May 8 ~ Romans 2:28-29
For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the early 1980s, my husband’s father was mayor of our community. My maternal grandfather was mayor in the early 1950s. With two surname changes and over 50 years over and done, few people associate me with my grandfather’s term in office. But people still comment to my husband, “Oh, you’re the mayor’s son!” The thing is…people say this as if this somehow gives him special privilege. We didn’t even live in this community during my father-in-law’s term as mayor… and even if we had, we would have been no different than any other local citizens. Just because my father-in-law and grandfather were mayors doesn’t imply that we should have enjoyed any special advantages.
By the same token, this didn’t mean we were more loyal to our community… or that our community was more special to us. Each person who lives here should love and respect their city and its neighborhoods - and live in a manner that shows honor and value for this area and its residents. I have heard more than one newcomer to our town say, “We’ve grown to love it here.” And if you look closely, you will notice that these people embraced the community and its residents… got involved in activities and organizations… and truly got to know the history and heart of the surrounding area.
There are people who live in a community and never truly “get it.” They gripe and complain about “what’s wrong with this town”… all the while claiming residency. And indeed, they are legal residents. They live here and benefit from city services and more… but they don’t embrace the spirit of the community. They have no heart for the town and its citizenry.
Do you see what I am saying? Christians are all part of a “community” of believers. If we are saved by the blood of Jesus, we belong to God. But this does not mean we are engaged with Him… or truly serving as a Disciple of Christ. What I desperately want you to understand is that giving your heart to Jesus is important… and doing so ensures that you are His child and will live with Him for all eternity. But this is not enough! It’s like moving into a town and drawing all the blinds, locking your doors and never going outside. You’re a resident of the community… but you are not an active and involved citizen. Your heart has not changed.
I realize there can be mitigating circumstances whereby someone moves into a community and does not become involved. Perhaps there are physical or economical limitations. But you can still love and support your town. You can still lift it up when talking to others. You can be informed about local happenings, read area newspapers and church newsletters and other regional publications and stay up on current events. You can talk to others by telephone or social media and chat with visitors and stay connected.
These things are all true for Christians in their “faith walk” as well. We may have legitimate limitations with regard to serving. We may not be able to deliver Meals on Wheels or visit the sick – or even attend church services on a regular basis. We might not have the monetary resources to contribute to fundraisers and missions. But there is so much we can do to stay active and involved with God… to “bloom where we are planted.”
Claiming the name of Jesus and hiding behind our salvation is not acceptable. We have to do more. In a nutshell… you’re either all in, or you’re not “in” at all. And if you read this passage in some translations, Paul actually tells us that it’s worse to claim to be Disciples of Christ when we’re not than to do nothing at all. So where does this leave you? Are you “playing Christian?” Or are you “all in”…fully engaged… serving and supporting God to the best of your abilities and with all your heart.
When it comes to Christian faith, it does matter Who you know… but not in the way you might think. Stop making excuses and “dropping names” and start truly serving. Forget what others might think or say and concentrate on pleasing God. And get ready to be changed from the inside out. Get your heart truly right with God, and see how amazing life can be when you are fully involved in His community.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label excuses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excuses. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 7, 2013
May 7 ~ Romans 2:17-24
If you’re brought up Jewish, don’t assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you’re an insider to God’s revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God’s revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching “Don’t steal!” are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, “It’s because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God,” shows it’s an old problem that isn’t going to go away.
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.
This morning, my husband and I purchased mulch and flowering plants to spruce up our house and yard. Each spring, we fill four hanging baskets with colorful flowers and trailing vines to place on our back porch. My “gardening” skills extend about as far as filling a pot or bucket with potting soil and poking in some plants - with a quick prayer that I didn’t kill them in the process! As I put Sunsatia Lemon, ornamental sweet potato vines, and red petunias into the four hanging baskets, I laughed to myself as I hurried to get done. I enjoy looking at beautiful plants and flowers… but “gardening” is just not my cup of tea. I could almost hear my grandmother clucking over my shoulder. She loved “digging in the dirt,” and she would have been as frustrated with my impatience as I was the task at hand.
If any of my little ones want to learn to “garden,” I am not the person to teach them. Just because my grandmother was an extraordinary gardener doesn’t ensure that I am one also… or that I could guide someone else to become proficient in this area. On the other hand, my grandmother was also an excellent seamstress, and she did teach me how to sew. Over the last 40 years, I have spent countless hours reading about sewing, studying others’ sewing techniques, talking with fellow seamstresses and sharing their secrets… and putting what I learned into practice. Even though I feel my skills are fairly accomplished, I know I still have a lot to learn… and with each garment, I seem to discover something new - and hone my craft in the process.
In this passage from Romans, the Apostle Paul is telling us that we cannot ride the coat-tails of our ancestors when it comes to our faith… and just because we have invited Jesus to be LORD of our life and forgive our sins – just because we are Christians – does not mean that we are “livin’ on Easy Street”! We can’t sit back and tell everyone else how to live and do as we please because we are children of God. That would be like me trying to tell someone else how to grow flowers and vegetables because my grandmother was such a good gardener!
Just as the last line of this passage indicates, a lot of people are “down on Christianity” because of the way so many Christians act! Too many Christians nitpick and hone in on one particular action or group - and persecute and pester them half to death in the name of Jesus… all the while making Christians as a whole appear to be unkind, unmerciful, and downright ridiculous in many instances. Who wants to be a Christian if this is what it entails?! This is why so many people say, “I’d come to church, but the place is full of hypocrites!” If the hypocrites stopped coming, the sanctuaries would be virtually empty on Sunday mornings! And this is really a sad commentary on our faith!
So what are we to do? I go back to the sewing reference I made earlier. We study, we pray, we fellowship with other believers… we “hone our skills” as Christians… and we put them into daily practice! We speak from the heart – and from experience… not from the lore and lineage of our forefathers. We become “the real deal” for Jesus… we model His teachings for others… we show love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and compassion… and we tell everyone the Good News about how they can be saved by the blood of the cross and live for Him every day for themselves.
I heard an evangelist say recently that he no longer shares with others about his background and the horrible things that God rescued him from… “because I’m too busy telling people how GOOD God is to me now!” Too many of us are living in the past… and claiming faith in Jesus Christ based on others’ relationship with Him instead of our own. It’s time to develop a relationship with Jesus that is yours… personal and pertinent…one that you can genuinely share with others because you know that you know that you KNOW what you are talking about! Do you have that level of intimacy with Jesus? Do you know Him that well? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
If you’re brought up Jewish, don’t assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you’re an insider to God’s revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God’s revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching “Don’t steal!” are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, “It’s because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God,” shows it’s an old problem that isn’t going to go away.
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.
This morning, my husband and I purchased mulch and flowering plants to spruce up our house and yard. Each spring, we fill four hanging baskets with colorful flowers and trailing vines to place on our back porch. My “gardening” skills extend about as far as filling a pot or bucket with potting soil and poking in some plants - with a quick prayer that I didn’t kill them in the process! As I put Sunsatia Lemon, ornamental sweet potato vines, and red petunias into the four hanging baskets, I laughed to myself as I hurried to get done. I enjoy looking at beautiful plants and flowers… but “gardening” is just not my cup of tea. I could almost hear my grandmother clucking over my shoulder. She loved “digging in the dirt,” and she would have been as frustrated with my impatience as I was the task at hand.
If any of my little ones want to learn to “garden,” I am not the person to teach them. Just because my grandmother was an extraordinary gardener doesn’t ensure that I am one also… or that I could guide someone else to become proficient in this area. On the other hand, my grandmother was also an excellent seamstress, and she did teach me how to sew. Over the last 40 years, I have spent countless hours reading about sewing, studying others’ sewing techniques, talking with fellow seamstresses and sharing their secrets… and putting what I learned into practice. Even though I feel my skills are fairly accomplished, I know I still have a lot to learn… and with each garment, I seem to discover something new - and hone my craft in the process.
In this passage from Romans, the Apostle Paul is telling us that we cannot ride the coat-tails of our ancestors when it comes to our faith… and just because we have invited Jesus to be LORD of our life and forgive our sins – just because we are Christians – does not mean that we are “livin’ on Easy Street”! We can’t sit back and tell everyone else how to live and do as we please because we are children of God. That would be like me trying to tell someone else how to grow flowers and vegetables because my grandmother was such a good gardener!
