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...
- 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.
So
why did Moses lead his people to the Promised Land, yet die before he
set foot there himself? The
short answer is that Moses didn’t always listen to God. There were
times when Moses failed to trust God...or he trusted in his own
abilities more than those of God...or he tried to orchestrate things in his own timing. And
nothing has changed...we still do this! But God has not changed. He is
still persistent and unfailing. He has numbered the hairs of our head,
and nothing can keep Him from caring for us.
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..."
These
are reasons to shout for joy. The God who makes these promises to us
deserves our praise and glory...our honor and admiration...our devotion
and our service. Because of God’s promises, we are more than okay...we
are well in every sense of the word! We have a Great Physician who can
heal of us of anything and assure us of eternal life in His presence!
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
Numbers 14:19-23
You are merciful, and you treat
people better than they deserve. So please forgive these people, just as
you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.
Then the Lord said to Moses:
In
answer to your prayer, I do forgive them. But as surely as I live and
my power has no limit, I swear that not one of these Israelites will
enter the land I promised to give their ancestors. These people have
seen my power in Egypt and in the desert, but they will never see
Canaan. They have disobeyed and tested me too many times.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I
saw a Facebook post from one of my cousins that said that her church is
beginning a 90-day “read-through” of the Bible. Those participating
will read the entire Bible in 90 days. She is excited to participate in
this study. Several years ago, I attempted to read the entire Bible. I
used a study guide that suggested a passage each day from the Old
Testament, New Testament, and a Psalm or verses from Proverbs. I’ll
admit...I only made it to the month of May before I allowed other things
to swallow up my time - and that particular study fell by the wayside.
But I’m determined to try this again someday, because this “parallel
look” at the Old and New Testaments was incredibly revealing.
For
the first time, I truly came to understand why and how the passages of
the Old Testament have relevance for us today. If nothing else, these
chapters illustrate to us how dramatically – and completely – Jesus
changed everything when he came to earth and subsequently died on the
cross for our sins. No longer do we have to kill our best fowl and
livestock and offer them to God as living sacrifices for our sins. While
we should confess our sins daily and strive to humbly repent, Jesus
settled the debt...we don’t have to look over our shoulder and wonder if
THIS is the time that God says, “That’s it...you’ve crossed the line
this time! I’m done with you!” From the Old Testament writings, we learn
that there truly is nothing new under the sun...except the unfailing
forgiveness and redemption of Jesus Christ. And I, for one, am so very
glad to have it!
I have spoken for several days about
forgiveness. Understand that these posts are as much for me and my own
life as yours...because I am as prone to anger, name calling,
frustration, and grudges as the next guy. There are times when each and
every one of us wishes for even a single minute of revenge...a desire to
make the other person suffer just a smidge of what we are feeling - or
to know the insults, exasperation, and/or pain that they have inflicted
upon us. We are – and always will be – human beings...and this means we
will never be perfect! We will never be 100% like Jesus...but we must
always keep trying to do better.
With all of this talk about
forgiveness, I feel I must also address a question that arose recently
about forgiving such things as human atrocities. How do we forgive the
torture and slaughter of others in the Middle East...the slavery and
persecution of people in African countries...cruelty to
animals...physical abuse of children and adults? How do we pardon those
who have repeatedly lied to us, cheated us, and taken advantage of our
Christian grace and mercy at every turn? How long and how often do we
“turn the other cheek”?
I have given this a lot of thought and
prayerful consideration. In recent weeks, I’ve read several books that
address this subject in detail, and I believe that God has used these
writings to show me many things.
- There are no perfect decisions.*
- “No!” is a complete sentence...and sometimes, it’s the best response.
- God
doesn’t want us to sacrifice our physical, mental and spiritual
well-being at another’s expense. I’m not saying He doesn’t want us to
put ourselves out there – to take risks and boldly share the love of
Jesus with others in all sorts of ways. But He doesn’t want us to be
doormats, either! Sometimes, we are called to create a safe distance
between ourselves and others...and then to forgive them from afar.
