John 14:21-24
The one who obeys me is the one who
loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will
too, and I will reveal myself to him.”
Judas (not Judas Iscariot,
but his other disciple with that name) said to him, “Sir, why are you
going to reveal yourself only to us disciples and not to the world at
large?”
Jesus replied, “Because I will only reveal myself to
those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we
will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t obey me doesn’t
love me. And remember, I am not making up this answer to your question!
It is the answer given by the Father who sent me.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
According
to my Facebook page, I have 608 “friends”. If you are one of them,
know that I like you…I really do! In fact, I even love you with the
love of Christ. But I have a handful of friends whom I love
deeply…profoundly…from the depths of my heart. I know them…we share our
joys and our heartaches…and we always have each other’s back. The
fondness and devotion I have for these people goes far beyond a casual
acquaintance on Facebook…or even a fairly regular interaction. We have a
“connection”! Aside from my husband, Greg, these are the people I
think of first when something happens in my life – good or bad. More
importantly, even the mundane, routine details of life are significant
between us.
Now here’s how this relates to John 14:21-24.
There are a lot of people who love God…I mean really love Him…to a
point! There are even more who know Him and say they love Him…but their
idea of “love” between them and God has more to do with God taking care
of them while they do as they please and giving them smooth sailing
than a genuine exchange. And then there are those who are “all
in”…those who seek God from sun-up to sun-down…those who maintain an
almost constant conversation with Him…who love Him, serve Him, and make
Him their constant companion.
These are the folks who pray
first, then act…who ask, “LORD, what do You want me to do with this?” or
“Who do you want me to serve/bless today?” They are the ones who know
without any doubt that God has their back in every situation…and they
rest in this! They wouldn’t think of lying to God, disrespecting Him,
or even ignoring Him. Their relationship with God is like a “treasure”
to them…and they treat it accordingly. And in return, God delights in
these believers.
Take a good look at the people around you. I
recently referenced Robin Roberts’ new book, Everybody’s Got Something.
Roberts says that her mother used to tell her this all the time. But
think about the people you know who “have something” happening in their
lives, yet they seem to still have joy and peace – and things just seem
to work out in their favor. If you look closely enough, I bet you will
find that they have the abiding, obedient “love relationship” with God
that is described in these scripture verses. Because they are so deeply
connected to God, He equips them to handle any circumstance…and blesses
them abundantly in the process.
Can I tell you something? God will do this for you, too. In fact, He wants
to do this for you. God loves you already. He cares deeply about
you. But He wants your devotion and your obedience…and those who show
Him this level of respect and commitment get “the really good stuff”!
Don’t misunderstand me… we cannot buy God’s love, nor our salvation.
There is nothing we can do to “earn our way into heaven”. But if we
want to operate in the fullness of God’s love and blessings, we have to
fully surrender to Him and walk in His will every single day.
It
seems to me like a very small price to pay for such abundance. To
think that I gain not only the full revelation of God’s presence in my
life…but that I secure Jesus and His Holy Spirit in the bargain…is
astounding to me – and something I don’t want to miss! What about you?
Are you willing to commit to God with complete loyalty and obedience?
Are you truly His “friend”…or are you merely an acquaintance? Isn’t it
time you relinquished your will for His? Are you ready for Jesus to
fully reveal Himself in your life? Aren’t you ready for “the really
good stuff”? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label closing the door with our disobedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label closing the door with our disobedience. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 18, 2013
1 Samuel 2:27-30
One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:
When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. I wanted them to offer sacrifices and burn incense to me and to find out from me what I want my people to do. I commanded everyone to bring their sacrifices here where I live, and I allowed you and your family to keep those that were not offered to me on the altar.
But you honor your sons instead of me! You don’t respect the sacrifices and offerings that are brought to me, and you’ve all gotten fat from eating the best parts.
I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised to always let your family serve me as priests, but now I tell you that I cannot do this any longer! I honor anyone who honors me, but I put a curse on anyone who hates me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1978, country music singer Kenny Rogers recorded a song called “The Gambler”. The chorus said in part:
If you have done all you can in a situation and it doesn’t show any signs of improving, you may be justified in walking away. If you have served on a committee or volunteered for an organization with generosity and a willing spirit, and others are taking advantage of you, it may well be right for you to pull back in your efforts. When you continually give of your time, talents and energy – and maybe even your heart – and you realize you are being disrespected or dishonored, there is no shame in redirecting your attention. Again, God will show you how to proceed. And believe it or not, sticking with something that is not God’s will actually disrespects and dishonors Him!
Again I am reminded of the family that several people and I tried to help when I was teaching kindergarten. After we had given far above and beyond what most would consider reasonable, the father demanded of his caseworker one day… “I need a car.” It broke my heart to learn that a local pediatrician had bought the family bus tickets and sent them packing back to live with family members in Pennsylvania. I wonder to this day what happened to my little Charlie and his younger sister. But I know that we had no choice… the disrespect and dishonor simply could not continue. Not only was it time to “fold ‘em”… it was time to run.
For some of us, the problem these days is not that we are being disrespected… or that our efforts are dishonored. The trouble lies directly with us and how we are treating our Heavenly Father – and others. And that is the heart of this scripture passage. God is blessing us at every turn… and many are taking full advantage of all that He offers and practically thumbing their noses at Him in the process. Rather than thank God for everything He has done for us… and do everything humanly possible to serve and honor Him in return, some of us have essentially said, “Oh… and I’ll take a car, too!” We fall apart at the least little thing and fling our hands to the sky, wailing, “Why me, LORD?” We skate along through life taking risks and dancing as closely to the edge as we dare - while expecting God to always be there to protect us and fix every mess we make.