Just as the last line of this passage indicates, a lot of people are “down on Christianity” because of the way so many Christians act! Too many Christians nitpick and hone in on one particular action or group - and persecute and pester them half to death in the name of Jesus… all the while making Christians as a whole appear to be unkind, unmerciful, and downright ridiculous in many instances. Who wants to be a Christian if this is what it entails?! This is why so many people say, “I’d come to church, but the place is full of hypocrites!” If the hypocrites stopped coming, the sanctuaries would be virtually empty on Sunday mornings! And this is really a sad commentary on our faith!
So what are we to do? I go back to the sewing reference I made earlier. We study, we pray, we fellowship with other believers… we “hone our skills” as Christians… and we put them into daily practice! We speak from the heart – and from experience… not from the lore and lineage of our forefathers. We become “the real deal” for Jesus… we model His teachings for others… we show love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and compassion… and we tell everyone the Good News about how they can be saved by the blood of the cross and live for Him every day for themselves.
I heard an evangelist say recently that he no longer shares with others about his background and the horrible things that God rescued him from… “because I’m too busy telling people how GOOD God is to me now!” Too many of us are living in the past… and claiming faith in Jesus Christ based on others’ relationship with Him instead of our own. It’s time to develop a relationship with Jesus that is yours… personal and pertinent…one that you can genuinely share with others because you know that you know that you KNOW what you are talking about! Do you have that level of intimacy with Jesus? Do you know Him that well? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 5, 2013
Romans 2:1-4
Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way. Do you really think God won’t punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse? You surely don’t think much of God’s wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Exactly one year ago this week, I sat with my grandmother in our local hospital, where she had undergone surgery to repair a broken leg bone. The surgeon bolted a rod in place alongside her leg, securing it near the hip socket and above the knee. The plan was to have her up and “walking” the day after surgery. But three days later, she had not budged and didn’t even know her own name – much less mine. After consulting with her doctors, nurses and an in-hospital therapist, I requested Hospice care. This was not an easy decision… and even my nurse-friend at Hospice initially refused, saying, “I have no medical reason to admit her.” Once she came for an evaluation, she realized just how bad my grandmother’s situation really was and readily agreed.
When we returned to the assisted living facility, many of the staff members were somewhat cool toward me. Some made comments like, “We LOVE Miss Polly… we can take care of her… we’d take her home with us if we could.” They implied that I did not care… that Hospice was not necessary…that they knew better than I what should be done in this situation. Please understand that not all of the staff members felt this way. One nurse in particular told me over and over, “Miss Polly does NOT want to be here… she tells me all the time she is ready to go ‘home.’” And indeed, when my grandmother was still able to speak, she told me more than once that she was so ready for heaven and did not understand why God was keeping her here so long.
I do not regret my decision to request Hospice care for my grandmother. And in recent weeks, I have recommended Hospice to others who are dealing with difficult health care choices for their loved ones. I would never question another person’s decision to utilize Hospice… nor would I judge those who say, “Oh, that’s not for us…” or “We’re not ready for that.” I have seen more than one family wait too late to fully benefit from this amazing organization. But this is a deeply personal decision. When I suggest to a family that they engage the services of Hospice, I am not judging their situation – nor trying to tell them what to do. All I can do is share how Hospice helped us… and how they made my grandmother’s last nine months on this earth more comfortable for her – and for us as her caregivers.
There are dozens of situations and circumstances every day in which we serve as judge and jury… instances where we are quick to voice our opinion that “he/she should have done things this way,” or “I would NEVER have said or done such-and-such.” Hopefully you will never commit murder or abuse a child – or any of God’s creatures. But you very well may take the LORD’s name in vain… lie… cheat…steal…gossip…treat others unfairly or unkindly… show bias toward another person because of his/her race, creed, color or lifestyle choices… and more. And no sin is more serious than another in God’s eyes. So when you accuse others of wrongdoing, you will have no excuse that justifies doing so. When you judge another person, God will judge you. The next time you start to pass judgment on another person, remember that you are essentially judging yourself in the bargain.
If we would only turn to God and seek His will and wisdom… then act accordingly…we would never fear judgment. Oh, sure… some on this earth might still have plenty of opinions about our decisions. But as long as we know that God is pleased with our choices, we need not worry about what anyone else thinks. Ask yourself this question…”Can I close my eyes tonight and sleep well… knowing that I have done what God asked of me? Have I spoken and acted according to His plans today? Did I serve well as Christ’s disciple? Is God pleased with me?” If the answer is uncertain, fall to your knees and ask God to show you where you missed the mark…and how to correct this.
We all fall short of complete surrender to God’s will from time to time. But He is waiting for us to turn to Him and make the necessary adjustments. What is holding you back? What is your excuse for operating in anything less than full obedience? Isn’t it time you figured out where your “faith walk” and attitude need work? Isn’t this the perfect time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way. Do you really think God won’t punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse? You surely don’t think much of God’s wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Exactly one year ago this week, I sat with my grandmother in our local hospital, where she had undergone surgery to repair a broken leg bone. The surgeon bolted a rod in place alongside her leg, securing it near the hip socket and above the knee. The plan was to have her up and “walking” the day after surgery. But three days later, she had not budged and didn’t even know her own name – much less mine. After consulting with her doctors, nurses and an in-hospital therapist, I requested Hospice care. This was not an easy decision… and even my nurse-friend at Hospice initially refused, saying, “I have no medical reason to admit her.” Once she came for an evaluation, she realized just how bad my grandmother’s situation really was and readily agreed.
When we returned to the assisted living facility, many of the staff members were somewhat cool toward me. Some made comments like, “We LOVE Miss Polly… we can take care of her… we’d take her home with us if we could.” They implied that I did not care… that Hospice was not necessary…that they knew better than I what should be done in this situation. Please understand that not all of the staff members felt this way. One nurse in particular told me over and over, “Miss Polly does NOT want to be here… she tells me all the time she is ready to go ‘home.’” And indeed, when my grandmother was still able to speak, she told me more than once that she was so ready for heaven and did not understand why God was keeping her here so long.
I do not regret my decision to request Hospice care for my grandmother. And in recent weeks, I have recommended Hospice to others who are dealing with difficult health care choices for their loved ones. I would never question another person’s decision to utilize Hospice… nor would I judge those who say, “Oh, that’s not for us…” or “We’re not ready for that.” I have seen more than one family wait too late to fully benefit from this amazing organization. But this is a deeply personal decision. When I suggest to a family that they engage the services of Hospice, I am not judging their situation – nor trying to tell them what to do. All I can do is share how Hospice helped us… and how they made my grandmother’s last nine months on this earth more comfortable for her – and for us as her caregivers.
There are dozens of situations and circumstances every day in which we serve as judge and jury… instances where we are quick to voice our opinion that “he/she should have done things this way,” or “I would NEVER have said or done such-and-such.” Hopefully you will never commit murder or abuse a child – or any of God’s creatures. But you very well may take the LORD’s name in vain… lie… cheat…steal…gossip…treat others unfairly or unkindly… show bias toward another person because of his/her race, creed, color or lifestyle choices… and more. And no sin is more serious than another in God’s eyes. So when you accuse others of wrongdoing, you will have no excuse that justifies doing so. When you judge another person, God will judge you. The next time you start to pass judgment on another person, remember that you are essentially judging yourself in the bargain.
If we would only turn to God and seek His will and wisdom… then act accordingly…we would never fear judgment. Oh, sure… some on this earth might still have plenty of opinions about our decisions. But as long as we know that God is pleased with our choices, we need not worry about what anyone else thinks. Ask yourself this question…”Can I close my eyes tonight and sleep well… knowing that I have done what God asked of me? Have I spoken and acted according to His plans today? Did I serve well as Christ’s disciple? Is God pleased with me?” If the answer is uncertain, fall to your knees and ask God to show you where you missed the mark…and how to correct this.
We all fall short of complete surrender to God’s will from time to time. But He is waiting for us to turn to Him and make the necessary adjustments. What is holding you back? What is your excuse for operating in anything less than full obedience? Isn’t it time you figured out where your “faith walk” and attitude need work? Isn’t this the perfect time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 4, 2013
May 4 ~ Romans 11:17-22
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This scripture passage makes a great analogy with the root plant (God) and the cuttings that were removed (non-believers) so that new cuttings (believers in Jesus) could be grafted onto the plant. But let’s take this one step further…suppose you got a job because your boss let someone go who was not performing well. You were added to the team, and everything was great for a while… and then you began to miss work, slack off, and give shoddy results. Pretty soon, it was “Hasta la vista, baby… don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” - and you were unemployed.
