Luke 4:4-8
But Jesus replied, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘Other things in life are much more important than bread!’”
Then
Satan took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time; and the devil told him, “I will give you all these
splendid kingdoms and their glory—for they are mine to give to anyone I
wish—if you will only get down on your knees and worship me.”
Jesus replied, “We must worship God, and him alone. So it is written in the Scriptures.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
“He wore me down!” If you
have not uttered this sentence at some point in your life, you are
probably lying! Whether it was a child who persisted in the “Please,
can I have just one piece of candy/toy/whatever” or a friend who said,
“C’mon, it won’t hurt to try just one,” to the person who convinced you
that “Everyone is doing it…it’s not that bad”…we have all been “worn
down” at one point or another.
This is the devil’s specialty –
wearing us down. He has the patience of Job – and the persistence of a
five-year-old who really, really wants something! And the only One who
can truly stand up to him is Jesus Christ. “So you are saying there is
no hope for us?” you may ask. No…I am saying that the only way that we can handle Satan is by calling on the power of Jesus Christ to work and through us.
Too
many people think that the devil is just an imaginary “bogey man” that
Christians use to manipulate others…that he isn’t real. And they
couldn’t be more wrong. This evil being had the “chutzpah” to try to
tempt Jesus Christ! So we should be anything but surprised that he
would take a stab at us on a daily basis!
What does
this mean for you and me? First, we must not think more highly of
ourselves than we ought. We must remember that we are powerless without
God. Additionally, we must work every single day to stay connected to
God…to hear His voice…to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our
heart and mind, so that we have the strength and confidence to say, “I
don’t need this…and I most certainly do not need you, Devil!”
Finally,
we must not grow complacent. This, too, is the devil’s stock in
trade. He needles us and whispers lies in our ears and waits for us to
wear down – and to give in to his manipulations. He plays on our
frustrations and the fact that everything doesn’t always go as we
hoped…and he says, “I’ll make it ALL better if you will join me.” We
MUST NOT fall for this!
I know this will make me sound
wack-a-doodle (and a lot of you already think I am) but I often find
myself saying, “Go away, Devil!” I say this several times a day…from the
little things like when my serger machine will not re-thread easily to
when someone cuts me off in traffic or I am tempted to lose my patience
over something. (I've already had to speak to him this morning!) You
may not believe that "the devil is in the details" of something so
insignificant…but I assure you that this is the case! Satan will start
with the smallest things and escalate them into big ones, just to get
your attention – and your heart.
Recognize that Satan is real…and
that he wants you in his camp. Stay connected to Jesus…listen for His
voice and learn from His example. Remind yourself often that the “Bread
of Life” is all you need…and thank God for sending His Son. Stand tall
and strong against the devil, and never let him wear you down. Only
JESUS can “make it all better” and give you the desires of your heart.
Do not be fooled by this imposter. If you really want Jesus to make a
difference in your life, you must surrender completely to His will and
trust in His strength and sustenance…on all levels.
Join the “Wack-a-doodle Club” and learn to put the devil in his place. Call on Jesus to feed you and give you His
will power. Instead of being worn down, wear the full armor of God and
stand up…for Jesus – the only One who can really make everything
better.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label bread of life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bread of life. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2015
John 6:47-51
“I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”
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 am a “GRITS”…a Girl Raised In The South, and we “GRITS” love our cornbread! I have a little plaque that says, “Lord, thank you for letting me be born in the South – and for the cornbread and turnip greens in my mouth!” But here’s the thing…I have developed an allergy to corn…so the very “bread” I love could potentially kill me! Some of you may be gluten intolerant…or you’re diabetic…and bread is somewhat your “enemy.” I get it. We think of bread as life-sustaining…but that is not always the case – at least not in a physical sense!
But Bread – the Bread of Life that represents Jesus’ body given on the cross for you and me – is EVERYTHING! I love how this passage explains that when we believe in Jesus and commit our hearts to Him, we receive Bread that will sustain us FOREVER. I particularly like the sentence that says, “Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.”
