John 10:1-6
I tell you for certain that only
thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the
gate to the sheep pen. But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the
shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s
voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
When he
has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they
follow, because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow
strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today,
I accompanied Timothy’s class on a field trip. All of the first grade
students at our elementary school rode the bus to our local community
college to participate in activities to commemorate Earth Day and to
learn about how to better care for our planet.
I arrived at the
school early this morning to help Timothy’s teacher get all of the
children dressed in color-coordinated t-shirts, so that we could more
easily identify our 16 students. Each child brought a sack lunch, and
those had to be collected and placed in a cooler for a mid-day picnic.
There was a lot to do in a short time frame.
Timothy’s classroom
is located on the west end of the school building. The front office is
almost literally a city block away. Each visitor to the school must
stop at the office and “check in” before entering a classroom. The
office personnel then press a button to unlock a door, so that the
visitor can gain access to the hallways and find his/her way to the
designated classroom.
I have to say, it’s a bit of an
inconvenience to have to go through this procedure. It would much
easier to park near Timothy’s classroom and enter through doors there.
But I am glad that this safety measure is in place. This makes everyone
feel secure. There is also resource officer on duty, and all of these
safety measures make children and parents feel relatively certain that
all persons who are in the building are authorized to be there.
The
children were very good today about sticking together and listening to
their teacher, me and another student’s mother. They did not respond to
others in the crowd…they watched for us and followed our lead. Since
there were children from several area schools at this event, we watched our “brood” closely and made sure we kept them together – and safe.
I
am so glad that our school goes to great measures protect our
children…to give them an environment where they can relax and learn with
confidence and faith that they are safe and loved. And this is what
Jesus does for us. Because He is our Shepherd and controls the gate, we
can be assured that when we follow Him, Jesus will guard us against
evil and those who wish to “jump the fence” and get us into trouble.
There
are plenty of “thieves, robbers, and strangers” who would love to grab
our attention. They lure us with all sorts of temptations…money, power,
the promise of wealth, fame, or popularity - and more. They tell us
that we can trust them…that what they are saying is the truth. And
sadly, some of us believe these lies.
Jesus is calling us to pay
attention…to get to know Him so intimately that we always recognize His
voice. He wants us to be certain that we are following the
Shepherd…and ONLY Him! When we know the voice of Jesus, we are able to
drown out the noise of all the “wannabes” and those who would dare to
try to steal our hearts from Him. We are safe and secure under His
guidance, and we can live with confidence and faith that He will meet
our every need.
Where do you stand today? Are you one of Jesus’
sheep? Do you know His voice and listen for it above all others? Is
your faith and confidence in Jesus enabling you to resist the lure and
temptation of the enemy’s voice and propositions? Isn’t it time you
figured this out, once and for all…and “put on the colored t-shirt” that
designates you are one of His flock?
Will this be the day that
you surrender to Jesus completely and begin to follow only Him? Are you
ready to feel secure with the Shepherd?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label following Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label following Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2015
Matthew 10:38
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
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 happens almost every time we are together. Timothy gets so engrossed in playing with his Legos®…or watching videos or a movie…or whatever has grabbed his attention at the moment…and he totally ignores our summons. At least that’s how it seems…because, you see, we KNOW that he hears us! We call, “C’mon…it’s time to go,” or "Dinner is ready…you can play with that again after you eat.” And he acts as if nothing has been said to him until we call to him two or three (or more) times! If we start to move on without him, Timothy will often look up and say, “Wait! Wait for me!” and come running to join us.
This is not a case of childhood misbehavior, necessarily. Timothy’s siblings – and all children – do this, because they are immature children! They lack the ability to understand that there will be plenty of time to do what they want after they complete the task being required by the adult(s). And most surely, they lack the capacity to fully comprehend that there is a time and a place for us to do what we please and follow our own desires…and a time to set those aside for someone or something else. No kid of any age ever likes to hear the words, “Time’s up!”
