Mark 10:29
Jesus said, "Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They'll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first."
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.
Each one of us will face daunting decisions in our lives… hard choices that alter the course of our journey forever. Some that stand out for me… leaving high school after my junior year for college and marriage; quitting my job as an elementary school teacher to begin a new business with my husband – and moving back to our home town in the bargain;, and leaving my grandparents’ farm and the “dream home” we built there to move back into town to better “grow” our business. Each time, I knew in my heart the decision was right… but nagging doubts and questions abounded. Many would call this “the devil’s advocate” – and indeed, the devil did have fun messing with my mind!
Each decision was a good one… a time of growth and blessings that I know God orchestrated and sanctioned. Each time I could have buckled and listened to the misgivings and reservations voiced by others (and running through my own head). But I prayerfully considered all options and followed what I felt God was showing me. As “doors and windows” opened, I stepped through them… and my fears were dissolved as blessings multiplied.
Having said this, there were areas I still held “in reserve” for a number of years… things I didn’t fully surrender to God, for one reason or another. The biggest decision we can ever make in life is to allow God complete control over every aspect of our lives. You would think that this is automatic when one gives his/her heart to Jesus, but actually, these can be separate decisions.
I am sure that there are those who invite Jesus into their heart and surrender completely to His will from that day forward – in every single thing. But there are others among us who have an “everything but” salvation experience. “I have given my heart to Jesus and will serve Him to the best of my ability. But when my parents don’t think I should give to a charity that God has spoken to me about, I have to listen. When my boyfriend/girlfriend wants me to go to the beach for spring break instead of going on a mission trip with the church youth group, I will probably go to the beach.”
“When I’m encouraged to cover for my boss at work about something, and everyone else is in on it, I have to go along, so I don’t lose my job. When I’m with a group of people who are making bigoted, off-color references to a particular group of people, I have to snicker and agree… or else they won’t like me. When my child asks me to help him/her get out of some trouble – or to make excuses for his/her behavior – I have to do it… he/she is my kid!”
We have a ready-made Guide for making all decisions… no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. It’s not our conscience or our little “inner voice”… it’s the all-knowing, all-powerful voice of God. If we will stop and say, “LORD, no matter what you decide, I will follow. Please show me how YOU want me to handle this.” A lot of His answers won’t be popular… much less easy. But when we come to a point in our faith where we can say, “no matter what” to God and mean it, everything starts to come into focus.
When you can say to God, “If I lose everything – family, friends, job, home, freedom, EVERYTHING – but still have YOU, it won’t matter”… you have arrived as His disciple. When you can truly surrender to God in all matters – and mean it – you will be astounded at how He shows up in your life. Don’t hold back. Don’t reserve any areas for doing what YOU want to do. Give EVERYTHING to God and watch what happens in return!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label finding Gods wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding Gods wisdom. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 8, 2012
John 16:4-11
"I didn't tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, 'Where are you going?' Instead, the longer I've talked, the sadder you've become. So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you.
"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
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 in about seven, my dad took a job near Dewitt, Arkansas, working on construction of part of the McClellen-Kerr navigation system on the Arkansas River. He would leave in the wee hours of Monday morning and drive to Dewitt, work all week, and drive home on Friday evening. I truly hated this. The closer it grew to bedtime on Sunday night, the sadder I became. I vividly remember crying one night as my dad sat on the side of my bed and tried to explain to me why he had to go back to Dewitt the next morning. “You want a horse to ride and other things, don’t you?” he asked me. “I have to go to work so we can afford to get these things.” Still, I didn’t want him to go, and I begged him to please stay home.
I didn’t care about horses – or anything else – I just wanted my daddy with us. As a seven-year-old second-grader, I could not grasp the concept that my dad could make so much more money as a welder on the lock and dam system’s construction than he could at many of the jobs in our community. I think I understood this a little better when I was in fifth grade, and for six months we moved to an eastern Oklahoma community so that Daddy could once again work on welding tainter gates at the lock and dam there.
While we lived in Oklahoma, my dad made good money. Nearly every weekend, we traveled to a larger city and shopped, ate out, and got new toys… and my sister and I got new clothes for our Barbies. Still, we were not at home… things were not as they had been, and my siblings and I were not happy. My sister, brother and I failed to see any wisdom in my parents’ choice for my dad to work away from home… or to move us to another state for such work. We did not trust that there was anything to be gained by doing this… and we will never know what might have happened had we continued to follow the jobs.
The disciples were told that Jesus was leaving them… and they were understandably upset. After all, He had just returned to them after His crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb. Any talk of Him leaving again had these followers in a state of despair, if not downright panic! I get that! When we invite Jesus into our heart, the last thing we want to consider is that He might turn around and leave us… right? What we don’t fully understand is the hierarchy of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus. Jesus glorifies God. The Holy Spirit gives glory to Jesus, who sent Him. Jesus never truly leaves us… His Holy Spirit is the agent of change within us. You speak to Jesus… the Holy Spirit makes things happen. He operates on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.” He shows us things that God knows. In order to glorify all that Jesus suffered and sacrificed for us, we must allow Him to send His Holy Spirit to live within our heart and make things happen!
