October 12 ~ Matthew 4:5-11
Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. “Jump off,”
he said, “and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare,
‘God will send his angels to keep you from harm,’ . . . they will
prevent you from smashing on the rocks below.”
Jesus retorted, “It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!”
Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him
the nations of the world and all their glory. “I’ll give it all to you,”
he said, “if you will only kneel and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “The Scriptures say, ‘Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.’”
Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale
House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc.,
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Let’s be honest…when you tell a child NOT to touch something, there’s
a 50/50 shot that he/she will do exactly that! I once teasingly asked a
friend, “Does your wife know you are at this party without her?” and he
replied (also in jest), “I’ve learned that it is easier to ask for
forgiveness than permission!” Isn’t this how we often act? We’ll just
tell this one juicy tidbit, and then we will promise God that we will
never gossip again. We’ll just “sow some wild oats now,” and we will be
really sorry for it later and ask God to forgive us. We will look out
for ourselves now - because nobody else is going to…and we will hope
that God sees that our “heart” was in the right place. We’ll just touch
the stove and SEE if it’s really hot!
It’s time to learn that when God essentially tells us that “the stove is
hot”…the STOVE IS HOT! When He shows us how to live and gives us clear
guidelines, and we go right ahead and do our own thing, we must be
prepared to live with the consequences. We cannot assume that God will
always bail us out when we make stupid mistakes – or disobey and
disappoint Him.
We also cannot play fast and loose with our allegiance. I am here to
tell you, not a single one of us knows how long we have on this earth.
We have a LOT to do while we are here, and we had best be busy getting
it done! There is no time to listen to people who tell us that THEY
know better than God. There is not a minute to waste on selfish
agendas. There will be times when we have to sacrifice our own desires
for the greater good of others…and when we do this, God will bless our
efforts.
Here’s an example…my Mam-ma Polly had such a meager income that you
would not believe she could actually make it through each month. Yet she
was always ready to give to others…food from her table…a tithe to her
church…”shoe boxes” for needy children at Christmas…and so much more.
She always had a few dollars in her checking account at the end of the
month. She never missed a meal, and her home was cozy and comfortable.
All of her needs were met…and then some.
GOD made the difference and blessed my grandmother’s faithful obedience.
And He will do this for us, too. There will be times when the road
seems uncomfortable and/or uncertain. But when we keep our focus on
Him…when we worship only God and obey His commands and the teachings of
His only Son, Jesus Christ…nothing the devil offers can compare with
what we have been promised.
The devil is ALWAYS tempting us. Where and how is he tempting you? How
are you reacting and responding? Have you kicked him to the curb and
trusted God to make the difference…or are you hedging your bets that you
have time to show remorse and ask forgiveness later? Will this be the
day that you trust God fully and let His angels attend to your every
need? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label disobedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disobedience. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 12, 2016
Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
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 couple of years ago, Greg planted some ivy in the back yard along the bluff line for “ground cover.” Ivy creeps and crawls and does a good job of filling in areas where grass doesn’t grow well and you want some “greenery.” This ivy has done so well that it has virtually taken over a nearby cedar tree. I’ve watched the vine trail up the tree and noted its progression. First, it overtook a lopped off branch…then it reached a knot in the trunk…and then the vine far surpassed the knot and began to wrap all around the tree.
Greg knew about the “habits” of ivy when he planted this ground cover, so he isn’t surprised that the vine latched onto this tree. He says he will remove the ivy this fall so that it doesn’t kill the tree…and he is keeping a close eye on things now to make sure that the tree isn’t harmed in any way.
You probably see where I am going with this. We sometimes start out with the best of intentions…and suddenly, we are on the wrong path. Or we allow ourselves to get caught up in something we know is at best a “slippery slope” with the potential to get us into places we don’t need to be…cause a problem between us and someone else…or negate our Christian witness altogether…but we can’t seem to help ourselves. Or maybe we just plain don’t want to do differently! We can often be pretty selfish!
