John 4:46-50
While Jesus was in Galilee, he returned to the village of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was an official in Capernaum whose son was sick. And when the man heard that Jesus had come from Judea, he went and begged him to keep his son from dying.
Jesus told the official, “You won’t have faith unless you see miracles and wonders!”
The man replied, “Lord, please come before my son dies!”
Jesus then said, “Your son will live. Go on home to him.” The man believed Jesus and started back home.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I’ll believe it when I see it!”
“Show me the money!”
“Prove it!”
We humans are a skeptical lot! We need reassurance…proof…a “visual” confirmation before we will commit – to pretty much anything! I keep a little basket of toys and puzzles in the cabinet, and when the children have been especially good or worked to “earn” a prize, they are allowed to choose something from the basket. Nathan, in particular, will say, “I need to look in the basket and see what’s in there.” In part, he is deciding whether it is worth his effort…but he also needs reassurance that I really do have some goodies there!
Sometimes, I will say, “You kids don’t need to see the basket…you know what is there!” And other times, I do let them have a look. But more often now, they trust that there ARE good surprises that are worth their effort. They have faith that I would not steer them down a wrong path, and they “work” in hope of a reward.
I have to believe that Jesus knew that the man’s faith was genuine, even when He chided him and the crowd by saying, “You won’t believe without proof!” Jesus might have even been a little irritated or frustrated, because so many really did NOT believe what they were told about Him. But clearly, this father of the sick child was not derailed by the comment. And if you read the verses surrounding this passage, you will see that indeed, Jesus healed his son.
Jesus is probably pretty frustrated and irritated with us many times, as we wring our hands and worry about what will happen. It’s a safe bet that most of us have weak faith on any given day – and for some, this is a way of life. We need proof…we have to have “signs”…until we actually see the hand of Jesus in our daily lives, we will reserve our acceptance – and sometimes, our best efforts.
Start watching and actually searching for Jesus as He shows up in your life and the lives of others. Don’t miss an opportunity to acknowledge His presence…or your faith that He is with you – even when you cannot readily see or feel Him. Point out to others when you see Jesus at work in their lives…not in an “I told you so” way – but as a gentle reminder that He is with them, as well!
Get in the habit of living with faith without the physical presence of signs and wonders. Trust that the “prize basket” of God’s blessings is abundantly full and available to you…that healing has already taken place…that Jesus is with you each and every minute of the day. Continually demonstrate your trust in Jesus with your words, actions – and your very demeanor. Jesus may not let us “see in the basket,” but we know what is there for us – and the time has come to start living like it!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label faith in an unseen God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith in an unseen God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 3, 2016
John 20:24-29
But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In a recent television interview, Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach, Bret Bielema, shared the story of his 27-year-old sister Betsy’s death in 1990. Betsy Bielema was in Seattle, Washington, working with underprivileged children. She broke her neck when she landed on her head after a horse she was riding encountered a snake and threw her. Bret Bielema was understandably devastated by this shocking loss. But he shared that after her passing, his pastor asked him, “What is something you will always remember about Betsy?” Bielema noted that his sister LOVED donuts.
The pastor told Bret Bielema that from now on, whenever he sees donuts, he should stop and tell SOMEONE about his sister…that this will keep her memory alive. Bielema asked the reporter [paraphrased]…”Do you know how many airports I’m in and how many Cinnabon® shops I pass?” He added that he always stops and tells someone about Betsy - sometimes even complete strangers! But Bielema admitted that talking about his sister and remembering keeps her “alive” in his heart and memories.
Even our little children understand that when someone dies, we cannot see them any longer – but they are still “with us.” Just yesterday, four-year-old Nathan was telling me (more to reassure himself) that “God is in our hearts…just like Granny. Granny died, but she is still in our hearts!” And he is so right. We talk about my mother, look at pictures, and carry on some of her “traditions” in an effort to keep her memory strong - and recognize her “presence.”
Quite often, my mother hosted a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. She did this as recently as last year. So this year…Greg and I hosted the dinner. A cousin applauded our efforts to “keep the family strong” and noted that…”It would be way easier to let it all go.” I thought about Coach Bielema…how busy he is and how it must be incredibly inconvenient at times to stop in an airport - or wherever he happens to encounter donuts – and tell someone about his sister.
But what if we just let go of these people? More importantly, what if we just “let Jesus go?” What if we didn’t carry on His work and “believe without seeing?” I still remember the first time I heard this scripture passage taught and realized that people who have never “seen” Jesus (like you and I) – yet believe in Him with our whole hearts – are extra precious to God. It’s easy to love someone, talk about them, and share in their experiences when they are physically with us. But to keep them “alive” after they have passed takes effort…faith…hope…strength…and perseverance.
So this is our mission for today…to “Keep Jesus Alive!” We must go the extra mile to do His work and share His message with others. We must be willing to “stop people in an airport” and tell them about this amazing Prince of Peace that none of us can physically “see”…but Who is completely present with us at all times - in ways great and small. We must honor the importance that God has given to each of us in His Kingdom. We must trust in an unseen Savior…and “make Him real” to others.
It would be way easier to let it all go…but then we would be left with absolutely nothing. And I want no part of a life without Jesus…what about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In a recent television interview, Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach, Bret Bielema, shared the story of his 27-year-old sister Betsy’s death in 1990. Betsy Bielema was in Seattle, Washington, working with underprivileged children. She broke her neck when she landed on her head after a horse she was riding encountered a snake and threw her. Bret Bielema was understandably devastated by this shocking loss. But he shared that after her passing, his pastor asked him, “What is something you will always remember about Betsy?” Bielema noted that his sister LOVED donuts.
The pastor told Bret Bielema that from now on, whenever he sees donuts, he should stop and tell SOMEONE about his sister…that this will keep her memory alive. Bielema asked the reporter [paraphrased]…”Do you know how many airports I’m in and how many Cinnabon® shops I pass?” He added that he always stops and tells someone about Betsy - sometimes even complete strangers! But Bielema admitted that talking about his sister and remembering keeps her “alive” in his heart and memories.
Even our little children understand that when someone dies, we cannot see them any longer – but they are still “with us.” Just yesterday, four-year-old Nathan was telling me (more to reassure himself) that “God is in our hearts…just like Granny. Granny died, but she is still in our hearts!” And he is so right. We talk about my mother, look at pictures, and carry on some of her “traditions” in an effort to keep her memory strong - and recognize her “presence.”
Quite often, my mother hosted a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. She did this as recently as last year. So this year…Greg and I hosted the dinner. A cousin applauded our efforts to “keep the family strong” and noted that…”It would be way easier to let it all go.” I thought about Coach Bielema…how busy he is and how it must be incredibly inconvenient at times to stop in an airport - or wherever he happens to encounter donuts – and tell someone about his sister.
But what if we just let go of these people? More importantly, what if we just “let Jesus go?” What if we didn’t carry on His work and “believe without seeing?” I still remember the first time I heard this scripture passage taught and realized that people who have never “seen” Jesus (like you and I) – yet believe in Him with our whole hearts – are extra precious to God. It’s easy to love someone, talk about them, and share in their experiences when they are physically with us. But to keep them “alive” after they have passed takes effort…faith…hope…strength…and perseverance.
So this is our mission for today…to “Keep Jesus Alive!” We must go the extra mile to do His work and share His message with others. We must be willing to “stop people in an airport” and tell them about this amazing Prince of Peace that none of us can physically “see”…but Who is completely present with us at all times - in ways great and small. We must honor the importance that God has given to each of us in His Kingdom. We must trust in an unseen Savior…and “make Him real” to others.
It would be way easier to let it all go…but then we would be left with absolutely nothing. And I want no part of a life without Jesus…what about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 19, 2016
John 14:8-11
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today would be my mother’s 77th birthday. She is celebrating in heaven with my dad, who would have been 80 yesterday. We always celebrated their birthdays as one…and now they are having one amazing “Heavenly party!” When mother died, her pastor and dear friend, J.R. asked, “Did your mother have any favorite scripture passages?” Man, did she ever! I rattled them off to him…Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:7, Psalm 30:5. These became the foundation of J.R.’s funeral sermon…which perfectly glorified God and honored my mother and her Christian faith.
For 58 years, my mother talked to me about Jesus. She quoted these scriptures often, so I was fully confident that they were some of her favorites. Through my mother’s demonstration of faith in Jesus – even in the midst of some pretty substantial challenges and struggles – I knew Him, too. And I knew God. I saw His authority and wisdom in action…and I felt His all-encompassing love and protection.
As I went through Mother’s Bible study journals lately, I found this note…”During the deaths of Tim [my brother] and James Paul [my dad], I’d often wonder, ‘Why am I not falling apart?’ Then I’d remember all the people across the country who were praying for us.” In this one statement, we see how she trusted God…how she KNEW that He was working in her life…and in the lives of her family members.
Our three little ones often ask us, “Where is God? Why can’t we see Him?” It is hard to give young children an answer that makes sense. But through steadfast demonstration of faith in this “unseen God,” they will come to understand what my mother and others taught me. They will learn what Jesus was telling His disciples…that God is evident all around us. He doesn’t necessarily appear to us in flesh and blood, as Jesus did for a while…but He is real and alive, all the same.
Two things are required of us as Christians…to believe in Jesus – and God the Father…and to show Christ (and our Heavenly Father) to others through our words and actions. In a nutshell, my mother’s favorite scriptures tell us that God knows the plans He has for us - and they are good plans designed to prosper us…that we may have weeping for a time, but God will restore our joy…and that we will be surrounded by a peace that passes all understanding and comprehension. If we demonstrate these three scripture passages to others in our own lives, people will know Jesus through us – and they will see God in action, as well.
When others look at you these days, who do they see?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today would be my mother’s 77th birthday. She is celebrating in heaven with my dad, who would have been 80 yesterday. We always celebrated their birthdays as one…and now they are having one amazing “Heavenly party!” When mother died, her pastor and dear friend, J.R. asked, “Did your mother have any favorite scripture passages?” Man, did she ever! I rattled them off to him…Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:7, Psalm 30:5. These became the foundation of J.R.’s funeral sermon…which perfectly glorified God and honored my mother and her Christian faith.
For 58 years, my mother talked to me about Jesus. She quoted these scriptures often, so I was fully confident that they were some of her favorites. Through my mother’s demonstration of faith in Jesus – even in the midst of some pretty substantial challenges and struggles – I knew Him, too. And I knew God. I saw His authority and wisdom in action…and I felt His all-encompassing love and protection.
As I went through Mother’s Bible study journals lately, I found this note…”During the deaths of Tim [my brother] and James Paul [my dad], I’d often wonder, ‘Why am I not falling apart?’ Then I’d remember all the people across the country who were praying for us.” In this one statement, we see how she trusted God…how she KNEW that He was working in her life…and in the lives of her family members.