I don’t know about you, but these words really encourage me. Because of Jesus and the Bread of Life that I have in Him, nothing can ever truly harm me. Because of Jesus’ Bread of Life, I am “safe and secure from all alarms,” as it says in the old hymn.* The Bread of Life fills me, nurtures me, sustains me…and never ends!
Because of the Bread of Life, I am leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus in all things. I am not only a “GRITS”…I am also a “BOLCOG” (Bread of Life Child of God)! I get to enjoy this “Bread” every single day - as much as I want/need! But when I get to heaven, I’ll take mine with a slice of cornbread, please…and a big ole mess of turnip greens with a tall glass of sweet tea on the side! Will I see you there?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (public domain)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
“I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”
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 am a “GRITS”…a Girl Raised In The South, and we “GRITS” love our cornbread! I have a little plaque that says, “Lord, thank you for letting me be born in the South – and for the cornbread and turnip greens in my mouth!” But here’s the thing…I have developed an allergy to corn…so the very “bread” I love could potentially kill me! Some of you may be gluten intolerant…or you’re diabetic…and bread is somewhat your “enemy.” I get it. We think of bread as life-sustaining…but that is not always the case – at least not in a physical sense!
But Bread – the Bread of Life that represents Jesus’ body given on the cross for you and me – is EVERYTHING! I love how this passage explains that when we believe in Jesus and commit our hearts to Him, we receive Bread that will sustain us FOREVER. I particularly like the sentence that says, “Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.”
I don’t know about you, but these words really encourage me. Because of Jesus and the Bread of Life that I have in Him, nothing can ever truly harm me. Because of Jesus’ Bread of Life, I am “safe and secure from all alarms,” as it says in the old hymn.* The Bread of Life fills me, nurtures me, sustains me…and never ends!
Because of the Bread of Life, I am leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus in all things. I am not only a “GRITS”…I am also a “BOLCOG” (Bread of Life Child of God)! I get to enjoy this “Bread” every single day - as much as I want/need! But when I get to heaven, I’ll take mine with a slice of cornbread, please…and a big ole mess of turnip greens with a tall glass of sweet tea on the side! Will I see you there?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (public domain)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Daily Devotional for June 14, 2014
John 14:27
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I do not “go out to eat” very often. We take the children to a local restaurant or fast food place after church on Sundays…and we get “take-out” a few times a month. But for the most part, I’m pretty content to prepare our meals at home…and bless his heart, Greg always eats them – even when I experiment on us with a new Pinterest recipe!
But once in a while, we get hungry for steak. And while we have tried the offerings at several restaurants, there is only one that truly satisfies us – and it comes from a tiny “mom-and-pop” restaurant in our community known as “Chuck’s”. We’ve eaten at Chuck’s off and on for decades, because for a span of several years, the owners closed the restaurant and pursued another business venture. Boy, were we ever happy when they re-opened their steak house a few years ago!
Like I said, we’ve tried steaks at several establishments…from franchises to those privately owned. And none compare to Chuck’s. We are never disappointed there…the meal always satisfies and leaves us filled to the brim - and happy (albeit often needing a nap!). Did I mention their rolls? Those little pillows of deliciousness are more akin to a cupcake than a piece of bread…and we enjoy every morsel. In case you have not eaten a steak dinner lately, these are not the cheapest offerings on most menus. So when I hand over that kind of money for one meal, I want it to be the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long, long time! And that’s always the case when we eat steak at Chuck’s!
Okay…commercial over! But here’s the thing. There are lots of experiences in life that give us pleasure. Plenty of things will satisfy us for a little while…good food, the company of others, exhilarating encounters and “thrills” of all kinds. We can find joy in the victory of our favorite sports team over their opponent…and comfort in the happiness of a long and fruitful marriage or relationship. We can relish a job that we love – or a home that provides us with all of the “creature comforts”…or the peace and tranquility of visiting a beautiful lake, forest, or National Park. We can be cozy and content to attend worship on Sunday and fellowship with family and friends…and we can revel in the pleasures of the community in which we live.
