John 10:14-18
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my
own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows
me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing
myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in
addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too.
They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one
Shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay
down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from
me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down;
I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority
personally from my Father.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
It’s Valentine’s Day…the day
when expressions of love flow freely between almost all of us.
Flowers, candy, jewelry and more cards than can be counted are exchanged
between people of all ages. According to an article at Money.com, the
average amount many will spend on Valentine’s Day this year is nearly
$150. And the words written on Valentine cards run the gamut from the
silly to the sappy…but the general gist of most is that the recipient
has captured our hearts!
In this scripture passage, Jesus is
telling us that He has captured God’s heart…and God has captured His.
More than that…WE have captured His heart…and He wants to capture ours.
Jesus knows us intimately – and He wants us to know Him just as well.
Going one step further…Jesus wants us to share this love with others…to
develop a deep, abiding affection for others that mimics His love for
us. In this manner, we can demonstrate to them how much God loves us -
and create in them a desire to become part of the flock.
If God
sent us a Valentine, I imagine it might feature Jesus gathering His
flock of sheep, with Ephesians 3:18 written across the front…” And I ask
him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take
in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s
love.”
God wants us to be His …and to so clearly demonstrate to
the world how special this relationship is that others can’t help but
want to join in, also. His love is incredible and vast - and there is
room for all of us. This is GREAT NEWS!
1 John 4:19 reminds us
that…”First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” Who do you
love…and how will you show it? Will you demonstrate your love for God
today…and will you share His love with others? You don’t have to spend
$150 to do this. There are countless ways to express your affection and
appreciation for God and others. Which ones will you choose today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label feed my sheep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feed my sheep. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 13, 2016
Genesis 1:27-30
God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature.He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
Then God said, “I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.” And there it was.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When my mother was placed on Hospice and returned back to her house, two of her husband’s daughters (who both live in Tennessee) – Janet and Suzanne - came to help with her care. Both women are nurses, and their expertise was greatly appreciated. Janet’s husband, Craig, accompanied her…as well as their daughter, Sara, who was still on winter break from college. Almost upon their arrival, Janet and Craig sat down and made a menu plan. Then off to the store Craig went.
Craig returned with multiple sacks of groceries, and the kitchen became a beehive of activity. He browned hamburger meat and chicken, chopped and sautéed vegetables, and boiled pasta. He and Janet even baked two delicious chocolate “Texas Sheet Cakes!” In short, Craig created meals to sustain us for the next several days. Along with dishes generously provided by friends of my mother, we ate like kings and queens.
The beautiful thig about all of this is that my sister, Greg and I did not have to do a thing. All of our needs were met as we focused on caring for Mother and tending to other important business. We knew that we would be physically fed. But we were “fed” in other ways, also, as people reached out to provide for all of our needs as best they could. We were encouraged, nurtured, and prayed over. Cards, flowers, phone calls and countless electronic messages reminded us to “hang in there”…”get some rest”…and “be sure to remember to breathe.” All that we needed in that moment was provided.
There is a wonderful old hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” – written in 1925 by Thomas Chisholm. One line of the chorus says…”All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” Truly, God provides all that we need, in every circumstance. God provided for our needs in ways I cannot even describe in the last two months…and I know that He will continue to do so. His command to us is to go…to do… to represent Him as good stewards of all that His hand hath provided…to “feed His sheep” in every sense of the word.
Look around…who needs you? Where do you need to use what God has provided to “prosper and reproduce?” This is about more than creating future generations. God wants us to be good stewards of ALL of His gifts…and to multiply His kingdom by sharing His love, grace, kindness and mercy with others so that they want to belong to Him, also. What opportunities lie before you to accomplish this goal with whatever means God has equipped you?
Isn’t it time we got busy fulfilling the commands of Genesis 1? How will you feed the sheep of Jesus? When and where will you “prosper and reproduce” in His name? Don’t you think it’s time to decide?
©2016 Debbie Robus
God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature.He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
Then God said, “I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.” And there it was.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When my mother was placed on Hospice and returned back to her house, two of her husband’s daughters (who both live in Tennessee) – Janet and Suzanne - came to help with her care. Both women are nurses, and their expertise was greatly appreciated. Janet’s husband, Craig, accompanied her…as well as their daughter, Sara, who was still on winter break from college. Almost upon their arrival, Janet and Craig sat down and made a menu plan. Then off to the store Craig went.
Craig returned with multiple sacks of groceries, and the kitchen became a beehive of activity. He browned hamburger meat and chicken, chopped and sautéed vegetables, and boiled pasta. He and Janet even baked two delicious chocolate “Texas Sheet Cakes!” In short, Craig created meals to sustain us for the next several days. Along with dishes generously provided by friends of my mother, we ate like kings and queens.