- God
has the last word. We must stay in constant communication with Him, so
that we know when He is telling us to boldly step forward...and when to
safely love from a distance. There will be times when the “best yes” is a
no...and when the most loving and merciful thing we can do for someone
is to gracefully step aside and let them learn to lean on God for
themselves.
I am so grateful that God’s mercies endure
forever, because of the blood of Jesus. I am thankful that I do not have
to keep looking back – or worse yet...raising a pen of livestock to
have handy as sacrifices for my sins! I am appreciative of the grace and
forgiveness that others show to me when I put my foot in my mouth or
behave inappropriately. And I am continually seeking God’s wisdom and
will with regard to how to extend these blessings to others. What about
you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*The Best Yes - ©2014
by TerKeurst Foundation – published by Nelson Books. Available at
Walmart and other major retailers. www.thebestyes.com #TheBestYes
May 4 ~ Romans 11:17-22
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This scripture passage makes a great analogy with the root plant (God) and the cuttings that were removed (non-believers) so that new cuttings (believers in Jesus) could be grafted onto the plant. But let’s take this one step further…suppose you got a job because your boss let someone go who was not performing well. You were added to the team, and everything was great for a while… and then you began to miss work, slack off, and give shoddy results. Pretty soon, it was “Hasta la vista, baby… don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” - and you were unemployed.
When you asked your employer why you were being let go, he/she explained that it was not about your past… your family… your appearance… or even your off-hours activities… it was because of your performance on the job - and your attitude. Try as you might to come up with excuses, your employer was adamant. You were not a good fit… and you had to go. In other words, your “graft” was not “taking” on the root plant. You might have told your family and friends how much your fellow workers liked you… how you loved your job and your bosses were impressed. But in truth, you were only as good as your work…and you were receiving low marks for attitude and performance.
Do you see that it’s much that way for us as Christians? Far too many of us have decided that once we’re in - we’re in! So we can now go and do as we please. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins… and I believe that any of us who have truly invited Him to live in our hearts are guaranteed a place in His presence for all Eternity. But our Salvation came with a price – Jesus’ very body and blood. He freely gave Himself for us. But when we commit our hearts to Him, we are expected to also give our mind, body, soul… energy and enthusiasm…devotion and demeanor, in return. And this is where so many of us miss the mark.
Becoming a Christian is somewhat like enrolling in college. Once you are accepted, you have an obligation to fulfill certain duties and expectations. You can skip class and neglect your studies… and for a while, the college will keep taking your money and allow you to stay on campus. But there will come a point where you either have to step up to the plate and complete the work… or you will be sent packing! You can still say you attended XYZ University… you can still claim to have been a student there…but you are no longer headed toward graduation and a degree… you will not reap the full rewards. And so it is with our faith. We can “play Christian” for a while, but someday – maybe even on Judgment Day – we have to answer for how we conducted our lives. We will be asked how well we served… how devoted we were to Jesus… and whether we modeled His teachings for others. And this will not be a time for excuses!
I realize that every Christian is at a different point in his/her journey. I am so overwhelmed by what God has done for me that I cannot help but serve Him. I no longer operate out of a sense of fear of retribution if I fail to do this… I truly want and need to serve Him with every fiber of my being! And I do not mean to frighten or threaten anyone with this message for today. God is loving, kind and fair… but He is also jealous and expectant… and unwavering in all things. He will not accept excuses… God will not tolerate shoddy work!
So where does this leave you? Are you a Christian who has been “grafted onto the root” and hopes to coast along there on good looks, the kindness of others, and the mercy of Almighty God? Or are you firmly attached… doing all you can to nurture and give back to the Root Plant… making every effort to bloom and grow? The choice is totally ours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
2 Corinthians 2:6-7
Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One evening this week, Timothy did not want to eat dinner. After a few bites, he declared that he was done and ready to play. I told him we would set a timer for 5 minutes, and he could play…but when he heard the “beeps” that five minutes had passed, he would return to the table. He agreed to this. Of course, three-year-olds agree to a lot of things! When the timer sounded, Timothy was not ready to return to the table. I told him that we had an agreement… and he could either return to the table or sit in the “naughty chair.” He chose the chair. I could see that he thought he would sit and watch television there, but I changed the channel from NickJr to the local news station. He burst into tears.