But for the long haul, there is only one “meal” that truly satisfies and never disappoints…and that is the “Bread of Life”. The peace of Jesus Christ cannot be found in this world. No one else can give us this peace and gratification. And while Jesus’ gift of salvation is totally free, the “cost” of being His faithful follower can sometimes seem a little high. We may face tests and trials…it may seem that we “lose” some people who don’t agree with us…we may be ridiculed and challenged. But in the end, the peace and rest we find in Jesus is the only kind that is worth the price.
So if you are dabbling with other avenues to peace…if you have “tried out other restaurants”, so to speak…I encourage you to come back to Jesus. He never closes…He will never “go out of business”…and He will never disappoint. If you want true, perpetual, everlasting, quenching peace and rest…Jesus is your answer. The time has come to stop wasting your Spiritual “dining experiences” and receive the “meal” that satisfies like no other. From now on...Who will feed your soul?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I do not “go out to eat” very often. We take the children to a local restaurant or fast food place after church on Sundays…and we get “take-out” a few times a month. But for the most part, I’m pretty content to prepare our meals at home…and bless his heart, Greg always eats them – even when I experiment on us with a new Pinterest recipe!
But once in a while, we get hungry for steak. And while we have tried the offerings at several restaurants, there is only one that truly satisfies us – and it comes from a tiny “mom-and-pop” restaurant in our community known as “Chuck’s”. We’ve eaten at Chuck’s off and on for decades, because for a span of several years, the owners closed the restaurant and pursued another business venture. Boy, were we ever happy when they re-opened their steak house a few years ago!
Like I said, we’ve tried steaks at several establishments…from franchises to those privately owned. And none compare to Chuck’s. We are never disappointed there…the meal always satisfies and leaves us filled to the brim - and happy (albeit often needing a nap!). Did I mention their rolls? Those little pillows of deliciousness are more akin to a cupcake than a piece of bread…and we enjoy every morsel. In case you have not eaten a steak dinner lately, these are not the cheapest offerings on most menus. So when I hand over that kind of money for one meal, I want it to be the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long, long time! And that’s always the case when we eat steak at Chuck’s!
Okay…commercial over! But here’s the thing. There are lots of experiences in life that give us pleasure. Plenty of things will satisfy us for a little while…good food, the company of others, exhilarating encounters and “thrills” of all kinds. We can find joy in the victory of our favorite sports team over their opponent…and comfort in the happiness of a long and fruitful marriage or relationship. We can relish a job that we love – or a home that provides us with all of the “creature comforts”…or the peace and tranquility of visiting a beautiful lake, forest, or National Park. We can be cozy and content to attend worship on Sunday and fellowship with family and friends…and we can revel in the pleasures of the community in which we live.
But for the long haul, there is only one “meal” that truly satisfies and never disappoints…and that is the “Bread of Life”. The peace of Jesus Christ cannot be found in this world. No one else can give us this peace and gratification. And while Jesus’ gift of salvation is totally free, the “cost” of being His faithful follower can sometimes seem a little high. We may face tests and trials…it may seem that we “lose” some people who don’t agree with us…we may be ridiculed and challenged. But in the end, the peace and rest we find in Jesus is the only kind that is worth the price.
So if you are dabbling with other avenues to peace…if you have “tried out other restaurants”, so to speak…I encourage you to come back to Jesus. He never closes…He will never “go out of business”…and He will never disappoint. If you want true, perpetual, everlasting, quenching peace and rest…Jesus is your answer. The time has come to stop wasting your Spiritual “dining experiences” and receive the “meal” that satisfies like no other. From now on...Who will feed your soul?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 24, 2014
John 6:35-37
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go.
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 presently a Facebook challenge circulating where “friends” are posting: “To start this year off in a loving way I'm participating in the Pay-it-Forward initiative...The first FIVE people who comment on this status with ‘I'm in’ will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year…anything from a book, something homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five people must make the same offer in their FB status and distribute their own joy.”
