Daily Devotional for November 3, 2016

Matthew 6:16-18
“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well."

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.

There is an episode of the ABC television comedy “Modern Family” in which the character Cameron sets out all of his old “fat jeans” at a family yard sale. He declares that “You know, I’ve lost 25 pounds!”  Everyone is concerned, because like millions of Americans, he generally diets, loses weight, and then regains said weight…and then some! I have little doubt that you know at least one person who frequently announces, “I’m going on a diet!”  Or maybe he/she says, “THIS TIME, I’m really going to get in shape…quit smoking…finish cleaning that closet or shed” - or whatever it is that requires a hefty dose of personal discipline and determination.

There are some who feel that we should hold ourselves accountable by announcing our intentions.  But Jesus tells us that when we do this in order to draw closer to God, we are essentially making a production – and this does not please God.  Announcements that we are “giving this up for Lent,” or that “I am going to read my Bible every day” do not make us better Christians – or demonstrate extreme faithfulness.  Verbal declarations that we are going to memorize a certain number of Bible verses…or public promises to get up an hour early every morning to “spend quiet time with God” do not make us more effective – or improve our standing in God’s eyes.

What God wants is sincere, humble effort.  He wants us to quietly do the work that Jesus outlined for us...to learn from the Master who sought little to no outward attention for His miraculous works – even though the accolades would have most certainly been merited.  God wants us to develop discipline in our discipleship and ministries. But calling attention to these efforts is not what He had in mind.

So study your Bible…spend quiet time with God…start the diet and sell the pants!  But let your humble demeanor and the words and actions of your day speak for themselves…and your discipleship.  Others will notice…but most importantly, God will see how you carry yourself – and bless your faithful obedience.  And isn’t that the ultimate goal?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 26, 2016

Proverbs 21:15
Good people celebrate when justice triumphs,
    but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day.

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.

There is a commercial running on local television where two young men are pulled over by a police woman.  The passenger is mocking the driver…making fun of him for getting a ticket…teasing him about how it must feel.  And then the officer walks to the passenger side of the car and writes up the passenger for not wearing his seatbelt. The driver just looks at his passenger friend and smiles.

My mother always told me to do the right thing and let others worry about their own behaviors.  Even when it seemed that some people were “getting away with murder,” I was taught to “take the high road.”  Whether these folks got what they deserved at some point or not was to be of no concern to me.  Don’t misunderstand me…I’m not saying that we should never point out evil deeds or injustice.  But we should not lower ourselves to a level where we call others names, make up lies, treat someone unkindly, and more…just because we don’t like how they are behaving.

Additionally, we should not boast and brag when someone gets his/her due justice.  We shouldn’t be sore losers…but we should not be arrogant “winners,” either!  God wants us to love everyone…the good, the bad, and the ugly.  And this means that we must celebrate victories – but we must not publicly revel in the defeats of others.  We should encourage good behavior rather than always pointing out another person’s faults.  We are to be busy building up God’s Kingdom, rather than tearing down those who do the devil’s work.

The message for me in today’s passage is that God always prevails…and for those who are doing His will, the day that justice triumphs is a good one.  For those who choose to follow the devil and ignore the teachings of Jesus, there will be some bad days – and lots of defeats.  It may not seem that way “to the naked eye,” (think Jesus’ crucifixion) but I assure you, God always makes things right.  Our job is to stick with Him…to trust His timing…and to always do the right thing. 

We are to be like the driver in the commercial, rather than the passenger…focused on the road ahead and doing the right thing rather than making the business of others our own. Which “seat” do you occupy these days?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 19, 2016

Matthew 6:1
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.

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.

If you have ever contributed to a page like “GoFundMe” or “CaringBridge” - or even purchased something on amazon.com – you’ve probably gotten the little pop-up box afterward that says something like “Tell your friends!”  In these cases, the motive is to hopefully encourage others to follow in your footsteps.  After all, if YOU gave to this charity, others should want to!  If YOU bought printer ink on amazon.com…others should, too!

But there is another component to these messages…particularly the charities.  When you donate and provide your name, this really may encourage others to participate.  But when you tell how MUCH you gave…you’ve “done gone to braggin’!”  If you stop and give $20 to an out-of-work mother standing on the corner by the Walmart parking lot, others do not need to know this.  If you provide school supplies for a child who has none…this is not Facebook news.

If your heart is warmed by the joy you receive when you do for others and serve the LORD, that’s great!  But when you feel compelled to tell others about your good deeds – even in the context of how much God has blessed you – this crosses the line.  We don’t need the praise of other people…the applause of Heaven should be more than enough.

In some translations of Matthew 6:1, Jesus seems to go so far as to say that the “good works” you brag about are totally negated in God’s eyes.  At the very least, “self-promotion” takes the focus off of God and tries to put it on us…and we should know that this is not good Discipleship.  Trust me…the world is watching.  If you are operating in the will of God…and serving according to His plans and directives…others will notice.  More importantly, God will be pleased and glorified.