Our three little ones often ask us, “Where is God? Why can’t we see Him?” It is hard to give young children an answer that makes sense. But through steadfast demonstration of faith in this “unseen God,” they will come to understand what my mother and others taught me. They will learn what Jesus was telling His disciples…that God is evident all around us. He doesn’t necessarily appear to us in flesh and blood, as Jesus did for a while…but He is real and alive, all the same.
Two things are required of us as Christians…to believe in Jesus – and God the Father…and to show Christ (and our Heavenly Father) to others through our words and actions. In a nutshell, my mother’s favorite scriptures tell us that God knows the plans He has for us - and they are good plans designed to prosper us…that we may have weeping for a time, but God will restore our joy…and that we will be surrounded by a peace that passes all understanding and comprehension. If we demonstrate these three scripture passages to others in our own lives, people will know Jesus through us – and they will see God in action, as well.
When others look at you these days, who do they see?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 9, 2016
Hebrews 11:5-6
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was a child, the Young Business Men’s Club (YBMC) held an Easter egg hunt each year in our city park. Among what must have been thousands of dyed boiled eggs were some “prize” eggs that could be redeemed for a baby chick – or a live rabbit if you found a “gold” one! Little did my siblings and I know that my mother had threatened those YBMC members within an inch of their lives if any of us came home with a live animal! So we eagerly picked up the colored eggs and hoped against hope that we would somehow stumble onto one that could be redeemed for a prize…but we never found one!
We firmly believed that it was possible for us to find the prize egg. We knew that these bunnies and chicks existed…and we had seen other children “win” them. So we forged ahead, confident that WE could also find a golden egg. And while we were disappointed, we still enjoyed the hunt. We were happy with what we got…and we spent the next several days hiding and “finding” those eggs in our own yard. And we did this year after year!
This is a loose analogy for today’s scripture passage. But consider this…we cannot physically “see” God, which is why it has been so hard for me to explain Him to little children. They operate in the “tangible” world of “I-find-a-prize-egg-and-you-give-me-the-chick-or-bunny!” But we are not children…and life is not an Easter egg hunt.
At the core of our Christian faith, we have to believe that God exists – and trust that He will care for us just as He promised. We have to keep “hunting for the eggs” and serving God in whatever capacity He designates…understanding full well that the “prize” we seek may not be something we can hold in our hands like a “golden egg.”
Our “prize” is salvation through Jesus Christ…and the promise of Eternity spent in His presence. And getting there may be bumpy – even rocky at times. For some of us, every day will be something of a struggle in some way. Does this mean God doesn’t love us and care about our well-being or happiness? Absolutely not! In some ways, I believe that God holds a special place in His heart for those who struggle, yet continue to serve with a joyful, faith-filled attitude.
Let today’s scripture passage soak into your soul. It is impossible to please God without faith. You cannot serve Him and do His will if you aren’t confident that He exists and will fulfill His promises. What do you believe today? Who do you trust? Are you willing to continue to “hunt” – and serve – even if you never get a tangible “prize” in this earthly lifetime?
Do you truly believe that God exists…and that He has great things in store for you? Isn’t it time you got a handle on this, once and for all? Will this be the day you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was a child, the Young Business Men’s Club (YBMC) held an Easter egg hunt each year in our city park. Among what must have been thousands of dyed boiled eggs were some “prize” eggs that could be redeemed for a baby chick – or a live rabbit if you found a “gold” one! Little did my siblings and I know that my mother had threatened those YBMC members within an inch of their lives if any of us came home with a live animal! So we eagerly picked up the colored eggs and hoped against hope that we would somehow stumble onto one that could be redeemed for a prize…but we never found one!
We firmly believed that it was possible for us to find the prize egg. We knew that these bunnies and chicks existed…and we had seen other children “win” them. So we forged ahead, confident that WE could also find a golden egg. And while we were disappointed, we still enjoyed the hunt. We were happy with what we got…and we spent the next several days hiding and “finding” those eggs in our own yard. And we did this year after year!
This is a loose analogy for today’s scripture passage. But consider this…we cannot physically “see” God, which is why it has been so hard for me to explain Him to little children. They operate in the “tangible” world of “I-find-a-prize-egg-and-you-give-me-the-chick-or-bunny!” But we are not children…and life is not an Easter egg hunt.
At the core of our Christian faith, we have to believe that God exists – and trust that He will care for us just as He promised. We have to keep “hunting for the eggs” and serving God in whatever capacity He designates…understanding full well that the “prize” we seek may not be something we can hold in our hands like a “golden egg.”
Our “prize” is salvation through Jesus Christ…and the promise of Eternity spent in His presence. And getting there may be bumpy – even rocky at times. For some of us, every day will be something of a struggle in some way. Does this mean God doesn’t love us and care about our well-being or happiness? Absolutely not! In some ways, I believe that God holds a special place in His heart for those who struggle, yet continue to serve with a joyful, faith-filled attitude.
Let today’s scripture passage soak into your soul. It is impossible to please God without faith. You cannot serve Him and do His will if you aren’t confident that He exists and will fulfill His promises. What do you believe today? Who do you trust? Are you willing to continue to “hunt” – and serve – even if you never get a tangible “prize” in this earthly lifetime?
Do you truly believe that God exists…and that He has great things in store for you? Isn’t it time you got a handle on this, once and for all? Will this be the day you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 21, 2015
1 John 4:20
If anyone says, "I love God," but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn't love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week as we drove to the gas station, Timothy was seated in the back of the vehicle, and he began to make loud, silly noises. I asked him to stop. He persisted. Suddenly from the middle row seating, I heard Zola say, “Timothy! Do you want her to turn this car around and take you home?” Timothy did not answer. Then I heard almost-three-year-old Nathan chime in…”Well…DO you?” The noises stopped…and I could barely contain my laughter to drive. In that little snippet of conversation, I realized how our children truly see us. It’s true…if you listen, your children will tell you how you really sound!
Our children learn at an early age to mirror our thoughts and feelings. So a lot of us grow up with prejudice – and even hatred – that is really not our own, but rather that of our parents, other adults, society, and our peers. We learn to dislike people of another race…but our justifications make no sense. We lump people into collective groups…as in “THEY are all this way or that”…or “I do not like the XYZs or the PDQs”. When truly questioned about our reasoning…we have no explanation that is rooted in personal experience – or one that makes much sense.
I ask you…what injustice or “wrong” has been personally done to you by someone of another race or ethnicity? Why do you have such a disdain for people whose sexual orientation is different from yours? What’s it to you if a person practices another religion – or no religion at all? Did another person’s poverty or lack of education or opportunity cause you to literally miss a meal or a chance to be and do whatever you wanted with your own life? How are you personally and directly affected by another person’s race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, political preference, or sexual orientation?
If we are honest, we often don’t really know the people we disparage. We start out parroting what we have heard from others…and soon we have internalized it. The next thing you know, we are posting social media references to “God and Country” one minute…and spewing hate and venom toward a particular person or group in the next…and we see no problem with this!
I have to tell you, I am struggling these days to find my “church,” because a lot of people with whom I’ve worshipped and associated with for decades are schizophrenic. They SAY they love God and want to serve Him…they never hesitate to ask for prayer – or to offer to pray for someone else. They “serve” in ministries and give of their “time, talents and money.” And then they bash everyone from people on welfare and those in the LBGTQ community to our president and his cabinet…and anyone they deem to have a different opinion from theirs – in any arena. Worse yet, they excuse this behavior by falsely assuming that everyone else agrees with them…especially God.
I’m giving some of us an “out” by blaming our upbringing and environment. But it’s time we all grew up! The time has come to give our thoughts and ideas a thorough examination in light of God’s word…to see where we have made decisions and comments that offend not only a person or a group, but God Almighty…to ask God to show us how to operate in the love of Christ and kick the devil’s hatred to the curb. We are not a four-year-old echoing her parents’ admonition to an older brother. And we are most certainly not echoing the voice of our Heavenly Father. But we need to be…and the shift in attitude can begin today.
Will you spend some time with God and ask Him to correct your thinking? Will this be the day that you begin to live, speak and act in a way that says, “I KNOW the Father Whom I have not seen…and I love because He first loved me?” Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
If anyone says, "I love God," but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn't love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week as we drove to the gas station, Timothy was seated in the back of the vehicle, and he began to make loud, silly noises. I asked him to stop. He persisted. Suddenly from the middle row seating, I heard Zola say, “Timothy! Do you want her to turn this car around and take you home?” Timothy did not answer. Then I heard almost-three-year-old Nathan chime in…”Well…DO you?” The noises stopped…and I could barely contain my laughter to drive. In that little snippet of conversation, I realized how our children truly see us. It’s true…if you listen, your children will tell you how you really sound!
Our children learn at an early age to mirror our thoughts and feelings. So a lot of us grow up with prejudice – and even hatred – that is really not our own, but rather that of our parents, other adults, society, and our peers. We learn to dislike people of another race…but our justifications make no sense. We lump people into collective groups…as in “THEY are all this way or that”…or “I do not like the XYZs or the PDQs”. When truly questioned about our reasoning…we have no explanation that is rooted in personal experience – or one that makes much sense.
I ask you…what injustice or “wrong” has been personally done to you by someone of another race or ethnicity? Why do you have such a disdain for people whose sexual orientation is different from yours? What’s it to you if a person practices another religion – or no religion at all? Did another person’s poverty or lack of education or opportunity cause you to literally miss a meal or a chance to be and do whatever you wanted with your own life? How are you personally and directly affected by another person’s race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, political preference, or sexual orientation?
If we are honest, we often don’t really know the people we disparage. We start out parroting what we have heard from others…and soon we have internalized it. The next thing you know, we are posting social media references to “God and Country” one minute…and spewing hate and venom toward a particular person or group in the next…and we see no problem with this!
I have to tell you, I am struggling these days to find my “church,” because a lot of people with whom I’ve worshipped and associated with for decades are schizophrenic. They SAY they love God and want to serve Him…they never hesitate to ask for prayer – or to offer to pray for someone else. They “serve” in ministries and give of their “time, talents and money.” And then they bash everyone from people on welfare and those in the LBGTQ community to our president and his cabinet…and anyone they deem to have a different opinion from theirs – in any arena. Worse yet, they excuse this behavior by falsely assuming that everyone else agrees with them…especially God.
I’m giving some of us an “out” by blaming our upbringing and environment. But it’s time we all grew up! The time has come to give our thoughts and ideas a thorough examination in light of God’s word…to see where we have made decisions and comments that offend not only a person or a group, but God Almighty…to ask God to show us how to operate in the love of Christ and kick the devil’s hatred to the curb. We are not a four-year-old echoing her parents’ admonition to an older brother. And we are most certainly not echoing the voice of our Heavenly Father. But we need to be…and the shift in attitude can begin today.