We sat for a few seconds… probably not even a full minute, and then I scooped him up and hugged him. He said, “I’m mad!” I told him I understood, and he added… “I’m mad at myself for sitting in the naughty chair.” I reminded him that he could choose behaviors that would avoid the chair in the future. Then I held Timmy in my lap and fed him the rest of his dinner… and he nearly cleaned his plate. We did not have another problem the rest of the night.
Mealtime is a learning experience. We are all working together to teach the children that we sit at the table as a family and eat at the appointed times. We do not nibble here and there and then run off to play. We also don’t carry food into other rooms and eat it there. And so far, the results have been mixed… although I would say we are making progress. I believe this is because when we do have to chide and chastise - or mete out consequences - we are quick to offer forgiveness and comfort.
I’ll admit… it’s very hard to stay upset with these precious children. All they have to do is look at me with their innocent, sweet faces, and I’m a goner! But I wonder…are we as loving and forgiving with others as we are our little ones? Shouldn’t we be? “But they are old enough to know better!” you’re probably saying. And you are right! But how many times have you done something you knew you shouldn’t… and as much as you regretted it afterward, there was no way to turn back the clock… maybe even as recently as today?
The point that the Apostle Paul is making in this passage is that we must have consequences when people misbehave or sin…but we must also be willing to forgive and help the person move forward, if he/she is truly repentant. If we don’t offer compassion and empathy, we are setting others up to ask, “What’s the use? I’ll never get it right. I may as well quit trying.” Two things happen here… 1) Satan dances with delight; and 2) we fail to extend to others what God grants to us each and every day through the blood of Jesus Christ.
How do you love others? How are you loved? Ask God to give you the wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to lovingly forgive others… then hearten them to do better and overcome their weaknesses once and for all. Consider how God loves and forgives you… how Jesus suffered and died on the cross for this… and pay it forward in His name. Be the person who stood by someone when perhaps nobody else would… and helped to make the difference in his/her life. Thank God for offering you a second chance – and be ready to do the same for others. On any given day, each one of us deserves to spend time in “the naughty chair”… but none of us should be deserted there!
©2013 Debbie Robus
1 Corinthians 13:4-10
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
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.
In the movie Jerry McGuire, Jerry (played by Tom Cruise) tells Dorothy (portrayed by Renee Zellweger)… “You complete me.” The truth is… no matter how much we love someone, we can never complete them. The only One who can complete us is God Almighty! When Jesus returns for us and all mysteries and wonders are revealed… when we finally have all the answers… we will be complete in Him.
Meanwhile, we must work toward the moment when we are reunited with Christ by striving to operate in His love each and every day. And the first seven verses of this passage tell us exactly how to do this. Read over them several times – carefully. Examine how you are doing in your quest to operate in the love of Jesus.
The verse that really gets me is – “put up with anything!” Does this truly describe your behavior? The King James Version translates this verse as “endureth all things.” The Apostle Paul is not telling us to tolerate injustice, cruelty, immorality or anything illegal. What he is saying is that we must trust God to get help us cope with these things… and we must continue operate in His love toward the offender – even as we seek justice or mete out consequences. This is hard. We are wired to seek revenge… and the devil works diligently to remind us of how good this would feel… and how “entitled” we are to do so!
In truth, the love of Christ is all we need. When we operate in His love, Jesus handles the rest. His blood was poured out on the cross for us and covers our sins… and His blood can also cover “the other guy.” We must pray for this… we must love others so that they will desire redemption through the unending love of Jesus. We must not fly off the handle, strut our stuff, or keep score. We must trust God, always look for the best, and never give up!