This idea sounds great…five people do something nice for five people who do something nice for five more people…you get the idea. But why stop there? Why only do something nice for the first five people who comment? Are they truly the ones who need a “nice surprise” in their life? Why not look around your everyday situations and find people who could use a lift…a note of encouragement…a phone call “buddy check”…a meal…help with an errand or chore…or another gesture that says, “I care about you!”…and put Christian love and compassion into action?
In this scripture passage, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.” Jesus adds that once that person is with Him, He will hold on and never let go. I keep hearing Jesus say, “I am for EVERYONE! What I offer one, I offer ALL! I will never EVER let you go…you can always count on me to love you and care about your every need! I know you don’t seem to always believe this, but I am telling you…take this to the BANK!”
Are we like Jesus? Are we modeling His discipleship and compassion? Are we offering His “Bread of Life” to others in the form of conscious efforts to make their day better introduce them to His love and care in action? Or are we waiting for people to come to us and say, “I could use a hug…a handout…support in some manner…”? Have we made a convincing demonstration of love and compassion to others? Do they believe that we really care…or do we only meet the needs of those select few who raise their hands and voices and say, “I’m in!”?
Suppose Jesus said, “I will meet the needs of the first five people who come to Me and say, “I’m in”…and His efforts to “feed the sheep” stopped there? Suppose He never expended any energy to pursue those “on the fringes”…those with great needs who never asked for help – for whatever reasons. Suppose His salvation, love and care were not all-encompassing…or eternal! Because we have been so blessed…because of the heritage we are given in Christ Jesus…we should be eager to share our gifts with others. In doing so, we essentially say, “I love you and care for you with the love of Christ, which is fully and equally available to you!”
If you want to participate in this Facebook challenge, by all means… go for it! I do not mean to criticize this concept. But I dare you to go even further… to embrace the love of Christ that has been extended to you… and to “pay it forward” to those who may least suspect that someone else cares - but are the ones who need to know this the most! In doing so, you will truly extend Jesus’ offering of the “Bread of Life”. In return, you will “hunger and thirst no more” for His love and blessings. Whaddya say…are you “in”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go.
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 presently a Facebook challenge circulating where “friends” are posting: “To start this year off in a loving way I'm participating in the Pay-it-Forward initiative...The first FIVE people who comment on this status with ‘I'm in’ will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year…anything from a book, something homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five people must make the same offer in their FB status and distribute their own joy.”
This idea sounds great…five people do something nice for five people who do something nice for five more people…you get the idea. But why stop there? Why only do something nice for the first five people who comment? Are they truly the ones who need a “nice surprise” in their life? Why not look around your everyday situations and find people who could use a lift…a note of encouragement…a phone call “buddy check”…a meal…help with an errand or chore…or another gesture that says, “I care about you!”…and put Christian love and compassion into action?
In this scripture passage, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.” Jesus adds that once that person is with Him, He will hold on and never let go. I keep hearing Jesus say, “I am for EVERYONE! What I offer one, I offer ALL! I will never EVER let you go…you can always count on me to love you and care about your every need! I know you don’t seem to always believe this, but I am telling you…take this to the BANK!”
Are we like Jesus? Are we modeling His discipleship and compassion? Are we offering His “Bread of Life” to others in the form of conscious efforts to make their day better introduce them to His love and care in action? Or are we waiting for people to come to us and say, “I could use a hug…a handout…support in some manner…”? Have we made a convincing demonstration of love and compassion to others? Do they believe that we really care…or do we only meet the needs of those select few who raise their hands and voices and say, “I’m in!”?
Suppose Jesus said, “I will meet the needs of the first five people who come to Me and say, “I’m in”…and His efforts to “feed the sheep” stopped there? Suppose He never expended any energy to pursue those “on the fringes”…those with great needs who never asked for help – for whatever reasons. Suppose His salvation, love and care were not all-encompassing…or eternal! Because we have been so blessed…because of the heritage we are given in Christ Jesus…we should be eager to share our gifts with others. In doing so, we essentially say, “I love you and care for you with the love of Christ, which is fully and equally available to you!”