My dad was not gone… he was merely working in another location through the week. But in order to have all of the benefits He wanted to provide for us, he had to work remotely. We could call him on the telephone… we could still talk with him… but he had to go away and do his work so that we could gain the things we needed. And so it is with Jesus. He had to go away to do the work… and he uses the Holy Spirit to provide us with what we need.
As a seven-year-old kid, I didn’t care (or at least I said I didn’t) about things… I just wanted my dad with us. As a 54-year-old Christian, I want Jesus with me – all the way… all the time! But I am mature enough to understand that He cannot physically return to earth and walk around with me. The way to have Jesus with me on this earth is through the Holy Spirit. If I do not make room for the Holy Spirit in my life and let Him work on the inside of me, I will never fully experience all that God set out to give me.
So we must understand that inviting Jesus to be LORD of our life is the first step… but then we must make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit… and do all that we can to make Him feel welcome. So many Christians miss this important step. They see the Holy Spirit (or as some say, the “Holy Ghost”) as something or someone nebulous and scary. Don’t count yourself among them. See the Holy Spirit as a manifestation of Jesus in you… His vehicle to be continually present with us … to supply us with all of the wisdom, compassion, discernment, and authority He wishes to give us in order to serve Him well. Trust Jesus. Believe in Him and accept that His will and plans are perfect – and meant to bless and keep us.
To truly “let go and let God” means to trust Jesus in all things… and to believe that He will never abandon us. Surrender completely, embrace the Holy Spirit and allow the Him to come and dwell in your heart. This is when the “good stuff” starts to happen… are you ready for it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
"I didn't tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, 'Where are you going?' Instead, the longer I've talked, the sadder you've become. So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you.
"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
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 in about seven, my dad took a job near Dewitt, Arkansas, working on construction of part of the McClellen-Kerr navigation system on the Arkansas River. He would leave in the wee hours of Monday morning and drive to Dewitt, work all week, and drive home on Friday evening. I truly hated this. The closer it grew to bedtime on Sunday night, the sadder I became. I vividly remember crying one night as my dad sat on the side of my bed and tried to explain to me why he had to go back to Dewitt the next morning. “You want a horse to ride and other things, don’t you?” he asked me. “I have to go to work so we can afford to get these things.” Still, I didn’t want him to go, and I begged him to please stay home.
I didn’t care about horses – or anything else – I just wanted my daddy with us. As a seven-year-old second-grader, I could not grasp the concept that my dad could make so much more money as a welder on the lock and dam system’s construction than he could at many of the jobs in our community. I think I understood this a little better when I was in fifth grade, and for six months we moved to an eastern Oklahoma community so that Daddy could once again work on welding tainter gates at the lock and dam there.
While we lived in Oklahoma, my dad made good money. Nearly every weekend, we traveled to a larger city and shopped, ate out, and got new toys… and my sister and I got new clothes for our Barbies. Still, we were not at home… things were not as they had been, and my siblings and I were not happy. My sister, brother and I failed to see any wisdom in my parents’ choice for my dad to work away from home… or to move us to another state for such work. We did not trust that there was anything to be gained by doing this… and we will never know what might have happened had we continued to follow the jobs.
The disciples were told that Jesus was leaving them… and they were understandably upset. After all, He had just returned to them after His crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb. Any talk of Him leaving again had these followers in a state of despair, if not downright panic! I get that! When we invite Jesus into our heart, the last thing we want to consider is that He might turn around and leave us… right? What we don’t fully understand is the hierarchy of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus. Jesus glorifies God. The Holy Spirit gives glory to Jesus, who sent Him. Jesus never truly leaves us… His Holy Spirit is the agent of change within us. You speak to Jesus… the Holy Spirit makes things happen. He operates on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.” He shows us things that God knows. In order to glorify all that Jesus suffered and sacrificed for us, we must allow Him to send His Holy Spirit to live within our heart and make things happen!
My dad was not gone… he was merely working in another location through the week. But in order to have all of the benefits He wanted to provide for us, he had to work remotely. We could call him on the telephone… we could still talk with him… but he had to go away and do his work so that we could gain the things we needed. And so it is with Jesus. He had to go away to do the work… and he uses the Holy Spirit to provide us with what we need.
As a seven-year-old kid, I didn’t care (or at least I said I didn’t) about things… I just wanted my dad with us. As a 54-year-old Christian, I want Jesus with me – all the way… all the time! But I am mature enough to understand that He cannot physically return to earth and walk around with me. The way to have Jesus with me on this earth is through the Holy Spirit. If I do not make room for the Holy Spirit in my life and let Him work on the inside of me, I will never fully experience all that God set out to give me.