I am excited about the day when I become truly complete. But I know that I have a lot to do beforehand… and so do you. We are works in progress! I learn more about operating in the love of Christ each and every day… and I pray that the same is happening in your life. Where are you lacking today? What characteristics of operating in Christ’s love elude you? Will this be the day you start to work on them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
2 Kings 20:1-11
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. Isaiah the prophet went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, so you had better start doing what needs to be done."
Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, "Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with this message: Hezekiah, you are the ruler of my people, and I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will heal you, so that three days from now you will be able to worship in my temple. I will let you live fifteen years more, while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city as an honor to me and to my servant David.
Then Isaiah said to the king's servants, "Bring some mashed figs and place them on the king's open sore. He will then get well." Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "Can you prove that the LORD will heal me, so that I can worship in his temple in three days?"
Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" "It's normal for the sun to go forward," Hezekiah answered. "But how can it go back?" Isaiah prayed, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Four years ago, my husband and I moved into a new house that had been constructed for us by a local builder, his son, and other members of the his crew. Over the years, we have used this builder more than once, and he has become our trusted friend. We know that he will always do what he promises. So when we moved into our present house, we were not surprised to see his son drive up one afternoon, bucket and rags in hand. “I have come to wash your windows,” he said. “I told you I would not present your final bill until those outside windows were clean.” He washed all of the windows, as promised.
Truthfully, we had not even thought about the windows. We trusted that everything the builder and his son promised to do would get done. And they proved us right. Yes, we gave them “punch lists” of things to complete, but we didn’t have to have a written contract. They didn’t have to knock on the door and say, “I did XYZ.” They listened to our requests and answered us.
I can understand Hezekiah’s desire for proof that God was going to heal him and give him 15 more years of life. And frankly, there are a lot of people who make a lot of promises in this world that leave me saying, “Prove it!” But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father, we have no need to worry. We’ve already had all the proof we need in the blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. He was willing to lay down His own life for our sins… so why would He ever default on a promise?!
As much as this passage is a reminder to trust the promises of God and rest assured that He will deliver, according to His perfect will… it is also a message to us to be faithful in our own promises. If you tell a friend you will call, pick up the phone and follow through. If you promise to do something for someone else, do it. Don’t tell Grandma you will come to see her, and then skip the visit. Don’t promise your little brother you will read to him before bedtime, then make up excuses and do something else. Don’t commit your heart to a significant other, and then look around for someone better. And don’t promise to love God and serve Him with all your heart, then wander off to do whatever you please and serve your own desires… or worse yet – those of the devil.
God will never make a promise He can’t keep… and neither should we. There’s one more thing you should notice. Hezekiah cried and poured out his heart to God… and God listened. I’m not saying that all we have to do is cry and whine, and God will change His mind and do what we please. But God wants us to be honest with Him. When our desires line up with His and we call out to Him, He hears us and answers accordingly. Communicate with God… trust Him… and honor His faithfulness to fulfill promises by exercising integrity in your own relationships.
©2011 Debbie Robus
John 16:29-33
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."
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.
Have you ever played that game called “Gossip?” You know the one. Someone whispers to one person, who in turn tells the next guy, and the “secret” is passed to each person until all have heard it. At the end of the line, the last person repeats what was told to him/her. Most of the time, that “secret” is vastly different from the one told by Person Number One!
Things get distorted when more than one person is involved in the telling. And each person has his/her perspective on what is said or how things happened. So it always is best to talk directly to others about matters where you have any questions. If you want to know what another person thinks or feels about a particular situation, ask him/her… not a friend or family member. If you have a problem with someone, go to that person directly and say, “Here’s what I experienced… is this how you see it?”
Most importantly, talk to God and hear what HE has to tell you. Don’t listen to others who say, “This is okay,” or “God wants you to do/believe such and such.” Study the Bible, pray and communicate with God, and LISTEN… hear what He has to say directly to YOU. Don’t play the “Gossip” game with your relationship with God. Commit yourself to loving and trusting Jesus. When He speaks to you, listen and obey what He tells you. Make sure that all of your decisions and choices line up with His word… not the second-hand messages of someone else.