We need to hear the words of this scripture passage and pay close attention. None of us know how much time we have… and certainly, we have no business wasting a single minute! God’s kingdom cannot – and should not – wait on us to decide to get our act together and serve Him honorably and obediently!
So make this the day that you “trim the vines” and pull the weeds. Get it right, once and for all…and serve God with everything you have. Make sure your conduct is above reproach at all times. Choose your words and actions wisely. And never, ever risk trading God’s blessings for tears of regret!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
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 couple of years ago, Greg planted some ivy in the back yard along the bluff line for “ground cover.” Ivy creeps and crawls and does a good job of filling in areas where grass doesn’t grow well and you want some “greenery.” This ivy has done so well that it has virtually taken over a nearby cedar tree. I’ve watched the vine trail up the tree and noted its progression. First, it overtook a lopped off branch…then it reached a knot in the trunk…and then the vine far surpassed the knot and began to wrap all around the tree.
Greg knew about the “habits” of ivy when he planted this ground cover, so he isn’t surprised that the vine latched onto this tree. He says he will remove the ivy this fall so that it doesn’t kill the tree…and he is keeping a close eye on things now to make sure that the tree isn’t harmed in any way.
You probably see where I am going with this. We sometimes start out with the best of intentions…and suddenly, we are on the wrong path. Or we allow ourselves to get caught up in something we know is at best a “slippery slope” with the potential to get us into places we don’t need to be…cause a problem between us and someone else…or negate our Christian witness altogether…but we can’t seem to help ourselves. Or maybe we just plain don’t want to do differently! We can often be pretty selfish!
We need to hear the words of this scripture passage and pay close attention. None of us know how much time we have… and certainly, we have no business wasting a single minute! God’s kingdom cannot – and should not – wait on us to decide to get our act together and serve Him honorably and obediently!
So make this the day that you “trim the vines” and pull the weeds. Get it right, once and for all…and serve God with everything you have. Make sure your conduct is above reproach at all times. Choose your words and actions wisely. And never, ever risk trading God’s blessings for tears of regret!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 1, 2016
Psalm 5:7
But as for me, I will come into your Temple protected by your mercy and your love; I will worship you with deepest awe.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My childhood neighborhood was filled with residents who were old enough to be my grandparents. My sister, brother and I were welcomed into their homes like we truly were their grandchildren. We pretty much had free run of the neighborhood and felt welcome, protected, and loved in each and every home. It was like that for the other handful of kids who lived near us, also.
So as I told a friend about our four-year-old niece Zola - and how she had practically bathed in cologne Sunday morning before church – she remembered a time that she went to visit one of her neighbors. She said, “I got into her sachet one evening at a visit - then denied it to the death!” Those were the days…when we felt comfortable and safe enough to go to a neighbor’s and pilfer - even if it was a bad thing to do!
We have tried to teach the little ones that it is impolite to help yourself in others’ homes…but all three feel pretty comfortable and cozy with checking the fridge and pantry when they visit us…or getting in the closet to grab a superhero costume or a toy they know is kept there. And I want them to feel at home when they visit. I want them to experience grace and mercy in our presence…and to always feel loved. But I want them to also learn respect for us, our home, and our belongings.
More importantly, I want to teach the children to feel God’s love and protection…His grace and mercy. I want them to always be comfortable in His presence…and to worship Him with deepest awe and respect. I want them to respect God - and what belongs to Him - as they learn to truly worship and serve. This should be our goal, also…regardless of our age.
Just as children should learn not to pilfer and get into things – in their own home or that of others – we should learn to respect and revere God and His belongings. We should not overindulge – in anything – or assume that we have “carte blanche” with God. But at the same time, we need to understand how much He loves us – how He continually extends grace and mercy to us…covers us and protects us…and overlooks more of our transgressions and childish behaviors than any of us deserves.