The truth is that God is not amused… nor does He appreciate disrespect and dishonor. He is loving, compassionate, gracious and merciful - and ready to forgive… to a point. But we cannot continue to reject or scorn His will and His word… and we most certainly cannot expect Him to take care of our every need while we deny Jesus and our Christian discipleship. “Oh, but I would NEVER do that!” you may say. Really? Exactly how long has it been since you did something selfless for another? When was the last time you did something you really didn’t want to do because you felt God was calling you to it? When was the last time that you were unkind to someone or even spoke hatefully to them or about them? Who have you mocked behind their back? What tidbit of gossip did you share? Who did you last criticize… maybe even to their face? How strong is your prayer life? Do you even have one? Are you willing to give to others – or is it all about what’s in it for you?
How often are you doing what you want to do instead of what you know God is asking you to do in Jesus’ name? Where are you spinning your wheels while God tells you…”It’s time to fold ‘em and move along.”? Do you see that this can also be disrespectful and dishonorable toward God? It’s probably time for each and every one of us to have a long, serious conversation with God… to examine our daily living and where we are operating selfishly and with disrespect… and to discover where He really wants us to be spending our time and energy.
The last thing any of us wants is for God to turn His back on us… even for a minute. Won’t you take some time to talk to God and ask Him to show you where you are missing the mark? Ask Him to show you where you need to mend fences, correct course… or even jump ship! I assure you that if God is calling the shots, you will always make the right move.
©2013 Debbie Robus
One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:
When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. I wanted them to offer sacrifices and burn incense to me and to find out from me what I want my people to do. I commanded everyone to bring their sacrifices here where I live, and I allowed you and your family to keep those that were not offered to me on the altar.
But you honor your sons instead of me! You don’t respect the sacrifices and offerings that are brought to me, and you’ve all gotten fat from eating the best parts.
I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised to always let your family serve me as priests, but now I tell you that I cannot do this any longer! I honor anyone who honors me, but I put a curse on anyone who hates me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1978, country music singer Kenny Rogers recorded a song called “The Gambler”. The chorus said in part:
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,Those words could apply to a lot of real-life situations, it seems. At one time or another, many of us will find ourselves figuring out whether we should stick it out, walk away… or run like the wind! Maybe it’s a personal relationship… or a job that you no longer find tolerable…or maybe you have discovered that chemistry is more than you can manage, so a major in pre-pharmacy is probably not for you! You may be wondering whether God really wants you to share space with your roommate for another semester…or you may be trying to decide whether you are keeping your pet alive for your own selfish reasons rather than because his/her quality of life is still high. You might even be trying to decide whether to retire, hang up the car keys, and/or downsize into a more manageable home or apartment. And in each of these decisions, God can help you to figure out the right answer… if only you will ask – and listen.
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
If you have done all you can in a situation and it doesn’t show any signs of improving, you may be justified in walking away. If you have served on a committee or volunteered for an organization with generosity and a willing spirit, and others are taking advantage of you, it may well be right for you to pull back in your efforts. When you continually give of your time, talents and energy – and maybe even your heart – and you realize you are being disrespected or dishonored, there is no shame in redirecting your attention. Again, God will show you how to proceed. And believe it or not, sticking with something that is not God’s will actually disrespects and dishonors Him!
Again I am reminded of the family that several people and I tried to help when I was teaching kindergarten. After we had given far above and beyond what most would consider reasonable, the father demanded of his caseworker one day… “I need a car.” It broke my heart to learn that a local pediatrician had bought the family bus tickets and sent them packing back to live with family members in Pennsylvania. I wonder to this day what happened to my little Charlie and his younger sister. But I know that we had no choice… the disrespect and dishonor simply could not continue. Not only was it time to “fold ‘em”… it was time to run.
For some of us, the problem these days is not that we are being disrespected… or that our efforts are dishonored. The trouble lies directly with us and how we are treating our Heavenly Father – and others. And that is the heart of this scripture passage. God is blessing us at every turn… and many are taking full advantage of all that He offers and practically thumbing their noses at Him in the process. Rather than thank God for everything He has done for us… and do everything humanly possible to serve and honor Him in return, some of us have essentially said, “Oh… and I’ll take a car, too!” We fall apart at the least little thing and fling our hands to the sky, wailing, “Why me, LORD?” We skate along through life taking risks and dancing as closely to the edge as we dare - while expecting God to always be there to protect us and fix every mess we make.
The truth is that God is not amused… nor does He appreciate disrespect and dishonor. He is loving, compassionate, gracious and merciful - and ready to forgive… to a point. But we cannot continue to reject or scorn His will and His word… and we most certainly cannot expect Him to take care of our every need while we deny Jesus and our Christian discipleship. “Oh, but I would NEVER do that!” you may say. Really? Exactly how long has it been since you did something selfless for another? When was the last time you did something you really didn’t want to do because you felt God was calling you to it? When was the last time that you were unkind to someone or even spoke hatefully to them or about them? Who have you mocked behind their back? What tidbit of gossip did you share? Who did you last criticize… maybe even to their face? How strong is your prayer life? Do you even have one? Are you willing to give to others – or is it all about what’s in it for you?
How often are you doing what you want to do instead of what you know God is asking you to do in Jesus’ name? Where are you spinning your wheels while God tells you…”It’s time to fold ‘em and move along.”? Do you see that this can also be disrespectful and dishonorable toward God? It’s probably time for each and every one of us to have a long, serious conversation with God… to examine our daily living and where we are operating selfishly and with disrespect… and to discover where He really wants us to be spending our time and energy.
The last thing any of us wants is for God to turn His back on us… even for a minute. Won’t you take some time to talk to God and ask Him to show you where you are missing the mark? Ask Him to show you where you need to mend fences, correct course… or even jump ship! I assure you that if God is calling the shots, you will always make the right move.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2013
Acts 10:34-36
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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