We shouldn’t ever have to “toot our own horn.”  God’s work in and through us should speak loudly enough.  And if nobody ever publicly acknowledges a single thing we do, it won’t matter one bit.  Our goal should be to hear God say, ”Well done!” when we arrive at Heaven’s gates.  Our “glory” should be HIS glory manifested…His Kingdom furthered…and His purposes completed.  Anything else could very well be our own selfish ego getting in the way.

So do all of the “good works” that God calls you to “perform.”  But check your ego at the door.  Seek only the praise and applause that really matters…His.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 26, 2015

Jeremiah 9:23-24
The Lord says:

Don’t brag about your wisdom
    or strength or wealth.
If you feel you must brag,
    then have enough sense
to brag about worshiping me,
    the Lord.
What I like best
    is showing kindness,
justice, and mercy
    to everyone on earth.

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

On the rare occasion that I am sick and need a doctor, I don’t mind seeing his/her diplomas hanging on the wall.  It doesn’t bother me to know what schools this person attended – or that they belong to an honor society or even a fraternity or sorority.  But what I really want to know is whether this person knows what he/she is doing with regard to my health.  So I ask questions…I “shop around” and ask others what their experience was like with this physician.  I listen in the clinic and the ER to the chatter of nurses and other staff and note when they readily volunteer, “He/she is good!  You will be well cared for"...and I note when the references are NOT so glowing!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me what color or gender a doctor is…his/her country of origin…and most certainly his/her sexual orientation, economic level, or political preferences.  All I care about are:  1) is he/she knowledgeable about medicine and how to treat my condition, and 2) whether this care can  be administered with kindness, concern, and a decent bedside manner!

And so it is for us in our fellowship with God. He wants us to have a profound knowledge of Him and His word - and such an intimate relationship and communion with His Holy Spirit - that we exude confidence, hope and courage in our daily living.  He wants us to operate with a good “bedside manner” toward others.  God wants us to dispense kindness, justice and mercy to everyone…just as He gives these things to us.  When we demonstrate these things rather than bravado or our own narcissism, God draws nearer to us…and we feel His presence and peace.

When you boil it all down, nothing in life is all about us.  We are merely God’s vehicles to deliver love, grace, mercy, kindness, wisdom, forgiveness and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to others.  When we get caught up in how wonderful we are or what we have accomplished, we essentially shove God into a closet and press against the door...and nobody benefits.  Will this be the day that you open that door and usher God to the forefront?  Will this be the day that you start to consider the other guy more than yourself…and in doing so, truly feel God’s presence?  Don’t you think it should be?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 1, 2013

Matthew 6:1
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.”
 
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.
 
On August 21, 2013, a New York City cab jumped the sidewalk and plowed into a cyclist, then hit British tourist Siân Green and severed her leg.  People in the area sprang into action, including a plumber named David Justino, who removed his belt and applied it to the leg as a tourniquet. Max Crespo, a food vendor brought ice and packed the severed limb, and an unnamed nurse guided all of the life-saving efforts.  The story gained national attention when celebrity physician Mehmet Oz emerged from his office across the street to offer his assistance.  If you GOOGLE this story, you will see that several of the heroes in this story are named… Justino and Crespo are among them.  Of course, onlookers readily recognized Dr. Oz.  The nurse did not give her name, and I am not sure whether she has ever come forth.  As I write this devotional, there is an ad running on television for an upcoming Dr. Oz Show episode that will feature Siân Green and some of her “heroes”.
 
There are countless events in our world every day where people rush to make a difference in the lives of others.  And in Dr. Oz’ defense, he cannot help that he is widely recognized.  It might seem like he is exploiting this event.  And in the eyes of some… maybe he is.  But I visited Dr. Oz’ blog and learned more about “Plumber Dave” (as some have dubbed him) and the other unsung heroes of this tragedy, and Dr. Oz appears to be giving them all the credit for saving the life of Siân Green.
 
Imagine if every time your doctor saved a life, he/she called a news conference!  What if you put out a notice on social media every time you helped a neighbor, bought someone’s meal in the drive-thru line, or sent a note of appreciation to someone who had touched your life in some manner?  Would your efforts appear to be genuine and offered out of true discipleship and service?  Or would stroking your ego seem to be the driving force behind them?
 
Ask yourself these simple questions… “Why am I doing XYZ?  Is it so people will notice me and be impressed?  Or is it because God has called me to serve Him by serving others… in whatever manner and format are appropriate at the time?”  Remind yourself that God does not applaud when you “toot your own horn”!  He does not reward ego and self-serving talk and actions.  Nothing about Christian discipleship is truly about us!
 
On Dr. Oz’ blog (http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/our-common-kindness), he states…

Dave is an inspiration to me. His example reminds us all that we are not alone in moments of crisis. If you ever need proof of human goodness, remember the people who opened their doors or handed out free soup and sandwiches to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Think of people who hurried to pull victims from the rubble after a building collapsed in Philadelphia in June. Look to the elementary school clerk who fearlessly talked down an armed shooter in Georgia before he could hurt a single student.
 