If you want to participate in this Facebook challenge, by all means… go for it! I do not mean to criticize this concept. But I dare you to go even further… to embrace the love of Christ that has been extended to you… and to “pay it forward” to those who may least suspect that someone else cares - but are the ones who need to know this the most! In doing so, you will truly extend Jesus’ offering of the “Bread of Life”. In return, you will “hunger and thirst no more” for His love and blessings. Whaddya say…are you “in”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 16, 2012
1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
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.
From the time we are very small, we know about Holy Communion. We may not participate directly, but we most likely see our parents “take communion” at church services… or we may have even seen this ritual portrayed in movies or on television. While very young children probably do not have the capacity to understand the true meaning of Holy Communion, emphasizing that this is a reverent and important gesture is certainly appropriate.
Sadly, many of us come to adulthood with a sense that Holy Communion is a ritual… and little more. We understand the symbolism of eating the bread and drinking the cup… but we don’t truly grasp the full meaning represented in this sacrament. I’m afraid this is true of many of the ways we represent Jesus in our everyday life. We have gotten pretty good at going through the motions of our faith, while giving little thought to their impact or importance.
I will admit that I was well into my thirties before I truly grasped the significance of Holy Communion. This sacrament is a vital component of the Emmaus Walk and is celebrated each day participants are in attendance. At the Emmaus Walk, I fully realized that eating the bread not only represents the body of Christ… it also represents our sins – surrendered to Him. The cup represents the blood of Jesus washing us clean, covering those sins, and creating in us a new life. The first time you participate in Holy Communion with this in mind can be a truly humbling and moving experience. And I will tell you, I have never thought of Communion the same since. It is an honor and a privilege to participate in this ceremony… and to renew my commitment and covenant with Jesus in the process.
At the same time, we need to all examine other actions and rituals in which we participate with regard to our faith. Remember, Jesus has told us that what we have done to the least… we have done to Him. So how we treat others… how we react to them… how we think and act in everything from participating in all aspects of a worship service to smiling at someone in Wal-Mart… matters! The next time you tell someone you will pray for them… follow through and remember them to God. When you start to make fun of someone or belittle them – whether to another person or directly – consider that this person belongs to Jesus just as you do. Remember that to belittle another is to belittle Jesus. When you can’t decide whether to pay your bills and honor the commitment you made when you placed charges on your credit card or rented the apartment and hooked up the utilities… or whether to blow your paycheck on dinner out with friends, a new outfit, the latest video game or a weekend at the casino… consider the commitment Jesus made to you. What if He blew you off? What if Jesus said, “I’ll let somebody else worry about that,” or “Today, I’m going to do what *I* want to do… I’ll think about the rest later.” Do you see that in failing to honor your worldly commitments, you fail to honor your commitment to Jesus?
In everything we do, we need to be humble, deliberate, and mindful of Jesus. There will be times when we still miss the mark. Believe me…I have plenty! But I am more aware these days of how important it is to strive to live honorably in Christ. Every choice I make has consequences – in this life and for eternity. When I eat the bread and take the cup, I am saying to Jesus, “Here I am LORD… take my sin and wash me clean. Set me upright for another day.” But I want to do more. I want to back this up with my day-to-day living.
I encourage you to look for ways each day to remember Jesus… and to ask Him to remember you. You don’t have to literally eat bread and drink wine to have a “Holy Communion” experience with Jesus each and every day. Always keep Christ at the forefront. Come before Him with a spirit of humility – and thanksgiving - and He will remember you in all things.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
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.
From the time we are very small, we know about Holy Communion. We may not participate directly, but we most likely see our parents “take communion” at church services… or we may have even seen this ritual portrayed in movies or on television. While very young children probably do not have the capacity to understand the true meaning of Holy Communion, emphasizing that this is a reverent and important gesture is certainly appropriate.
Sadly, many of us come to adulthood with a sense that Holy Communion is a ritual… and little more. We understand the symbolism of eating the bread and drinking the cup… but we don’t truly grasp the full meaning represented in this sacrament. I’m afraid this is true of many of the ways we represent Jesus in our everyday life. We have gotten pretty good at going through the motions of our faith, while giving little thought to their impact or importance.
