then they went to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial. But on the Sabbath they rested, as the Law of Moses commands.

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

After we buried our beloved cat Lucy four weeks ago, we ambled around the house rather aimlessly.  We had done all we could do…there was nothing left except to sit and allow the profundity of what had just happened to soak in.  Those were sad, heartbreaking hours.  Each day has gotten a little easier, although we still look for our precious Tuxedo cat.  I think I hear her sometimes…or that I spot her out of the corner of my eye – lying in her favorite chair in my office.

When my grandmother died two years ago, there was a sense of joy and relief that her struggle had ended…that her longing to be with Jesus in heaven had become her reality.  But the very next morning, we sprung into action…arranging her funeral, writing her obituary, answering phone calls and questions, sorting through pictures for her memorial video.  There was so much to do initially that the time to sit and “soak it all in” didn’t come right away.  In fact, it was about two weeks before it truly hit me that my grandmother was really gone - and I was able to reflect on all that had happened.

Unless you are a pet owner, you may think it in bad taste that I have shared references to the death of my fur baby and my grandmother in the same devotional.  Please stick with me!

I tell you all of this to explain how empty, exhausted, and numb the entourage at the cross must have felt after Jesus’ death.  Momentarily, they must have sat in silence…somewhat dumbfounded and bewildered.  “What do we do now?” they must have wondered.  “Where do we go?  How will we ever be happy again?”  These are normal questions after the loss of any loved one.  And the “busyness” that follow – preparation for burial and the actual interment – are cathartic…healing…a way to do something, which is a real human need.

But I must also tell you that the numbness fades…rest comes...the heart swells with memories and good thoughts…and joy returns.  Jesus rose from the grave.  He lives!  The tomb could not hold Him!  And because of this, we can move forward in confidence and peace.  Because Jesus lives, I know that my grandmother (and yes, my cat Lucy) are safe with Him in heaven.  We have to go through this “numb” day/time to get to the “Resurrection Day”…but it is coming!

So wherever you are today…whatever has caused your “numbness” or grieved you…whatever trials you are enduring…whatever heartaches you are experiencing…know that a better day is coming, because Jesus will make it so.  Sit and weep if you must…take in what is happening and process it.  But call on Jesus to get you past this day and into the light of resurrection in Him!  Believe in the promises of Jesus Christ, and know that joy truly does come in the morning for all who trust in Him.

Because of Jesus, we are a lot stronger than we think!  Sit and talk with Him today…share EVERYTHING…and remember to thank Him for His amazing sacrifices on our behalf.  I often tell people who are grieving…”You just have to get through today.”  Easter is coming…let Jesus help you get through today - and handle all of your tomorrows.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 21, 2013

1 Corinthians 15:16-20
So if the dead won’t be raised to life, Christ wasn’t raised to life.  Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.  And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost.  If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.

But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.

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

It seems like every year, the Christmas decorations come out a little earlier.  I think I heard the first Christmas commercial (gee thanks, K-Mart!) somewhere around the end of September.  I am certain that there were Christmas decorations on the shelves alongside the Halloween costumes at Wal-Mart.  And several people I know put up their Christmas tree and decorations a few days ago!  It’s like we don’t believe Christmas will ever come again, so we have to grab all of it we can this year and make it last!  And how many people do you know who will walk around in something of a funk for the first half of January… bemoaning the fact that the holidays are over?

Yes…I decorate for Christmas right after Thanksgiving Day.  Yes…I keep our tree and decorations up through New Year’s!  And I enjoy all of the holiday festivities… baking…gathering gifts and making treats for the little ones…sending Christmas cards…watching holiday specials on television…and inviting people into our home to enjoy a warm fire and some hot tea and a cookie or two!  But I am so looking forward to the Ultimate Christmas… one that lasts all year long…an unending feast that doesn’t pack on an ounce around the hips and music and laughter like we have never heard before.  I’m looking forward to celebrating every day with Jesus and fellow believers…a Christmas Day that never ends!  And I know that it is coming!

For this reason, I can pack away the decorations in January and continue to enjoy my earthly life.  I know that Christmas Day will come again… one way or another.  I honestly do not understand how people function without this hope.  I cannot imagine what it would feel like to believe that this earthly life is all there is… that when you die, you die, and it’s all over.  I refuse to believe that Jesus isn’t waiting for me… that my friends and loved ones who knew Jesus and loved Him on this earth and have “passed over” already are not there waiting, as well.  I will not believe that this is the end… that there isn’t one continual celebration waiting for me “on the other side.”  And I hope you cannot believe this, either!

There is an old hymn that says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”  It ends with… “life is worth the living, just because He lives.”  Is this true for you?  Do you believe that Jesus lives… that He is waiting for you and will raise you to life in heaven for all eternity?  Are you able to face tomorrow because He lives?  Don’t you want to be?  This is the day to ensure your spot at the Ultimate Christmas celebration.  Now is the time to fall to your knees and say, “Jesus, I know that You rose again. I believe that You are alive and waiting for me… and I want to be with You forever.”  We basically have two options…choose to live in the confidence that Christ rose again and waits for us… or live without any hope at all and be worse off than anyone else.  Will your life be “worth the living” because of the hope and faith that Jesus lives?  Or will you face the emptiness of living with the idea that your “Christmases” - and your life itself - are finite?  The choice is totally yours…what will you decide?

©2013 Debbie Robus