The beautiful thig about all of this is that my sister, Greg and I did not have to do a thing. All of our needs were met as we focused on caring for Mother and tending to other important business. We knew that we would be physically fed. But we were “fed” in other ways, also, as people reached out to provide for all of our needs as best they could. We were encouraged, nurtured, and prayed over. Cards, flowers, phone calls and countless electronic messages reminded us to “hang in there”…”get some rest”…and “be sure to remember to breathe.” All that we needed in that moment was provided.
There is a wonderful old hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” – written in 1925 by Thomas Chisholm. One line of the chorus says…”All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” Truly, God provides all that we need, in every circumstance. God provided for our needs in ways I cannot even describe in the last two months…and I know that He will continue to do so. His command to us is to go…to do… to represent Him as good stewards of all that His hand hath provided…to “feed His sheep” in every sense of the word.
Look around…who needs you? Where do you need to use what God has provided to “prosper and reproduce?” This is about more than creating future generations. God wants us to be good stewards of ALL of His gifts…and to multiply His kingdom by sharing His love, grace, kindness and mercy with others so that they want to belong to Him, also. What opportunities lie before you to accomplish this goal with whatever means God has equipped you?
Isn’t it time we got busy fulfilling the commands of Genesis 1? How will you feed the sheep of Jesus? When and where will you “prosper and reproduce” in His name? Don’t you think it’s time to decide?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 8, 2016
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others.
What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!
Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.
We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn’t perfect will then disappear.
When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.
For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our church’s Sunday school focus for this quarter is on “church”…what is it? Who makes up the “church”? How can we be the “church” to others? There are a lot of people who think they are the church, because they “do all the right things.” They attend worship services on Sundays…they participate in Bible studies and small groups…they wear the appropriate cross jewelry and t-shirts and/or have crosses, fish and bumper stickers on their vehicles. They might even have a sign in their yard that says, “This family attends XYZ church.” And they hang out with other people who attend their “church.”
But check these folks on any given day, and you will see someone who does not seem to represent the “church” described in the Book of Acts - in any way, shape or form. Yesterday, I asked a group of 2nd-3rd graders how they could better represent the church that Jesus commissioned in the Book of Acts. One child said, “I could watch my language and not say ugly words.” Another said, “I could pray more and tell others about Jesus.” Still another said, “I could control my temper."
All of the children in this class were sweet and sincere…they want to be loving servants. But they are children…and they are human. 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that most children think and reason differently from us. Unfortunately, we adults behave like children far too often. We do not operate in love…and we do not represent Jesus. We may “look the part,” on the outside…but our hearts are certainly not filled with love for others.
I told the children what I often remind each of us in these devotionals…people are watching. When they look at us, we want them to see the love of Jesus. We want others to see behaviors and hear talk that represents His teachings…offers hope, demonstrates faith, and surrounds them with love and acceptance. If we don’t truly have the love of Christ in our hearts…if we don’t carry His Holy Spirit with us…this will not be possible.
Examine your heart today. See where you have become nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Ask Jesus to fill you with His love…and to help you share His compassion tenderness, grace and mercy with others. We are called to “feed His sheep” by our demonstrations of love, hope and faith. How are you doing today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others.
What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!
Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.
We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn’t perfect will then disappear.
When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.
For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our church’s Sunday school focus for this quarter is on “church”…what is it? Who makes up the “church”? How can we be the “church” to others? There are a lot of people who think they are the church, because they “do all the right things.” They attend worship services on Sundays…they participate in Bible studies and small groups…they wear the appropriate cross jewelry and t-shirts and/or have crosses, fish and bumper stickers on their vehicles. They might even have a sign in their yard that says, “This family attends XYZ church.” And they hang out with other people who attend their “church.”
But check these folks on any given day, and you will see someone who does not seem to represent the “church” described in the Book of Acts - in any way, shape or form. Yesterday, I asked a group of 2nd-3rd graders how they could better represent the church that Jesus commissioned in the Book of Acts. One child said, “I could watch my language and not say ugly words.” Another said, “I could pray more and tell others about Jesus.” Still another said, “I could control my temper."
All of the children in this class were sweet and sincere…they want to be loving servants. But they are children…and they are human. 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that most children think and reason differently from us. Unfortunately, we adults behave like children far too often. We do not operate in love…and we do not represent Jesus. We may “look the part,” on the outside…but our hearts are certainly not filled with love for others.
I told the children what I often remind each of us in these devotionals…people are watching. When they look at us, we want them to see the love of Jesus. We want others to see behaviors and hear talk that represents His teachings…offers hope, demonstrates faith, and surrounds them with love and acceptance. If we don’t truly have the love of Christ in our hearts…if we don’t carry His Holy Spirit with us…this will not be possible.
Examine your heart today. See where you have become nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Ask Jesus to fill you with His love…and to help you share His compassion tenderness, grace and mercy with others. We are called to “feed His sheep” by our demonstrations of love, hope and faith. How are you doing today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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