When you asked your employer why you were being let go, he/she explained that it was not about your past… your family… your appearance… or even your off-hours activities… it was because of your performance on the job - and your attitude. Try as you might to come up with excuses, your employer was adamant. You were not a good fit… and you had to go. In other words, your “graft” was not “taking” on the root plant. You might have told your family and friends how much your fellow workers liked you… how you loved your job and your bosses were impressed. But in truth, you were only as good as your work…and you were receiving low marks for attitude and performance.
Do you see that it’s much that way for us as Christians? Far too many of us have decided that once we’re in - we’re in! So we can now go and do as we please. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins… and I believe that any of us who have truly invited Him to live in our hearts are guaranteed a place in His presence for all Eternity. But our Salvation came with a price – Jesus’ very body and blood. He freely gave Himself for us. But when we commit our hearts to Him, we are expected to also give our mind, body, soul… energy and enthusiasm…devotion and demeanor, in return. And this is where so many of us miss the mark.
Becoming a Christian is somewhat like enrolling in college. Once you are accepted, you have an obligation to fulfill certain duties and expectations. You can skip class and neglect your studies… and for a while, the college will keep taking your money and allow you to stay on campus. But there will come a point where you either have to step up to the plate and complete the work… or you will be sent packing! You can still say you attended XYZ University… you can still claim to have been a student there…but you are no longer headed toward graduation and a degree… you will not reap the full rewards. And so it is with our faith. We can “play Christian” for a while, but someday – maybe even on Judgment Day – we have to answer for how we conducted our lives. We will be asked how well we served… how devoted we were to Jesus… and whether we modeled His teachings for others. And this will not be a time for excuses!
I realize that every Christian is at a different point in his/her journey. I am so overwhelmed by what God has done for me that I cannot help but serve Him. I no longer operate out of a sense of fear of retribution if I fail to do this… I truly want and need to serve Him with every fiber of my being! And I do not mean to frighten or threaten anyone with this message for today. God is loving, kind and fair… but He is also jealous and expectant… and unwavering in all things. He will not accept excuses… God will not tolerate shoddy work!
So where does this leave you? Are you a Christian who has been “grafted onto the root” and hopes to coast along there on good looks, the kindness of others, and the mercy of Almighty God? Or are you firmly attached… doing all you can to nurture and give back to the Root Plant… making every effort to bloom and grow? The choice is totally ours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This scripture passage makes a great analogy with the root plant (God) and the cuttings that were removed (non-believers) so that new cuttings (believers in Jesus) could be grafted onto the plant. But let’s take this one step further…suppose you got a job because your boss let someone go who was not performing well. You were added to the team, and everything was great for a while… and then you began to miss work, slack off, and give shoddy results. Pretty soon, it was “Hasta la vista, baby… don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” - and you were unemployed.
When you asked your employer why you were being let go, he/she explained that it was not about your past… your family… your appearance… or even your off-hours activities… it was because of your performance on the job - and your attitude. Try as you might to come up with excuses, your employer was adamant. You were not a good fit… and you had to go. In other words, your “graft” was not “taking” on the root plant. You might have told your family and friends how much your fellow workers liked you… how you loved your job and your bosses were impressed. But in truth, you were only as good as your work…and you were receiving low marks for attitude and performance.
Do you see that it’s much that way for us as Christians? Far too many of us have decided that once we’re in - we’re in! So we can now go and do as we please. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins… and I believe that any of us who have truly invited Him to live in our hearts are guaranteed a place in His presence for all Eternity. But our Salvation came with a price – Jesus’ very body and blood. He freely gave Himself for us. But when we commit our hearts to Him, we are expected to also give our mind, body, soul… energy and enthusiasm…devotion and demeanor, in return. And this is where so many of us miss the mark.
Becoming a Christian is somewhat like enrolling in college. Once you are accepted, you have an obligation to fulfill certain duties and expectations. You can skip class and neglect your studies… and for a while, the college will keep taking your money and allow you to stay on campus. But there will come a point where you either have to step up to the plate and complete the work… or you will be sent packing! You can still say you attended XYZ University… you can still claim to have been a student there…but you are no longer headed toward graduation and a degree… you will not reap the full rewards. And so it is with our faith. We can “play Christian” for a while, but someday – maybe even on Judgment Day – we have to answer for how we conducted our lives. We will be asked how well we served… how devoted we were to Jesus… and whether we modeled His teachings for others. And this will not be a time for excuses!
I realize that every Christian is at a different point in his/her journey. I am so overwhelmed by what God has done for me that I cannot help but serve Him. I no longer operate out of a sense of fear of retribution if I fail to do this… I truly want and need to serve Him with every fiber of my being! And I do not mean to frighten or threaten anyone with this message for today. God is loving, kind and fair… but He is also jealous and expectant… and unwavering in all things. He will not accept excuses… God will not tolerate shoddy work!
So where does this leave you? Are you a Christian who has been “grafted onto the root” and hopes to coast along there on good looks, the kindness of others, and the mercy of Almighty God? Or are you firmly attached… doing all you can to nurture and give back to the Root Plant… making every effort to bloom and grow? The choice is totally ours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 3, 2013
Romans 1:28-32
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever told a child, “Don’t touch that… it’s hot!”? Or maybe you have said, “You’re going to turn over in that chair,” or “You’ll fall and hurt yourself!” In the end, chances are good that the child had to learn the hard way! It can be terribly frustrating and upsetting to watch a child do something that could very well lead to physical harm… and not be able to prevent it. You turn your back for one minute, and the unthinkable has happened. We truly cannot prevent all accidents or shield our children from every single injury. Kids will fall and skin knees… they will try the very thing we told them would hurt them… and all we can do is be there to pick them up and soothe them - or cart them off to the Emergency Room!
No matter how much we tell teenagers and young adults that we were young once… that we know – often firsthand – the perils of certain situations... they often either don’t believe us or simply have to try these for themselves. So kids start smoking…drinking…experimenting with drugs…cursing…texting while driving…driving too fast…and testing the waters in countless other ways. And often, they “encourage” their friends to do the same. Again, all we can do is stand by and offer support when things go awry.
God is really no different from any other parent in this regard… when His children show out and try things He has warned them against… when they choose to “do it anyway,” He has no choice but to “abandon them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Just as there are times when there is absolutely nothing a parent can do to rescue a child… there comes a time when God cannot rescue us either, because He allows us to operate with free will. And like any parent, God is grieved when things fall apart.
For his/her part, the “child” has a myriad of excuses… ranging from stubbornness to peer pressure to curiosity – and even sheer stupidity! And unless we “children” come clean and change course… admit our mistakes, beg for mercy and acknowledge God…He will have no choice but to leave us “wandering in the desert” of sin, hopelessness, and despair – and ultimately, the depths of hell. Think of the parent who leaves his/her child in jail and refuses to post bond - times a gazillion!
How would you feel to know that God wasn’t coming after you? What would you think if you realized that your choices and actions had essentially sealed the gates of heaven closed? After all He has done for you, can you really bear to grieve God by making selfish choices… could you really turn away and deny Him completely?
I know that temptations surround us. None of us likes to be told what to do… or that someone else knows what is best for us. But God truly DOES know best… His ways are perfect… His love for us is so great that He would never steer us in the wrong direction or tell us to do something that wasn’t in our very best interest. When we choose to directly contradict God, we have shown ourselves to be heartless and without mercy… two things we would NEVER wish to experience from Him! If we are so foolish as to turn our backs on God and decide that we have no need for Him in our lives, we have essentially abandoned Him. Yet we would NEVER want God to abandon us!
So why are we treating God this way? What excuse could possibly be good enough to ignore God… even for one day? Isn’t it time we fully acknowledged Him, submitted OUR desires to His will for our lives, and operated in humble obedience and gratitude? What is holding you back today? What is your excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever told a child, “Don’t touch that… it’s hot!”? Or maybe you have said, “You’re going to turn over in that chair,” or “You’ll fall and hurt yourself!” In the end, chances are good that the child had to learn the hard way! It can be terribly frustrating and upsetting to watch a child do something that could very well lead to physical harm… and not be able to prevent it. You turn your back for one minute, and the unthinkable has happened. We truly cannot prevent all accidents or shield our children from every single injury. Kids will fall and skin knees… they will try the very thing we told them would hurt them… and all we can do is be there to pick them up and soothe them - or cart them off to the Emergency Room!