We are so often like the impetulant child who got into a grown-up’s sachet or cologne and denies doing so. We don’t deserve to have our misdeeds overlooked or forgiven…and yet this is often exactly what God does, out of His incredible love and mercy. Will this be the day that you begin to show more gratitude…to demonstrate your reverence and deepest awe – and do your best to love God more and serve Him better? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
But as for me, I will come into your Temple protected by your mercy and your love; I will worship you with deepest awe.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My childhood neighborhood was filled with residents who were old enough to be my grandparents. My sister, brother and I were welcomed into their homes like we truly were their grandchildren. We pretty much had free run of the neighborhood and felt welcome, protected, and loved in each and every home. It was like that for the other handful of kids who lived near us, also.
So as I told a friend about our four-year-old niece Zola - and how she had practically bathed in cologne Sunday morning before church – she remembered a time that she went to visit one of her neighbors. She said, “I got into her sachet one evening at a visit - then denied it to the death!” Those were the days…when we felt comfortable and safe enough to go to a neighbor’s and pilfer - even if it was a bad thing to do!
We have tried to teach the little ones that it is impolite to help yourself in others’ homes…but all three feel pretty comfortable and cozy with checking the fridge and pantry when they visit us…or getting in the closet to grab a superhero costume or a toy they know is kept there. And I want them to feel at home when they visit. I want them to experience grace and mercy in our presence…and to always feel loved. But I want them to also learn respect for us, our home, and our belongings.
More importantly, I want to teach the children to feel God’s love and protection…His grace and mercy. I want them to always be comfortable in His presence…and to worship Him with deepest awe and respect. I want them to respect God - and what belongs to Him - as they learn to truly worship and serve. This should be our goal, also…regardless of our age.
Just as children should learn not to pilfer and get into things – in their own home or that of others – we should learn to respect and revere God and His belongings. We should not overindulge – in anything – or assume that we have “carte blanche” with God. But at the same time, we need to understand how much He loves us – how He continually extends grace and mercy to us…covers us and protects us…and overlooks more of our transgressions and childish behaviors than any of us deserves.
We are so often like the impetulant child who got into a grown-up’s sachet or cologne and denies doing so. We don’t deserve to have our misdeeds overlooked or forgiven…and yet this is often exactly what God does, out of His incredible love and mercy. Will this be the day that you begin to show more gratitude…to demonstrate your reverence and deepest awe – and do your best to love God more and serve Him better? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 29, 2015
Romans 13:1-3
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
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.
Back in the day, it seemed like everyone had one of those little gizmos that sat on the dash of your car and alerted you if there was a policeman “running radar” nearby. I remember our nieces and nephews (who are now parents themselves) talking about THEIR parents having these devices. Something about the idea of teaching children to obey the laws and those who enforce them…then using a device to circumvent the same…seemed a little skewed to us. Doesn’t having a “radar detector” pretty much say, “I plan to exceed the speed limit…but I don’t plan on getting caught!”?
One of the child psychology principles I learned was that we should never tell a child, “If I see or hear you do that again, XYZ will happen.” This signals to the child that what we don’t see or hear doesn’t count! Many have internalized this idea and taken it to new levels as adults. As long as we don’t get caught…we’re okay.
HELLO! Someone is ALWAYS watching! And I’m not talking about other people. If no mortal ever sees or hears you do something sinful, disobedient, unlawful, judgmental or unkind…God will know. That should be all you need to know…the end of the story…enough reason to be a good citizen - in your community, state, and country…and in the Kingdom of God.
This is a critical point that many miss. There was a commercial for hair color years ago that said, “Only your hairdresser knows for sure.” Our culture is filled with suggestions that “nobody will know” – and that this makes everything okay. We must stop and realize that GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. In light of this thought, is what you are saying, doing, and thinking truly alright?
There is no such thing as a “radar detector” with God! And aren’t we glad?! Because God knows everything about us, He is also totally ready to protect and bless us. As long as we are good stewards of His love and grace, we have no need to worry…nothing to fear. This should be all the incentive we need to honor Him in everything.
There is no need to hide behind the “protection” of a device on the dash – or the “comfort” of secrecy - when we are honestly and obediently serving God. Will this be the day you get rid of your “radar detectors” and begin to live responsibly as an earthly – AND heavenly – citizen? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
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.