Will you spend some time with God and ask Him to correct your thinking? Will this be the day that you begin to live, speak and act in a way that says, “I KNOW the Father Whom I have not seen…and I love because He first loved me?” Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 9, 2015
John 1:11-12
Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If one of your relatives or friends showed up on your doorstep, you would surely open the door and invite them inside. If you saw a child who appeared to be lost or unattended, you would stay with them until the adult in charge could be located…or other arrangements could be made. If you saw an injured animal, I know that many of you would do everything in your power to rescue this creature – and maybe rehabilitate it. If you visited with a newcomer to your town, I would hope that you would invite them to attend your church’s worship services…and that you would welcome them into your community.
But what if some of these people knocked on your door (and I know that the answer will possibly be different for each of you)…
Jared “the Subway guy”
Do you really get it? Do you understand just how much Jesus loves us…how much He offers each and every one of us who have never, ever seen Him in the flesh? Many of Jesus’ own people rejected Him, and yet He loved them and died anyway – potentially for their sins. What does this tell us about how we are to treat others…even those whose thoughts, ideas and actions differ from ours – or may even repulse us in some way? The Jesus who died for us died for them, too – if they repent of their sins and accept His gift of salvation. And He commanded us to love others as He loved us.
So the way I see it, we cannot be saying ugly, hateful things about these people – or anyone else. We cannot be calling them names, judging them…and treating them as “less than.” Do not misunderstand me…I’ve listed some people who have been accused of horrific things. I do not support abuse of any kind…or torture or persecution. I do not agree with the views of some of these people on many subjects. But I am no better than them in God’s eyes, because we have ALL sinned and fallen short. NONE of us deserves Jesus’ salvation…but He offers it to us anyway.
If we want to “walk the walk,” we have to be willing to not only “talk the talk”…we must also be ready to love others as Jesus loves them…and as He loves us. How well are you doing?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If one of your relatives or friends showed up on your doorstep, you would surely open the door and invite them inside. If you saw a child who appeared to be lost or unattended, you would stay with them until the adult in charge could be located…or other arrangements could be made. If you saw an injured animal, I know that many of you would do everything in your power to rescue this creature – and maybe rehabilitate it. If you visited with a newcomer to your town, I would hope that you would invite them to attend your church’s worship services…and that you would welcome them into your community.
But what if some of these people knocked on your door (and I know that the answer will possibly be different for each of you)…
Jared “the Subway guy”
- Caitlyn Jenner
- Kanye West
- Ted Cruze
- Presidents George Bush – Sr. AND Jr.
- President Jimmy Carter
- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS
- Prince William and Kate Middleton
- Billy Graham
- Robin Roberts
- Anderson Cooper
- Paula Deen
- Bill Cosby
- Miley Cyrus
- Ray Rice
- Jerry Jones
- Former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice
- Donald Trump
- President Obama
- Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton
- the disheveled homeless guy you notice frequently on street corners in your town
- the single mother everyone seems to be talking about who lost her kids because of a drug problem
- the pastor who “fell from grace”
- the teacher who had sex with an underage student
- the kid who was arrested for DUI, sexting or bullying
Do you really get it? Do you understand just how much Jesus loves us…how much He offers each and every one of us who have never, ever seen Him in the flesh? Many of Jesus’ own people rejected Him, and yet He loved them and died anyway – potentially for their sins. What does this tell us about how we are to treat others…even those whose thoughts, ideas and actions differ from ours – or may even repulse us in some way? The Jesus who died for us died for them, too – if they repent of their sins and accept His gift of salvation. And He commanded us to love others as He loved us.
So the way I see it, we cannot be saying ugly, hateful things about these people – or anyone else. We cannot be calling them names, judging them…and treating them as “less than.” Do not misunderstand me…I’ve listed some people who have been accused of horrific things. I do not support abuse of any kind…or torture or persecution. I do not agree with the views of some of these people on many subjects. But I am no better than them in God’s eyes, because we have ALL sinned and fallen short. NONE of us deserves Jesus’ salvation…but He offers it to us anyway.
If we want to “walk the walk,” we have to be willing to not only “talk the talk”…we must also be ready to love others as Jesus loves them…and as He loves us. How well are you doing?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 8, 2015
Hebrews 11:32-40
What else can I say? There isn’t enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.
Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure that they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.
All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Why do children (of any age) get cancer? Why was 33-year-old Kathryn Steinle randomly gunned down while out for an evening stroll with her dad in San Francisco last week? Why did so many college athletes work incredibly hard for a shot at a pro career…only to be overlooked in the draft? Why can college graduates not find a job in their field? Why was a young couple in Sandusky, Ohio, involved in a car crash last October that left the groom dead and the bride seriously injured? Why do we have orphans, physical abuse, and animal cruelty? Why DO bad things happen to good people?
There is no “good” answer to this question…at least not one that we can readily wrap our brains around and accept. But let’s look at the last two sentences in this scripture passage again…”This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.” What on earth does this mean?
It would seem that OUR faith is tied to the faith of those who have gone before us. God does indeed have better things in store for us, but in order to fully embrace this concept, we have to look at the examples of those who worked hard, served well, and maybe even seemed to do everything right – or at least to do what they believed God was calling them to do. And yet, they never fully realized all of their earthly hopes and dreams. Maybe they never experienced all that they felt God had promised them in this lifetime.
I don’t know about you, but I have had a hard time with this idea more than once…the TRUST that God really does have something better in store for you and me. But I must believe this…because nothing else makes sense. Surely there is more! God is too big for this earthly life to be “it”…don’t you think? And so I study the stories in scripture of those who served and suffered for their faith…and I am strengthened and encouraged in my own relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I trust that God knows best…that He does have far better things in store for each of us in Heaven…and this gives me hope and fortitude for my daily journey on this earth. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
What else can I say? There isn’t enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.
Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure that they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.
All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Why do children (of any age) get cancer? Why was 33-year-old Kathryn Steinle randomly gunned down while out for an evening stroll with her dad in San Francisco last week? Why did so many college athletes work incredibly hard for a shot at a pro career…only to be overlooked in the draft? Why can college graduates not find a job in their field? Why was a young couple in Sandusky, Ohio, involved in a car crash last October that left the groom dead and the bride seriously injured? Why do we have orphans, physical abuse, and animal cruelty? Why DO bad things happen to good people?
There is no “good” answer to this question…at least not one that we can readily wrap our brains around and accept. But let’s look at the last two sentences in this scripture passage again…”This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.” What on earth does this mean?
It would seem that OUR faith is tied to the faith of those who have gone before us. God does indeed have better things in store for us, but in order to fully embrace this concept, we have to look at the examples of those who worked hard, served well, and maybe even seemed to do everything right – or at least to do what they believed God was calling them to do. And yet, they never fully realized all of their earthly hopes and dreams. Maybe they never experienced all that they felt God had promised them in this lifetime.
I don’t know about you, but I have had a hard time with this idea more than once…the TRUST that God really does have something better in store for you and me. But I must believe this…because nothing else makes sense. Surely there is more! God is too big for this earthly life to be “it”…don’t you think? And so I study the stories in scripture of those who served and suffered for their faith…and I am strengthened and encouraged in my own relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I trust that God knows best…that He does have far better things in store for each of us in Heaven…and this gives me hope and fortitude for my daily journey on this earth. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 7, 2015
Hebrews 11:13-16
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by perission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of a family member’s graduation. This graduate was the grand-daughter of some dear friends of my Mam-ma Polly. She considered this couple and their children to be “like family.” I commented that Mam-ma would have loved the photos and seeing this beautiful young woman. For a brief moment, I was sad that I couldn’t take my phone and share these images with her. And this is one of many times I have thought, “I must tell Mam-ma”…or “Wouldn’t Daddy love to see the great-grandchildren do XYZ”…or “How I wish Greg’s dad had lived to see a particular change in our community.”
It seems like I frequently have experiences that I wish to share and/or enjoy with a loved one who is already in heaven. And yet, I realize that there is not a single event that would be worthy of their return. They would not come back to this earth for all of the celebrations and momentous occasions in the world…because Heaven is just that much better. I honestly believe this.
This scripture passage tells us that those who truly trust in God and believe in His promises don’t put a whole lot of stock in earthly events. There are countless wonderful, exciting, exhilarating events in our lives…winning contests or receiving awards…graduations…first jobs…engagements…weddings…first homes…the birth of babies…and so many other milestones and special occasions. But none of these compares to what awaits us in Heaven…and I am 1000% confident that those who have already been received into Jesus’ arms would not even think of returning to earth for something they have “missed.”
You’ve probably heard people say that the more people they “lose,” the better Heaven looks…that they now have more loved ones in Heaven than they have on earth. And I will admit that I look forward to Heaven a lot more now than I did a few decades ago before so many friends and family members passed. But here’s the thing…God doesn’t want us to live in the land of “Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda.” He doesn’t want us to put too much stock in the things of this world…but He also doesn’t want us to have regrets.
God wants us to live every single minute of each day with purpose…confident that we are hearing from Him and operating in His will. He wants us to be busy doing what He has planned for us…accomplishing His goals and sharing the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter through our words and actions. When He gets ready for us to join Him in Heaven, He doesn’t want us to spend one second thinking, “But I haven’t seen this”…or “I haven’t done that!” God wants our faith to be so strong and unwavering that we say, “If You’re ready for me, LORD…then I am ready to come Home to You!”
It takes a lot of faith to say this…and also to live with focus and intention in the days that we have been given on this earth. Where do you stand? Are you looking – and living – for your true Home? Isn’t it about time you started doing exactly that?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by perission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of a family member’s graduation. This graduate was the grand-daughter of some dear friends of my Mam-ma Polly. She considered this couple and their children to be “like family.” I commented that Mam-ma would have loved the photos and seeing this beautiful young woman. For a brief moment, I was sad that I couldn’t take my phone and share these images with her. And this is one of many times I have thought, “I must tell Mam-ma”…or “Wouldn’t Daddy love to see the great-grandchildren do XYZ”…or “How I wish Greg’s dad had lived to see a particular change in our community.”
It seems like I frequently have experiences that I wish to share and/or enjoy with a loved one who is already in heaven. And yet, I realize that there is not a single event that would be worthy of their return. They would not come back to this earth for all of the celebrations and momentous occasions in the world…because Heaven is just that much better. I honestly believe this.
This scripture passage tells us that those who truly trust in God and believe in His promises don’t put a whole lot of stock in earthly events. There are countless wonderful, exciting, exhilarating events in our lives…winning contests or receiving awards…graduations…first jobs…engagements…weddings…first homes…the birth of babies…and so many other milestones and special occasions. But none of these compares to what awaits us in Heaven…and I am 1000% confident that those who have already been received into Jesus’ arms would not even think of returning to earth for something they have “missed.”
You’ve probably heard people say that the more people they “lose,” the better Heaven looks…that they now have more loved ones in Heaven than they have on earth. And I will admit that I look forward to Heaven a lot more now than I did a few decades ago before so many friends and family members passed. But here’s the thing…God doesn’t want us to live in the land of “Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda.” He doesn’t want us to put too much stock in the things of this world…but He also doesn’t want us to have regrets.