I know this scripture verse is almost identical to the passage from Luke 9 that I shared yesterday. And I’ll be honest, the outline I created for these devotionals called for me to use another passage from the Book of Mark, Chapter 8, that says virtually the same thing. So I surmised that God really wants me to share this thought again today. We cannot be true disciples of Jesus Christ and focus on our own desires and agendas. We must understand that HIS desires and plans come first. When He calls, we must drop what we are doing…and answer!
Most likely, there will be plenty of time for us to do the things that we want to do…and if not, they weren’t all that important anyway. If God supports your desires and activities, He will see that you have the means to pursue them. And if you choose to pursue them without His blessing, don’t be surprised if the end results are less than stellar. I’m not suggesting that God will sabotage you…but He surely will not support and enhance your selfish behavior.
Let’s all stop today and spend a few minutes talking to God about what He wants for us. Let’s ask Him to show us which pursuits and desires are selfish…and which are on point with what Jesus requires from His disciples – including us. When Jesus calls, let’s drop what we are doing and answer right away. If we are not willing to do this – to go all the way with Him through thick and thin – we really don’t deserve to have a relationship with Him. I don’t want to be like a child who keeps on playing…and look up to find Jesus leaving without me. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
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 happens almost every time we are together. Timothy gets so engrossed in playing with his Legos®…or watching videos or a movie…or whatever has grabbed his attention at the moment…and he totally ignores our summons. At least that’s how it seems…because, you see, we KNOW that he hears us! We call, “C’mon…it’s time to go,” or "Dinner is ready…you can play with that again after you eat.” And he acts as if nothing has been said to him until we call to him two or three (or more) times! If we start to move on without him, Timothy will often look up and say, “Wait! Wait for me!” and come running to join us.
This is not a case of childhood misbehavior, necessarily. Timothy’s siblings – and all children – do this, because they are immature children! They lack the ability to understand that there will be plenty of time to do what they want after they complete the task being required by the adult(s). And most surely, they lack the capacity to fully comprehend that there is a time and a place for us to do what we please and follow our own desires…and a time to set those aside for someone or something else. No kid of any age ever likes to hear the words, “Time’s up!”
I know this scripture verse is almost identical to the passage from Luke 9 that I shared yesterday. And I’ll be honest, the outline I created for these devotionals called for me to use another passage from the Book of Mark, Chapter 8, that says virtually the same thing. So I surmised that God really wants me to share this thought again today. We cannot be true disciples of Jesus Christ and focus on our own desires and agendas. We must understand that HIS desires and plans come first. When He calls, we must drop what we are doing…and answer!
Most likely, there will be plenty of time for us to do the things that we want to do…and if not, they weren’t all that important anyway. If God supports your desires and activities, He will see that you have the means to pursue them. And if you choose to pursue them without His blessing, don’t be surprised if the end results are less than stellar. I’m not suggesting that God will sabotage you…but He surely will not support and enhance your selfish behavior.
Let’s all stop today and spend a few minutes talking to God about what He wants for us. Let’s ask Him to show us which pursuits and desires are selfish…and which are on point with what Jesus requires from His disciples – including us. When Jesus calls, let’s drop what we are doing and answer right away. If we are not willing to do this – to go all the way with Him through thick and thin – we really don’t deserve to have a relationship with Him. I don’t want to be like a child who keeps on playing…and look up to find Jesus leaving without me. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 23, 2015
Philippians 3:15-19
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
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 started simply enough…I opened a drawer in the kitchen one morning, rummaged for what I was needing, and ended up taking everything out of the drawer and reorganizing it. Soon, I had moved on to the next drawer…and the next…and a couple of hours later, every drawer in the kitchen had been cleaned and organized. I felt like a new woman! That was early January. I was so inspired and motivated by my newly organized kitchen drawers that I moved on to other drawers and closets.
I am not finished, but I am just a closet and a couple of drawers away from having reorganized my entire house. It’s not perfect…by a long stretch. And I bet I could go back through and weed out even more unnecessary “stuff” and make things look a whole lot better. But I am very much a “work in progress” – even in the areas of closets and drawers!
