Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you.”
Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
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.
We all knew it would be this way… or we should have known. Oh, we hoped things would be different, but I think we all pretty well understood that after the election on November 6th, the bickering and fighting wouldn’t end. I continue to be amazed and disheartened by the number of people who claim the name of Jesus and treat their “brothers and sisters in Christ” so hatefully. When I was teaching junior/high Sunday school students, I had to continually remind them that anyone who truly repents and believes in Jesus is just as much a child of the Most High God as any of us… and entitled to His grace, mercy, forgiveness, love and blessings.
“But Ms. Debbie,” some would protest… “surely you are not including Saddam Hussein or Adolph Hitler in that group?” “If they were to repent and ask Jesus to forgive their sins… then, YES, I am!” I would reply. Now, I am not saying that either of these men became born-again Christians before their deaths. I have no idea what was in their hearts. But my point to the students – and to you if you have asked Jesus to be LORD of your life – is that anyone who is a born-again disciple of Christ… obedient to His will… is your equal in God’s eyes.
So when we consider others in this light, we have to stop and ask ourselves about how we treat others. As I watched my niece admonish Timothy not to hit his sister, Zola, I was reminded that we are often like the three-year-old who doesn’t want to share with his younger sibling. In both cases, we know that this is wrong behavior… but if we think we can get by with it, we forge ahead. So we are critical and cruel. We lie, cheat and steal… and hope that God doesn’t notice. Instead of standing up for our brothers and sisters in Christ… and lifting them with love, optimism and encouragement… we berate them, make life difficult for them, and treat them like they are less important – or downright outcasts!
The time has come for us to grow up! We aren’t three any longer… and even a toddler of this age knows that mistreating your siblings is unacceptable. You don’t have to like all of your brothers and sisters in Christ. You don’t have to agree with them on every issue… and you won’t! You don’t even have to go out of your way to spend time with them. But you do have to love them and treat them with respect and dignity. You do have to show them the love of Christ and get along with them as a part of your heavenly family.
Look closely… recognize that those in your midst may very well be your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus… equal and entitled to the same blessings and mercy as you. The last thing you want God to say to you is “Don’t hit your sister!” How well are you getting along with your family these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label child of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child of God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 8, 2012
Matthew 10:28-31
“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.
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.
Today, my husband and I took Timothy and his little sister, Zola, to the park to play and enjoy a picnic lunch. This had to be one of the most perfect days we have had all year… maybe in more than a year. The air was crisp and cool… the sun was shining brightly over a local park adjacent to the beautiful blue water of a lake that hugs the northern edge of our community, and the leaves were brilliant hues of red, yellow, orange, and green.
I sat on a bench as we ate and looked at the children’s hair in the sunlight. Timmy’s is blond, a little course, and stands up along a couple of “cow licks” that give him wispy stick-straight spikes. Zola’s is almost black, soft, fine and pours over her head in a mound of unruly curls. To think that God knows exactly how many hairs number not only the heads of these children… but yours, mine, and everyone else’s as well… boggles my mind.
These children are marvels to me. I watch them play and see how quickly they are growing and what amazing things they are learning, and I am in awe. I cannot imagine that anyone could spend time in the presence of small children at play and not believe in God! How could you look at the innocent wonder of a toddler and not see Him at work? And how could you imagine that these incredible tiny creatures don’t simply melt God’s heart each and every day? I am convinced that God has a legion of angels just to care for small children… and that He cares about every detail of their little lives.
Timmy is very concerned that I will outgrow him… or that he will outgrow me! He asks me nearly every time I see him, “Am I still your baby?” I assure him that he is…that he will always be my baby! Surely the God who numbers the hair on our heads and holds sway over the bodies and souls of little children cares immensely for each of us. Remember, we were all once small children… and in God’s eyes, we are all still His babies! I don’t know about you, but I am deeply moved by this.
To think that God always has my back… that I am incredibly valuable to Him, and that He will protect me from all “bullies”… frees me to love Him more deeply and to follow Him more completely. All I have to do is love God and serve Him wholeheartedly. He will handle any naysayers or “bullies” who try to stop me or do me harm. Isn’t this amazing? Doesn’t this give you confidence and courage beyond anything you could ever muster on your own?
The children slid down the slide with abandon today. They giggled with glee in the swings…confident that we would protect them and keep them from harm… free to enjoy the wind in their hair and the sunshine on their face. Is your relationship with God this unencumbered? Do you feel this protected by God? Do you feel His presence…His constant love and care? Are you free to worship Him and serve Him without concern for what others may say or think?
Stop and take some time to sit in God’s presence. Enjoy the beauty of the fall color or even the peace and quiet of a secluded space in your home or office. Listen for God’s voice and hear Him say, “You’re still my baby.” Then go about your day with added confidence, peace and joy…knowing how incredibly loved and protected you are. Boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus, confident that God has your back… now, and always.
©2012 Debbie Robus
“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.
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.
Today, my husband and I took Timothy and his little sister, Zola, to the park to play and enjoy a picnic lunch. This had to be one of the most perfect days we have had all year… maybe in more than a year. The air was crisp and cool… the sun was shining brightly over a local park adjacent to the beautiful blue water of a lake that hugs the northern edge of our community, and the leaves were brilliant hues of red, yellow, orange, and green.
