Romans 6:22-23
But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
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.
Someone posted a link on Facebook to a short video by Phil Robertson, creator of Duck Commander – now known by most via A&E’s television show, “Duck Dynasty”. If you have a chance, go to http://vimeo.com/75972095 and view this video for yourself. Robertson tells of the day when he answered his own phone, and the caller said he wanted to order a duck call. The conversation went something like this…
The customer said he needed to order a duck call. Robertson asked the guy, “Okay...What do you need?” Phil says, “In process of guy ordering the duck call, he used God's name in vain about five times... just while ordering a duck call.” He asked the man…”Why would you keep using God's name to curse this, that and the other... He's the only one who can save you from death... why invoke His name like that?” There was silence.
The man ordered his duck call and hung up… then about 10 minutes later, he called back and told Robertson that he had never considered this question before… and he asked if he could come over and visit. A week later, Robertson received a visit from this man and a friend, and the conversation continued. Robertson implies that the visit ended with an impromptu baptism in a nearby river. Several years later, Robertson was speaking at an event in Alabama, where he discovered that this customer was now a leader in the church that was serving as hosts.
The point of the video is that Robertson used his marketplace as a ministry. If you know anything at all about the Robertson family and “Duck Dynasty”, you know that they truly have built an empire. They have catapulted a simple idea into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, and the “Duck Dynasty” brand is now on everything from books, videos, clothing and fleece throws… to jewelry and yes - duck calls! There is even a “Duck Dynasty” department at Wal-Mart! Still, the Robertsons make frequent appearances across the country to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. From all accounts, they are the “real deal” for Jesus…and their “wealth” in Him far outweighs any monetary gain or fame they might have acquired.
“But I won’t ever be rich and famous like the Robertsons,” you may be thinking. “I won’t ever have the kind of national platform that they have… much less their wealth.” And you might be right! But don’t miss this… you are every bit as affluent as any one of the Robertsons when it comes to the riches of salvation! You can share in God’s gift equally with anybody else on the planet! And as someone who enjoys the “put-together life” in Christ, you have the ability to accomplish as much – or more - for the Kingdom of heaven as Phil Robertson and his family members!
But here’s the kicker… you have to choose to work hard for God’s real life instead of the life of sin… AND… you have to make a conscious effort to “share the wealth” with others. If you do this, you will be as “rich and famous” in God’s eyes as any of the “Duck Dynasty” clan ever thought about being. You will be wealthy and influential in a way that truly matters. If you turn every aspect of your life into a mission field, you won’t be able to spend all that God gives you! But the choice is totally yours. In the words of Phil Robertson, will you choose to be “Happy! Happy! Happy!” for Jesus? Or will you end up being just another “dead duck”?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label fame and fortune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fame and fortune. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 9, 2013
Proverbs 3:1-4
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
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.
It’s happened. The heads of the Kardashian family… Kris and Bruce Jenner… are separating. Every news reporter is sharing this information, and while it is sad anytime a marriage suffers…we as a people are far too interested in this particular one.
On ABC’s The View, host Sherri Shepherd confessed to having an obsession with anything “Kardashian.” She explained that she fantasizes about what it would be like to live their lifestyle… to have their fame and fortune. She knows better. But what too many of us fail to recognize is how often celebrities lead hollow, empty lives. Their focus is in the wrong place. Lest I sound judgmental, I will be the first to admit that I do not truly know what is in their hearts. But I have seen the shows… I know how the Kardashians treat each other (at least on camera) – and what appears to be important to them. In my opinion, their primary focus is not keeping God’s commands in their hearts and operating daily with loyalty and kindness. Even amongst themselves, there is plenty of friction, tension, and personal disregard for the other’s feelings. And we won’t even talk about their reputations!
I’m sure there are some Godly, loyal, kind celebrities. But we don’t hear a lot about them, do we? And these are not who many of us select as a standard to which we aspire. We can choose to model our lives after the seemingly attractive and desirable existence of Celebrity A, B, or C. We can run after things that appear to satisfy and delight… money, attractiveness, fame and “success”. Or we can focus on God and keeping His commandments… operating in love, loyalty and kindness…and we can build a reputation for TRUE success and satisfaction. Give me a simple, humble servant of God over a Kardashian (or any other celeb, for that matter) any day of the week!
What about you? Are you seeking the everlasting favor of God… or is your standing among your peers more important? Who is the bigger celebrity to you… a Kardashian, or the person who spoons out food at your local soup kitchen on Saturday night? What is truly important to you… and how are you going about obtaining it?
Don’t laugh when I tell you that we should be praying for the Kardashians and people like them. But we should also be asking God to reveal to us any areas in which our own hearts and desires might not be lined up with His. We should be asking God to create in us a sense of genuineness and authenticity…in all things - to all people. If fame and fortune are His ordained “fringe benefits”… so be it. Either way, we will always be “rock stars” in God’s eyes. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
©2013 Debbie Robus
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
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.
It’s happened. The heads of the Kardashian family… Kris and Bruce Jenner… are separating. Every news reporter is sharing this information, and while it is sad anytime a marriage suffers…we as a people are far too interested in this particular one.
On ABC’s The View, host Sherri Shepherd confessed to having an obsession with anything “Kardashian.” She explained that she fantasizes about what it would be like to live their lifestyle… to have their fame and fortune. She knows better. But what too many of us fail to recognize is how often celebrities lead hollow, empty lives. Their focus is in the wrong place. Lest I sound judgmental, I will be the first to admit that I do not truly know what is in their hearts. But I have seen the shows… I know how the Kardashians treat each other (at least on camera) – and what appears to be important to them. In my opinion, their primary focus is not keeping God’s commands in their hearts and operating daily with loyalty and kindness. Even amongst themselves, there is plenty of friction, tension, and personal disregard for the other’s feelings. And we won’t even talk about their reputations!
I’m sure there are some Godly, loyal, kind celebrities. But we don’t hear a lot about them, do we? And these are not who many of us select as a standard to which we aspire. We can choose to model our lives after the seemingly attractive and desirable existence of Celebrity A, B, or C. We can run after things that appear to satisfy and delight… money, attractiveness, fame and “success”. Or we can focus on God and keeping His commandments… operating in love, loyalty and kindness…and we can build a reputation for TRUE success and satisfaction. Give me a simple, humble servant of God over a Kardashian (or any other celeb, for that matter) any day of the week!
What about you? Are you seeking the everlasting favor of God… or is your standing among your peers more important? Who is the bigger celebrity to you… a Kardashian, or the person who spoons out food at your local soup kitchen on Saturday night? What is truly important to you… and how are you going about obtaining it?
Don’t laugh when I tell you that we should be praying for the Kardashians and people like them. But we should also be asking God to reveal to us any areas in which our own hearts and desires might not be lined up with His. We should be asking God to create in us a sense of genuineness and authenticity…in all things - to all people. If fame and fortune are His ordained “fringe benefits”… so be it. Either way, we will always be “rock stars” in God’s eyes. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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