God wants us to live every single minute of each day with purpose…confident that we are hearing from Him and operating in His will. He wants us to be busy doing what He has planned for us…accomplishing His goals and sharing the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter through our words and actions. When He gets ready for us to join Him in Heaven, He doesn’t want us to spend one second thinking, “But I haven’t seen this”…or “I haven’t done that!” God wants our faith to be so strong and unwavering that we say, “If You’re ready for me, LORD…then I am ready to come Home to You!”
It takes a lot of faith to say this…and also to live with focus and intention in the days that we have been given on this earth. Where do you stand? Are you looking – and living – for your true Home? Isn’t it about time you started doing exactly that?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 6, 2015
Hebrews 11:3, 7
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A very tired Timothy had a tearful conversation with me as I drove the children home yesterday…about our cat Lucy – and heaven. Timothy did not feel all that well – and he had not napped, so he was really tired. But he started by asking about Lucy - and crying because she is gone…and where was Heaven, anyway? Then he wanted to know what it would be like there…would we be hungry? How many children does God have…and will we know anybody there? It was all the convoluted (and somewhat melodramatic) thoughts of a weary child…but aren’t we all that way at times?!
Recently, I watched the movie Evan Almighty, starring Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman. This movie is a modern-day take on the story of Noah and the ark. What it vividly brings home to us is the idea of just how crazy people would think we were if God spoke to us and told us to buy several acres of land and construct an ark…then animals started showing up in pairs to fill it! We have a hard time imagining how insane this seemed in Noah’s day…but somehow seeing it in movie form today helps us to get a handle on the concept. And it is indeed one that blows our minds!
Now I don’t think that God is ever going to tell us to build an ark in preparation for a 40-day flood. But I am almost 100% certain that He will call on us to believe things…and do things…that have us asking, “Whaaaaa???” to use present-day vernacular! And surely, we have questions…about Heaven in particular – and lots of earthly situations, as well!
The long-ago example of Noah demonstrates to us that faithfulness in a God we cannot see - and answering His call when the summons seems preposterous or impossible - will result in immeasurable rewards and blessings. God is real…even though we cannot see Him. Heaven is real…even though all we know of it is what we read in God’s Holy Word. I assured Timothy that Heaven is beautiful…that Lucy is there sitting on God’s lap, and she is FINE - fed and so very happy! And we will be happy there, too, when God sends for us.
But I also pointed out to Timothy that he has a lot of things to do here before he goes to heaven. And so do you and I! The time has come for us to get busy doing them! Are you listening for God’s voice and following His lead? Are you “playing Christian”…or are you truly hard at it serving God and representing Christ’s teachings to others?
Do you love others – even when it doesn’t make sense and/or you would like to strangle a few of them? Do you bite your tongue and speak of God’s love when you would really rather give some folks a piece of your mind? Are you accepting of ALL of God’s children, as Jesus commanded…or do you pick and choose which races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, political affiliations, religious beliefs, and socio-economic statuses you will include in your “circle of love and tolerance?”
Do you truly believe in an unseen God…and are you really ready to go “all in” and follow Him completely? Will this be the day that you truly take that “leap of faith” and begin? As much as I believe in God and the reality of Heaven, I believe that I will have to answer for how I trusted Him in this lifetime. And you will have to do the same. When we finally see God face-to-face, I believe that He will ask us about how faithful we were to Him…and our response will be important. What will you have to say for yourself? Are YOU intimate with God and listening for His voice? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A very tired Timothy had a tearful conversation with me as I drove the children home yesterday…about our cat Lucy – and heaven. Timothy did not feel all that well – and he had not napped, so he was really tired. But he started by asking about Lucy - and crying because she is gone…and where was Heaven, anyway? Then he wanted to know what it would be like there…would we be hungry? How many children does God have…and will we know anybody there? It was all the convoluted (and somewhat melodramatic) thoughts of a weary child…but aren’t we all that way at times?!
Recently, I watched the movie Evan Almighty, starring Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman. This movie is a modern-day take on the story of Noah and the ark. What it vividly brings home to us is the idea of just how crazy people would think we were if God spoke to us and told us to buy several acres of land and construct an ark…then animals started showing up in pairs to fill it! We have a hard time imagining how insane this seemed in Noah’s day…but somehow seeing it in movie form today helps us to get a handle on the concept. And it is indeed one that blows our minds!
Now I don’t think that God is ever going to tell us to build an ark in preparation for a 40-day flood. But I am almost 100% certain that He will call on us to believe things…and do things…that have us asking, “Whaaaaa???” to use present-day vernacular! And surely, we have questions…about Heaven in particular – and lots of earthly situations, as well!
The long-ago example of Noah demonstrates to us that faithfulness in a God we cannot see - and answering His call when the summons seems preposterous or impossible - will result in immeasurable rewards and blessings. God is real…even though we cannot see Him. Heaven is real…even though all we know of it is what we read in God’s Holy Word. I assured Timothy that Heaven is beautiful…that Lucy is there sitting on God’s lap, and she is FINE - fed and so very happy! And we will be happy there, too, when God sends for us.
But I also pointed out to Timothy that he has a lot of things to do here before he goes to heaven. And so do you and I! The time has come for us to get busy doing them! Are you listening for God’s voice and following His lead? Are you “playing Christian”…or are you truly hard at it serving God and representing Christ’s teachings to others?
Do you love others – even when it doesn’t make sense and/or you would like to strangle a few of them? Do you bite your tongue and speak of God’s love when you would really rather give some folks a piece of your mind? Are you accepting of ALL of God’s children, as Jesus commanded…or do you pick and choose which races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, political affiliations, religious beliefs, and socio-economic statuses you will include in your “circle of love and tolerance?”
Do you truly believe in an unseen God…and are you really ready to go “all in” and follow Him completely? Will this be the day that you truly take that “leap of faith” and begin? As much as I believe in God and the reality of Heaven, I believe that I will have to answer for how I trusted Him in this lifetime. And you will have to do the same. When we finally see God face-to-face, I believe that He will ask us about how faithful we were to Him…and our response will be important. What will you have to say for yourself? Are YOU intimate with God and listening for His voice? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 5, 2015
Hebrews 11:1-2
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
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.
Last night, Greg and I sat on a blanket in our friends’ back yard, which overlooks the lake that surrounds our community. We were joined by many members of our family, including both of our moms, my mother’s husband, my niece and her husband, and of course – Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Dear friends joined us, too. We all sat and watched as spectacular fireworks shot high into the air and exploded over the water, making a scene so amazing that Timothy kicked his legs and said, “I can’t stand it! It’s sooooo beautiful!” And for that moment, all was right in my world.
I’ll admit…this was a hard week for me. My faith was challenged when people who I know in my heart are Christians said or did things that were, at best, judgmental…and some of them were downright unkind, unloving – and untrue. This was a hurtful week…and I asked God over and again why and how people could harden their hearts so profoundly to His truths and promises. I’ll be honest…I can barely watch the news these days, because of all of the hate, bickering, dissention and fearmongering that is reported upon each day.
I learned many years ago that we cannot always see how God is working…or when He will act in certain situations. I accepted that there will be some changes I may never realize in my lifetime…and that this does not bear any reflection on God’s love for me and others.
But as I sat on the blanket last night with Greg and all three little ones - surrounded by family and friends - I felt such a sense of calm, peace and joy. I felt God saying, “This is all going to be okay. You have so much to live for – so much of my love and blessings to share with others. And I am not about to let you down now.” I slept well and awoke with a new perspective.
Yes, there are things we cannot understand. Surely people will say and do hurtful things – even “good Christians” – and they will sometimes knock the wind out of us momentarily. But because of our unyielding faith and trust in an unseen God…and our confidence that He is caring for our every need…we will get up and move forward through another day.
God’s firm foundation does indeed make every day of this earthly life worth living…and the hope of heaven even sweeter. Like a little six-year-old boy’s reaction to spectacular fireworks, the thought of all that God has promised is truly so beautiful that I almost can’t stand it! What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
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.
Last night, Greg and I sat on a blanket in our friends’ back yard, which overlooks the lake that surrounds our community. We were joined by many members of our family, including both of our moms, my mother’s husband, my niece and her husband, and of course – Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Dear friends joined us, too. We all sat and watched as spectacular fireworks shot high into the air and exploded over the water, making a scene so amazing that Timothy kicked his legs and said, “I can’t stand it! It’s sooooo beautiful!” And for that moment, all was right in my world.
I’ll admit…this was a hard week for me. My faith was challenged when people who I know in my heart are Christians said or did things that were, at best, judgmental…and some of them were downright unkind, unloving – and untrue. This was a hurtful week…and I asked God over and again why and how people could harden their hearts so profoundly to His truths and promises. I’ll be honest…I can barely watch the news these days, because of all of the hate, bickering, dissention and fearmongering that is reported upon each day.
I learned many years ago that we cannot always see how God is working…or when He will act in certain situations. I accepted that there will be some changes I may never realize in my lifetime…and that this does not bear any reflection on God’s love for me and others.
But as I sat on the blanket last night with Greg and all three little ones - surrounded by family and friends - I felt such a sense of calm, peace and joy. I felt God saying, “This is all going to be okay. You have so much to live for – so much of my love and blessings to share with others. And I am not about to let you down now.” I slept well and awoke with a new perspective.
Yes, there are things we cannot understand. Surely people will say and do hurtful things – even “good Christians” – and they will sometimes knock the wind out of us momentarily. But because of our unyielding faith and trust in an unseen God…and our confidence that He is caring for our every need…we will get up and move forward through another day.
God’s firm foundation does indeed make every day of this earthly life worth living…and the hope of heaven even sweeter. Like a little six-year-old boy’s reaction to spectacular fireworks, the thought of all that God has promised is truly so beautiful that I almost can’t stand it! What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 21, 2014
Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
According to information found at http://usps.com - the website of the U.S. Postal Service - the "motto" we all can quote in some form is not actually the Postal Service's official slogan.
The postal system is not infallible. When we mail a letter or a package, we must accept that it may not be delivered as expected. This doesn't happen often...but it only takes one undelivered parcel - or a piece of mail that arrives so mangled you can't possibly restore it - to disappoint us and cause us to doubt the "system". When the Postal Service operations work as designed, they are wonderful. But like most "systems" in life, this one isn't perfect.
Here's the thing...Jesus IS perfect! He will never fail to deliver. We can depend on Him to do what He has promised - every single time. When Jesus tells us in Scripture that He will heal us, we can believe it. This may not happen in exactly the manner we desire or expect...or on our timetable...but it will happen! When Jesus tells us that all who call on His name and make Him the LORD of their lives will be with Him in Paradise for all of Eternity, we can rest assured that this will be the case. When Jesus tells us that He is always with us, we can believe Him - and call on Him 24/7 for anything and everything.