I sat on a bench as we ate and looked at the children’s hair in the sunlight. Timmy’s is blond, a little course, and stands up along a couple of “cow licks” that give him wispy stick-straight spikes. Zola’s is almost black, soft, fine and pours over her head in a mound of unruly curls. To think that God knows exactly how many hairs number not only the heads of these children… but yours, mine, and everyone else’s as well… boggles my mind.
These children are marvels to me. I watch them play and see how quickly they are growing and what amazing things they are learning, and I am in awe. I cannot imagine that anyone could spend time in the presence of small children at play and not believe in God! How could you look at the innocent wonder of a toddler and not see Him at work? And how could you imagine that these incredible tiny creatures don’t simply melt God’s heart each and every day? I am convinced that God has a legion of angels just to care for small children… and that He cares about every detail of their little lives.
Timmy is very concerned that I will outgrow him… or that he will outgrow me! He asks me nearly every time I see him, “Am I still your baby?” I assure him that he is…that he will always be my baby! Surely the God who numbers the hair on our heads and holds sway over the bodies and souls of little children cares immensely for each of us. Remember, we were all once small children… and in God’s eyes, we are all still His babies! I don’t know about you, but I am deeply moved by this.
To think that God always has my back… that I am incredibly valuable to Him, and that He will protect me from all “bullies”… frees me to love Him more deeply and to follow Him more completely. All I have to do is love God and serve Him wholeheartedly. He will handle any naysayers or “bullies” who try to stop me or do me harm. Isn’t this amazing? Doesn’t this give you confidence and courage beyond anything you could ever muster on your own?
The children slid down the slide with abandon today. They giggled with glee in the swings…confident that we would protect them and keep them from harm… free to enjoy the wind in their hair and the sunshine on their face. Is your relationship with God this unencumbered? Do you feel this protected by God? Do you feel His presence…His constant love and care? Are you free to worship Him and serve Him without concern for what others may say or think?
Stop and take some time to sit in God’s presence. Enjoy the beauty of the fall color or even the peace and quiet of a secluded space in your home or office. Listen for God’s voice and hear Him say, “You’re still my baby.” Then go about your day with added confidence, peace and joy…knowing how incredibly loved and protected you are. Boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus, confident that God has your back… now, and always.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2011
John 3:6
Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you belong to a particular church denomination, most likely this is the denomination of your parents and/or grandparents… or your spouse or another family member. We tend to be “born into” a particular church and stay there… or at least in that denomination. Maybe you have heard the joke, “I had a drug problem… I was drug to church all my life.” Plenty of parents, like my own, took their children to church from the time they were just a few weeks old.
It would be great if parents could guarantee the salvation of their children just by taking them to church. I’m sure many parents would gladly accept this responsibility. Lots of grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, moms and dads and other adults would be happy to drag kids to church every Sunday if they were even 25% hopeful that this really could ensure them a place in heaven.
But this is the one thing that parents and other adults cannot do for children – or any other person. Each person is solely responsible for giving his/her heart to Jesus. Every one of us make this commitment for ourselves. And going to church does not change us into Spirit-filled children of God. Yes… we are all God’s children, meaning God created all of us. But to truly be HIS forever and into Eternity, we have to accept His gift of Jesus Christ and invite His Holy Spirit to dwell within our heart.
Your parents can provide lots of things for you – a home, a loving family environment, food, clothing, transportation, an education, payment of your debts, and more. They can pray for you, drag you to church, and provide a Spirit-filled home and atmosphere in which to rear you. But when it comes to choosing to become a Christian, you have to make this choice – and change – for yourself.
There is one thing we others can do… we can encourage you to make this choice and change TODAY. Give your heart to God… accept His gift of Jesus Christ for your sins, and begin to serve Him now. Becoming a Spirit-filled child of God will be the best “grown-up” decision you ever make.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you belong to a particular church denomination, most likely this is the denomination of your parents and/or grandparents… or your spouse or another family member. We tend to be “born into” a particular church and stay there… or at least in that denomination. Maybe you have heard the joke, “I had a drug problem… I was drug to church all my life.” Plenty of parents, like my own, took their children to church from the time they were just a few weeks old.
It would be great if parents could guarantee the salvation of their children just by taking them to church. I’m sure many parents would gladly accept this responsibility. Lots of grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, moms and dads and other adults would be happy to drag kids to church every Sunday if they were even 25% hopeful that this really could ensure them a place in heaven.
But this is the one thing that parents and other adults cannot do for children – or any other person. Each person is solely responsible for giving his/her heart to Jesus. Every one of us make this commitment for ourselves. And going to church does not change us into Spirit-filled children of God. Yes… we are all God’s children, meaning God created all of us. But to truly be HIS forever and into Eternity, we have to accept His gift of Jesus Christ and invite His Holy Spirit to dwell within our heart.
Your parents can provide lots of things for you – a home, a loving family environment, food, clothing, transportation, an education, payment of your debts, and more. They can pray for you, drag you to church, and provide a Spirit-filled home and atmosphere in which to rear you. But when it comes to choosing to become a Christian, you have to make this choice – and change – for yourself.
There is one thing we others can do… we can encourage you to make this choice and change TODAY. Give your heart to God… accept His gift of Jesus Christ for your sins, and begin to serve Him now. Becoming a Spirit-filled child of God will be the best “grown-up” decision you ever make.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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