No matter how much we tell teenagers and young adults that we were young once… that we know – often firsthand – the perils of certain situations... they often either don’t believe us or simply have to try these for themselves. So kids start smoking…drinking…experimenting with drugs…cursing…texting while driving…driving too fast…and testing the waters in countless other ways. And often, they “encourage” their friends to do the same. Again, all we can do is stand by and offer support when things go awry.
God is really no different from any other parent in this regard… when His children show out and try things He has warned them against… when they choose to “do it anyway,” He has no choice but to “abandon them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Just as there are times when there is absolutely nothing a parent can do to rescue a child… there comes a time when God cannot rescue us either, because He allows us to operate with free will. And like any parent, God is grieved when things fall apart.
For his/her part, the “child” has a myriad of excuses… ranging from stubbornness to peer pressure to curiosity – and even sheer stupidity! And unless we “children” come clean and change course… admit our mistakes, beg for mercy and acknowledge God…He will have no choice but to leave us “wandering in the desert” of sin, hopelessness, and despair – and ultimately, the depths of hell. Think of the parent who leaves his/her child in jail and refuses to post bond - times a gazillion!
How would you feel to know that God wasn’t coming after you? What would you think if you realized that your choices and actions had essentially sealed the gates of heaven closed? After all He has done for you, can you really bear to grieve God by making selfish choices… could you really turn away and deny Him completely?
I know that temptations surround us. None of us likes to be told what to do… or that someone else knows what is best for us. But God truly DOES know best… His ways are perfect… His love for us is so great that He would never steer us in the wrong direction or tell us to do something that wasn’t in our very best interest. When we choose to directly contradict God, we have shown ourselves to be heartless and without mercy… two things we would NEVER wish to experience from Him! If we are so foolish as to turn our backs on God and decide that we have no need for Him in our lives, we have essentially abandoned Him. Yet we would NEVER want God to abandon us!
So why are we treating God this way? What excuse could possibly be good enough to ignore God… even for one day? Isn’t it time we fully acknowledged Him, submitted OUR desires to His will for our lives, and operated in humble obedience and gratitude? What is holding you back today? What is your excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 30, 2013
Revelation 22:18-19
I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.
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 have written several times about how I take adult clothing in good shape and refashion it into something for children. My cousin Owen LOVES the color orange, so I bought an orange knit polo shirt at the thrift store and used the fabric to create a pair of shorts. There were pockets on the chest, and these I put on the side of the legs like cargo pockets. When I was done, you would never know that these little boy shorts had once been a man’s polo shirt!
I am constantly taking something old and repurposing it into something fresh and new… something that my little ones or I will enjoy. And there is nothing wrong with this. In fact… it’s a good thing! Waste not, want not, you know! I try to utilize virtually every scrap of the fabric in one way or another to create something that will have “life” and meaning for someone else.
Here’s the deal… too many of us are doing this with the word of God… and this is not okay! Our “excuse” is often that… “This is not really what God meant! When Jesus commanded us to love one another, He meant love them in your heart. He surely didn’t mean that we should reach out to the dirty, homeless drug addict and offer to feed him/her. He wasn’t saying to share a pew at church with someone who is openly gay or from another race, much less welcome those who practice other religions into our homes and our communities! And I know that He most definitely was not telling us to be kind and loving toward those who have treated us unkindly and/or gossiped about us and tried to damage our reputation! God certainly doesn’t mean for us to spend our hard-earned money on orphans, the elderly, or that person who we assume must be too lazy to work! This is not how God meant for us to love others!”
We create a “new garment,” so to speak… one that is fresh, enjoyable and comfortable. But it doesn’t look one bit like God’s original “garment”. We twist and turn our interpretations of God’s word so much that it bears little to no resemblance to what God intended and/or actually said. We pick and choose… take parts of the Old Testament so literally that we essentially ignore the New Testament. In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz says talks about how in Old Testament times, people were required to bring their very best lamb to the priest as compensation for their sins. The “sinner” would stand before the priest and confess his sins while holding this beautiful, pure, soft lamb. Then the priest would hand him a knife and call for the lamb’s neck to be sliced. This was how the “sinner” was held responsible for his own sins…he had to actually sacrifice the lamb and feel the blood wash over his hands.
When Jesus quite literally became the Lamb of God on the cross, all of this changed. He sacrificed His blood for us, once and for all. Does scripture still tell about the sacrifice of lambs? Absolutely! Is this how we atone for our sins today? Absolutely NOT! If you pick and choose, twist and turn, or take one scripture passage out of context in relation to the big picture, you will have something that even God often doesn’t recognize… and He will not be pleased.
We have to be very careful that our own desires and agendas do not color our interpretation of God’s word. It’s very easy to find a verse or two that may seem to justify our thoughts and actions… if we take them out of context or do not consider the bigger picture of what is written in the Bible as a whole. Every word has meaning and importance…and we must carefully consider how these words weave together to present the message that God is sending us. God may use the same scripture passage to speak to us in different ways on any given day… but at the heart of His message, His intent and commands never change. His plan for our lives is constant… His outline for how we as Christians are supposed to speak and act is clear – and it never goes out of style.
My challenge for each of us is to look at our own lives and see where we may have twisted things – even a little – to suit our own needs and desires. Where might we have misinterpreted God’s word… even if unintentionally? Let’s ask God to reveal Himself to us through fresh new eyes… let’s open our hearts and minds and really get what He is telling us through His word. And let’s leave the repurposing and refashioning for thrift-store finds and crafty seamstresses. Are you in?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.
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 have written several times about how I take adult clothing in good shape and refashion it into something for children. My cousin Owen LOVES the color orange, so I bought an orange knit polo shirt at the thrift store and used the fabric to create a pair of shorts. There were pockets on the chest, and these I put on the side of the legs like cargo pockets. When I was done, you would never know that these little boy shorts had once been a man’s polo shirt!
I am constantly taking something old and repurposing it into something fresh and new… something that my little ones or I will enjoy. And there is nothing wrong with this. In fact… it’s a good thing! Waste not, want not, you know! I try to utilize virtually every scrap of the fabric in one way or another to create something that will have “life” and meaning for someone else.
Here’s the deal… too many of us are doing this with the word of God… and this is not okay! Our “excuse” is often that… “This is not really what God meant! When Jesus commanded us to love one another, He meant love them in your heart. He surely didn’t mean that we should reach out to the dirty, homeless drug addict and offer to feed him/her. He wasn’t saying to share a pew at church with someone who is openly gay or from another race, much less welcome those who practice other religions into our homes and our communities! And I know that He most definitely was not telling us to be kind and loving toward those who have treated us unkindly and/or gossiped about us and tried to damage our reputation! God certainly doesn’t mean for us to spend our hard-earned money on orphans, the elderly, or that person who we assume must be too lazy to work! This is not how God meant for us to love others!”
We create a “new garment,” so to speak… one that is fresh, enjoyable and comfortable. But it doesn’t look one bit like God’s original “garment”. We twist and turn our interpretations of God’s word so much that it bears little to no resemblance to what God intended and/or actually said. We pick and choose… take parts of the Old Testament so literally that we essentially ignore the New Testament. In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz says talks about how in Old Testament times, people were required to bring their very best lamb to the priest as compensation for their sins. The “sinner” would stand before the priest and confess his sins while holding this beautiful, pure, soft lamb. Then the priest would hand him a knife and call for the lamb’s neck to be sliced. This was how the “sinner” was held responsible for his own sins…he had to actually sacrifice the lamb and feel the blood wash over his hands.
When Jesus quite literally became the Lamb of God on the cross, all of this changed. He sacrificed His blood for us, once and for all. Does scripture still tell about the sacrifice of lambs? Absolutely! Is this how we atone for our sins today? Absolutely NOT! If you pick and choose, twist and turn, or take one scripture passage out of context in relation to the big picture, you will have something that even God often doesn’t recognize… and He will not be pleased.