My question for today is this...How can we put so much faith and trust in a system like the US Postal Service - and not trust in the words and promises of Jesus Christ? How can we so readily believe that an envelope or package placed in a metal box at the end of our driveway will be sent to someone halfway around the world, yet doubt the power of Jesus Christ to heal us and meet our every need? How can we so blindly accept the assurances of mere mortals that "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"...yet question whether Jesus will truly love us unconditionally, forgive our sins, and offer us unending grace, mercy, restoration - and Eternity in His presence?
The time has come for us to assess our faith...to get into such a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that He is at the top of the list when it comes to trust issues. We may not have confidence in much - especially the "human" things of this world - but we must know who Jesus truly is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. Do you know this today? Are you like the soldier who believed that just asking Jesus to heal His child could make it so? Do you know Who REALLY delivers in your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
According to information found at http://usps.com - the website of the U.S. Postal Service - the "motto" we all can quote in some form is not actually the Postal Service's official slogan.
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.""Official" or not, many of us depend on this sentiment - and the regularity of our mail delivery. We count on bills and payments being delivered promptly. We expect many of the products we order or send to be shipped expeditiously and with some semblance of care. For some of us, accurate and efficient postal delivery is the heart of our business and livelihood! And we have confidence that we can stick a letter or parcel in a mailbox and trust that it will arrive at the appointed destination within a predetermined amount of time.
While the Postal Service has no official motto, the popular belief that it does is a tribute to America's postal workers. The words above, thought to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue and come from Book 8, Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.
The postal system is not infallible. When we mail a letter or a package, we must accept that it may not be delivered as expected. This doesn't happen often...but it only takes one undelivered parcel - or a piece of mail that arrives so mangled you can't possibly restore it - to disappoint us and cause us to doubt the "system". When the Postal Service operations work as designed, they are wonderful. But like most "systems" in life, this one isn't perfect.
Here's the thing...Jesus IS perfect! He will never fail to deliver. We can depend on Him to do what He has promised - every single time. When Jesus tells us in Scripture that He will heal us, we can believe it. This may not happen in exactly the manner we desire or expect...or on our timetable...but it will happen! When Jesus tells us that all who call on His name and make Him the LORD of their lives will be with Him in Paradise for all of Eternity, we can rest assured that this will be the case. When Jesus tells us that He is always with us, we can believe Him - and call on Him 24/7 for anything and everything.
My question for today is this...How can we put so much faith and trust in a system like the US Postal Service - and not trust in the words and promises of Jesus Christ? How can we so readily believe that an envelope or package placed in a metal box at the end of our driveway will be sent to someone halfway around the world, yet doubt the power of Jesus Christ to heal us and meet our every need? How can we so blindly accept the assurances of mere mortals that "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"...yet question whether Jesus will truly love us unconditionally, forgive our sins, and offer us unending grace, mercy, restoration - and Eternity in His presence?
The time has come for us to assess our faith...to get into such a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that He is at the top of the list when it comes to trust issues. We may not have confidence in much - especially the "human" things of this world - but we must know who Jesus truly is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. Do you know this today? Are you like the soldier who believed that just asking Jesus to heal His child could make it so? Do you know Who REALLY delivers in your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 8, 2014
Luke 4:17-19
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on Saturday, and stood up to read the Scriptures. The book of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him, and he opened it to the place where it says:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him.”
He closed the book and handed it back to the attendant and sat down, while everyone in the synagogue gazed at him intently. Then he added, “These Scriptures came true today!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our community has an annual dinner for alumni of the local high school who graduated at least 30 years ago or more. The “50-year” class is in charge of the dinner and program each year. So this year’s program was presented by the graduating class of 1964. One of the things the speaker related was that years ago, she saw an image of a young girl looking at a device that appeared to be a telephone with a video screen. The caption said something like, “By the time her daughter is this age, everyone will use these.” The speaker added...”and here we are!”
Indeed, as a child, I watched the cartoon, “The Jetsons” and marveled as they “phoned” each other on what looked like a television and talked to each other. I wondered, “Could this ever really happen?” I will admit that I have shaken my head more than once as I heard predictions for “the next big thing” on the horizon – and then saw them happen. When people my age were kids, we watched “Dick Tracy” talk into his wristwatch...but many of us never believed that it could become a reality someday...”and here we are.” My grandmother used to talk about how many “advents of change” she witnessed in more than 100 years of life – many that I’m sure she and her contemporaries never dreamed would truly happen. From rocket ships to television, computers and smart phones - and countless “newfangled gadgets” in between - she saw a lot of things come to fruition that many probably deemed pipe dreams.
So it’s not a stretch to see that people might have been shocked when a young Jesus read the words of Isaiah and then said, “Today these words have come true.” In other words...”I’m here...in the flesh...just as prophesied!” There were surely skeptics in the group! But quite often, “seeing really is believing”. And for many, the subsequent demonstrations of Jesus truly did convince them that He was the real Messiah...that He actually could heal the brokenhearted, cast out demons, make the blind see and the lame walk.
Where this gets a little “muddy” is that things have actually reversed just a bit for us. We cannot physically see Jesus do these things. We are promised that He will return again for us someday...but all we have is His pledge in God’s word. We are once again left to wonder...”Could this really happen?” We are required to operate each and every day in blind faith that Jesus is with us...that He is still in the business of healing, salvation, and restoration.
Several years ago, my spiritual journey took a huge turn when I heard someone speak on the verse from John 20:29, where Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” In this verse, we received another promise from Jesus...that our “blind faith” would be rewarded. As I began to embrace these words and truly trust them, I began to “see” evidence in my own life of Jesus’ touch...to experience His healing and restoration in numerous areas of my life...and to rest in His abundant care and protection. For me, that day of revelation was essentially the day that “Scriptures came true”.
What about you? Do you have confidence that the promises Jesus gave us truly will happen? Do you believe in the hope that we are given in God’s word? Are you aware of Jesus’ presence in your own life...do you trust Him to heal you, protect you, and care for your every need – even though you cannot physically see Him? What is your “talking phone or wristwatch moment”? Where are you wondering if this could all be “wishful thinking”? Isn’t it time to recognize that all things are possible with God? Will this be the day that “Scriptures come true” for you? Are you ready to say...”and here we are” to Jesus?
©2014 Debbie Robus
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on Saturday, and stood up to read the Scriptures. The book of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him, and he opened it to the place where it says:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him.”
He closed the book and handed it back to the attendant and sat down, while everyone in the synagogue gazed at him intently. Then he added, “These Scriptures came true today!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our community has an annual dinner for alumni of the local high school who graduated at least 30 years ago or more. The “50-year” class is in charge of the dinner and program each year. So this year’s program was presented by the graduating class of 1964. One of the things the speaker related was that years ago, she saw an image of a young girl looking at a device that appeared to be a telephone with a video screen. The caption said something like, “By the time her daughter is this age, everyone will use these.” The speaker added...”and here we are!”
Indeed, as a child, I watched the cartoon, “The Jetsons” and marveled as they “phoned” each other on what looked like a television and talked to each other. I wondered, “Could this ever really happen?” I will admit that I have shaken my head more than once as I heard predictions for “the next big thing” on the horizon – and then saw them happen. When people my age were kids, we watched “Dick Tracy” talk into his wristwatch...but many of us never believed that it could become a reality someday...”and here we are.” My grandmother used to talk about how many “advents of change” she witnessed in more than 100 years of life – many that I’m sure she and her contemporaries never dreamed would truly happen. From rocket ships to television, computers and smart phones - and countless “newfangled gadgets” in between - she saw a lot of things come to fruition that many probably deemed pipe dreams.
So it’s not a stretch to see that people might have been shocked when a young Jesus read the words of Isaiah and then said, “Today these words have come true.” In other words...”I’m here...in the flesh...just as prophesied!” There were surely skeptics in the group! But quite often, “seeing really is believing”. And for many, the subsequent demonstrations of Jesus truly did convince them that He was the real Messiah...that He actually could heal the brokenhearted, cast out demons, make the blind see and the lame walk.
Where this gets a little “muddy” is that things have actually reversed just a bit for us. We cannot physically see Jesus do these things. We are promised that He will return again for us someday...but all we have is His pledge in God’s word. We are once again left to wonder...”Could this really happen?” We are required to operate each and every day in blind faith that Jesus is with us...that He is still in the business of healing, salvation, and restoration.
Several years ago, my spiritual journey took a huge turn when I heard someone speak on the verse from John 20:29, where Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” In this verse, we received another promise from Jesus...that our “blind faith” would be rewarded. As I began to embrace these words and truly trust them, I began to “see” evidence in my own life of Jesus’ touch...to experience His healing and restoration in numerous areas of my life...and to rest in His abundant care and protection. For me, that day of revelation was essentially the day that “Scriptures came true”.
What about you? Do you have confidence that the promises Jesus gave us truly will happen? Do you believe in the hope that we are given in God’s word? Are you aware of Jesus’ presence in your own life...do you trust Him to heal you, protect you, and care for your every need – even though you cannot physically see Him? What is your “talking phone or wristwatch moment”? Where are you wondering if this could all be “wishful thinking”? Isn’t it time to recognize that all things are possible with God? Will this be the day that “Scriptures come true” for you? Are you ready to say...”and here we are” to Jesus?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 25, 2014
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
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 know we are “late to the dance”, but we are finally watching the television miniseries The Bible, which initially aired in spring 2013 on The History Channel. This program has zipped through the Bible with lightning speed and only scratched the surface in telling the story of God’s word with selective, often-underdeveloped snippets. But the writers/producers have still managed to present a compelling image of life in Biblical times – and left many hungry to grab their Bibles and dig in more deeply. And that’s a good thing!
One of the persuasive demonstrations of the first three episodes was the incredible faith of many people who never saw the face of God. They trusted Him…worshipped Him...and obeyed Him solely on the words of a handful of people who either saw God in some form as Moses did, heard from Him directly - like Abraham - or were visited by an angel who gave them a direct message, as was the case for Mary, mother of Jesus. Most of the everyday, ordinary people of Israel walked totally by faith. They trusted that those who led them on God’s behalf had truly heard from Him.
When Jesus came to earth, He revealed God to man in a whole new way. He didn’t use burning bushes, the sudden appearance of angels, or even the audible voice of God to reach those in His midst. Instead, he related to them on a more personal level. When Peter cast his nets and came up empty-handed, Jesus took him out to fish one more time. The nets almost broke from the haul…giving Jesus the opening to say, “Come with me and I’ll make you a Fisherman Extraordinaire…one who harvests souls for God’s kingdom instead of food for the table.” When Jesus saw the sick and the lame, He touched them and made them well and whole…He demonstrated God’s love and care in a tangible way. When people were hungry, Jesus fed them… literally AND figuratively. He embraced the children who surrounded Him and reminded the adults that there is a special place in the Kingdom for those with a child-like heart of wonder and acceptance. And He suffered…for His beliefs and on our behalf…and was ultimately tortured and crucified.
