Daily Devotional for May 14, 2015

Matthew 7:15-20
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

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.

In the last couple of decades, “rock stars” have emerged in the area of Christian faith.  Everyone knows Billy Graham …but a lot of us also know his son Franklin and daughter Anne Graham Lotz, as well as Beth Moore, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, Jen Hatmaker, Priscilla Shirer, Joel Osteen, Charles Stanley, and dozens of other evangelists, musicians, and authors who have made a name for themselves because of their Christian faith.  I am in no way suggesting that any of these folks are insincere, exploitive, or only interested in your pocketbook…and some do tremendous things with the proceeds from their sales.

My shelves are filled with books by Max Lucado, Joyce Meyer, Charles Swindoll, Pastor Rick Warren, and others.  I love reading the insights of fellow believers…and discovering how God speaks to them.  I have dozens of Contemporary Christian music CDs, and I appreciate the talents of someone who can produce such artistry and give me a great “background” that (in my mind) makes me sound good when I sing along!  We have plaques and crosses in our house that profess our love of Jesus…and I wear jewelry with crosses and fish that further symbolize my allegiance to God.

Christian music writer/performer Michael W. Smith created a song several years ago called “Cross of Gold*”…and in part, the lyrics say: 

It's confusing to me ~ The message you're sending ~ And I don't know if I can relate ~ What's your line ~ Tell me why you wear your cross of gold ~ State of mind ~ Or does it find a way into your soul ~ Is it a flame ~ Is it a passion ~ A symbol of love living in you ~ Or is it a game ~ Religion in fashion ~ Some kind of phase you're going through

I do not think this passage in Matthew is literally about preachers as much as it is a warning for all Christians to be very clear in our message and our motives.  Are we “playing the game” with our faith?  Are some on board with Jesus merely to make money?  I once was “greeted” at Walmart by an associate who was trying to sell a shopping cartload of potato chips.  He said to me, “You’re wearing crosses on your earrings, so you must be a Christian…surely YOU will buy a package of these chips!”  I smiled and said, “I am a Christian, but I don’t need chips today.”  Are people making certain assumptions about us based on our appearance and demeanor...or what we say and how we say it?

The short answer is, “Yes!”  The lesson is 1) we must understand that not everyone who wears a cross or claims to love Jesus truly has a passion for Him and serving as His disciple.  We must be discerning in our relationships and trust…and rely on God to show us who is the “real deal” – and who is out to rip you off…mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually; and 2) we must make sure that our own motives are pure…that we are genuine in our faith and service…and in what we share with others.

Wear your crosses…read the books that inspire you to love Jesus more (especially God’s word!)…listen to music that uplifts and encourages you in your faith…and pay attention to the “signs” that God gives you with regard to what you see and hear.  Be genuine and real in YOUR discipleship, and live in a way that pleases God rather than others.  If you are sincere in your faith and Christian witness, people will know…and if you’re not, they’ll know that, too!

©2015 Debbie Robus

*https://michaelwsmith.twoseventwoshop.com/product/Change-Your-World

Daily Devotional for January 20, 2015

Matthew 7:6
“Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege."
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
I saw this video on Facebook recently that was some guy doing dances that were supposed to depict stories in the Bible.  This was promoted as a good five-minute “opener” for a church service, because so many churches run a video now as a “warm-up” to get people in a “worshipful” mood.  And I’ve never had a problem with this concept.
 
But when I read today’s scripture, I did have to stop and think about some of the things we do - in the name of Jesus - and some of the slogans we wear on our clothing and accessories. It did cause me to ask…”Are we being respectful and reverent toward our sacred, holy relationship with God?  Or are there times when we truly are rather flip and silly?  Do we stop to consider what our appearance and actions says to others about an intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?”
 
John 13:35 says…”This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  It’s okay to wear a (What Would Jesus Do?) WWJD bracelet or a t-shirt that says, “Got Jesus?”  There is nothing wrong with a cute or thought-provoking video to signal that worship is about to begin.  But make sure that you are treating your faith with the reverence and respect that your relationship with God deserves – and that when you wear something professing your relationship with Jesus, your actions line up with the slogan.
 
Demonstrate a deep and sincere love and concern for one another.  Smile, and offer others a welcoming spirit.  Let your love for Jesus shine through everything you do and engulf those whom you encounter like a warm hug.  Take your relationship with Him seriously…and make sure that your actions reinforce this.
 
We find it so easy to get caught up in flash and dazzle.  Everything these days has a tag line or a catch phrase.  If things don’t sparkle and shine and perform a zillion operations, we tend to ignore them.  Don’t reduce your relationship with Jesus in this manner. Christian faith is not always pretty…sometimes it can be downright messy.  But the simplicity of inviting Jesus to be LORD of your life and receiving His amazing gift of salvation needs no “bells and whistles”.  This holy relationship doesn’t need a t-shirt or a song and dance. All that is required is mutual love, respect and reverence.
 
What do your words and actions tell others about you?  Can they recognize you as Christ’s disciple?
 
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 11, 2015

John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through 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.
 
It’s an icy day in Arkansas.  Freezing rain has spread across much of the state, and many local churches canceled services to keep people off of slick roadways, sidewalks and parking lots. Better safe than sorry…I don’t think God takes any pleasure in one of his children suffering an injury – or worse – while trying to get to a Sunday church service!
 
A friend of mine whose church services were canceled for today posted this comment on Facebook…”Since we didn't have church this morning.....thought for the day: John 17 tells of Jesus's prayer for His disciples as He's about to leave them. What three things would you pray for your children if you knew you would die in 24 hours?”
 
I had already formulated some thoughts in my head, but they were confirmed when I read John 14:6.  My first prayer would be that my “children” – and other loved ones – know Jesus.  I mean, really KNOW Him!  My second prayer would be that their every word, thought, deed and action would be guided by God…that they would be so in tune with Him through prayer, Bible study and Christian fellowship that He directs their every breath.  My third prayer would be that they always love others as Jesus loves them…that they would be tolerant, accepting, gracious, merciful, compassionate, and forgiving…without exception.
 
I do not fear death – nor leaving others behind.  I anticipate that they will join me in heaven someday.  But if I knew that these three prayers would be accomplished in those I hold near and dear, I would have full confidence and peace in my departure.  With this thought in mind, I am making it my goal to demonstrate these prayers in my own life…to model this Christian faithfulness and discipleship to those in my midst – whether I am here for one more minute or dozens of years.  What about you?
 
©2015 Debbie Robus