I’ll admit…more than once, I got sidetracked – and discouraged. After all, what difference does it make if there is a mess behind the cabinet doors? Who cares what’s in the drawers... and is it really worth my time and energy to finish this project? I only had to think of the time I’ve wasted looking for a particular fastener or thread spool in my sewing cabinet to realize that the days I spent organizing, cleaning and alphabetizing these items will make my future sewing projects – and other activities - go so much smoother. And I will be able to accomplish a lot more with less stress!
The old adage that anything worth doing is worth doing right is true…and nowhere more than in our Spiritual life. If we are going to do this “Disciple of Christ thing”…if we are going to walk with Jesus, follow His teachings, share His Good News, and bask in His blessings…doesn’t it make sense to stay on course and do the hard work?
Jesus does not offer us short-cuts to full-blown discipleship…and with good reason – He doesn’t take them, either! Read the New Testament and study His 30+ years on this earth. Read Paul’s letters and see how Jesus left a legacy of ministry with His disciples…to be carried on through the generations – even to us and beyond. There is very little that is easy and simple, once you open your heart and invite Jesus to dwell there and guide your every breath. But oh, it’s so worth the effort. The joy and blessings you feel in opening your Spiritual “closet and drawers” and finding peace and organization… purpose and overflow…are so worth any struggle and challenge.
Will everything stay neat and orderly? Probably not? Will you have to reorganize a “drawer or closet” from time to time – both spiritually and physically? Most likely. Will it be worth the effort? Most definitely!
Won’t you make this the day that you start to get organized…in your Spiritual fellowship with Jesus AND maybe your physical life? Will this be the day that you open your heart and see Christ in charge instead of chaos? Are you ready to get busy “cleaning” and get back on the right path? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
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 started simply enough…I opened a drawer in the kitchen one morning, rummaged for what I was needing, and ended up taking everything out of the drawer and reorganizing it. Soon, I had moved on to the next drawer…and the next…and a couple of hours later, every drawer in the kitchen had been cleaned and organized. I felt like a new woman! That was early January. I was so inspired and motivated by my newly organized kitchen drawers that I moved on to other drawers and closets.
I am not finished, but I am just a closet and a couple of drawers away from having reorganized my entire house. It’s not perfect…by a long stretch. And I bet I could go back through and weed out even more unnecessary “stuff” and make things look a whole lot better. But I am very much a “work in progress” – even in the areas of closets and drawers!
I’ll admit…more than once, I got sidetracked – and discouraged. After all, what difference does it make if there is a mess behind the cabinet doors? Who cares what’s in the drawers... and is it really worth my time and energy to finish this project? I only had to think of the time I’ve wasted looking for a particular fastener or thread spool in my sewing cabinet to realize that the days I spent organizing, cleaning and alphabetizing these items will make my future sewing projects – and other activities - go so much smoother. And I will be able to accomplish a lot more with less stress!
The old adage that anything worth doing is worth doing right is true…and nowhere more than in our Spiritual life. If we are going to do this “Disciple of Christ thing”…if we are going to walk with Jesus, follow His teachings, share His Good News, and bask in His blessings…doesn’t it make sense to stay on course and do the hard work?
Jesus does not offer us short-cuts to full-blown discipleship…and with good reason – He doesn’t take them, either! Read the New Testament and study His 30+ years on this earth. Read Paul’s letters and see how Jesus left a legacy of ministry with His disciples…to be carried on through the generations – even to us and beyond. There is very little that is easy and simple, once you open your heart and invite Jesus to dwell there and guide your every breath. But oh, it’s so worth the effort. The joy and blessings you feel in opening your Spiritual “closet and drawers” and finding peace and organization… purpose and overflow…are so worth any struggle and challenge.
Will everything stay neat and orderly? Probably not? Will you have to reorganize a “drawer or closet” from time to time – both spiritually and physically? Most likely. Will it be worth the effort? Most definitely!