It may have been difficult for those in the Old Testament times to see God…to fully understand Him. And truly, if you watch this miniseries and study your Bible, you will get a sense of just how incredibly brave it was of many to step up and out for God. Thousands died serving a God they never saw. Many were tortured unmercifully because they claimed to believe in a God who had never physically revealed Himself to them. We may operate faithfully in an unseen God…but I daresay many of us will ever be in any danger for doing so. The “stakes” for us are pretty low by comparison to so many who preceded us.
Still, we can learn much from those who followed God in such a valiant manner. For starters, we can recognize that the God who loved and cared for these people is the same God who cares for us. If God could do incredible, miraculous things in the lives of the Israelites who followed Him…don’t you think He will do the same for you? Don’t you believe that the God who protected Mary and Joseph…Who guided them as they delivered Jesus into the world and shielded Him from King Herod…will protect you and guide your steps? Do you fully comprehend that the compassion Jesus had for the people in Galilee and the surrounding cities is accessible to you…and available for you to share with others in His name?
One of the challenges we often face in sharing the love, compassion, grace and mercy of God with others is their inability to get past a sense of His physical absence. This is where we have the perfect opportunity to say, “I know that God exists…that He will do these things for you…because this is what He has done for me.” We can cite personal examples of God’s power and care for our own lives. In doing so, we can essentially say, “I get what you are going through…and I know Someone who can help you!”
Are you ready to be the face of God to others? Will this be the day that you reveal His love and care to someone by offering them compassion and understanding? Are you operating in faith that God will meet your needs each day…and are you ready to share this confidence with others? Will you step up and out in faith in an “unseen God”… and let others see Him through you today? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
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 know we are “late to the dance”, but we are finally watching the television miniseries The Bible, which initially aired in spring 2013 on The History Channel. This program has zipped through the Bible with lightning speed and only scratched the surface in telling the story of God’s word with selective, often-underdeveloped snippets. But the writers/producers have still managed to present a compelling image of life in Biblical times – and left many hungry to grab their Bibles and dig in more deeply. And that’s a good thing!
One of the persuasive demonstrations of the first three episodes was the incredible faith of many people who never saw the face of God. They trusted Him…worshipped Him...and obeyed Him solely on the words of a handful of people who either saw God in some form as Moses did, heard from Him directly - like Abraham - or were visited by an angel who gave them a direct message, as was the case for Mary, mother of Jesus. Most of the everyday, ordinary people of Israel walked totally by faith. They trusted that those who led them on God’s behalf had truly heard from Him.
When Jesus came to earth, He revealed God to man in a whole new way. He didn’t use burning bushes, the sudden appearance of angels, or even the audible voice of God to reach those in His midst. Instead, he related to them on a more personal level. When Peter cast his nets and came up empty-handed, Jesus took him out to fish one more time. The nets almost broke from the haul…giving Jesus the opening to say, “Come with me and I’ll make you a Fisherman Extraordinaire…one who harvests souls for God’s kingdom instead of food for the table.” When Jesus saw the sick and the lame, He touched them and made them well and whole…He demonstrated God’s love and care in a tangible way. When people were hungry, Jesus fed them… literally AND figuratively. He embraced the children who surrounded Him and reminded the adults that there is a special place in the Kingdom for those with a child-like heart of wonder and acceptance. And He suffered…for His beliefs and on our behalf…and was ultimately tortured and crucified.
It may have been difficult for those in the Old Testament times to see God…to fully understand Him. And truly, if you watch this miniseries and study your Bible, you will get a sense of just how incredibly brave it was of many to step up and out for God. Thousands died serving a God they never saw. Many were tortured unmercifully because they claimed to believe in a God who had never physically revealed Himself to them. We may operate faithfully in an unseen God…but I daresay many of us will ever be in any danger for doing so. The “stakes” for us are pretty low by comparison to so many who preceded us.
Still, we can learn much from those who followed God in such a valiant manner. For starters, we can recognize that the God who loved and cared for these people is the same God who cares for us. If God could do incredible, miraculous things in the lives of the Israelites who followed Him…don’t you think He will do the same for you? Don’t you believe that the God who protected Mary and Joseph…Who guided them as they delivered Jesus into the world and shielded Him from King Herod…will protect you and guide your steps? Do you fully comprehend that the compassion Jesus had for the people in Galilee and the surrounding cities is accessible to you…and available for you to share with others in His name?
One of the challenges we often face in sharing the love, compassion, grace and mercy of God with others is their inability to get past a sense of His physical absence. This is where we have the perfect opportunity to say, “I know that God exists…that He will do these things for you…because this is what He has done for me.” We can cite personal examples of God’s power and care for our own lives. In doing so, we can essentially say, “I get what you are going through…and I know Someone who can help you!”
Are you ready to be the face of God to others? Will this be the day that you reveal His love and care to someone by offering them compassion and understanding? Are you operating in faith that God will meet your needs each day…and are you ready to share this confidence with others? Will you step up and out in faith in an “unseen God”… and let others see Him through you today? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2014
Hebrews 11:1-3
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
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.
Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a “card person”. I enjoy making cards for others…but I also keep a stash of “store-bought” cards handy, so that I always have something available for sending a note of encouragement, expressing gratitude or condolences…or just to say, “I’m thinking of you today.” Sometimes a person is experiencing something of which I have first-hand knowledge…the loss of a parent or sibling, a particular illness or injury – or caring for a loved one who is ill or injured, or the loss of a pet, to name a few.
Other times, I have absolutely no personal background that equips me to say, “I know what you are going through… I get it.” Thankfully, I do not have a terminal illness…I have never lost a child...I’ve never had to say “Goodbye” to a loved one who was deployed overseas or put in harm’s way…I have not endured a divorce or the loss of my husband. Let’s be honest…words of “wisdom” and “understanding” can seem pretty hollow when they come from someone who has never walked in our shoes!
Does this mean that we should not offer compassion and expressions of encouragement to others when we have no first-hand knowledge of what they are experiencing? Absolutely not! But we must carefully consider our words and actions…how they are conveyed…and how they will be received. For instance, telling someone who has lost a child that “he/she is in a better place” does not truly offer them comfort in the moment. When someone is ill or injured, describing your own illnesses and injuries in detail serves no purpose. If friends divorce, suggesting that they “get over it” isn’t right, any more than coddling them and encouraging them to wallow in self-pity is appropriate.
So what are we to do? How do we show compassion and encouragement to others? In these scriptures, we are given a great model. We can share our faith. Where we have first-hand knowledge, we can say, “This is how God got me through my loss/illness/divorce/challenge.” We can tell others, “I know that right now it seems impossible that things will ever be better…but I can tell you from my own experiences that you will look back someday and see how God was orchestrating things and caring for you the whole time.”
If you do not have personal experience, you can still encourage…by lending quiet support, doing little things behind the scenes, and more. A simple hug can speak volumes. You can offer to run an errand that might seem difficult or stir an upsetting memory. You can send a note or e-mail to simply say, “I’m here if you need me… for anything.” When you do speak, you can say, “I can’t possibly understand what you are going through. I know this must be incredibly hard. But I know that God has never failed me in anything…and He isn’t about to fail you, either.”
This is “unseen faith”! We don’t know where, when or how… we just know that God is…that He is ever-present – and always working for us. When our foundation is firmly established in a relationship with God and fortified by salvation through Jesus Christ, we can endure the unthinkable…the improbable…the devastatingly difficult and impossible. Our faith in God – seen and unseen – makes life worth living. It truly is our “handle on what we can’t see.” And one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone else is to offer them compassion because of our faith…and to invite them to share in it, as well.
Sometimes it is so hard to know what to say and do for another person. But if we really, truly love Jesus and trust Him, we always have a response that is appropriate. Simply tell them that God loves them… that He is with them…that He has never failed you, and that you have confidence He isn’t going to start now. What God has done for us, He will surely do for others. Who needs to hear this from you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
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.
Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a “card person”. I enjoy making cards for others…but I also keep a stash of “store-bought” cards handy, so that I always have something available for sending a note of encouragement, expressing gratitude or condolences…or just to say, “I’m thinking of you today.” Sometimes a person is experiencing something of which I have first-hand knowledge…the loss of a parent or sibling, a particular illness or injury – or caring for a loved one who is ill or injured, or the loss of a pet, to name a few.
Other times, I have absolutely no personal background that equips me to say, “I know what you are going through… I get it.” Thankfully, I do not have a terminal illness…I have never lost a child...I’ve never had to say “Goodbye” to a loved one who was deployed overseas or put in harm’s way…I have not endured a divorce or the loss of my husband. Let’s be honest…words of “wisdom” and “understanding” can seem pretty hollow when they come from someone who has never walked in our shoes!
Does this mean that we should not offer compassion and expressions of encouragement to others when we have no first-hand knowledge of what they are experiencing? Absolutely not! But we must carefully consider our words and actions…how they are conveyed…and how they will be received. For instance, telling someone who has lost a child that “he/she is in a better place” does not truly offer them comfort in the moment. When someone is ill or injured, describing your own illnesses and injuries in detail serves no purpose. If friends divorce, suggesting that they “get over it” isn’t right, any more than coddling them and encouraging them to wallow in self-pity is appropriate.
So what are we to do? How do we show compassion and encouragement to others? In these scriptures, we are given a great model. We can share our faith. Where we have first-hand knowledge, we can say, “This is how God got me through my loss/illness/divorce/challenge.” We can tell others, “I know that right now it seems impossible that things will ever be better…but I can tell you from my own experiences that you will look back someday and see how God was orchestrating things and caring for you the whole time.”
If you do not have personal experience, you can still encourage…by lending quiet support, doing little things behind the scenes, and more. A simple hug can speak volumes. You can offer to run an errand that might seem difficult or stir an upsetting memory. You can send a note or e-mail to simply say, “I’m here if you need me… for anything.” When you do speak, you can say, “I can’t possibly understand what you are going through. I know this must be incredibly hard. But I know that God has never failed me in anything…and He isn’t about to fail you, either.”
This is “unseen faith”! We don’t know where, when or how… we just know that God is…that He is ever-present – and always working for us. When our foundation is firmly established in a relationship with God and fortified by salvation through Jesus Christ, we can endure the unthinkable…the improbable…the devastatingly difficult and impossible. Our faith in God – seen and unseen – makes life worth living. It truly is our “handle on what we can’t see.” And one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone else is to offer them compassion because of our faith…and to invite them to share in it, as well.
Sometimes it is so hard to know what to say and do for another person. But if we really, truly love Jesus and trust Him, we always have a response that is appropriate. Simply tell them that God loves them… that He is with them…that He has never failed you, and that you have confidence He isn’t going to start now. What God has done for us, He will surely do for others. Who needs to hear this from you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2013
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
Today, a lot of people around the world are wondering what the future holds. They find it impossible to see how things can ever be alright again. Particularly those who were in Boston… the injured and maimed… the participants and spectators… and those who lost loved ones must be asking, “What possible meaning can be given to this experience?” Federal agents, detectives, and experts in terrorism and explosives search for evidence… proof of what type of bomb was detonated, possible DNA from the bomber, and more. Unless and until they have more to go on, they cannot fully explain this situation - much less identify those responsible.
