John 7:25-29
Some of the people who lived there in
Jerusalem said among themselves, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to
kill? But here he is preaching in public, and they say nothing to him.
Can it be that our leaders have learned, after all, that he really is
the Messiah? But how could he be? For we know where this man was born;
when Christ comes, he will just appear and no one will know where he
comes from.”
So Jesus, in a sermon in the Temple, called out,
“Yes, you know me and where I was born and raised, but I am the
representative of one you don’t know, and he is Truth. I know him
because I was with him, and he sent me to you.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Another
one of my high school teachers died this week. Mr. Stark taught my 8th
grade science class and my 10th grade biology class. He also taught
chemistry…a class I did not take! Mr. Stark taught in my hometown
school system for decades. He taught my mother’s sister…my husband and
me…and my siblings. I felt like I knew Mr. Stark well…and yet, there
was a lot I did not know about him.
As I read this man’s
obituary, I learned that he was born in a neighboring county…that he had
served in the U.S. Army…and that he had a great love for Mexico and
traveled there often. I knew that he had studied our county’s history
intensively and was something of an expert on Native Americans who lived
in this area, and that he had collected many Native American artifacts
as he scoured the countryside for evidence and information. But I
didn’t know that he was the “family historian” among his own clan.
In essence, I knew enough about this educator to call him an acquaintance…maybe even a friend. But I didn’t really know
him! And in a nutshell, this is how it is for many of us in our
relationship with Jesus. We know just enough about Jesus to call Him a
friend…to want to say that we belong to Him…to claim salvation and
forgiveness for our sins through His blood on the cross. But we don’t
really know him! Deep down, we don’t fully embrace
Jesus…we don’t trust Him completely and believe totally in His God-given
power and authority over every facet of our lives.
We know
Jesus enough to call on Him when “the chips are down” – to utter a quick
prayer when the mood strikes us. But we have never taken the time to
stop and fully consider the impact of His sacrifices on our behalf. We
have never given a lot of thought to the suffering He endured in
atonement for our sins – the ones we are committing
today…now…long after He was crucified, died, was buried, and ascended
into Heaven. We have not stopped to let the incredible, inexplicable,
unending love of Jesus soak into every pore of our being. We don’t
really, truly know Jesus!
But we can change this!
We can stop and listen for His voice. We can crack open our Bibles and
read what Jesus has to tell us. We can study the Gospels and examine
the teachings of Jesus…and we can apply them to our daily living in a
new and profound way. We can talk to Jesus…often…and ask Him to show us
how to live in a way that pleases Him. We can share our deepest fears
with Him…our hopes and dreams…our frustrations and disappointments. We
can learn to trust that He hears us…that because of Jesus, GOD meets our
every need – perfectly.
We.can.know.Jesus…in a way that
really matters. Don’t you want this? Are you ready to get started?
Is today the day that you will begin to truly know your Savior? Don’t’
you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label developing a relationship with Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developing a relationship with Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2015
John 5:22-24, 30
And the Father leaves all judgment of sin to his Son, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor God’s Son, whom he sent to you, then you are certainly not honoring the Father.
“I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his sins, but has already passed out of death into life.
“But I pass no judgment without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God who sent me and is not merely my own.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When my Mam-ma Polly got older, I was given her Durable Power of Attorney. This meant that I could make major decisions for her in matters of pertaining to her personal business and her health. I could sign papers on her behalf, make decisions such as engaging Hospice care, and choose her primary care physician. My grandmother had entrusted me with the authority to make these decisions. But as long as she was able to communicate with me, I still consulted her before giving my final answer. So even a couple of weeks before she died, I asked her if she wanted to go to the ER after she fell in her room and hit her head. She adamantly told me, “NO!” And after I carefully assessed the situation and consulted Hospice nurses and other family members, we did not go.
Before she lost her ability to speak, Mam-ma would often wave off a major decision (literally with a wave of the hand) and say, “Whatever y’all decide is okay with me.” Now, I will admit that sometimes she said this with all of the pitiful sarcasm her voice could muster…but in her heart of hearts, she knew that I would never disrespect her – or make a decision that I felt would be harmful in any way. My Mam-ma Polly knew that I had her back!
God gave Jesus authority over each of us and decisions with regard to our care – and our eternal destiny. As the One who suffered, bled and died for our sins, it seems only right that Jesus would have the say over whether our petition to belong to Him is granted or not. But notice that even Jesus still consults the Heavenly Father…that there is a deference and respect for Almighty God – even at this “level”.
What does this mean for us? This passage reminds us of God’s authority and power…and also of His love, grace, mercy and compassion. Even Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and has the complete and final say over whether we are forgiven of them for all eternity, still listens for His Father’s voice. He still respects God’s “place” as the ultimate and final word on all matters. And we must value this, also. We must trust that in the end, it’s all up to God…and He has our back!