We have to be very careful that our own desires and agendas do not color our interpretation of God’s word. It’s very easy to find a verse or two that may seem to justify our thoughts and actions… if we take them out of context or do not consider the bigger picture of what is written in the Bible as a whole. Every word has meaning and importance…and we must carefully consider how these words weave together to present the message that God is sending us. God may use the same scripture passage to speak to us in different ways on any given day… but at the heart of His message, His intent and commands never change. His plan for our lives is constant… His outline for how we as Christians are supposed to speak and act is clear – and it never goes out of style.
My challenge for each of us is to look at our own lives and see where we may have twisted things – even a little – to suit our own needs and desires. Where might we have misinterpreted God’s word… even if unintentionally? Let’s ask God to reveal Himself to us through fresh new eyes… let’s open our hearts and minds and really get what He is telling us through His word. And let’s leave the repurposing and refashioning for thrift-store finds and crafty seamstresses. Are you in?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2013
Psalm 1:1-6
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.
That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God. The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently saw a post on Twitter from a woman who was thanking a certain Independent Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, for helping her explain to her children how Muslims feel about Al Qaeda. You see, many leaders and members of this church, which I refuse to name, have made it their mission to protest at funerals and other events to raise awareness for their hatred of homosexuals, in particular. They have also protested against Jews… and some members have actually stomped on the American flag at some of these events. They threatened to go to Boston and protest there after the bombings last month. In their minds, every disaster and tragedy that befalls someone is a direct result of the “sins” of the groups they choose to hate. Still, they call themselves “Christians” and encourage everyone to believe as they do. In my book, they are sneering at God.
What does this have to do with Muslims and Al Qaeda? I read a response to this question on the Internet from one Muslim that I believe sums this up fairly well. This person said “the integrity of my religion is tarnished by this group.” You see, people do all sorts of things in the name of religion… even Christianity. Yet, as our pastor pointed out so bravely yesterday, there is no room for such thinking in the church… and there are no good excuses. Racism must go… intolerance cannot be allowed… we must search our hearts, study the word of God and realize that we are called to love.one.another - and everyone who trusts in God is welcome at His table. Scripture doesn’t say to pick and choose… to judge others… to protest against certain groups in the name of God and ostracize those who do not believe as we do.
God has not called us to cram our way of thinking down the throats of others. Our mission is quite clear…
Our pastor used the Sunday school movement, which began in 1790 in England, as an example. This movement was initially unpopular, because the children were taught to read the Bible on Sunday, which was considered a “day of rest.” This was the only day of the week that most children in England were not working in the factories. If they were to learn to read – and study the Bible as their textbook – it would have to be on Sundays. Clearly, many felt it was more important to “observe the Sabbath” than to learn to read God’s word on that day! But as we all know, enough people “refused evil advice” and persevered…and Sunday school eventually became a virtually universal aspect of childhood for most.
My point in sharing these things with you is not to spark a debate over social issues or various religious beliefs. God uses the same scripture passage to speak to me in different ways on any given day. Today, I feel that this passage is showing us that we must be very careful about who we listen to and what we internalize as “Christian” attitudes and behaviors. We must ask ourselves why we form certain opinions… what caused us to treat certain people in one way or another…and how this all lines up with the word of God. Do our protests and public disdain for certain activities or groups truly draw others to Jesus? Do those who observe us (and remember… people are always watching!) surmise that if we are saying that this person or group is evil… and we are Christians… it must be so? Or do they look at us and declare that they want nothing to do with Jesus, if this is how His followers treat each other? Either way, we may be misleading others… in the name of Jesus!
Are we using our Christian faith – and God’s word – as an excuse to misbehave… rather than our manual for how to live and grow like strong trees that “develop fruit in season and always have leaves?” What does our behavior, talk, body language and general attitude say to others about our relationship with God… and what does it say to God Himself? We all have areas that need work. We all have people who rub us the wrong way for one reason or another… and attitudes that need an adjustment. There is no time like the present to stop and ask God to help us with this. Tell Him how much you want to live like the strong tree that is firmly rooted, instead of the straw that blows in the wind. Ask God to show you where you need to be more tolerant and progressive in your thinking… and how to more closely follow Jesus’ commandments.
It is time to drop the excuses and stop hiding behind them… to step up and out and be the people God has called us to be. I’m ready to get in line… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.
That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God. The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently saw a post on Twitter from a woman who was thanking a certain Independent Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, for helping her explain to her children how Muslims feel about Al Qaeda. You see, many leaders and members of this church, which I refuse to name, have made it their mission to protest at funerals and other events to raise awareness for their hatred of homosexuals, in particular. They have also protested against Jews… and some members have actually stomped on the American flag at some of these events. They threatened to go to Boston and protest there after the bombings last month. In their minds, every disaster and tragedy that befalls someone is a direct result of the “sins” of the groups they choose to hate. Still, they call themselves “Christians” and encourage everyone to believe as they do. In my book, they are sneering at God.
What does this have to do with Muslims and Al Qaeda? I read a response to this question on the Internet from one Muslim that I believe sums this up fairly well. This person said “the integrity of my religion is tarnished by this group.” You see, people do all sorts of things in the name of religion… even Christianity. Yet, as our pastor pointed out so bravely yesterday, there is no room for such thinking in the church… and there are no good excuses. Racism must go… intolerance cannot be allowed… we must search our hearts, study the word of God and realize that we are called to love.one.another - and everyone who trusts in God is welcome at His table. Scripture doesn’t say to pick and choose… to judge others… to protest against certain groups in the name of God and ostracize those who do not believe as we do.
God has not called us to cram our way of thinking down the throats of others. Our mission is quite clear…
- Love the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
- Love others as you love yourself.
- Go and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
Our pastor used the Sunday school movement, which began in 1790 in England, as an example. This movement was initially unpopular, because the children were taught to read the Bible on Sunday, which was considered a “day of rest.” This was the only day of the week that most children in England were not working in the factories. If they were to learn to read – and study the Bible as their textbook – it would have to be on Sundays. Clearly, many felt it was more important to “observe the Sabbath” than to learn to read God’s word on that day! But as we all know, enough people “refused evil advice” and persevered…and Sunday school eventually became a virtually universal aspect of childhood for most.
My point in sharing these things with you is not to spark a debate over social issues or various religious beliefs. God uses the same scripture passage to speak to me in different ways on any given day. Today, I feel that this passage is showing us that we must be very careful about who we listen to and what we internalize as “Christian” attitudes and behaviors. We must ask ourselves why we form certain opinions… what caused us to treat certain people in one way or another…and how this all lines up with the word of God. Do our protests and public disdain for certain activities or groups truly draw others to Jesus? Do those who observe us (and remember… people are always watching!) surmise that if we are saying that this person or group is evil… and we are Christians… it must be so? Or do they look at us and declare that they want nothing to do with Jesus, if this is how His followers treat each other? Either way, we may be misleading others… in the name of Jesus!
Are we using our Christian faith – and God’s word – as an excuse to misbehave… rather than our manual for how to live and grow like strong trees that “develop fruit in season and always have leaves?” What does our behavior, talk, body language and general attitude say to others about our relationship with God… and what does it say to God Himself? We all have areas that need work. We all have people who rub us the wrong way for one reason or another… and attitudes that need an adjustment. There is no time like the present to stop and ask God to help us with this. Tell Him how much you want to live like the strong tree that is firmly rooted, instead of the straw that blows in the wind. Ask God to show you where you need to be more tolerant and progressive in your thinking… and how to more closely follow Jesus’ commandments.
It is time to drop the excuses and stop hiding behind them… to step up and out and be the people God has called us to be. I’m ready to get in line… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2013
Matthew 8:21
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 27, 2013
April 27 ~ Matthew 7:21-23
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
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.
When my grandmother died, the members of her church prepared lunch for my family on the day of her visitation and funeral service. Someone organized a meal and contacted church members to prepare the varied dishes that were served. Several couples and individuals set up tables in the social hall, prepared iced tea and coffee, and set out a buffet table with all of the food that had been provided. We literally didn’t have to do a thing except fill our plates. These loving servants brought beverages to our tables, picked up our dirty dishes, and stayed to clean up and take care of the leftovers after we had eaten.
Afterward, I was given a list of the people who participated. I have to tell you…it was humbling to see the names of many busy people who took time to prepare a dish, even though they work fulltime… the retirees who made a salad or baked a casserole, cake or pie, when I know they are in poor health… those who contributed in some way, even though they are caring for a loved one at home who is unwell and could probably use a covered dish themselves!