I will admit that I was well into my thirties before I truly grasped the significance of Holy Communion. This sacrament is a vital component of the Emmaus Walk and is celebrated each day participants are in attendance. At the Emmaus Walk, I fully realized that eating the bread not only represents the body of Christ… it also represents our sins – surrendered to Him. The cup represents the blood of Jesus washing us clean, covering those sins, and creating in us a new life. The first time you participate in Holy Communion with this in mind can be a truly humbling and moving experience. And I will tell you, I have never thought of Communion the same since. It is an honor and a privilege to participate in this ceremony… and to renew my commitment and covenant with Jesus in the process.
At the same time, we need to all examine other actions and rituals in which we participate with regard to our faith. Remember, Jesus has told us that what we have done to the least… we have done to Him. So how we treat others… how we react to them… how we think and act in everything from participating in all aspects of a worship service to smiling at someone in Wal-Mart… matters! The next time you tell someone you will pray for them… follow through and remember them to God. When you start to make fun of someone or belittle them – whether to another person or directly – consider that this person belongs to Jesus just as you do. Remember that to belittle another is to belittle Jesus. When you can’t decide whether to pay your bills and honor the commitment you made when you placed charges on your credit card or rented the apartment and hooked up the utilities… or whether to blow your paycheck on dinner out with friends, a new outfit, the latest video game or a weekend at the casino… consider the commitment Jesus made to you. What if He blew you off? What if Jesus said, “I’ll let somebody else worry about that,” or “Today, I’m going to do what *I* want to do… I’ll think about the rest later.” Do you see that in failing to honor your worldly commitments, you fail to honor your commitment to Jesus?
In everything we do, we need to be humble, deliberate, and mindful of Jesus. There will be times when we still miss the mark. Believe me…I have plenty! But I am more aware these days of how important it is to strive to live honorably in Christ. Every choice I make has consequences – in this life and for eternity. When I eat the bread and take the cup, I am saying to Jesus, “Here I am LORD… take my sin and wash me clean. Set me upright for another day.” But I want to do more. I want to back this up with my day-to-day living.
I encourage you to look for ways each day to remember Jesus… and to ask Him to remember you. You don’t have to literally eat bread and drink wine to have a “Holy Communion” experience with Jesus each and every day. Always keep Christ at the forefront. Come before Him with a spirit of humility – and thanksgiving - and He will remember you in all things.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2011
John 6:34-40
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 20, 2011
Galatians 5:9
You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. And that person was certainly not sent by the one who chose you. A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough, but you belong to the Lord. That makes me certain that you will do what I say, instead of what someone else tells you to do. Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As someone who has made her fair share of bread, I can tell you that it’s all about the yeast. Without it, the bread won’t rise. And even if you do remember to put in the yeast, you have to “jump-start” it with water that is heated to the correct temperature. Water that is too cool will keep the yeast from activating. Water that is too hot will “kill” it and have the same result.
There is another factor to yeast… it has to be fresh, because it is a living organism that ferments when mixed with water… and this produces carbon dioxide and the bubbles that give bread its texture. In the world of bread making, it matters when you add the yeast to the bread mixture. If you don’t ferment it with water first, the salt in the dough will kill it and your bread will be dense and flat. So you can see that yeast plays an important role.
In this passage, I believe Paul is telling the Galatians that “yeast” is the devil or his agents. He is saying that when we allow negative influences into our lives, the results can affect not only us… but also those around us. In other words, when we listen to Satan or his agents, the “whole batch” of dough can be affected.
I also believe we can look at this in a positive light. Yeast is a catalyst. It makes things happen. If we take care of the “yeast” – if we nurture it, mix it with water that is the right temperature, and use it while it’s fresh, we can have a really wonderful loaf of bread. So it would follow that if we look at our relationship with God in this manner – if we treat our Christian faith as “good yeast” and give it the right attention and care in the form of listening to God and following His will for our lives… serving Him well – we can have great results. By keeping our relationship with God fresh… continually nurturing our faith through prayer and Bible study, fellowship with other believers, service and surrender of self, we can affect not only our own life, but the lives of those around us, too… the “whole batch!”