It can be easy to lose perspective as we find ourselves caught up in minor irritations and arguments throughout the day. But we must remember that when it comes down to it, kindness is our best defense against disaster, and absolutely no one is too ordinary to be a hero.

God wants us to be ordinary servants who do extraordinary things.  When we accept the challenges, He will provide us with opportunities…and bless us in ways we cannot even imagine.  But the choice is ours.  We can do what is asked of us with quiet humility and a spirit of servitude.  We can answer the call… and brag about it afterward.  Or we can do nothing and “let the chips fall where they may”.  How will you choose?  Your answer matters… maybe more than you think!  Is the world your “stage”… or are you quietly serving as a Christian disciple and basking in the applause of heaven?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 15, 2012

James 4:16-17
Yet you are stupid enough to brag, and it is wrong to be so proud. If you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.

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

One of the things that endeared the late Sam Walton to so many was his ability to be a “regular guy.” He didn’t drive around town in a fancy car or wear expensive suits (although I’m sure he had both). He didn’t “act like a big shot.” And most importantly, he insisted that his customers be treated well. My husband and I once toured Mr. Walton’s museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. On display was this incredibly beaten up, worn-out thermos. A “customer” had returned this thermos to Mr. Walton’s early "five-and-dime" store, claiming that it was defective!

The kicker was that Mr. Sam did not even carry this particular brand of thermos in his store! But he gave the person a refund in exchange for the thermos anyway…because he felt so strongly that “the customer is always right.” And I have to believe that Mr. Sam gained a customer for life, because of his humility. He surely did something right, because we all know how wildly successful Wal-Mart has become over the last half century!

Please hear me… there is a difference between being proud of your accomplishments in life and being arrogant. If you have worked hard and become successful, you have every right to be proud of what you have achieved. But if you make sure that each person you encounter knows every minute detail of your triumphs - or you flaunt your wealth and acquisitions and treat people poorly - you have totally missed the mark. And God will not be pleased.

We Christians are called to accomplish all that God wants for us… to live in His will and excel to the best of the abilities He gives us. But we are also called to be humble… and to do the right thing. This means that we must show up in life whenever we are expected… for family and friends, our church and community - whenever and wherever God sends us! There will be plenty of times when this is neither pleasant or on our agenda. But I think most of us pretty well know when this is the right thing to do, regardless of how we feel or how badly this derails our own plans.

This is important stuff! God wants us to be smart… to be unassuming and unpretentious… to do what we know is right, regardless of how we may feel or how it may wreck our personal itinerary. God will undoubtedly bless us well beyond what we deserve… but this is in no way our license to become a “big shot!” If we are truly attuned to His voice – and His will – we will know that arrogance is not considered an attribute! God wants modest, respectful servants who show up when they should and do what He has ordained. Do you fit this description? Shouldn’t you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 18, 2012

Ephesians 2:8-9
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.

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

If you get a job and make enough money to buy a new car, you have every right to say… “I deserve this… I worked hard for it. I earned it!” If someone gives you a new car as a gift, you have nothing to brag about, except possibly to say, “Look what So-and-So gave me!” You did nothing to earn this car. It was all the doing of the person who gave it to you.

The same can be said of our salvation… our promise of Eternal Life in Heaven… or for that matter, any blessings we receive on this earth. They are gifts from God, and we didn’t do a single thing to earn them. We can’t… it’s impossible! Moreover, we don’t deserve any of these gifts… yet they are freely given.

We can earn enough money to buy a car, but we can never “earn” the gifts of God. This is the difference… what makes our Christian faith unique. We can’t be good enough, serve sufficiently, love amply, light an adequate number of candles, say abundant prayers, or atone in any way for our salvation. God gave this gift to us completely – without merit or any expectation of repayment. We cannot brag about this, but we can tell everyone else how generous and loving, gracious and merciful our God is… and we should do this at every turn.

From time to time, we need to be reminded of God’s incredible gifts… and humbled with regard to receiving them. We need to remember that we cannot out-give God… nor can we earn our salvation and His blessings. The only thing we can do is accept Jesus… receive God’s gifts… and respect His favor by living in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

In the 1960s, there was a television show called “The Guns of Will Sonnet.” The lead character was played by Walter Brennan, who liked to brag about his prowess with guns. In the first episode, he told someone that his grandson was a better shot than his son… and that he was better than both of them, adding, “no brag, just fact.” Our salvation is a glorious blessing… and something of which we should be proud and grateful. We should tell everyone we know how to get in on this amazing, incredible gift! But we should also tell them that a new life in Christ cannot be bought… nor will it ever be deserved. Our promise of Eternal Life truly is “no brag, just fact.” Have you thanked God lately for such a generous gift? Isn’t this a good day to start?

©2012 Debbie Robus