We must also remind ourselves to respect the earthly “chain of command”. We must honor the “position” of those in power and authority, even when we might not agree with their decisions. We must always offer them respect and behave toward them as would honor and please God. This may often mean biting our tongue and keeping our opinions – and ugly thoughts – to ourselves.
Sometimes in our earthly judgments, we have to make hard decisions that go against the preference of an elder or someone in authority. I am not telling you to lie for your boss…or to allow your ailing or aging parent or loved one to make a choice that will be harmful to them or someone else. This is where we must turn to God and ask, “What do I do now?” And He will answer!
I am so glad to know that Jesus chose me…that He deemed me worth saving. And I am grateful to know that He has my back…each and every minute of the day. I am doing all I can to honor this gift...to ensure that MY decisions mirror His will in each and every situation. I am constantly listening for His voice and seeking His opinion…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
And the Father leaves all judgment of sin to his Son, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor God’s Son, whom he sent to you, then you are certainly not honoring the Father.
“I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his sins, but has already passed out of death into life.
“But I pass no judgment without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God who sent me and is not merely my own.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When my Mam-ma Polly got older, I was given her Durable Power of Attorney. This meant that I could make major decisions for her in matters of pertaining to her personal business and her health. I could sign papers on her behalf, make decisions such as engaging Hospice care, and choose her primary care physician. My grandmother had entrusted me with the authority to make these decisions. But as long as she was able to communicate with me, I still consulted her before giving my final answer. So even a couple of weeks before she died, I asked her if she wanted to go to the ER after she fell in her room and hit her head. She adamantly told me, “NO!” And after I carefully assessed the situation and consulted Hospice nurses and other family members, we did not go.
Before she lost her ability to speak, Mam-ma would often wave off a major decision (literally with a wave of the hand) and say, “Whatever y’all decide is okay with me.” Now, I will admit that sometimes she said this with all of the pitiful sarcasm her voice could muster…but in her heart of hearts, she knew that I would never disrespect her – or make a decision that I felt would be harmful in any way. My Mam-ma Polly knew that I had her back!
God gave Jesus authority over each of us and decisions with regard to our care – and our eternal destiny. As the One who suffered, bled and died for our sins, it seems only right that Jesus would have the say over whether our petition to belong to Him is granted or not. But notice that even Jesus still consults the Heavenly Father…that there is a deference and respect for Almighty God – even at this “level”.
What does this mean for us? This passage reminds us of God’s authority and power…and also of His love, grace, mercy and compassion. Even Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and has the complete and final say over whether we are forgiven of them for all eternity, still listens for His Father’s voice. He still respects God’s “place” as the ultimate and final word on all matters. And we must value this, also. We must trust that in the end, it’s all up to God…and He has our back!
We must also remind ourselves to respect the earthly “chain of command”. We must honor the “position” of those in power and authority, even when we might not agree with their decisions. We must always offer them respect and behave toward them as would honor and please God. This may often mean biting our tongue and keeping our opinions – and ugly thoughts – to ourselves.
Sometimes in our earthly judgments, we have to make hard decisions that go against the preference of an elder or someone in authority. I am not telling you to lie for your boss…or to allow your ailing or aging parent or loved one to make a choice that will be harmful to them or someone else. This is where we must turn to God and ask, “What do I do now?” And He will answer!
I am so glad to know that Jesus chose me…that He deemed me worth saving. And I am grateful to know that He has my back…each and every minute of the day. I am doing all I can to honor this gift...to ensure that MY decisions mirror His will in each and every situation. I am constantly listening for His voice and seeking His opinion…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 29, 2014
Hebrews 4:14-16
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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.
A few nights ago, our power went off about 11:00...just as we were getting ready to go to bed. We really don’t realize two things: 1) how “lit up” our world is 24/7; and 2) how noisy life is now. We think we are in the dark, but with electronic devices and technology, there is still quite a lot of light in our house even after we “turn off the lights” at night! Even this night when the power went off, a smoke detector in the ceiling still blinked an intermittent flash of green light! But for the most part, the world was very dark...and very quiet. We do not realize how much noise the “hum” of our electronics, heaters and air conditioners and other devices create. And honestly, this “white noise” has become so much a part of our being that we don’t know what to do without it!
I was reminded of when I was a little girl and my siblings and I would spend the night at the farm with our Mam-ma and Pap-pa. They lived “in the country” – some five miles out of town on a dirt road. There were no street lights...not even a “night watchman” pole in the yard. When the lights went out at their house each evening, it was dark and very quiet. The only noise was the steady tick-tock of their mantle clock, which chimed the half hour and the hour. I had a terrible time going to sleep at their house. The clock seemed so loud in that stillness, and I remember tossing and turning in their unfamiliar four-poster bed...and longing to drift off to sleep.