We are so blessed and privileged to be able to speak directly to GOD! We never have to rely on what others tell us. We never have to try to figure out what was meant by a riddle or generalizations. We get straight talk from God, and it is up to us to hear what He has to say and act on that… and nothing else.
I pray that today you will have a serious conversation with God. Ask Him to open your heart to His messages… and to give you clear discernment when He speaks. Stop being influenced by the small talk of others – about your faith, other people, and your daily living. Take full advantage of the amazing gift that God has bestowed upon you… a direct line to Him at all times… and operate in confidence that you are doing exactly what He tells you in every circumstance.
©2011 Debbie Robus
John 16:23-28
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."
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.
Several years ago, a new program was enacted that required everyone who is covered by Medicare to choose an insurance company to cover the cost of their prescription drugs. It’s called Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage… or “Part D” for short. Since I handle my grandmother’s business affairs, this decision for her coverage fell to me. As with all new programs, there were kinks and things that didn’t work like they should… and a huge learning curve.
After several weeks of frustration and getting passed from one person to another, I sent e-mail messages to all of my Congressmen and women… and my governor… to complain about the treatment I was receiving and the inefficiency of the system. Eventually I was given the number of a representative named Donna, who worked directly for Medicare. Donna was such a blessing, and by the time we had everything settled, I had her telephone number on speed dial in my phone! I could now go directly to Donna for answers… I didn’t have to contact agency after agency and get passed around like a hot potato. And for several years, I phoned Donna to get clarification about my decisions.
Imagine if we had to go through this agency and that person and someone else just to talk to God. What if we had to “leave a message” with our pastor or another church official, who would in turn talk to God and “get back to us” with a response. How much would you really try to communicate with God? Do you think your relationship with Him would be very strong?
I am so thankful for Jesus. Because He came to earth and lived among us… taught us how to live as His Disciples, and then died on the cross for our sins… we have DIRECT access to God any time we want! We don’t have to sacrifice an animal or burn an offering. We don’t have to talk to church leaders and ask them to intercede for us. We just have to open our heart – and our mouth – and say, “Hello, LORD… I’m back, and I need you!” Because of Jesus, we can ask, “LORD, please handle this for me, according to Your will,” and He will do it!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like having to leave messages and go through this person or that one to get my answers… and I surely would not like having this kind of relationship with God. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to do this? Isn’t it time you put God on your “speed dial” and talk with Him as often as you can?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Luke 11:9
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy was staying with us recently, and my mother came over to visit. She brought a blue plastic Easter basket, filled with:
• blue Easter grass
• two different packages/flavors of “Peeps”
• a chocolate bunny
• a Curious George DVD
• a bottle of all-in-one shampoo
• a bunny car filled with Easter candy
• a wand of bubbles, and
• a baby doll that laughs when you squeeze it.
I groaned when I saw all the sticky candy, and she laughed and said, “It’s okay… I’m the great-grandmother!” This is one great-grandmother who knows how to give “good gifts!” And of course, three Peeps later, Timmy was a happy, sticky mess out on our driveway blowing bubbles! He’s not old enough to actually ask for gifts yet, but when he is, I’m sure we will gladly - and readily – oblige… and our door is always open to any and all of our nieces and nephews and young friends.
Truly the basket of goodies was filled with things that, while not necessarily healthy for Timothy, were just what a kid needs on Easter week. Many needs this kid didn’t even know he had were met… and then some!
The GOOD NEWS for each of us this Easter weekend – and always – is that God’s door is always open. He may not give us Peeps and chocolate bunnies, but whatever we ask Him will be given to us, according to His will – and with our best interest at the forefront. So if you ask God for a new Mustang, and you really need transportation to get back and forth to school or work, He may give you a used Ford Focus! If you ask God to help you put food on the table, He may see that you have just enough to eat each day rather than showering you with a pantry filled with groceries. But the point is, God will answer… He will meet your needs. His door is always open!