Back in the day, it seemed like everyone had one of those little gizmos that sat on the dash of your car and alerted you if there was a policeman “running radar” nearby. I remember our nieces and nephews (who are now parents themselves) talking about THEIR parents having these devices. Something about the idea of teaching children to obey the laws and those who enforce them…then using a device to circumvent the same…seemed a little skewed to us. Doesn’t having a “radar detector” pretty much say, “I plan to exceed the speed limit…but I don’t plan on getting caught!”?
One of the child psychology principles I learned was that we should never tell a child, “If I see or hear you do that again, XYZ will happen.” This signals to the child that what we don’t see or hear doesn’t count! Many have internalized this idea and taken it to new levels as adults. As long as we don’t get caught…we’re okay.
HELLO! Someone is ALWAYS watching! And I’m not talking about other people. If no mortal ever sees or hears you do something sinful, disobedient, unlawful, judgmental or unkind…God will know. That should be all you need to know…the end of the story…enough reason to be a good citizen - in your community, state, and country…and in the Kingdom of God.
This is a critical point that many miss. There was a commercial for hair color years ago that said, “Only your hairdresser knows for sure.” Our culture is filled with suggestions that “nobody will know” – and that this makes everything okay. We must stop and realize that GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. In light of this thought, is what you are saying, doing, and thinking truly alright?
There is no such thing as a “radar detector” with God! And aren’t we glad?! Because God knows everything about us, He is also totally ready to protect and bless us. As long as we are good stewards of His love and grace, we have no need to worry…nothing to fear. This should be all the incentive we need to honor Him in everything.
There is no need to hide behind the “protection” of a device on the dash – or the “comfort” of secrecy - when we are honestly and obediently serving God. Will this be the day you get rid of your “radar detectors” and begin to live responsibly as an earthly – AND heavenly – citizen? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 29, 2013
Proverbs 29:1
For people who hate discipline
and only get more stubborn,
There’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it’ll be too late to help them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
If you are old enough, you remember the ads for Coppertone sunscreen with the little girl in pigtails and blue swimsuit bottoms… a dog tugging at her pants, revealing a pale white bottom! If you are too young to remember this ad, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppertone_girl. When I was growing up, we were told to “tan, don’t burn,” but our suntan lotion was designed to aid us in achieving a golden tan… not to protect us from the sun’s harmful rays.
By the time I was in my 30s, everyone knew about studies that revealed the dangers of sun exposure… how the harmful UVA and UVB rays could cause everything from premature wrinkling to fatal skin cancers. Like many, I continued to tan long after I knew the potential consequences. And just last week, I had cryosurgery on an ugly “sunspot” on my chest, while another raised area near my collarbone had to be biopsied for potential Basal Cell Carcinoma! Thankfully, it was a benign keratosis… but now I have these two raw places that must be babied and tended while they heal… and I have once again been warned to stay out of the sun and to wear sunscreen at all times. Not suntan lotion… sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) – the higher the number, the better!
I was stubborn. I liked the looks of a deep tan, and I worked hard to maintain one! And then the day came when some suspicious spots began to appear on my body, and the doctor began to tell me that some were “pre-cancerous.” Thankfully, I have dodged the fate of many… my mother had to have plastic surgery on her nose last year following the removal of a cancerous lesion (and she wasn’t even a sun worshiper like I was!)… and I recently read a magazine article about a woman in Texas who had to have multiple plastic surgeries on her lip following the removal of a very deep malignancy. For them, it was too late to think about sunscreen, wearing a hat, or staying out of the harmful rays… at least in that instance. And for me, it’s too late for the creamy smooth skin of my grandmother, who wore a hat, long sleeves and even gloves whenever she was out in the sun for most of her 100 years…regardless of the temperature. I am forever freckled and marked for my dogged obstinacy!
This is not totally about staying out of the sun! There are countless ways in which we think we know better than the experts… including God! We are often more concerned with pleasing ourselves than with doing what we know we ought to do… or pleasing God. How many times have you said, “LORD… one of these days, I’ll do this or that for You.”? How often have you said, “I’ll give up XYZ and do what God wants… but not today!”? Just how often do you listen to God… and to others He sends into your life to guide your path?
