Romans 1:16-17
It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim,
this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone
who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!
God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith,
confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right
standing before God by trusting him really lives.”
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.
“We
do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe,
by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing
them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to
know the source of it.” - Madeleine L’Engle - Walking on Water
I saw this
quote on Facebook a few days ago – credited to this author of dozens of
novels who lived from 1918 to 2007, including Newberry Medal winner A Wrinkle in Time, and National Book Award-winner, A Swiftly Tilting Planet.
L’Engle served for more than 30 years as librarian at Cathedral Church
of St. John the Divine in New York City, where she also maintained an
office.
Madeleine L’Engle was by all accounts
an extraordinary woman…wife, mother, author, and servant. And the
statement is profound and gives us lots to think about in light of
today’s scripture passage.
What sort of light are you showing
the world? Is it the Light of Christ – or a spotlight of your own
making? Some say “Look at me…I have all the answers. What I believe is
spot on…and if you disagree, you are the one who is mistaken!” While
others live such that their lives and conduct say, “Greater is He that
is in me, than he that is in the world.” (paraphrasing 1 John 4:4)
Which one best describes you?
Are you a living example of faith
in God – in all things? Do people note your acts of faith and service
to Him…or are you known as someone who is judgmental, controversial, and
divisive? When others look at you and your relationship to Jesus
Christ, do they want what you are demonstrating? Or do your demeanor
and actions make them want to “run like the wind?”
Isn’t it
time we began to more closely model Jesus…to quietly demonstrate our
faithfulness and His love, acceptance, grace, mercy and compassion for
ALL people? Are you drawing people to Christ…or giving them
every reason to run in the opposite direction? Read L’Engle’s quote
again and let it soak into your heart and soul. It’s time to figure out
which light we are reflecting. Is this the day you will begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label drawing others to Jesus instead of sending them away. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drawing others to Jesus instead of sending them away. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2015
Jeremiah 33:14
Yes, the day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good I promised them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite television programs is CBS Sunday Morning. We record it each week to watch at our convenience…and I am never disappointed. The program offers a good mix of feature stories that are timely and interesting, on subjects from history to sports, art and entertainment, and some great profiles of fascinating people – both famous and obscure.
The latest edition of this program included a feature on a group of “ordinary” folks who have declared themselves to be atheists. The reasons for choosing this path were varied…some were former Christians who left their faith, while others never grew up in the church or found “mainstream religion” appealing. All were drawn to the atheist camp because they found the tenets meshed well with their way of thinking.
Our natural reaction as Christians is 1) to want to tell these people how wrong they are; and 2) to fear them. Studies show that approximately 7% of the American population does not believe in God…but only 2.4% of them claim to be “atheists”. One of the men interviewed for the piece said that atheists are treated as if they are evil. Another said that once one declares to be an atheist, “doors close”.
When a few of the self-proclaimed atheists interviewed for this piece were asked what they wanted people to know about atheists and what they believe, this is how they responded… “People can make the world a better place if they work together. People can be good. Believe what can be proven...love other people...treat them with love, and they will treat you back that way. Live a life of integrity...be honest.”
The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, Dean of Duke University Chapel, was interviewed for this CBS story. He maintains that…”Doubt is part of faith.” He says that questions such as, “God are you there?" are found throughout the Hebrew scriptures and Psalms. Powery maintains that there can be anger against God…and a journey of doubt and questioning. But he explains that this is actually part of building our faith…admitting to God that we want to believe - but we need help with our “unbelief”.
As I watched this story, I asked myself…”In reacting and responding to this…how do I reflect my own Christian faith?” Do I try to make a point with un-believers (some of whom now call themselves “Openly Secular”)…or do I make a difference by how I demonstrate my love and devotion to Jesus Christ? If you read through the comments I shared about what atheists/Openly Secular people want others to know about them, you will see that many of these sentiments are the very tenets that Jesus gave us…love one another…treat others as you wish to be treated…do not lie, cheat, or steal.
I have to wonder…in our “zeal” to share the Gospel of Jesus, are we often more concerned with proving that we are right – or are we truly interested in preparing ourselves and others for Heaven and Christ’s return for His church? When we invest so much time and energy in fights to put physical copies of the Ten Commandments in public places, rather than demonstrating our obedience to these laws in our everyday living, what are we really saying? When we are so vocal about “returning prayer to public schools” (it never left, you know!) instead of falling to our knees and sincerely praying for others, what have we accomplished?
When we are so busy fighting for our personal agendas that we don’t have time to tend to those who are sick, suffering and in need…what does this tell those who say that God does not exist? Are we really showing them that He does? When “church” is a show (in every sense of the word) rather than a gathering of the body of Christ to worship and serve…are we truly creating an atmosphere that welcomes others and gives them hope and promise in Jesus Christ – and a reason to turn to Him?