I’ve reminded myself of this with Timothy...and especially with Zola and Nathan, who have not spent as many nights at our house as Timmy has. To expect a toddler to lie down in a somewhat unfamiliar place – in the dark – and close his/her eyes and go to sleep is asking a lot. So I’ve tried to be empathetic – at least to a point – while recognizing that they MUST get their rest! I know how hard it is to try to go to sleep...and be unable to do so. So I try to sit with them, stroke their hair, rock them, or do whatever I can to provide an environment that they feel is safe and comfortable. Sometimes they don’t want this help...probably because they have figured out the end result. Part of why these kids can’t sleep at our house is that they are afraid they will miss something!
Once in a while I will have one of the children say, “I don’t want to rock,” or “No, I don’t want you to lie with me.” They let mercy and help slip through their fingers. And this is what we often do with Jesus. We either fail to recognize His offers to help us...or we turn our backs on Him and try to do things on our own.
A prime example of this would be how we often react to grief or a fearful situation – ours or someone else’s. It’s as if we are ashamed to be sad and show our emotions...like we think this makes us appear weak or lacking in faith somehow. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus. He sweated drops of blood as He pled with God to find another way besides the cross, if possible. He gets it when we grieve, are sad or afraid...because He.has.been.there! He wants to comfort us in our despair or trepidation. He wants to acknowledge our frustrations, our loneliness and our disappointments. Jesus wants to sit beside us, “stroke our hair” and soothe us through the rough spots - just as much as He wants to cheer for us when good things happen!
Too many of us have turned Jesus into “white noise” of our lives. We have shoved Him into the corner where He is nothing more than just the “battery-powered blinking” of a household security device or the hum of an electronic gadget. We have not fully embraced Him and all that He offers us. For whatever reason, we have neglected to take the mercy and accept His help. But we don’t have to stay stuck there. We can change. It starts with a simple prayer...”Come, Lord Jesus”. Isn’t it time you called on Him? Aren’t you ready for a good night’s rest in His love and care? Will this be the night that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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.
A few nights ago, our power went off about 11:00...just as we were getting ready to go to bed. We really don’t realize two things: 1) how “lit up” our world is 24/7; and 2) how noisy life is now. We think we are in the dark, but with electronic devices and technology, there is still quite a lot of light in our house even after we “turn off the lights” at night! Even this night when the power went off, a smoke detector in the ceiling still blinked an intermittent flash of green light! But for the most part, the world was very dark...and very quiet. We do not realize how much noise the “hum” of our electronics, heaters and air conditioners and other devices create. And honestly, this “white noise” has become so much a part of our being that we don’t know what to do without it!
I was reminded of when I was a little girl and my siblings and I would spend the night at the farm with our Mam-ma and Pap-pa. They lived “in the country” – some five miles out of town on a dirt road. There were no street lights...not even a “night watchman” pole in the yard. When the lights went out at their house each evening, it was dark and very quiet. The only noise was the steady tick-tock of their mantle clock, which chimed the half hour and the hour. I had a terrible time going to sleep at their house. The clock seemed so loud in that stillness, and I remember tossing and turning in their unfamiliar four-poster bed...and longing to drift off to sleep.
I’ve reminded myself of this with Timothy...and especially with Zola and Nathan, who have not spent as many nights at our house as Timmy has. To expect a toddler to lie down in a somewhat unfamiliar place – in the dark – and close his/her eyes and go to sleep is asking a lot. So I’ve tried to be empathetic – at least to a point – while recognizing that they MUST get their rest! I know how hard it is to try to go to sleep...and be unable to do so. So I try to sit with them, stroke their hair, rock them, or do whatever I can to provide an environment that they feel is safe and comfortable. Sometimes they don’t want this help...probably because they have figured out the end result. Part of why these kids can’t sleep at our house is that they are afraid they will miss something!
Once in a while I will have one of the children say, “I don’t want to rock,” or “No, I don’t want you to lie with me.” They let mercy and help slip through their fingers. And this is what we often do with Jesus. We either fail to recognize His offers to help us...or we turn our backs on Him and try to do things on our own.
A prime example of this would be how we often react to grief or a fearful situation – ours or someone else’s. It’s as if we are ashamed to be sad and show our emotions...like we think this makes us appear weak or lacking in faith somehow. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus. He sweated drops of blood as He pled with God to find another way besides the cross, if possible. He gets it when we grieve, are sad or afraid...because He.has.been.there! He wants to comfort us in our despair or trepidation. He wants to acknowledge our frustrations, our loneliness and our disappointments. Jesus wants to sit beside us, “stroke our hair” and soothe us through the rough spots - just as much as He wants to cheer for us when good things happen!