Here’s the deal… God is incredibly patient with us… to a point. When He has had enough… or He sees that we are not going to change our ways and listen to Him, God starts to allow us to experience consequences. In my case, cryosurgery and biopsies have caused me to become quite diligent about wearing sunscreen and protecting myself from the sun’s harmful rays. For an elderly friend of mine, three near-misses with other drivers in the same day have caused her to reconsider driving. As she put it, “When God gives you THREE signs in one outing, I think you ought to listen!” Hopefully she will really follow through, put down her keys, and allow others to chauffeur her around from now on.
What about you? Where are you being stubborn and insisting on your own way? Do you see that you are trying God’s patience… and possibly that of many in your midst? Don’t you think it’s time to consider your actions… and potential consequences… to make the necessary changes before things go too far? Isn’t it time to start listening to God and those He sends to guide you? Aren’t you ready to operate fully in His wisdom… or are you willing to test the limits of God’s tolerance? What will it take to fully get your attention? Is it worth the risk?
©2013 Debbie Robus
For people who hate discipline
and only get more stubborn,
There’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it’ll be too late to help them.
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.
By the time I was in my 30s, everyone knew about studies that revealed the dangers of sun exposure… how the harmful UVA and UVB rays could cause everything from premature wrinkling to fatal skin cancers. Like many, I continued to tan long after I knew the potential consequences. And just last week, I had cryosurgery on an ugly “sunspot” on my chest, while another raised area near my collarbone had to be biopsied for potential Basal Cell Carcinoma! Thankfully, it was a benign keratosis… but now I have these two raw places that must be babied and tended while they heal… and I have once again been warned to stay out of the sun and to wear sunscreen at all times. Not suntan lotion… sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) – the higher the number, the better!
I was stubborn. I liked the looks of a deep tan, and I worked hard to maintain one! And then the day came when some suspicious spots began to appear on my body, and the doctor began to tell me that some were “pre-cancerous.” Thankfully, I have dodged the fate of many… my mother had to have plastic surgery on her nose last year following the removal of a cancerous lesion (and she wasn’t even a sun worshiper like I was!)… and I recently read a magazine article about a woman in Texas who had to have multiple plastic surgeries on her lip following the removal of a very deep malignancy. For them, it was too late to think about sunscreen, wearing a hat, or staying out of the harmful rays… at least in that instance. And for me, it’s too late for the creamy smooth skin of my grandmother, who wore a hat, long sleeves and even gloves whenever she was out in the sun for most of her 100 years…regardless of the temperature. I am forever freckled and marked for my dogged obstinacy!
This is not totally about staying out of the sun! There are countless ways in which we think we know better than the experts… including God! We are often more concerned with pleasing ourselves than with doing what we know we ought to do… or pleasing God. How many times have you said, “LORD… one of these days, I’ll do this or that for You.”? How often have you said, “I’ll give up XYZ and do what God wants… but not today!”? Just how often do you listen to God… and to others He sends into your life to guide your path?
Here’s the deal… God is incredibly patient with us… to a point. When He has had enough… or He sees that we are not going to change our ways and listen to Him, God starts to allow us to experience consequences. In my case, cryosurgery and biopsies have caused me to become quite diligent about wearing sunscreen and protecting myself from the sun’s harmful rays. For an elderly friend of mine, three near-misses with other drivers in the same day have caused her to reconsider driving. As she put it, “When God gives you THREE signs in one outing, I think you ought to listen!” Hopefully she will really follow through, put down her keys, and allow others to chauffeur her around from now on.
What about you? Where are you being stubborn and insisting on your own way? Do you see that you are trying God’s patience… and possibly that of many in your midst? Don’t you think it’s time to consider your actions… and potential consequences… to make the necessary changes before things go too far? Isn’t it time to start listening to God and those He sends to guide you? Aren’t you ready to operate fully in His wisdom… or are you willing to test the limits of God’s tolerance? What will it take to fully get your attention? Is it worth the risk?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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