I have to say that I am glad this segment aired – and that I saw it. I have a new perspective on the “Openly Secular” and how I respond to them. The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery was asked whether he believed that these unbelievers would go to hell, and he replied, “I am not God.” He explained that it is not up to him to decide who goes to hell – or to heaven, for that matter. It is also not our job to condemn the very people we wish to reach. We must start seeking God’s will in every situation…demonstrating the teachings of Jesus…and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and guide our outward words and actions.
With all my heart, I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that He is preparing an eternal home for me…and that He will someday return for His church at large. I want to live for Him in such a way that others say, “I want in on this!” And that means that I have to carefully consider my words and actions and determine whether they make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven…or an “extra point” in my personal “Christian playbook”. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Yes, the day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good I promised them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite television programs is CBS Sunday Morning. We record it each week to watch at our convenience…and I am never disappointed. The program offers a good mix of feature stories that are timely and interesting, on subjects from history to sports, art and entertainment, and some great profiles of fascinating people – both famous and obscure.
The latest edition of this program included a feature on a group of “ordinary” folks who have declared themselves to be atheists. The reasons for choosing this path were varied…some were former Christians who left their faith, while others never grew up in the church or found “mainstream religion” appealing. All were drawn to the atheist camp because they found the tenets meshed well with their way of thinking.
Our natural reaction as Christians is 1) to want to tell these people how wrong they are; and 2) to fear them. Studies show that approximately 7% of the American population does not believe in God…but only 2.4% of them claim to be “atheists”. One of the men interviewed for the piece said that atheists are treated as if they are evil. Another said that once one declares to be an atheist, “doors close”.
When a few of the self-proclaimed atheists interviewed for this piece were asked what they wanted people to know about atheists and what they believe, this is how they responded… “People can make the world a better place if they work together. People can be good. Believe what can be proven...love other people...treat them with love, and they will treat you back that way. Live a life of integrity...be honest.”
The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, Dean of Duke University Chapel, was interviewed for this CBS story. He maintains that…”Doubt is part of faith.” He says that questions such as, “God are you there?" are found throughout the Hebrew scriptures and Psalms. Powery maintains that there can be anger against God…and a journey of doubt and questioning. But he explains that this is actually part of building our faith…admitting to God that we want to believe - but we need help with our “unbelief”.
As I watched this story, I asked myself…”In reacting and responding to this…how do I reflect my own Christian faith?” Do I try to make a point with un-believers (some of whom now call themselves “Openly Secular”)…or do I make a difference by how I demonstrate my love and devotion to Jesus Christ? If you read through the comments I shared about what atheists/Openly Secular people want others to know about them, you will see that many of these sentiments are the very tenets that Jesus gave us…love one another…treat others as you wish to be treated…do not lie, cheat, or steal.
I have to wonder…in our “zeal” to share the Gospel of Jesus, are we often more concerned with proving that we are right – or are we truly interested in preparing ourselves and others for Heaven and Christ’s return for His church? When we invest so much time and energy in fights to put physical copies of the Ten Commandments in public places, rather than demonstrating our obedience to these laws in our everyday living, what are we really saying? When we are so vocal about “returning prayer to public schools” (it never left, you know!) instead of falling to our knees and sincerely praying for others, what have we accomplished?
When we are so busy fighting for our personal agendas that we don’t have time to tend to those who are sick, suffering and in need…what does this tell those who say that God does not exist? Are we really showing them that He does? When “church” is a show (in every sense of the word) rather than a gathering of the body of Christ to worship and serve…are we truly creating an atmosphere that welcomes others and gives them hope and promise in Jesus Christ – and a reason to turn to Him?
I have to say that I am glad this segment aired – and that I saw it. I have a new perspective on the “Openly Secular” and how I respond to them. The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery was asked whether he believed that these unbelievers would go to hell, and he replied, “I am not God.” He explained that it is not up to him to decide who goes to hell – or to heaven, for that matter. It is also not our job to condemn the very people we wish to reach. We must start seeking God’s will in every situation…demonstrating the teachings of Jesus…and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and guide our outward words and actions.
With all my heart, I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that He is preparing an eternal home for me…and that He will someday return for His church at large. I want to live for Him in such a way that others say, “I want in on this!” And that means that I have to carefully consider my words and actions and determine whether they make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven…or an “extra point” in my personal “Christian playbook”. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 11, 2014
1 Corinthians 3:16-18
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
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 friend posted a link on Facebook to an article about a man who has traced his DNA back to a time that he claims makes the account of Adam and Eve as the original humans impossible. You can only imagine the debate this sparked. This friend - an academic genius in my book – spoke of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s creation as an “allegory”. He further commented…”I would rather let a God who cannot be simply defined lead the course of my life, rather than one who can be easily explained by a book. For if such a book were so perfect in explaining everything, then why are there still so many questions unanswered?”