Won’t you make this the day that you start to get organized…in your Spiritual fellowship with Jesus AND maybe your physical life? Will this be the day that you open your heart and see Christ in charge instead of chaos? Are you ready to get busy “cleaning” and get back on the right path? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2013
Matthew 8:21
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2013
April 20 ~ John 6:61-65
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2013
Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
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.
Yesterday, we celebrated the life of my grandmother, Willie Dove “Polly” Chandler… all 100 years, 123 days of it. My grandmother was by no means perfect, but if you could have heard all of the wonderful things said about her and how she served others, you would be tempted to argue this point! She was described by one speaker as a “Proverbs 31” woman (go look it up!)… and by many who passed by her casket as “such a loving, giving person who always had a smile and a word of encouragement for others.” She didn’t just walk down the road God called her to travel… she ran!
I learned so much from my grandmother… and emulating her will be no small challenge! Of all the things she taught me, the most important were summed up in one of her favorite mantras… “The LORD will take care of me” …and He did. Was her life easy? Absolutely not! I can’t begin to tell you everything she saw and did in more than a century, but I know the LORD took care of her through the abandonment by her father at around age 12… the loss of her first baby, who died at birth…the loss of her older brother in a car accident when he was about 18…the death of her mother and all of her other siblings, her husband, her only living son, and her grandson, as well as countless friends and relatives… the loss of virtually all of her earthly belongings in a house fire when she was in her early 70s… numerous surgeries, illnesses and physical challenges – including a wreck when she was driving the school bus that left her with whiplash and put her in a cervical collar and traction for months. Still… the LORD took care of her through each of these things… and many more.
My grandmother grew up with virtually nothing, and for most of her adult life, she lived meagerly on the modest earnings she and my grandfather were able to produce from working more than one job and growing almost all of their own food (and selling the excess). Still, the LORD took care of her, and she faithfully presented a regular tithe to her church. When I took over managing her affairs, I marveled at how her dollars could stretch… and I made sure to make her tithe the first check I wrote each month!
Yes, the LORD took good care of her. And my grandmother quickly gave Him all the credit. When she met someone new, she would ask, “Can you stay for dinner (lunch) or supper?” …followed quickly by “Where do y’all go to church?” If the answer was not satisfactory, she would invite them to join her – at her table… and for services the following Sunday. Hers was a life rich in the things of the LORD… not necessarily material objects or monetary wealth. Her focus was firmly fixed on a heavenly home, where I know she is dancing and shouting today… and feasting at the LORD’s table. You see…He is still taking good care of her!
What about us? What is our focus? Which road are we traveling, and at what speed? Are we quick to serve the LORD… and to trust Him to take care of us? Do we depend upon Him even when things get rough… or tragedy strikes? Or do we fold up and turn to take another path? What is our ultimate focus… where are we headed?
I’ll be honest…the “glue” that held my family together - our matriarch - has gone to be with Jesus, and we’re all just a little lost. But I can already hear my grandmother saying, “Dry it up (the tears) and get up from there! You’ve got work to do and there’s no sense wasting time. The LORD will take care of you… you just need to let Him. Get on, now! They’s lots worse things than dying.” And she is right. So c’mon… we’ve got work to do… let’s work on this together and stay on the right path until the LORD calls us to heaven. I’m in… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I learned so much from my grandmother… and emulating her will be no small challenge! Of all the things she taught me, the most important were summed up in one of her favorite mantras… “The LORD will take care of me” …and He did. Was her life easy? Absolutely not! I can’t begin to tell you everything she saw and did in more than a century, but I know the LORD took care of her through the abandonment by her father at around age 12… the loss of her first baby, who died at birth…the loss of her older brother in a car accident when he was about 18…the death of her mother and all of her other siblings, her husband, her only living son, and her grandson, as well as countless friends and relatives… the loss of virtually all of her earthly belongings in a house fire when she was in her early 70s… numerous surgeries, illnesses and physical challenges – including a wreck when she was driving the school bus that left her with whiplash and put her in a cervical collar and traction for months. Still… the LORD took care of her through each of these things… and many more.