Too many of us have turned Jesus into “white noise” of our lives. We have shoved Him into the corner where He is nothing more than just the “battery-powered blinking” of a household security device or the hum of an electronic gadget. We have not fully embraced Him and all that He offers us. For whatever reason, we have neglected to take the mercy and accept His help. But we don’t have to stay stuck there. We can change. It starts with a simple prayer...”Come, Lord Jesus”. Isn’t it time you called on Him? Aren’t you ready for a good night’s rest in His love and care? Will this be the night that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 2, 2013
Matthew 7:13-14
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
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.
Pinterest is a wonderful resource for clever ideas, hints, tips, recipes, information and how-to’s of all kinds. There are also plenty of “pins” for shortcuts. One that comes to mind is how to hem a garment with double-faced tape. Don’t know how to sew? Don’t worry! Just use double-faced tape… or “iron-on” tape. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Quick, easy, and neat! Except double-faced tape… and to some degree, iron-on tape… is not permanent. It doesn’t hold up for the long haul in the wash. First thing you know, you’ll be walking down the street, and part of your pant or skirt hem will be dangling… a look that is anything but neat and secure!
The only way to be sure your hem is going to stay in place and serve you well is to use a needle and thread and secure it the old-fashioned way. It takes time, practice – and maybe a little skill – but anyone of reasonable age and dexterity can manage this. Yes, you can learn to “sew on a button” or hem a pair of pants!
For many people, Christian faith is something they wish to trot out for an hour on Sunday – or maybe just at Christmas and Easter. They will tell you that they desire a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus… that they are fairly certain that God is watching over them and meeting their needs. But in truth, their bond with God amounts to little more than a strip of double-faced or iron-on mending tape! Before you know it, that “hem” will fall apart in the “wash” of life, and those who opted to take the “short-cut” to Christian faith and discipleship will be left with a tattered, dirty and daunting remnant of their life in Christ instead of a vibrant, fully-interactive association with Him.
The only way to enjoy a safe, secure, solid – and shared – bond with Jesus Christ is to invest time in your relationship. Truly study God’s word and determine how it applies to your life and your present situations. Talk to Him – and listen to what He has to say in return. Develop an association with fellow believers and share insights, struggles, and blessings with them. Think about Jesus – OFTEN! Put Him at the forefront of everything you say and do. I know it sounds trite, but actually ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Better yet, ask HIM… “LORD… what would you do? What should I do?”
Just as anyone of reasonable age and dexterity can learn to sew on a button – or put in a hem – you and I can develop a vibrant, interactive, and everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. All we have to do is invest a little time and effort… He will handle the rest. Now that’s something worth “pinning”! Are you willing to devote your total attention to Jesus and do the work to develop an abiding relationship with Him? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
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.
Pinterest is a wonderful resource for clever ideas, hints, tips, recipes, information and how-to’s of all kinds. There are also plenty of “pins” for shortcuts. One that comes to mind is how to hem a garment with double-faced tape. Don’t know how to sew? Don’t worry! Just use double-faced tape… or “iron-on” tape. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Quick, easy, and neat! Except double-faced tape… and to some degree, iron-on tape… is not permanent. It doesn’t hold up for the long haul in the wash. First thing you know, you’ll be walking down the street, and part of your pant or skirt hem will be dangling… a look that is anything but neat and secure!
The only way to be sure your hem is going to stay in place and serve you well is to use a needle and thread and secure it the old-fashioned way. It takes time, practice – and maybe a little skill – but anyone of reasonable age and dexterity can manage this. Yes, you can learn to “sew on a button” or hem a pair of pants!
For many people, Christian faith is something they wish to trot out for an hour on Sunday – or maybe just at Christmas and Easter. They will tell you that they desire a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus… that they are fairly certain that God is watching over them and meeting their needs. But in truth, their bond with God amounts to little more than a strip of double-faced or iron-on mending tape! Before you know it, that “hem” will fall apart in the “wash” of life, and those who opted to take the “short-cut” to Christian faith and discipleship will be left with a tattered, dirty and daunting remnant of their life in Christ instead of a vibrant, fully-interactive association with Him.
The only way to enjoy a safe, secure, solid – and shared – bond with Jesus Christ is to invest time in your relationship. Truly study God’s word and determine how it applies to your life and your present situations. Talk to Him – and listen to what He has to say in return. Develop an association with fellow believers and share insights, struggles, and blessings with them. Think about Jesus – OFTEN! Put Him at the forefront of everything you say and do. I know it sounds trite, but actually ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Better yet, ask HIM… “LORD… what would you do? What should I do?”
Just as anyone of reasonable age and dexterity can learn to sew on a button – or put in a hem – you and I can develop a vibrant, interactive, and everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. All we have to do is invest a little time and effort… He will handle the rest. Now that’s something worth “pinning”! Are you willing to devote your total attention to Jesus and do the work to develop an abiding relationship with Him? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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