I have been taken to task before by some who are adamant that Biblical references to yeast always represent the devil. But I believe that this is a prime example of God’s word being relevant for our lives in one way at one time… and in another on a different day. I haven’t changed God’s word… or His intention… by saying this. I have indicated that God’s word is right for us all the time… in all circumstances. The bottom line is that outside influences (yeast) can affect the whole batch of bread (our lives and the lives of those around us). The challenge for us is to be discerning… to recognize “good yeast” and “bad yeast”… and to act accordingly.
The end result will either be light, fluffy, warm bread… a life that glorifies Jesus – the Bread of Life… or a dense, flat piece of leathery dough… a life swayed by the devil and his agents that weighs us down and steals our joy. What are you doing with the “yeast” in your life? Do you know how to tell “good yeast” from bad? What sort of “bread” are YOU baking?
©2011 Debbie Robus
You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. And that person was certainly not sent by the one who chose you. A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough, but you belong to the Lord. That makes me certain that you will do what I say, instead of what someone else tells you to do. Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As someone who has made her fair share of bread, I can tell you that it’s all about the yeast. Without it, the bread won’t rise. And even if you do remember to put in the yeast, you have to “jump-start” it with water that is heated to the correct temperature. Water that is too cool will keep the yeast from activating. Water that is too hot will “kill” it and have the same result.
There is another factor to yeast… it has to be fresh, because it is a living organism that ferments when mixed with water… and this produces carbon dioxide and the bubbles that give bread its texture. In the world of bread making, it matters when you add the yeast to the bread mixture. If you don’t ferment it with water first, the salt in the dough will kill it and your bread will be dense and flat. So you can see that yeast plays an important role.
In this passage, I believe Paul is telling the Galatians that “yeast” is the devil or his agents. He is saying that when we allow negative influences into our lives, the results can affect not only us… but also those around us. In other words, when we listen to Satan or his agents, the “whole batch” of dough can be affected.
I also believe we can look at this in a positive light. Yeast is a catalyst. It makes things happen. If we take care of the “yeast” – if we nurture it, mix it with water that is the right temperature, and use it while it’s fresh, we can have a really wonderful loaf of bread. So it would follow that if we look at our relationship with God in this manner – if we treat our Christian faith as “good yeast” and give it the right attention and care in the form of listening to God and following His will for our lives… serving Him well – we can have great results. By keeping our relationship with God fresh… continually nurturing our faith through prayer and Bible study, fellowship with other believers, service and surrender of self, we can affect not only our own life, but the lives of those around us, too… the “whole batch!”
I have been taken to task before by some who are adamant that Biblical references to yeast always represent the devil. But I believe that this is a prime example of God’s word being relevant for our lives in one way at one time… and in another on a different day. I haven’t changed God’s word… or His intention… by saying this. I have indicated that God’s word is right for us all the time… in all circumstances. The bottom line is that outside influences (yeast) can affect the whole batch of bread (our lives and the lives of those around us). The challenge for us is to be discerning… to recognize “good yeast” and “bad yeast”… and to act accordingly.
The end result will either be light, fluffy, warm bread… a life that glorifies Jesus – the Bread of Life… or a dense, flat piece of leathery dough… a life swayed by the devil and his agents that weighs us down and steals our joy. What are you doing with the “yeast” in your life? Do you know how to tell “good yeast” from bad? What sort of “bread” are YOU baking?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2010
February 18 ~ Matthew 26:26-27
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Just prior to one of our big winter snows of late January/early February, I was shopping for groceries, along with dozens of other people. I met a fellow church member on the bread aisle, and he said, “I’ve got a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread… as long as you have that, you can survive just about anything.” For most of us, we figure if we have bread, we can survive a lot of things, including a snow storm!
Jesus characterized Himself often as “the Bread of Life.” He referred to His body as the bread, and His blood as the wine. As long as we have “the body and the blood,” we can survive anything that comes our way. I spent a lot of years participating in Holy Communion and hearing the words, “this is my body,” and “this is my blood.” I would eat the cracker or piece of bread and drink the juice that was offered. And in many ways, this was just a ritual of the church that we performed once a month… and also at Christmas and Easter.
