2 Timothy 4:1-5
I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.
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.
Several months before my Mam-ma Polly moved to an Assisted Living Facility, I had to tell her that she could no longer make peanut brittle – her “signature dish” – by herself. I allowed that she could possibly make the candy when another adult was there to do the heavy lifting while she supervised. She reluctantly agreed…but I also knew that she continued to stir up a batch of the molten-lava-like substance when I wasn’t around…whether others were present or not.
During this time, I spotted not so much as one peanut or a bottle of corn syrup in her house…yet I could smell the freshly cooked candy as soon as I entered her garage. I heard “through the grapevine” about the box of this delectable treat that was mailed to a friend in Missouri shortly before Christmas. She made little “aside” comments about the candy she had given to her hairdresser and others…and I knew the sweet treats didn’t make themselves!
When I read this passage, one line stuck out to me…”God is looking over your shoulder.” God sees us when we think He is not watching…when we dabble in things we shouldn’t – even if those things are “church things” – like the latest craze in worship music or Bible study/teaching…or even catchy concepts like “prosperity religion” that are considered acceptable by many. God sees us when we judge others – both publicly and privately. He knows what is in our heart about EVERYTHING! This should make us think twice about many of the things we say and do…but sadly, many of us are able to momentarily put Him out of our mind. Just as my grandmother did as she pleased when I was not there to fuss at her…we often pretend that God is not there and go on our merry way.
But here’s another “take” on this sentence…and the one that really resonated with me today. God is looking over your shoulder! So when I am wondering which way to turn…He’s right there to guide me. When I am sick and need a healing touch, God is already providing it. When I enjoy the warm sunshine of a beautiful spring-like day in early February and almost feel giddy, God jumps for joy right alongside me. I don’t have to wonder where God is. He is looking over my shoulder…carrying me when my burdens are too heavy to bear alone… reveling in my victories and sharing my happiness.
As humans, we all have moments when we wish God would look away…that He would not see what we were about to do or hear the words that we were speaking. But aren’t we glad to know that He is always there? In the long run, doesn’t it give you hope, peace and joy to know that God is looking over your shoulder? And doesn’t it strengthen your resolve to please him – always and in all ways? Will this be the day that you renew your commitment to do just that? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label doing as we please. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doing as we please. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 26, 2013
Romans 14:17-18
God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
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.
My mom posted on Facebook about a guest speaker at her church who admonished members not to glare at those who sat on “their” pew. She went on to recall a man who did exactly this to our family one Sunday when we lived in Gore, Oklahoma. Apparently everyone in the church congregation knew this was the man’s regular “spot” each Sunday… but we were clueless. I double-checked with my mom… she says we moved - RIGHT AWAY! She also says that the church members were not friendly… that for the six months or so that we lived in this town and attended church there, most did not ever introduce themselves, so we didn’t know their names. She also recalls that she thought my Sunday school teacher was really nice… until she learned that the woman had gotten into a fight with another woman at the beauty shop…and hit her on the head and flattened her hair curlers!
Now you may be asking yourself what this all has to do with today’s scripture passage. In the example of the man claiming a pew, I believe this is much like Biblical references to those who claimed that certain foods were “unclean” and should not be eaten. It’s another case of imposing rules that take on a religious importance or significance… but God didn’t put any there! They really have nothing to do with authentic service to Christ. In fact, such “rules” can be quite disruptive and destructive.
As for the Sunday school teacher who fought at the beauty parlor and the unfriendly church members… neither of these behaviors were pleasing to God. And by acting in this manner, these folks were discounting their faith to those around them. Nobody wants what you are offering if you serve it up unkindly. And those who focus on rituals and routines… or fail to exhibit the qualities and characteristics of Jesus and His love, grace and mercy… often negate their supposed “faith” and do far more harm than good!
Because we are human… and imperfect… we often find it easy to lose sight of what is important. Our attention span is generally that of a gnat… and we fail to stay focused on Jesus – and to single-mindedly serve Him. When this happens, things go haywire… God is not glorified… and peace is nowhere to be found. Remember… people are watching. They notice when you put things, traditions and personal agendas ahead of God. They see how you play fast and loose with your faith and take the “it’s nobody else’s business” approach to your relationship with our Heavenly Father. They take a long, hard look at your attitude that “I’m not hurting anyone… this is between God and me” and they wonder just how much you desire to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. You may even cause them to question the motives and sincerity of Jesus himself! Did He really mean it when He said He loves us? Was His gentle care, grace and mercy for real? Or would Jesus be first in line to glare at us from the end of a pew or smash our hair curlers when He didn’t like something we said or did?
At the end of the day, what matters is pretty simple… our relationship with Jesus Christ and how we serve Him. If we let anything get in the way or take our focus off of Jesus, we are setting ourselves up to operate in chaos… and we are opening the door to offer a poor example of Christian faith to others. Neither sounds peaceful… or desirable to me. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
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.
My mom posted on Facebook about a guest speaker at her church who admonished members not to glare at those who sat on “their” pew. She went on to recall a man who did exactly this to our family one Sunday when we lived in Gore, Oklahoma. Apparently everyone in the church congregation knew this was the man’s regular “spot” each Sunday… but we were clueless. I double-checked with my mom… she says we moved - RIGHT AWAY! She also says that the church members were not friendly… that for the six months or so that we lived in this town and attended church there, most did not ever introduce themselves, so we didn’t know their names. She also recalls that she thought my Sunday school teacher was really nice… until she learned that the woman had gotten into a fight with another woman at the beauty shop…and hit her on the head and flattened her hair curlers!
Now you may be asking yourself what this all has to do with today’s scripture passage. In the example of the man claiming a pew, I believe this is much like Biblical references to those who claimed that certain foods were “unclean” and should not be eaten. It’s another case of imposing rules that take on a religious importance or significance… but God didn’t put any there! They really have nothing to do with authentic service to Christ. In fact, such “rules” can be quite disruptive and destructive.
As for the Sunday school teacher who fought at the beauty parlor and the unfriendly church members… neither of these behaviors were pleasing to God. And by acting in this manner, these folks were discounting their faith to those around them. Nobody wants what you are offering if you serve it up unkindly. And those who focus on rituals and routines… or fail to exhibit the qualities and characteristics of Jesus and His love, grace and mercy… often negate their supposed “faith” and do far more harm than good!
Because we are human… and imperfect… we often find it easy to lose sight of what is important. Our attention span is generally that of a gnat… and we fail to stay focused on Jesus – and to single-mindedly serve Him. When this happens, things go haywire… God is not glorified… and peace is nowhere to be found. Remember… people are watching. They notice when you put things, traditions and personal agendas ahead of God. They see how you play fast and loose with your faith and take the “it’s nobody else’s business” approach to your relationship with our Heavenly Father. They take a long, hard look at your attitude that “I’m not hurting anyone… this is between God and me” and they wonder just how much you desire to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. You may even cause them to question the motives and sincerity of Jesus himself! Did He really mean it when He said He loves us? Was His gentle care, grace and mercy for real? Or would Jesus be first in line to glare at us from the end of a pew or smash our hair curlers when He didn’t like something we said or did?
At the end of the day, what matters is pretty simple… our relationship with Jesus Christ and how we serve Him. If we let anything get in the way or take our focus off of Jesus, we are setting ourselves up to operate in chaos… and we are opening the door to offer a poor example of Christian faith to others. Neither sounds peaceful… or desirable to me. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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