I was greatly moved by the loving gestures of people who dropped everything to stop by my grandmother’s room as she lay dying and offer us a hug. Some of them left loved ones of theirs who were not well, and others who took time out of a busy workday… just to pray with us, say a “Goodbye” to my grandmother - and to let us know how deeply they cared. Even fellow believers need nurture and encouragement… and ministry!
Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, says that some of the most important ministries are the most obscure. And truly, what could share the love of Jesus better than a visit to a shut-in or someone who is sick… an anonymous donation of clothing or food to a needy family… or the subtle palming of a twenty dollar bill to someone who is down to their last dime? Which makes the bigger impact… a check written to a memorial fund that gets your name on a plaque or pulling out your wallet and paying for the groceries of the person ahead of you in the check-out line who has obviously overspent? Who is the bigger servant… the 80-year-old man who sets out tables and chairs for a luncheon to feed a grieving family – or the person who lends his/her name to committees and projects and participates in church and community events in hopes that everyone will see him/her and be impressed?
This scripture passage reminds me of people we meet along the way who ask, “How are you doing?” but never stick around for the answer. And at the end of the day, God really doesn’t care how big of a splash you made, what committees you chaired, or how much money you gave. He cares about your heart. And no amount of excuses will be good enough to justify giving Him “lip service” or serving with ulterior motives or selfish ambition.
Three things come to mind about this passage…
Where do you find yourself these days? Are you willing to do the “grunt work” for God… or do you crave the limelight? When God assesses your ministries, will He be pleased… or will you be grappling for excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
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.
When my grandmother died, the members of her church prepared lunch for my family on the day of her visitation and funeral service. Someone organized a meal and contacted church members to prepare the varied dishes that were served. Several couples and individuals set up tables in the social hall, prepared iced tea and coffee, and set out a buffet table with all of the food that had been provided. We literally didn’t have to do a thing except fill our plates. These loving servants brought beverages to our tables, picked up our dirty dishes, and stayed to clean up and take care of the leftovers after we had eaten.
Afterward, I was given a list of the people who participated. I have to tell you…it was humbling to see the names of many busy people who took time to prepare a dish, even though they work fulltime… the retirees who made a salad or baked a casserole, cake or pie, when I know they are in poor health… those who contributed in some way, even though they are caring for a loved one at home who is unwell and could probably use a covered dish themselves!
I was greatly moved by the loving gestures of people who dropped everything to stop by my grandmother’s room as she lay dying and offer us a hug. Some of them left loved ones of theirs who were not well, and others who took time out of a busy workday… just to pray with us, say a “Goodbye” to my grandmother - and to let us know how deeply they cared. Even fellow believers need nurture and encouragement… and ministry!
Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, says that some of the most important ministries are the most obscure. And truly, what could share the love of Jesus better than a visit to a shut-in or someone who is sick… an anonymous donation of clothing or food to a needy family… or the subtle palming of a twenty dollar bill to someone who is down to their last dime? Which makes the bigger impact… a check written to a memorial fund that gets your name on a plaque or pulling out your wallet and paying for the groceries of the person ahead of you in the check-out line who has obviously overspent? Who is the bigger servant… the 80-year-old man who sets out tables and chairs for a luncheon to feed a grieving family – or the person who lends his/her name to committees and projects and participates in church and community events in hopes that everyone will see him/her and be impressed?
This scripture passage reminds me of people we meet along the way who ask, “How are you doing?” but never stick around for the answer. And at the end of the day, God really doesn’t care how big of a splash you made, what committees you chaired, or how much money you gave. He cares about your heart. And no amount of excuses will be good enough to justify giving Him “lip service” or serving with ulterior motives or selfish ambition.
Three things come to mind about this passage…
- God is not impressed with a show… and He does know when we are giving Him one.
- You truly can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because someone doesn’t appear to be doing anything for the LORD doesn’t mean this is the case. He/she may have actually mastered serving with humility and working in the background – and accomplishing more than most for the Kingdom of heaven!
- You can’t toss around God’s name and expect to receive a free pass. Just because you are a born-again Christian doesn’t mean you are more special than the next guy… or exempt from serving obediently wherever – and whenever God calls on you.
Where do you find yourself these days? Are you willing to do the “grunt work” for God… or do you crave the limelight? When God assesses your ministries, will He be pleased… or will you be grappling for excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2013
April 26 ~ Mark 4:21-25
Jesus went on: “Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don’t you put it up on a table or on the mantel? We’re not keeping secrets, we’re telling them; we’re not hiding things, we’re bringing them out into the open.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”
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’ve just cleaned my closets and drawers in preparation for a garage sale. I really tried to be ruthless and go by the theory that “if you haven’t worn it in a year, it needs to go.” I did pretty well, for a packrat! But I hear there are people who have clothes in their closets with the tags still on them… things that have never been worn and often get tossed or sold as “new with tags.” I cannot imagine doing such a thing… but I know it is fairly common – and you may even be one of these people.
My husband and I watch the TV show American Pickers, and we have seen the two hosts visit more than one “collector” who has amazing things in his/her basement, barn, attic, sheds and garages… artifacts that belong in a museum or in the collection of someone who could restore and/or properly display them. Instead, they are rotting and disintegrating… and the owner says, “Oh… I could never part with that!” – even when he/she is offered a fair price for them. It’s such a shame to think that no one is getting to enjoy these items. But before you start to cluck too loudly, think about your own closets and storage areas!
When it comes to our Christian faith… where do you keep yours – and how do you utilize it? Are you one of those who received the gift of salvation, then went about “business as usual”? Did you essentially put your Christianity in the closet with the tags still on and pretty much forget you even had it? Or do you exercise your faith on a daily basis? Are you ready to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone you encounter? I don’t necessarily mean that you must preach to each person you meet – or even give your personal testimony. But do you offer others a smile and a kind word? Are you ready to pitch in and help whenever and wherever needed? Do you treat others as you wish to be treated – or better?
Do others consider you to be a generous person? Do they see you as someone with optimism, quiet strength and resolve – even in the midst of significant challenges? Are you a person to whom others are drawn because of your joy and peace? Do people want some of what you have – and not in a jealous way, but more in the spirit of “I’ll have some of what he/she’s got!”? When others think of you, what words come to mind? Do they picture Jesus? Or are you like the forgotten item of clothing in the closet… hidden behind pieces that may have even seen better days… and still carrying the tags? When someone asks you about your faith, are you like the collector who could never part with his/her treasure and allows it to deteriorate in a closet?
What are you doing with your Christian faith? How are you serving in Jesus’ name? God has given you such a tremendous gift… what are you giving in return? Are you a giver… or merely a taker? Does your light for Christ shine… or is it so far under the barrel that it’s less than a twinkle? Are you striving to get ahead by constantly taking and never giving? Isn’t it time to step up and out as a Christian disciple… to drop the excuses… and to shine generously for Jesus? Wouldn’t this be a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus went on: “Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don’t you put it up on a table or on the mantel? We’re not keeping secrets, we’re telling them; we’re not hiding things, we’re bringing them out into the open.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”
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’ve just cleaned my closets and drawers in preparation for a garage sale. I really tried to be ruthless and go by the theory that “if you haven’t worn it in a year, it needs to go.” I did pretty well, for a packrat! But I hear there are people who have clothes in their closets with the tags still on them… things that have never been worn and often get tossed or sold as “new with tags.” I cannot imagine doing such a thing… but I know it is fairly common – and you may even be one of these people.
My husband and I watch the TV show American Pickers, and we have seen the two hosts visit more than one “collector” who has amazing things in his/her basement, barn, attic, sheds and garages… artifacts that belong in a museum or in the collection of someone who could restore and/or properly display them. Instead, they are rotting and disintegrating… and the owner says, “Oh… I could never part with that!” – even when he/she is offered a fair price for them. It’s such a shame to think that no one is getting to enjoy these items. But before you start to cluck too loudly, think about your own closets and storage areas!
When it comes to our Christian faith… where do you keep yours – and how do you utilize it? Are you one of those who received the gift of salvation, then went about “business as usual”? Did you essentially put your Christianity in the closet with the tags still on and pretty much forget you even had it? Or do you exercise your faith on a daily basis? Are you ready to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone you encounter? I don’t necessarily mean that you must preach to each person you meet – or even give your personal testimony. But do you offer others a smile and a kind word? Are you ready to pitch in and help whenever and wherever needed? Do you treat others as you wish to be treated – or better?