Because of the blood of Jesus… because of the incredible sacrifice of a totally innocent man Who was willing to take our sins and die for them, we can freely ask for anything. Because this man was Jesus Christ in human form, who could not be contained in an earthly grave, the door to our Father’s house is always open. Because of the incredible love of our LORD and Savior, the Holy Spirit is available to each of us…ready to fill our hearts and be our constant companion!
This is the “Good Gift” of Easter. This is the Good Gift we can enjoy all year long… every year… again and again! Ask God for anything, and trust Him to know just how to answer… and to give you “good and perfect gifts” upon request.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Romans 3:10-18; 21-24
The Scriptures tell us, "No one is acceptable to God! Not one of them understands or even searches for God. They have all turned away and are worthless. There isn't one person who does right. Their words are like an open pit, and their tongues are good only for telling lies. Each word is as deadly as the fangs of a snake, and they say nothing but bitter curses. These people quickly become violent. Wherever they go, they leave ruin and destruction. They don't know how to live in peace. They don't even fear God."
Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. 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.
About once a week now, I get an e-mail message from a friend or acquaintance that contains “outrageous” information about this politician or celebrity or a current hot topic. People are hitting the “send” button without doing homework and any investigation – assuming the claims are true. They start their forwarded message with an “endorsement” such as “I’m outraged!” or “This made my blood boil!” Were it not so serious, it would almost be laughable at times, because the claims made in the e-mail message appear so ridiculous that you wonder how anyone could have believed them.
But my point is not to make a political or social commentary today about e-mail forwards. My point is that we make snap judgments – all the time. And my question is … “What if our Heavenly Father operated this way?” What if God took a look at you and me and said, “He/she is worthless … there is nothing there to redeem. I saw that indiscretion. I heard that gossip. I see how he/she conducts his/her daily life … I know the thoughts swirling in his/her head, and I am outraged. It makes my blood boil.”
What if God didn’t see our heart? What if He had not sent Jesus to die on the cross and cover our sins, indiscretions and impure thoughts with His own blood? What if we never had the opportunity to invite Jesus to wash us clean and place His Holy Spirit in our hearts, so that God looks deeper and sees beyond our sins?
We all want God to love us … to forgive our sins and accept us – warts and all. But so often, we are totally unwilling to do the same for others. We make snap judgments based on appearance, what we heard through the grapevine, or our own biases and prejudices. Read these verses again. “No one is acceptable to God … there isn’t one person who does right … all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” But the beautiful part is that “God treats us much better than we deserve … He freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.”
We’re willing to accept God’s grace, mercy, love and forgiveness … but are we willing to offer the same to others? Where have you made snap judgments? Where do you need to ask for – and offer – forgiveness? If we are unwilling to pay forward what God has done for us, perhaps we have not truly accepted the gift of salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ.
In order to truly receive acceptance from God – and all of the gifts and blessings He offers us – we must be willing to accept others in His name. Will you “pick and choose” and make rash judgments … or are you ready for the good stuff that comes with letting Jesus work in and through your life? None of us is more acceptable to God than the next. But through faith in Jesus, we can all be set free.
In the words of one person who responded to a group e-mail I received, “Why can’t we all just get along?” It would seem to me that God might be asking this same question of His children. Where do you fit in this? Are you treating others better than they deserve – as God does for us – or are you making snap judgments and leaving ruin and destruction? Don’t you think it’s time we start learning how to live in God’s peace? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
1 Peter 1:19
You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my mother-in-law found a very dirty baby bib in a box of linens she bought at an estate sale. She tried to clean it with the detergents and bleaching agents she had at home. Since the bib was really cute, she asked my husband to bring it home to me, saying, “There is probably nothing she can do with it, but it’s worth a try.” I soaked it in Oxi-clean, then bleached it, and – voila! – all of the stains came out of the bib, and we have a picture of Timothy wearing it as proof!