So we are left to wait and wonder. There is the possibility we might never fully know what happened – or how. The identity of the bomber(s) might never be discovered. If this is the case, we will be left feeling unsettled and uncertain. We are a “show me” people… we want proof. We want God to give us a “sign” of the validity of His miracles and promises. We want people to prove their loyalty, respect, and honesty. We want our significant others, family members and friends to demonstrate their love and care for us with undeniable words and gestures. We do not operate well in the abstract.
As a result, many of us find it hard to trust God – and lack of proof becomes our excuse. A whole lot of people will say, “Well, God allowed this horrific tragedy to occur in Boston. How can we serve a God who would do such a thing?!” Many will fail to recognize His hand in this situation… how emergency personnel were already in place to rush to the scene and begin offering first aid and assistance… how a runner had just shifted from one side of the street to the other to greet her family as they watched her finish – and in doing so, she ran right out of the path of the blast… how a runner from Arkansas who had finished the race “happened” to have a friend in nearby New Hampshire who said, “Get a cab, leave the city, and come here!” He and a fellow runner friend collected family members and did exactly that. These are only a few of what will be hundreds of examples of how God worked in and through this situation to bring about positive outcomes.
In all kinds of situations, we could readily excuse our skepticism… we could easily say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But Christians are called to trust God for the unseen… to operate with full confidence that God takes care of His children. He knows our needs even before we do… and He has always been on the scene… orchestrating things perfectly. We can trust God to make some sense of even a tragedy like the bombing in Boston… to create opportunities for us to glorify Him… to show us how He is always at work…and to give us hope that we can move forward with anticipation for a brighter tomorrow.
The odds are pretty good that you woke up healthy, safe, and comfortable this morning. On any given day, this could change. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. But we are promised God’s love and care, if only we will trust Him. We must stop using the “show me” excuse and fully accept that God keeps His promises… makes perfect plans… and never stops caring for us. What unseen outcomes will you believe for today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
Today, a lot of people around the world are wondering what the future holds. They find it impossible to see how things can ever be alright again. Particularly those who were in Boston… the injured and maimed… the participants and spectators… and those who lost loved ones must be asking, “What possible meaning can be given to this experience?” Federal agents, detectives, and experts in terrorism and explosives search for evidence… proof of what type of bomb was detonated, possible DNA from the bomber, and more. Unless and until they have more to go on, they cannot fully explain this situation - much less identify those responsible.
So we are left to wait and wonder. There is the possibility we might never fully know what happened – or how. The identity of the bomber(s) might never be discovered. If this is the case, we will be left feeling unsettled and uncertain. We are a “show me” people… we want proof. We want God to give us a “sign” of the validity of His miracles and promises. We want people to prove their loyalty, respect, and honesty. We want our significant others, family members and friends to demonstrate their love and care for us with undeniable words and gestures. We do not operate well in the abstract.
As a result, many of us find it hard to trust God – and lack of proof becomes our excuse. A whole lot of people will say, “Well, God allowed this horrific tragedy to occur in Boston. How can we serve a God who would do such a thing?!” Many will fail to recognize His hand in this situation… how emergency personnel were already in place to rush to the scene and begin offering first aid and assistance… how a runner had just shifted from one side of the street to the other to greet her family as they watched her finish – and in doing so, she ran right out of the path of the blast… how a runner from Arkansas who had finished the race “happened” to have a friend in nearby New Hampshire who said, “Get a cab, leave the city, and come here!” He and a fellow runner friend collected family members and did exactly that. These are only a few of what will be hundreds of examples of how God worked in and through this situation to bring about positive outcomes.
In all kinds of situations, we could readily excuse our skepticism… we could easily say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But Christians are called to trust God for the unseen… to operate with full confidence that God takes care of His children. He knows our needs even before we do… and He has always been on the scene… orchestrating things perfectly. We can trust God to make some sense of even a tragedy like the bombing in Boston… to create opportunities for us to glorify Him… to show us how He is always at work…and to give us hope that we can move forward with anticipation for a brighter tomorrow.
The odds are pretty good that you woke up healthy, safe, and comfortable this morning. On any given day, this could change. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. But we are promised God’s love and care, if only we will trust Him. We must stop using the “show me” excuse and fully accept that God keeps His promises… makes perfect plans… and never stops caring for us. What unseen outcomes will you believe for today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 10, 2013
Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
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.
Did you ever go to one of those haunted houses where someone told you to stick your hand in “a bowl of guts and eyeballs?” You knew in reason it was only boiled eggs or olives and cold spaghetti noodles… but as you put your hand in, you believed what you were told. You had faith that you were being given truthful information… that you were really touching such ghoulish, disgusting things. In this case, you were being sold a bill of goods. You believed simply because you wanted to believe. If someone had turned on the light and shown you what you touched, you would have had a totally different perspective.
With Jesus, we have to trust what we are told much of the time… what we read in scripture and what we feel God reveals to us through prayer. We must have faith in God’s promises, because honestly, we don’t always have much visible proof. If the mysteries of God were suddenly fully revealed to us… if a light were turned on, so to speak…we might not be able to handle them. For certain, our perspective would change. But over time, God shows us His power and presence in a myriad of ways that are often much more subtle. It is up to us to recognize them!
So how do we know that the strength of God is real? How do we know that His promises are sincere… that we can fully trust Him? Look around. See the day-to-day miracles that are occurring. Watch how others rely on Him to endure things that seem impossible to handle, much less overcome. Study the blessings that come into your life… take a good hard look at the events of your world over the course of a week or two and see where God has orchestrated things in a way you had not even considered. Ask yourself, “How did I make it through XYZ?” and recognize that God’s strength and power most likely made the difference!
Make this the day that your faith heals you and allows you to see God more clearly – to operate more fully in His strength and power. Learn to function in the truths of Jesus Christ, and quit allowing others to convince you their information is factual. This is not some light-hearted game like a haunted house… this is your life in Christ! Seek His truth and strength… and trust nothing less! Recognize God’s power and presence… and trust Him to deliver you!
©2013 Debbie Robus
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
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.
Did you ever go to one of those haunted houses where someone told you to stick your hand in “a bowl of guts and eyeballs?” You knew in reason it was only boiled eggs or olives and cold spaghetti noodles… but as you put your hand in, you believed what you were told. You had faith that you were being given truthful information… that you were really touching such ghoulish, disgusting things. In this case, you were being sold a bill of goods. You believed simply because you wanted to believe. If someone had turned on the light and shown you what you touched, you would have had a totally different perspective.
With Jesus, we have to trust what we are told much of the time… what we read in scripture and what we feel God reveals to us through prayer. We must have faith in God’s promises, because honestly, we don’t always have much visible proof. If the mysteries of God were suddenly fully revealed to us… if a light were turned on, so to speak…we might not be able to handle them. For certain, our perspective would change. But over time, God shows us His power and presence in a myriad of ways that are often much more subtle. It is up to us to recognize them!
So how do we know that the strength of God is real? How do we know that His promises are sincere… that we can fully trust Him? Look around. See the day-to-day miracles that are occurring. Watch how others rely on Him to endure things that seem impossible to handle, much less overcome. Study the blessings that come into your life… take a good hard look at the events of your world over the course of a week or two and see where God has orchestrated things in a way you had not even considered. Ask yourself, “How did I make it through XYZ?” and recognize that God’s strength and power most likely made the difference!
Make this the day that your faith heals you and allows you to see God more clearly – to operate more fully in His strength and power. Learn to function in the truths of Jesus Christ, and quit allowing others to convince you their information is factual. This is not some light-hearted game like a haunted house… this is your life in Christ! Seek His truth and strength… and trust nothing less! Recognize God’s power and presence… and trust Him to deliver you!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2012
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 3, 2012
Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.”
“I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.”
Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know at least one person who can be trusted to always do what he/she promises? Is this person someone of whom you can ask a favor or give a task, and you don’t even have to check to see if they did it… you just know that they did? Isn’t that a great feeling?! I know a few people like this, and I can’t begin to express how valuable they are to me. I know they will move heaven and earth to get things done. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, I won’t have to give this another thought.
On the other hand, don’t you know at least one person who has to be not only prodded to get things done… but he/she also has to be monitored to ensure that the task was completed? It’s not that these are necessarily bad people… but the level of steadfastness and reliability is simply lacking to non-existent! You check up on them because you must, if you want to be sure things get done!
I am so very grateful that we serve a God who is reliable, steady, loyal, accountable, and powerful! We don’t have to check up on God… we don’t have to worry that He will answer our prayers, meet our needs, or heal our “wounds” and “diseases.” Our Heavenly Father is honorable, deliberate, and able to do all things. When we ask anything of Him, it is safe to assume that He’s “on it,” and all will be handled according to His will.
Does this mean that God will always answer exactly as we expect? Absolutely not! When we learn to trust God not only to answer… but also for His perfect answer… we have reached a new level in our relationship with Him. It is human nature to check up on God… to somewhat pester Him for answers. We all go through a time where we remind Him often, “LORD, I still need such-and-such…” or “Father, I’m still hurting here,” or even, “God, WHEN will you hear me?”
When we get to a point that we no longer have to ask… when we don’t have to see God at work or have Him physically visit our home and touch us to heal us… when we just KNOW that He is working things out for us… we begin to fully operate in Christian faith. I pray that you are getting there. I hope you are making strides in your ability to trust the most trustworthy One of all. There will still be times when you will question… but I hope you will also feel a little foolish for doing so. I know I do!
The statement Jesus made about His observance of the army officer’s level of faith is incredibly profound… an amazing commendation any one of us would covet. When Jesus looks at your faith… is He equally astounded? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.”
“I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.”
Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know at least one person who can be trusted to always do what he/she promises? Is this person someone of whom you can ask a favor or give a task, and you don’t even have to check to see if they did it… you just know that they did? Isn’t that a great feeling?! I know a few people like this, and I can’t begin to express how valuable they are to me. I know they will move heaven and earth to get things done. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, I won’t have to give this another thought.
On the other hand, don’t you know at least one person who has to be not only prodded to get things done… but he/she also has to be monitored to ensure that the task was completed? It’s not that these are necessarily bad people… but the level of steadfastness and reliability is simply lacking to non-existent! You check up on them because you must, if you want to be sure things get done!
I am so very grateful that we serve a God who is reliable, steady, loyal, accountable, and powerful! We don’t have to check up on God… we don’t have to worry that He will answer our prayers, meet our needs, or heal our “wounds” and “diseases.” Our Heavenly Father is honorable, deliberate, and able to do all things. When we ask anything of Him, it is safe to assume that He’s “on it,” and all will be handled according to His will.