Now I see that the simple act of eating a piece of bread and drinking a cup of juice – in the context of these things representing Jesus’ body and blood, given for me and my sins – is incredibly huge. I finally made the mental (and Spiritual?) connection between Jesus’ sacrifices on the cross – for me – and how they were represented in Holy Communion. It’s not about the Communion service itself… it is about the understanding that Jesus offered us HIS life in exchange for our sinful one. And because of this, He truly IS our Bread of Life. HIS blood was offered as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – and this is represented by our communion juice or wine.
Now, when I participate in Holy Communion, I think of all of the daily challenges we face and how Jesus helps us meet them. I think of the sacrifices He made for me, and I am humbled at how unworthy I am – and even more so by the knowledge that Jesus doesn’t expect me to “deserve” or earn His sacrifices on my behalf. I am reminded that I can survive anything because I have my “Bread” and the Cup.
Today, thank Jesus for the “bread and the cup” – and for what they represent. Don’t wait for your church to offer the sacraments of Holy Communion again… celebrate what they represent each and every day. Consider that the bread and cup are given to remind us of how much Jesus loves us – and what He did for us on the cross. Express to God your desire to be sustained every day by the Bread of Life – and covered in the blood of Jesus. Thank Him for such a generous, unconditional gift. Celebrate the knowledge that you can survive anything… because you have the Bread that truly matters. Live in a way that honors Christ as you face head-on the challenges of life each day. A loaf of whole wheat and a jar of peanut butter may work in a snowstorm, but for the storms of life, give me the “bread” of Jesus!
©2009 Debbie Robus
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Just prior to one of our big winter snows of late January/early February, I was shopping for groceries, along with dozens of other people. I met a fellow church member on the bread aisle, and he said, “I’ve got a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread… as long as you have that, you can survive just about anything.” For most of us, we figure if we have bread, we can survive a lot of things, including a snow storm!
Jesus characterized Himself often as “the Bread of Life.” He referred to His body as the bread, and His blood as the wine. As long as we have “the body and the blood,” we can survive anything that comes our way. I spent a lot of years participating in Holy Communion and hearing the words, “this is my body,” and “this is my blood.” I would eat the cracker or piece of bread and drink the juice that was offered. And in many ways, this was just a ritual of the church that we performed once a month… and also at Christmas and Easter.
Now I see that the simple act of eating a piece of bread and drinking a cup of juice – in the context of these things representing Jesus’ body and blood, given for me and my sins – is incredibly huge. I finally made the mental (and Spiritual?) connection between Jesus’ sacrifices on the cross – for me – and how they were represented in Holy Communion. It’s not about the Communion service itself… it is about the understanding that Jesus offered us HIS life in exchange for our sinful one. And because of this, He truly IS our Bread of Life. HIS blood was offered as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – and this is represented by our communion juice or wine.
Now, when I participate in Holy Communion, I think of all of the daily challenges we face and how Jesus helps us meet them. I think of the sacrifices He made for me, and I am humbled at how unworthy I am – and even more so by the knowledge that Jesus doesn’t expect me to “deserve” or earn His sacrifices on my behalf. I am reminded that I can survive anything because I have my “Bread” and the Cup.
Today, thank Jesus for the “bread and the cup” – and for what they represent. Don’t wait for your church to offer the sacraments of Holy Communion again… celebrate what they represent each and every day. Consider that the bread and cup are given to remind us of how much Jesus loves us – and what He did for us on the cross. Express to God your desire to be sustained every day by the Bread of Life – and covered in the blood of Jesus. Thank Him for such a generous, unconditional gift. Celebrate the knowledge that you can survive anything… because you have the Bread that truly matters. Live in a way that honors Christ as you face head-on the challenges of life each day. A loaf of whole wheat and a jar of peanut butter may work in a snowstorm, but for the storms of life, give me the “bread” of Jesus!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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