My mother-in-law was amazed and pleased. She said, “How did you do that?” When I told her what I had used, she said, “I tried that, but it didn’t work.” We decided she had not used a strong enough concentration of the cleaning agent … a heavy-duty soaking had done the trick. I often have to do this to our white shirts, because I inevitably spill something on mine or rub against something dirty. I love to wear a white shirt, but I’m not very good at keeping them neat and clean. I don’t know how some people manage to wear a white shirt all day and keep it looking crisp, clean, and unwrinkled.
But I do know about Jesus! I know that His blood is better than the big containers of powdered Oxi-clean that sit in my laundry room aside a jug of bleach. I know that Jesus’ blood is more powerful than the best laundry detergent. I know that, Spiritually, I can wear a white shirt every day of the year if I want, because Jesus has washed it, starched and ironed it, and made it spotless! Occasionally, I still spill something on my “Spiritual white shirt,” but I never have to worry about it coming clean again. I have Jesus watching over me, and He sets me back on my feet and gives me another chance.
I think sometimes we are like the bib … we try to remove our sin, but we are using the wrong detergent – or the wrong strength. We are often trying to do things our way, by ourselves, when what we really need is Jesus! We have been rescued by the most powerful “Cleaning Agent” in the universe. Why would we ever use anything else? With Jesus, we can wear white every single day, boldly and with confidence! What is in your “Spiritual closet?” How clean are you “clothes” these days? When you get a stain, do you know where to turn to remove it? Have you been rescued by the precious blood of Christ … the spotless and innocent lamb?
©2010 Debbie Robus
1 Peter 1:18
You were rescued from the useless way of life that you learned from your ancestors. But you know that you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was in graduate school, I took a course in Educational Psychology, where we studied a book called Reality Therapy, written by psychologist William Glasser. The primary concept of Reality Therapy is that people have five basic psychological needs: power, love and belonging, freedom, fun, and survival. Whether we realize it or not, according to Glasser, pretty much everything we do is based on meeting these needs.
Glasser has quite a bit of evidence to prove that we do a lot of what we do to meet our needs based on our past. We repeat past history because that is what we know and feel comfortable with, and/or we blame our past for things not seeming to work out for us now. Either way, Glasser’s Reality Therapy is designed to help people move forward and take responsibility for their needs and leave the past behind.
This psychological approach helped me tremendously as a teacher, because so often, we want to say, “Oh, he/she is a product of his/her environment.” And this becomes the crutch for that person. The Bible refers to this in another way … “generational curse.” Just because someone’s parents or grandparents were alcoholics, abusive, drug addicts, lazy, overweight, poor, depressed, psychotic … you fill in the blanks … doesn’t mean the children have to be. Just because the home environment is nothing short of horrific doesn’t mean the child has a free ride to behave wildly in the classroom, at church, or anywhere else. There comes a time when everyone has to stand up and take responsibility for his/her own actions and stop playing “the blame game.”
In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been focusing for several days on how Jesus rescued us from sin and sacrificed His own life and blood to do so. Here in 1 Peter 1:18, we specifically see that JESUS represents the way out of generational curses and blaming the past. Jesus rescued us … not by posting a bond at the jail … not by getting us into a rehab … not by removing us from an undesirable situation and placing us somewhere else … not by buying us a car, clothes, food, or whatever else we wanted or needed. He did not use gold or silver or any other temporary means. Jesus bought and paid for us with His blood on the cross! Jesus Christ is truly Reality Therapy … the kind that works forever and ever and throughout Eternity!
We need to recognize the incredible importance of what Jesus did for us. We need to humble ourselves before Him and pour out our hearts in thanksgiving for such an incredible gift. Because of Jesus, the “needs” for power, love and belonging, freedom, fun, and survival are all well within our grasp. Because of His sacrifice, all things are possible. We are no longer bound by our past … we are headed for a glorious future in Him.
Have you received the true Reality Therapy? Have you been rescued by the blood of Jesus? Are you ready to have all of your needs met by the One who can really do just that? The past is useless. Real knowledge and peace comes from what Jesus offers. Choose Him today, and get busy truly living for all Eternity!