My grandmother grew up with virtually nothing, and for most of her adult life, she lived meagerly on the modest earnings she and my grandfather were able to produce from working more than one job and growing almost all of their own food (and selling the excess). Still, the LORD took care of her, and she faithfully presented a regular tithe to her church. When I took over managing her affairs, I marveled at how her dollars could stretch… and I made sure to make her tithe the first check I wrote each month!
Yes, the LORD took good care of her. And my grandmother quickly gave Him all the credit. When she met someone new, she would ask, “Can you stay for dinner (lunch) or supper?” …followed quickly by “Where do y’all go to church?” If the answer was not satisfactory, she would invite them to join her – at her table… and for services the following Sunday. Hers was a life rich in the things of the LORD… not necessarily material objects or monetary wealth. Her focus was firmly fixed on a heavenly home, where I know she is dancing and shouting today… and feasting at the LORD’s table. You see…He is still taking good care of her!
What about us? What is our focus? Which road are we traveling, and at what speed? Are we quick to serve the LORD… and to trust Him to take care of us? Do we depend upon Him even when things get rough… or tragedy strikes? Or do we fold up and turn to take another path? What is our ultimate focus… where are we headed?
I’ll be honest…the “glue” that held my family together - our matriarch - has gone to be with Jesus, and we’re all just a little lost. But I can already hear my grandmother saying, “Dry it up (the tears) and get up from there! You’ve got work to do and there’s no sense wasting time. The LORD will take care of you… you just need to let Him. Get on, now! They’s lots worse things than dying.” And she is right. So c’mon… we’ve got work to do… let’s work on this together and stay on the right path until the LORD calls us to heaven. I’m in… are you?
©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 November 4, 2012
Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
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 the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NBC news reporter Anne Curry interviewed a woman on Staten Island who looked into the camera and said, “…you need to come here and help us. We need assistance…PLEASE!” Even though thousands of people were either helping already… or headed to the East Coast to give a hand… more were needed. The President and many on his staff were on-site, doing their job… but “harvest hands” were needed to carry out the directives and provide necessary aid and “ground support.”
Truly, the people who live on America’s East Coast are bruised and hurting. Many are indeed aimless… like sheep with no shepherd. But help has arrived…and amazingly in many cases, life is returning to normalcy. Lights are coming on, water is receding or being pumped out, debris is being shoveled up and hauled away, and helping hands are on scene to see that everything is repaired, restored, and renewed.
Can I tell you something? We have a bit of a “Spiritual disaster” on our hands… and it’s happening in our own back yards! Everywhere you look, people are sick, hungry, bruised and hurting. Many are confused and aimless. Others just need to know that someone cares. And the “disastrous” part of this is that few “harvest hands” are answering the call. We are all too busy with our own lives – or our own agendas – to bother with the needs of others. We have decided to let the church or community (i.e. a handful of people who seem to answer EVERY call) handle these issues. Or we have written these people off as simply unworthy of time and attention… most certainly ours!
This is really a sore spot with me. There seem to be plenty of people who are concerned with numbers… how many names are on membership rolls…how much money is in the coffers… how much we are able to afford to purchase (houses, cars, clothes, entertainment, and more)…where our team ranks in the standings…how well our children or grandchildren are doing in school, sports and more…or even how significant our latest ailment/illness was - or what he said/she said. But when it comes to helping the needy… whether the sick and infirm, the poor, the elderly or the orphans, or just the neighbor or fellow church member whose problems are weighing on them like a ton of bricks, most of us simply do not have the time, energy or inclination to do anything.
We are collectively a group who is mostly talk… and very little action. And this is NOT what Jesus expects of His disciples. This.has.to.stop! We have to start caring, at least… and praying for “harvest hands”… our own, and those of fellow Disciples. If you have ever felt neglected or needy in any way and wondered where the “hands and feet of Jesus” were, you can understand in some small way how significant this must be for others in similar situations. How are we ever to add to God’s Kingdom if we show others a body of Christ who is self-centered, disinterested and uncaring?