So we must understand that inviting Jesus to be LORD of our life is the first step… but then we must make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit… and do all that we can to make Him feel welcome. So many Christians miss this important step. They see the Holy Spirit (or as some say, the “Holy Ghost”) as something or someone nebulous and scary. Don’t count yourself among them. See the Holy Spirit as a manifestation of Jesus in you… His vehicle to be continually present with us … to supply us with all of the wisdom, compassion, discernment, and authority He wishes to give us in order to serve Him well. Trust Jesus. Believe in Him and accept that His will and plans are perfect – and meant to bless and keep us.
To truly “let go and let God” means to trust Jesus in all things… and to believe that He will never abandon us. Surrender completely, embrace the Holy Spirit and allow the Him to come and dwell in your heart. This is when the “good stuff” starts to happen… are you ready for it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2012
Ephesians 1:11-14
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
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 lot of us are familiar with “installment plans.” Many jobs have a “starting salary” that increases as you take on more tasks or accrue months or years of service. In time, you may receive pay raises, bonuses, and more. Some people open a savings account for newborn babies, and as the children grow, more money is placed in these accounts… creating a “college fund” or “nest egg” for use when the child matures or reaches a certain age. You can probably think of other instances where a “base amount” is given to someone, and additional payments and perks are provided over time.
Let’s face it… getting regular “installments” creates something of an incentive to keep working… to perform well… to earn more benefits and accolades. We only have to look as far as lottery winners who blow through their fortune in short order to see what often happens when too much is awarded at once! And so it is with God’s wisdom and truth for us… and all that He has planned for our lives. God grants us Salvation and all of the security and blessings that come with a life in Christ. As we grow and serve, He provides us with “perks, raises and incentives” to continue our discipleship.
Part of the excitement of being a Christian is the anticipation of what God has in store for us next. I don’t know about you, but I am exhilarated by even the idea that I don’t know for sure how or where God will show up in my life next… but I know for certain that He will! This is a huge motivator to work harder… to spend more time in His presence… to be ready for whatever He wants to send my way.
So often, we are eager to have everything at once. We humans are not notoriously patient! We want all that God has in store for us… and we want it now! But God knows that we cannot handle everything at once. He knows the value of allowing us to grow into our new life in Christ… and to lean on His discernment for the pace and volume of the blessings He bestows. Our job is to remain faithful… to stay in close communion with God… to listen to Him and follow His lead.
The old adage “good things come to those who wait” applies to Christians, too. In our case… good things come to those who wait upon the LORD! Are you waiting on the LORD these days? Are you anticipating His next installment in your life… and will you be ready when it comes?
©2012 Debbie Robus
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
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 lot of us are familiar with “installment plans.” Many jobs have a “starting salary” that increases as you take on more tasks or accrue months or years of service. In time, you may receive pay raises, bonuses, and more. Some people open a savings account for newborn babies, and as the children grow, more money is placed in these accounts… creating a “college fund” or “nest egg” for use when the child matures or reaches a certain age. You can probably think of other instances where a “base amount” is given to someone, and additional payments and perks are provided over time.
Let’s face it… getting regular “installments” creates something of an incentive to keep working… to perform well… to earn more benefits and accolades. We only have to look as far as lottery winners who blow through their fortune in short order to see what often happens when too much is awarded at once! And so it is with God’s wisdom and truth for us… and all that He has planned for our lives. God grants us Salvation and all of the security and blessings that come with a life in Christ. As we grow and serve, He provides us with “perks, raises and incentives” to continue our discipleship.
Part of the excitement of being a Christian is the anticipation of what God has in store for us next. I don’t know about you, but I am exhilarated by even the idea that I don’t know for sure how or where God will show up in my life next… but I know for certain that He will! This is a huge motivator to work harder… to spend more time in His presence… to be ready for whatever He wants to send my way.
So often, we are eager to have everything at once. We humans are not notoriously patient! We want all that God has in store for us… and we want it now! But God knows that we cannot handle everything at once. He knows the value of allowing us to grow into our new life in Christ… and to lean on His discernment for the pace and volume of the blessings He bestows. Our job is to remain faithful… to stay in close communion with God… to listen to Him and follow His lead.
The old adage “good things come to those who wait” applies to Christians, too. In our case… good things come to those who wait upon the LORD! Are you waiting on the LORD these days? Are you anticipating His next installment in your life… and will you be ready when it comes?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 2, 2012
April 2 ~ 1 John 2:26-27
I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.
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.