Does this mean that God will always answer exactly as we expect? Absolutely not! When we learn to trust God not only to answer… but also for His perfect answer… we have reached a new level in our relationship with Him. It is human nature to check up on God… to somewhat pester Him for answers. We all go through a time where we remind Him often, “LORD, I still need such-and-such…” or “Father, I’m still hurting here,” or even, “God, WHEN will you hear me?”
When we get to a point that we no longer have to ask… when we don’t have to see God at work or have Him physically visit our home and touch us to heal us… when we just KNOW that He is working things out for us… we begin to fully operate in Christian faith. I pray that you are getting there. I hope you are making strides in your ability to trust the most trustworthy One of all. There will still be times when you will question… but I hope you will also feel a little foolish for doing so. I know I do!
The statement Jesus made about His observance of the army officer’s level of faith is incredibly profound… an amazing commendation any one of us would covet. When Jesus looks at your faith… is He equally astounded? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 10, 2012
John 20:24-24
Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But Thomas said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In August, our nephew Timothy came to Arkansas for a visit. My husband and I returned him to his family in Texas after a couple of weeks. We told him we were going on an adventure. It never occurred to us that he would think we had tricked him, but when he saw his apartment in Texas and realized that his visit with us was over, he was very upset. So when we recently traveled to Texas to move him and his family back to Arkansas, Timothy was understandably skeptical. All the way home he kept saying, “But I don’t want to live in Texas!”
Despite our best efforts to reassure him that none of us would be living in Texas, Timothy was not convinced. He thought this was another trick. We told him about his new house and big yard. He didn’t believe us. I took him out in his new yard and let him run from one end to the other. Only then did he say, “This is my new yard. It’s BIG!” We showed him every room in the house and told him these were all for his family. He came to our house and saw that all of his toys were still here and everything was pretty much as he had left it. Only then did he start to settle in and relax. And he’s still working through it all. For a three-year-old, such a change is a process…and his trust is not easily earned!
What about you? Are there things about God’s promises that you don’t believe because you have not physically seen proof? Are there areas where you cannot seem to trust what you have read in scripture? Have these passages and the claims of others failed to convince you that God is in control of your worries and cares? Do you still feel that you need concrete evidence? Are you waiting on the “nail scars” and the “spear in the side” to convince you that God is real… or that He truly answers our prayers?
Too many of us are “Doubting Thomases.” We can’t seem to get to a point where we trust God completely… regardless of our circumstances, how well things are going in our lives, or a thousand people telling us that God will never leave us! We need proof! We need evidence! We need “nail scars” and “spears in the side!”
When we come to the place where we trust God implicitly - proof or not - we have arrived, to a large degree, as Christians. When we can honestly say, “I’m giving my life – warts, problems and all – to God,” we can finally begin to grow and serve as we should. This doesn’t happen overnight. For some of us, it’s a lifelong process. For those who are willing to surrender – to “let go and let God,” amazing things begin to happen. When God has full control and our complete trust, even our worst day is better.
Where are you in this picture? Do you say you trust God, then worry and fret and try to fix things yourself? Are you a full-fledged “Doubting Thomas?” Or have you committed to trust God and believe in Him, sight unseen? Your answer matters. Your choice is critical! Timothy may not live in Texas any more, but I’m not totally sure he is convinced yet. I look forward to the day he believes us when we tell him that he is home for good.
What about you? Do you believe in things you have not seen? Are you convinced that what God has said and done is real and true? Or is your faith level that of a three-year-old? Have you truly seen the LORD at work in your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But Thomas said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In August, our nephew Timothy came to Arkansas for a visit. My husband and I returned him to his family in Texas after a couple of weeks. We told him we were going on an adventure. It never occurred to us that he would think we had tricked him, but when he saw his apartment in Texas and realized that his visit with us was over, he was very upset. So when we recently traveled to Texas to move him and his family back to Arkansas, Timothy was understandably skeptical. All the way home he kept saying, “But I don’t want to live in Texas!”
Despite our best efforts to reassure him that none of us would be living in Texas, Timothy was not convinced. He thought this was another trick. We told him about his new house and big yard. He didn’t believe us. I took him out in his new yard and let him run from one end to the other. Only then did he say, “This is my new yard. It’s BIG!” We showed him every room in the house and told him these were all for his family. He came to our house and saw that all of his toys were still here and everything was pretty much as he had left it. Only then did he start to settle in and relax. And he’s still working through it all. For a three-year-old, such a change is a process…and his trust is not easily earned!
What about you? Are there things about God’s promises that you don’t believe because you have not physically seen proof? Are there areas where you cannot seem to trust what you have read in scripture? Have these passages and the claims of others failed to convince you that God is in control of your worries and cares? Do you still feel that you need concrete evidence? Are you waiting on the “nail scars” and the “spear in the side” to convince you that God is real… or that He truly answers our prayers?
Too many of us are “Doubting Thomases.” We can’t seem to get to a point where we trust God completely… regardless of our circumstances, how well things are going in our lives, or a thousand people telling us that God will never leave us! We need proof! We need evidence! We need “nail scars” and “spears in the side!”
When we come to the place where we trust God implicitly - proof or not - we have arrived, to a large degree, as Christians. When we can honestly say, “I’m giving my life – warts, problems and all – to God,” we can finally begin to grow and serve as we should. This doesn’t happen overnight. For some of us, it’s a lifelong process. For those who are willing to surrender – to “let go and let God,” amazing things begin to happen. When God has full control and our complete trust, even our worst day is better.
Where are you in this picture? Do you say you trust God, then worry and fret and try to fix things yourself? Are you a full-fledged “Doubting Thomas?” Or have you committed to trust God and believe in Him, sight unseen? Your answer matters. Your choice is critical! Timothy may not live in Texas any more, but I’m not totally sure he is convinced yet. I look forward to the day he believes us when we tell him that he is home for good.
What about you? Do you believe in things you have not seen? Are you convinced that what God has said and done is real and true? Or is your faith level that of a three-year-old? Have you truly seen the LORD at work in your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 21, 2012
John 20:29
Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I spoke by phone with our three-year-old nephew, Timothy, who lives in another state. At one point, he said, “Debbie, I want to see you!” I replied, “I want to see you, too, Timothy.” He did not understand the concept of talking to someone on the phone and being unable to see them… and he kept trying to show us things – toys, movies, and more.
As we talked, Timothy’s mother got out a picture album and showed him photographs of us. He would say, “That’s probably you, Debbie. That’s probably you, Uncle Greg!” It seemed to help him to visualize us as we spoke… to remember what we looked like, based on our photos.
Doesn’t it seem like it would often be easier to communicate with God if we had a photograph of Him? Don’t we long to see Him? Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the very fact that we accept Him on faith – even though we have never physically seen Him – is what makes our relationship so special and powerful. We trust in God solely on faith that He exists… and the evidence of His love, care, grace and mercy on our behalf. We trust completely that a man we’ve never seen died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. We hold onto a promise that we will join Him in heaven someday for all eternity.
Timothy trusts that we are the same Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg who loved him unconditionally and lavished attention, food, clothes, shelter and time on him when he stayed with us. Conversely, Timothy’s little sister Zola does not know us. We have not seen her since she was three months old, so she has no recollection of us except for photos… no real basis for a connection. Yet somehow, I believe she will come to know us and love us, based solely on the words of her parents and brother – and our actions toward her. In a childlike manner, we Christians walk and live by faith… completely trusting God without ever having seen Him. Just like our little Zola, we operate purely on the word of others… and the actions and blessings of God on our behalf.
We humans tend to be such literal creatures. I find it truly amazing that we have the capacity to so deeply love and adore a God we have never seen, based on faith that He really exists. I find it even more incredible that God can love us with such a power and compulsion that we find this completely plausible - real and genuine. How can we deny His existence? How can we fail to trust and serve Him? After all, evidence of God is all around us… in nature, daily miracles and blessings, and answered prayers. With the confidence of a three-year-old looking at photographs, we can say, “That’s probably God’s handiwork!” – and know without question that we are correct.
Do you have “unseen” faith? Do you believe in God, even though you have never physically seen His picture? Do you require more proof that He exists, or are you ready to take a look around you and acknowledge that what you see is more than probably God at work in your life? He truly IS here… ready to meet your every need! What more do you require? What is holding you back from truly believing in Him? If a toddler can accept that the voices on the other end of a phone are those of people he loves (who love him, also) - yet he only sees them in photographs - can’t we accept that the God who is evident all around us truly exists? Are you ready to exercise the faith of a child… and be blessed accordingly?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I spoke by phone with our three-year-old nephew, Timothy, who lives in another state. At one point, he said, “Debbie, I want to see you!” I replied, “I want to see you, too, Timothy.” He did not understand the concept of talking to someone on the phone and being unable to see them… and he kept trying to show us things – toys, movies, and more.
As we talked, Timothy’s mother got out a picture album and showed him photographs of us. He would say, “That’s probably you, Debbie. That’s probably you, Uncle Greg!” It seemed to help him to visualize us as we spoke… to remember what we looked like, based on our photos.
Doesn’t it seem like it would often be easier to communicate with God if we had a photograph of Him? Don’t we long to see Him? Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the very fact that we accept Him on faith – even though we have never physically seen Him – is what makes our relationship so special and powerful. We trust in God solely on faith that He exists… and the evidence of His love, care, grace and mercy on our behalf. We trust completely that a man we’ve never seen died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. We hold onto a promise that we will join Him in heaven someday for all eternity.
Timothy trusts that we are the same Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg who loved him unconditionally and lavished attention, food, clothes, shelter and time on him when he stayed with us. Conversely, Timothy’s little sister Zola does not know us. We have not seen her since she was three months old, so she has no recollection of us except for photos… no real basis for a connection. Yet somehow, I believe she will come to know us and love us, based solely on the words of her parents and brother – and our actions toward her. In a childlike manner, we Christians walk and live by faith… completely trusting God without ever having seen Him. Just like our little Zola, we operate purely on the word of others… and the actions and blessings of God on our behalf.
We humans tend to be such literal creatures. I find it truly amazing that we have the capacity to so deeply love and adore a God we have never seen, based on faith that He really exists. I find it even more incredible that God can love us with such a power and compulsion that we find this completely plausible - real and genuine. How can we deny His existence? How can we fail to trust and serve Him? After all, evidence of God is all around us… in nature, daily miracles and blessings, and answered prayers. With the confidence of a three-year-old looking at photographs, we can say, “That’s probably God’s handiwork!” – and know without question that we are correct.
Do you have “unseen” faith? Do you believe in God, even though you have never physically seen His picture? Do you require more proof that He exists, or are you ready to take a look around you and acknowledge that what you see is more than probably God at work in your life? He truly IS here… ready to meet your every need! What more do you require? What is holding you back from truly believing in Him? If a toddler can accept that the voices on the other end of a phone are those of people he loves (who love him, also) - yet he only sees them in photographs - can’t we accept that the God who is evident all around us truly exists? Are you ready to exercise the faith of a child… and be blessed accordingly?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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