Do others consider you to be a generous person? Do they see you as someone with optimism, quiet strength and resolve – even in the midst of significant challenges? Are you a person to whom others are drawn because of your joy and peace? Do people want some of what you have – and not in a jealous way, but more in the spirit of “I’ll have some of what he/she’s got!”? When others think of you, what words come to mind? Do they picture Jesus? Or are you like the forgotten item of clothing in the closet… hidden behind pieces that may have even seen better days… and still carrying the tags? When someone asks you about your faith, are you like the collector who could never part with his/her treasure and allows it to deteriorate in a closet?
What are you doing with your Christian faith? How are you serving in Jesus’ name? God has given you such a tremendous gift… what are you giving in return? Are you a giver… or merely a taker? Does your light for Christ shine… or is it so far under the barrel that it’s less than a twinkle? Are you striving to get ahead by constantly taking and never giving? Isn’t it time to step up and out as a Christian disciple… to drop the excuses… and to shine generously for Jesus? Wouldn’t this be a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 25, 2013
Luke 16:19-31
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2013
Luke 14:18-20
But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every single day, we make countless excuses. You may not even realize that you are doing this, but stop and think about your day. One of the first I recall making today was to my mom. We were talking on the phone, and I saw the mail lady bring a package to my door, so I said, “I need to hang up now… someone is at my door.” I told my nephews and niece that I could not stay and visit with them this afternoon, because I had to go to Wal-Mart and shop. I even told one of my cats that I couldn’t feed her… because it wasn’t time for her dinner yet! All of these excuses were legitimate. But we make so many that are not. Rather than be honest – for whatever reason – we make up what we hope is a plausible explanation and hope that the other guy will say, “That’s okay,” or “I understand.”
The problem is that we can easily get into a bad habit of making excuses, and pretty soon, we have an answer for everything! We especially do this with God. We can’t always excuse our way out of work, school, obligations to family and friends… but we are pretty sure we can get God to let us off the hook. He’ll always love us… right? We’re too busy to serve Him. Our “free time” is too precious to spend in worship or doing mission work. We are not talented, smart enough, or physically able to do the things that are asked of us. God will sympathize… won’t He?
The short answer is, “No! He will not!” Understand this… God will always love us – but He will not accept our excuses. If you expand your examination of Luke 14, you will see that Jesus clearly tells us that there is a cost for being a Christian… and for some, this price can seem quite high. In order to fully follow Jesus Christ, some people will have to give up relationships with family members and friends. Some will have to change jobs, kick old habits, and modify a lot of attitudes. There will be Christians who risk their very lives in order to proclaim their discipleship.
Christians were never promised an easy or comfortable life. And this is where so many of us get it wrong. We expect life in Christ to be a cake walk… freely He gives us salvation, and “freely” we plan to take! So when things get awkward, difficult, embarrassing, or unpleasant… when we are called to step out of the box and put our needs on the shelf, the excuses start to flow like a bubbling stream. This doesn’t make us bad people… but it does speak to our level of commitment. Too many of us want to be “a little bit Christian” – the part that gets us into heaven without having to make any sacrifices or step outside our comfort zone.
The time has come for us to stop playing around and making excuses. It is time for us to get serious about our commitment to Christ… to literally take a “leap of faith” and go full in for Jesus. Where will this leave you? Will you have a new spouse, a crop to inspect, or pets and livestock to tend? Or will you be ready to drop what you are doing and go wherever – and whenever – God calls you? The choice is totally ours…how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every single day, we make countless excuses. You may not even realize that you are doing this, but stop and think about your day. One of the first I recall making today was to my mom. We were talking on the phone, and I saw the mail lady bring a package to my door, so I said, “I need to hang up now… someone is at my door.” I told my nephews and niece that I could not stay and visit with them this afternoon, because I had to go to Wal-Mart and shop. I even told one of my cats that I couldn’t feed her… because it wasn’t time for her dinner yet! All of these excuses were legitimate. But we make so many that are not. Rather than be honest – for whatever reason – we make up what we hope is a plausible explanation and hope that the other guy will say, “That’s okay,” or “I understand.”
The problem is that we can easily get into a bad habit of making excuses, and pretty soon, we have an answer for everything! We especially do this with God. We can’t always excuse our way out of work, school, obligations to family and friends… but we are pretty sure we can get God to let us off the hook. He’ll always love us… right? We’re too busy to serve Him. Our “free time” is too precious to spend in worship or doing mission work. We are not talented, smart enough, or physically able to do the things that are asked of us. God will sympathize… won’t He?
The short answer is, “No! He will not!” Understand this… God will always love us – but He will not accept our excuses. If you expand your examination of Luke 14, you will see that Jesus clearly tells us that there is a cost for being a Christian… and for some, this price can seem quite high. In order to fully follow Jesus Christ, some people will have to give up relationships with family members and friends. Some will have to change jobs, kick old habits, and modify a lot of attitudes. There will be Christians who risk their very lives in order to proclaim their discipleship.
Christians were never promised an easy or comfortable life. And this is where so many of us get it wrong. We expect life in Christ to be a cake walk… freely He gives us salvation, and “freely” we plan to take! So when things get awkward, difficult, embarrassing, or unpleasant… when we are called to step out of the box and put our needs on the shelf, the excuses start to flow like a bubbling stream. This doesn’t make us bad people… but it does speak to our level of commitment. Too many of us want to be “a little bit Christian” – the part that gets us into heaven without having to make any sacrifices or step outside our comfort zone.
The time has come for us to stop playing around and making excuses. It is time for us to get serious about our commitment to Christ… to literally take a “leap of faith” and go full in for Jesus. Where will this leave you? Will you have a new spouse, a crop to inspect, or pets and livestock to tend? Or will you be ready to drop what you are doing and go wherever – and whenever – God calls you? The choice is totally ours…how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2013
April 20 ~ John 6:61-65
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
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 mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
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 mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 19, 2013
John 5:1-9
Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I did my weekly shopping today, and as I put away the groceries, toiletries, and household cleaners, I collected the plastic bags and set them aside for recycling. I had purchased some fabric and a spool of thread, and when I got everything put away, the thread was nowhere to be found. I knew that I had gotten home with it. I was pretty sure I had seen it in one of the grocery sacks, and a check of the receipt said that I had purchased and paid for a spool of thread. So I went to the closet to look through some items still in the bags… perhaps it fell to the bottom of one of these sacks. I checked all four bags… three times! I looked at least that many times in my laundry/sewing room. (I’ll admit… it would be easy to lose something there!)
I considered checking the emptied shopping bags, but I was pretty sure that the thread wasn’t there. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to spend the time to go back through each of those plastic bags. But I finally realized that I needed to do this… and sure enough – the thread was in one of them. There is an old adage that says that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” I thought of this as I went through the bags in the closet for the third time! And I thought of this adage as I read today’s scripture verses.
Until a few years ago, I had studied this passage and thought, “How wonderful that Jesus healed this poor man who could not get to the pool to be healed.” Then I heard someone point out that the man had lain virtually right beside the pool for THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS! Surely to goodness in that length of time, he could have persuaded someone to push him over into the healing waters! Since I wasn’t there to see exactly how close he lay, I will not judge this man any further. But it appears that Jesus offered him amazing grace and mercy in healing him… that his excuse was fairly weak…that perhaps he was content to wallow in self-pity rather than make the effort to become well.
Don’t we all do this much of the time? Don’t we often find it more comfortable to stay where we are and dredge up excuses or blame someone or something else for our troubles? Call it laziness, self-pity, ignorance, or just plain lack of ambition or desire to do better – or even a lack of faith… we all “lie by the pool” from time to time rather than make the effort to roll on over, fall in, and make a change! That Jesus pulls many of us up by the bootstraps and takes care of us anyway is astounding and incredible to me! For the life of me, the only way I can explain it is that He loves us far more than we can comprehend… and much more than we will ever deserve.