©2010 Debbie Robus
March 27 ~ Romans 8:33-34
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine wrote on Facebook that he would like to go back and revisit all of the books and movies that meant so much more to his parents than they did to him when he first read them – like Seabiscuit. He explained, “In any work wherein loss or illness of a child is crucial to character development, I'm sure I would connect more with that person and his or her motivations. Even "The Incredibles" got to me because by then I had a child. You understand better the meaning of the phrase "do anything it takes."
In Romans 8, we hear the Apostle Paul explaining that if God is for us, who is really against us? Paul continues that if God was willing to give up His only Son for us, won’t He give us EVERYTHING else? If God chose us, can anyone else truly reject us? I will tell you, I cannot imagine giving up a child. I’ve thought a lot about this, and I fully understand how parents save a child at the risk of their own life. Think rescuing a child who is drowning, or holding a baby out the window of a burning building for someone else to save. I get that… I would do that in a heartbeat. But to allow my child to be nailed to be tortured and nailed to a cross… even to save millions of other “children”… well, I don’t know that kind of love in human form. I would do anything it takes to save a child, but I am fairly certain I could not sacrifice them – no matter what the cause.
So given this consideration, when God says He sent Jesus to die for me, I have to believe Him. When God says that I am precious in His sight, I have to repeat those words when I feel condemned or criticized by others. When God says that what He does for me, He does for many, I have to look at each person I encounter as a His child, fully deserving of all He gives…just like I am. I have to remember that Jesus died for me, you, and everyone else who will believe in Him… and now He goes to bat for ALL of us each and every day. I am grateful that God loves enough to sacrifice HIS Son for all of us… I am grateful for His power and grace and mercy. Where I am weak, He is strong… and I praise Him for this.
Romans 8 concludes with verses that tell us nothing can separate us from God’s love. God… the ultimate Parent… loves us more than we can imagine… enough to sacrifice Jesus on the cross for our sins. How can we not serve One who loves us incredibly? If God is on our side, who can be against us?
©2010 Debbie Robus
March 22 ~ Matthew 20:18-19
We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, and then they will hand him over to foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new show on NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are?” in which celebrities trace their family roots. The first episode followed actress Lisa Kudrow, of “Friends” fame, as she traveled to Poland to search for her ancestors. What she found there was heartbreaking. Her great-grandmother and other family members had been marched to their death by the Nazis in a small village called Ilya. History indicates that these Jewish men, women, and children were stripped naked and led in groups of three or four to the edge of a large concrete cellar and shot, then dumped into the cellar. Later, the bodies were burned.
Lisa was visibly shaken as she stood where her great-grandmother had stood and thought of her and the others, waiting there and knowing what was about to happen. She said, “I keep thinking of the children.” As I watched this story, I thought of the children, too. What did her great-grandmother say to them? Did she comfort them and reassure them it would be okay? Or was she visibly frightened – and did she convey that fear to the others?
I also thought of another “child” – Jesus, the Son of God. He knew what was going to happen, and He knew how horrific His torture and death would be. But He endured it anyway – for each of us. God knew that the sacrifice of His son would ensure that His children – you and I – would have eternal life. He apparently felt it was a reasonable exchange. Personally, I don’t think I could sacrifice the life of my own child…even to save the masses. But then, I don’t have God’s capacity for unconditional love, grace and mercy!
I am so humbled and grateful for the sacrifices of Jesus. I am heartbroken for the horrific injustices that were inflicted upon the Jews and others throughout history. But I know a God who makes everything new… a God who holds our hand through even the most heinous experiences and says, “I’m with you. I love you. Trust me, and I will save you.” I don’t understand God’s love for us, but I don’t have to – all I have to do is accept Him. God’s love is a gift – freely given to all who will believe in Him. Are you ready to receive this love and claim victory over sin and death? Are you ready to live in Christ Jesus and look forward to spending eternity with Him? If you have not already chosen a life in Christ, today is the perfect time to do so. If you have, perhaps you need to spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done in your life. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and will return for us. Will you be ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