With the early arrival of summertime temps, people are already getting outdoors and enjoying everything from swimming and tubing on the lake to playing in parks to softball and baseball, hiking, biking, and much more. Everywhere you turn, someone is admonishing… “Don’t forget the sunscreen!”… and with good reason. One of my Facebook friends recently posted a picture shared by someone who had a teeny speck of melanoma (skin cancer).
This small speck was surgically removed, but the resulting incision ran from just above her wrist to just above the elbow! She said she had two more “matching” incisions for “teeny specks” on her back and her leg. This person stated that her wounds would heal… but she was lucky. And she reminded everyone to cover their skin with sunscreen… and to re-apply often for full protection!
Making the choice to apply sunscreen is wise. It reflects our understanding of the potential harm of spending time in the sunshine without adequate protection. Reminding others to use sunscreen represents our knowledge of its benefits, as well as a healthy respect for the dangers of spending time in the sunlight without adequate covering. Sharing the good counsel we have been given regarding sunscreen denotes our quick understanding… an effort to “live deeply in what we have been taught.”
Sunscreen is a physical illustration of our spiritual “anointing” of the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 11:2-3 (King James Version), we are given a listing of the seven-fold ingredients of Spiritual anointing: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the LORD, and quick understanding. When we have these components – the full anointing of Jesus Christ – and carry the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we are fully protected. We have everything we need. We can live deeply and confidently that we are covered and operating with the full protection of all that Jesus died to give us… and we can share His Good News with others.
I hope that we will all redouble our efforts to wear sunscreen and protect our skin – not only in this long summer season ahead, but always. In the same manner, I pray that we would call on Jesus to pour out His anointing upon us… to cover us in all seven components of His full blessing and protection. As we begin what is known among Christians as “Holy Week,” we are perhaps more focused on what Jesus sacrificed for us than we are any other time of the year. Isn’t this a great time to claim His anointing for your life? Will this be the year you begin to focus on living under the full protection and blessings of Christ and His Holy Spirit? Will you risk deception and the cancer of the devil… or will you live deeply in what you have been taught?
Sunscreen carries a number known as the SPF… Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the product offers against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Jesus offers us a much more critical SPF… the Son Protection Factor. I hope you have plenty of both… and that you apply them often! How high are your SPF numbers? Are you fully covered?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.
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.
With the early arrival of summertime temps, people are already getting outdoors and enjoying everything from swimming and tubing on the lake to playing in parks to softball and baseball, hiking, biking, and much more. Everywhere you turn, someone is admonishing… “Don’t forget the sunscreen!”… and with good reason. One of my Facebook friends recently posted a picture shared by someone who had a teeny speck of melanoma (skin cancer).
This small speck was surgically removed, but the resulting incision ran from just above her wrist to just above the elbow! She said she had two more “matching” incisions for “teeny specks” on her back and her leg. This person stated that her wounds would heal… but she was lucky. And she reminded everyone to cover their skin with sunscreen… and to re-apply often for full protection!
Making the choice to apply sunscreen is wise. It reflects our understanding of the potential harm of spending time in the sunshine without adequate protection. Reminding others to use sunscreen represents our knowledge of its benefits, as well as a healthy respect for the dangers of spending time in the sunlight without adequate covering. Sharing the good counsel we have been given regarding sunscreen denotes our quick understanding… an effort to “live deeply in what we have been taught.”
Sunscreen is a physical illustration of our spiritual “anointing” of the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 11:2-3 (King James Version), we are given a listing of the seven-fold ingredients of Spiritual anointing: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the LORD, and quick understanding. When we have these components – the full anointing of Jesus Christ – and carry the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we are fully protected. We have everything we need. We can live deeply and confidently that we are covered and operating with the full protection of all that Jesus died to give us… and we can share His Good News with others.
I hope that we will all redouble our efforts to wear sunscreen and protect our skin – not only in this long summer season ahead, but always. In the same manner, I pray that we would call on Jesus to pour out His anointing upon us… to cover us in all seven components of His full blessing and protection. As we begin what is known among Christians as “Holy Week,” we are perhaps more focused on what Jesus sacrificed for us than we are any other time of the year. Isn’t this a great time to claim His anointing for your life? Will this be the year you begin to focus on living under the full protection and blessings of Christ and His Holy Spirit? Will you risk deception and the cancer of the devil… or will you live deeply in what you have been taught?
Sunscreen carries a number known as the SPF… Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the product offers against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Jesus offers us a much more critical SPF… the Son Protection Factor. I hope you have plenty of both… and that you apply them often! How high are your SPF numbers? Are you fully covered?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2012
Proverbs 2:1-7
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2012
Ephesians 3:8-10
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
- Thank You, LORD, for your incredible wisdom. Today I pray that You will speak to us through Your word… that we will truly listen for Your voice… and that You will release all that You hold in store for us, according to Your will and what You determine we are able to handle. We praise You, LORD, for Your incredible gifts… Your grace, mercy and love. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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