So where are you “going in circles” these days? Where are you repeating the same things… and hoping for different results? Where have you made excuses, rather than get up and get going? Let’s face it… if you haven’t “fallen in the pool” under your own power by now – and nobody’s pushed you in – it’s a pretty sure bet that it’s not happening anytime soon. Where do you need to implement this challenge in your own life? Where do you need to call on Jesus to heal you and set you on a new course? Isn’t it time you trusted Him, picked up your mat and began walking? Or are you content to lie at the water’s edge and make excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I did my weekly shopping today, and as I put away the groceries, toiletries, and household cleaners, I collected the plastic bags and set them aside for recycling. I had purchased some fabric and a spool of thread, and when I got everything put away, the thread was nowhere to be found. I knew that I had gotten home with it. I was pretty sure I had seen it in one of the grocery sacks, and a check of the receipt said that I had purchased and paid for a spool of thread. So I went to the closet to look through some items still in the bags… perhaps it fell to the bottom of one of these sacks. I checked all four bags… three times! I looked at least that many times in my laundry/sewing room. (I’ll admit… it would be easy to lose something there!)
I considered checking the emptied shopping bags, but I was pretty sure that the thread wasn’t there. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to spend the time to go back through each of those plastic bags. But I finally realized that I needed to do this… and sure enough – the thread was in one of them. There is an old adage that says that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” I thought of this as I went through the bags in the closet for the third time! And I thought of this adage as I read today’s scripture verses.
Until a few years ago, I had studied this passage and thought, “How wonderful that Jesus healed this poor man who could not get to the pool to be healed.” Then I heard someone point out that the man had lain virtually right beside the pool for THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS! Surely to goodness in that length of time, he could have persuaded someone to push him over into the healing waters! Since I wasn’t there to see exactly how close he lay, I will not judge this man any further. But it appears that Jesus offered him amazing grace and mercy in healing him… that his excuse was fairly weak…that perhaps he was content to wallow in self-pity rather than make the effort to become well.
Don’t we all do this much of the time? Don’t we often find it more comfortable to stay where we are and dredge up excuses or blame someone or something else for our troubles? Call it laziness, self-pity, ignorance, or just plain lack of ambition or desire to do better – or even a lack of faith… we all “lie by the pool” from time to time rather than make the effort to roll on over, fall in, and make a change! That Jesus pulls many of us up by the bootstraps and takes care of us anyway is astounding and incredible to me! For the life of me, the only way I can explain it is that He loves us far more than we can comprehend… and much more than we will ever deserve.
So where are you “going in circles” these days? Where are you repeating the same things… and hoping for different results? Where have you made excuses, rather than get up and get going? Let’s face it… if you haven’t “fallen in the pool” under your own power by now – and nobody’s pushed you in – it’s a pretty sure bet that it’s not happening anytime soon. Where do you need to implement this challenge in your own life? Where do you need to call on Jesus to heal you and set you on a new course? Isn’t it time you trusted Him, picked up your mat and began walking? Or are you content to lie at the water’s edge and make excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
This is what God said:
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that’s what I had in mind for you.”
But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.” God’s Decree.
God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish,
And then start over, building and planting.”
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.
One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is how to speak and do things for themselves. Timothy will say to me, “I want Uncle Greg to come downstairs and see what I built with blocks.” For a long time, he was not permitted to go upstairs alone, because we were afraid he would fall on the steps. Now he is big enough to go up and down independently. Still, when I tell him to go and ask his Uncle Greg to come and have a look, he sometimes says, “But I can’t!” When I either ignore this or remind him that he can indeed do it himself, he usually decides to go alone to summon his uncle. Sometimes he will ask, “Come with me?” And I will usually oblige. My point is not to make him do things by himself as much as to teach him that he is developing capabilities for accomplishing new things.
We will start to walk somewhere together, and Timothy will say, “Carry me!” I often remind him that he is a big boy – almost too big now for me to carry – that he is perfectly capable of walking. Sometimes, he will come back with… “But I’m too little… I’m just a little boy!” And I have to laugh at this ploy for my sympathies and concession. This is exactly what Jeremiah said to God. But God had equipped Jeremiah for these tasks and knew his capabilities – and He was not buying this excuse for one minute!
If we are truly serving God, there will be plenty of times when we feel inadequate to accomplish what He has called us to do – in our own strength and wisdom. We will want to throw up our hands and say, “But I am too young/old/poor/sick… I’m not smart enough… I don’t have time… I don’t have any talent for this. But with God, all things are possible. He has equipped us to do far beyond what we ever dreamed possible. And it is time for us to realize just how ridiculous our excuses must sound to Him.
God has called me to do several things in even the last few months that I would never have dreamed were possible. There is no way I could have accomplished many of them under my own power… or even with the help of my husband, family members, friends and acquaintances. There have been too many instances where I had to stop and say, “Only God can get this done.” And I will admit… there were a few times when I wanted to throw up my hands and say, “But wait! I’m only human…I’m not strong enough… this is too hard… there is NO WAY this can ever work… I am ‘just a boy!’” And yet, God has proven to me over and again that HIS power and purpose far exceed mine. With God behind me (and beside me), I can do far more than I ever expected!
So what is God calling you to do today that seems daunting and/or impossible? Where is He sending you and equipping you to serve, even though you feel anything but adequate for the task? What is your excuse for turning Him down… and have you considered how preposterous you seem to Him for doing so? Will this be the day you step up and out - and ask, “Where, when and how, LORD?” instead of merely “Why me?” Or will you leave Him shaking His head in disappointment as you offer yet another argument as you try to justify your hesitance or refusal?
Do you really believe in the power of God to do all things? Are you confident that He formed you for His purposes… that He will equip you to handle anything and everything to which He calls you? Isn’t it time to tear down the walls of insecurity, uncertainty, and excuses… to allow God to work in and through you? Are you ready to build and plant wherever God sends you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
This is what God said:
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that’s what I had in mind for you.”
But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.” God’s Decree.
God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish,
And then start over, building and planting.”
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.
One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is how to speak and do things for themselves. Timothy will say to me, “I want Uncle Greg to come downstairs and see what I built with blocks.” For a long time, he was not permitted to go upstairs alone, because we were afraid he would fall on the steps. Now he is big enough to go up and down independently. Still, when I tell him to go and ask his Uncle Greg to come and have a look, he sometimes says, “But I can’t!” When I either ignore this or remind him that he can indeed do it himself, he usually decides to go alone to summon his uncle. Sometimes he will ask, “Come with me?” And I will usually oblige. My point is not to make him do things by himself as much as to teach him that he is developing capabilities for accomplishing new things.
We will start to walk somewhere together, and Timothy will say, “Carry me!” I often remind him that he is a big boy – almost too big now for me to carry – that he is perfectly capable of walking. Sometimes, he will come back with… “But I’m too little… I’m just a little boy!” And I have to laugh at this ploy for my sympathies and concession. This is exactly what Jeremiah said to God. But God had equipped Jeremiah for these tasks and knew his capabilities – and He was not buying this excuse for one minute!
If we are truly serving God, there will be plenty of times when we feel inadequate to accomplish what He has called us to do – in our own strength and wisdom. We will want to throw up our hands and say, “But I am too young/old/poor/sick… I’m not smart enough… I don’t have time… I don’t have any talent for this. But with God, all things are possible. He has equipped us to do far beyond what we ever dreamed possible. And it is time for us to realize just how ridiculous our excuses must sound to Him.
God has called me to do several things in even the last few months that I would never have dreamed were possible. There is no way I could have accomplished many of them under my own power… or even with the help of my husband, family members, friends and acquaintances. There have been too many instances where I had to stop and say, “Only God can get this done.” And I will admit… there were a few times when I wanted to throw up my hands and say, “But wait! I’m only human…I’m not strong enough… this is too hard… there is NO WAY this can ever work… I am ‘just a boy!’” And yet, God has proven to me over and again that HIS power and purpose far exceed mine. With God behind me (and beside me), I can do far more than I ever expected!
So what is God calling you to do today that seems daunting and/or impossible? Where is He sending you and equipping you to serve, even though you feel anything but adequate for the task? What is your excuse for turning Him down… and have you considered how preposterous you seem to Him for doing so? Will this be the day you step up and out - and ask, “Where, when and how, LORD?” instead of merely “Why me?” Or will you leave Him shaking His head in disappointment as you offer yet another argument as you try to justify your hesitance or refusal?
Do you really believe in the power of God to do all things? Are you confident that He formed you for His purposes… that He will equip you to handle anything and everything to which He calls you? Isn’t it time to tear down the walls of insecurity, uncertainty, and excuses… to allow God to work in and through you? Are you ready to build and plant wherever God sends you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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