As you can imagine, the “camps” who commented were fairly evenly divided. My friend cited “science” as indisputable. I shared a link to an article that offered a suggestion that “science” and “religion” can co-exist and actually provide complimentary views. But this devotional is not meant to spark a debate about creation science. My point in sharing this example today is to discuss compassion for others…and their points of view. How do we point them to God? How do we get them to turn their face toward Him rather than away from Him? I believe we must delicately balance our reactions…and responses…as well as our own behavior and daily witness. In order to ensure that we remain face-to-face with God…and that we reflect His shining face to others, we must carefully weigh our thoughts, words and actions.
There was so much I wanted to say to this young friend. I wanted to tell him how important God’s word is in my life…how each day I find even the same passage of scripture to be new and fresh. God’s intent through these words and “stories” does not change…but how He uses them to guide my path can shift from one day to the next. So the passage in James 4:8 that says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”(NLT) can say to me one day…”You need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer”…and another time it will tell me that “God is waiting to help you with this issue - scoot on over!” The account of Adam and Eve serves to set the stage for explaining sin…and the devil’s influence in our lives. On another day, God may use this “story” to illustrate to me how much He desires our companionship…and how He recognizes our own need for human company.
We must be ready to defend God’s word…and to share with others how He has cared for us and guided our steps. We also need to know when to back off and let His face shine through us. And this is where so many Christians seem to miss the mark. In our “zeal” to be a “good Christian,” we say and do things that often bring about more harm than help. We turn others off to the living, personal presence of God. In essence, we raise the “veil” and create a sense of mystery and distance.
After prayer and careful consideration, I trashed my written response to my friend in favor of the article link and a simple “I love you.” He sees my daily devotional posts. He knows me well…he knows where I stand – and with Whom. Hopefully, he sees the light of Christ permeating my soul and shining through to him…and wants that same Light to shine in and through his life!
As you react and respond to others, consider this scripture passage, and ask yourself if you have humbly invited God to enter your life and transform you. Is your face truly shining with the light of His face? Are you sharing Christ Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with those whom you encounter? Has the veil of confusion and mystique been dropped, so that God’s wisdom, power, love and care can truly be illuminated? Do you offer others compassion – and a glimpse of something that they would wish to run toward, rather an away from? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
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 friend posted a link on Facebook to an article about a man who has traced his DNA back to a time that he claims makes the account of Adam and Eve as the original humans impossible. You can only imagine the debate this sparked. This friend - an academic genius in my book – spoke of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s creation as an “allegory”. He further commented…”I would rather let a God who cannot be simply defined lead the course of my life, rather than one who can be easily explained by a book. For if such a book were so perfect in explaining everything, then why are there still so many questions unanswered?”
As you can imagine, the “camps” who commented were fairly evenly divided. My friend cited “science” as indisputable. I shared a link to an article that offered a suggestion that “science” and “religion” can co-exist and actually provide complimentary views. But this devotional is not meant to spark a debate about creation science. My point in sharing this example today is to discuss compassion for others…and their points of view. How do we point them to God? How do we get them to turn their face toward Him rather than away from Him? I believe we must delicately balance our reactions…and responses…as well as our own behavior and daily witness. In order to ensure that we remain face-to-face with God…and that we reflect His shining face to others, we must carefully weigh our thoughts, words and actions.
There was so much I wanted to say to this young friend. I wanted to tell him how important God’s word is in my life…how each day I find even the same passage of scripture to be new and fresh. God’s intent through these words and “stories” does not change…but how He uses them to guide my path can shift from one day to the next. So the passage in James 4:8 that says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”(NLT) can say to me one day…”You need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer”…and another time it will tell me that “God is waiting to help you with this issue - scoot on over!” The account of Adam and Eve serves to set the stage for explaining sin…and the devil’s influence in our lives. On another day, God may use this “story” to illustrate to me how much He desires our companionship…and how He recognizes our own need for human company.
We must be ready to defend God’s word…and to share with others how He has cared for us and guided our steps. We also need to know when to back off and let His face shine through us. And this is where so many Christians seem to miss the mark. In our “zeal” to be a “good Christian,” we say and do things that often bring about more harm than help. We turn others off to the living, personal presence of God. In essence, we raise the “veil” and create a sense of mystery and distance.
After prayer and careful consideration, I trashed my written response to my friend in favor of the article link and a simple “I love you.” He sees my daily devotional posts. He knows me well…he knows where I stand – and with Whom. Hopefully, he sees the light of Christ permeating my soul and shining through to him…and wants that same Light to shine in and through his life!
As you react and respond to others, consider this scripture passage, and ask yourself if you have humbly invited God to enter your life and transform you. Is your face truly shining with the light of His face? Are you sharing Christ Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with those whom you encounter? Has the veil of confusion and mystique been dropped, so that God’s wisdom, power, love and care can truly be illuminated? Do you offer others compassion – and a glimpse of something that they would wish to run toward, rather an away from? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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