Jesus has called us to fall to our knees and pray for “harvest hands”… and the first sets to report for duty should be our own. Who needs to hear from you today? Where are the needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and at large? What are you doing to meet these needs? How worn are your “work gloves?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
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 the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NBC news reporter Anne Curry interviewed a woman on Staten Island who looked into the camera and said, “…you need to come here and help us. We need assistance…PLEASE!” Even though thousands of people were either helping already… or headed to the East Coast to give a hand… more were needed. The President and many on his staff were on-site, doing their job… but “harvest hands” were needed to carry out the directives and provide necessary aid and “ground support.”
Truly, the people who live on America’s East Coast are bruised and hurting. Many are indeed aimless… like sheep with no shepherd. But help has arrived…and amazingly in many cases, life is returning to normalcy. Lights are coming on, water is receding or being pumped out, debris is being shoveled up and hauled away, and helping hands are on scene to see that everything is repaired, restored, and renewed.
Can I tell you something? We have a bit of a “Spiritual disaster” on our hands… and it’s happening in our own back yards! Everywhere you look, people are sick, hungry, bruised and hurting. Many are confused and aimless. Others just need to know that someone cares. And the “disastrous” part of this is that few “harvest hands” are answering the call. We are all too busy with our own lives – or our own agendas – to bother with the needs of others. We have decided to let the church or community (i.e. a handful of people who seem to answer EVERY call) handle these issues. Or we have written these people off as simply unworthy of time and attention… most certainly ours!
This is really a sore spot with me. There seem to be plenty of people who are concerned with numbers… how many names are on membership rolls…how much money is in the coffers… how much we are able to afford to purchase (houses, cars, clothes, entertainment, and more)…where our team ranks in the standings…how well our children or grandchildren are doing in school, sports and more…or even how significant our latest ailment/illness was - or what he said/she said. But when it comes to helping the needy… whether the sick and infirm, the poor, the elderly or the orphans, or just the neighbor or fellow church member whose problems are weighing on them like a ton of bricks, most of us simply do not have the time, energy or inclination to do anything.
We are collectively a group who is mostly talk… and very little action. And this is NOT what Jesus expects of His disciples. This.has.to.stop! We have to start caring, at least… and praying for “harvest hands”… our own, and those of fellow Disciples. If you have ever felt neglected or needy in any way and wondered where the “hands and feet of Jesus” were, you can understand in some small way how significant this must be for others in similar situations. How are we ever to add to God’s Kingdom if we show others a body of Christ who is self-centered, disinterested and uncaring?
Jesus has called us to fall to our knees and pray for “harvest hands”… and the first sets to report for duty should be our own. Who needs to hear from you today? Where are the needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and at large? What are you doing to meet these needs? How worn are your “work gloves?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 18, 2012
Matthew 4:18-22
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day a few months before my grandmother moved to the assisted living facility, I drove over to her house, and she wasn’t there. The door was unlocked, her purse was where she kept it, as was her walker… but she was nowhere to be found. After several minutes of frantically searching through her house and around the yard outside, I decided she had gone somewhere with a friend. If she had left for a walk around the block, she would have taken her walker. Sure enough, in a few more minutes a truck pulled up, and my grandmother and two feeble, elderly, and most unwell friends emerged. They had all been to buy some peaches somewhere out in the countryside. I reminded my grandmother that she had agreed not to ride with these people because they were in such poor health, and she said, “… but they wanted me to go with them.”
My grandmother was a “gad-about” in her time. We had a running joke that even on her sickest day, she would get up and go with the first person who stopped by and invited her. It didn’t matter who it was or where they were going, really… or in this case, that her “driver” had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Someone said, “Come with me!” And she did!
If only we were as eager to follow Jesus! If only we were eager and willing to get up on our worst day and do whatever He needed us to do! But we find all sorts of excuses, don’t we? “Not today, LORD. Maybe next week – or next year. I’m not able… I’m not well… I’m not dressed nicely enough… I’m having a bad hair day…I’m busy…I’m not interested.”
When we come to the point where we can drop what we are doing to follow Jesus and serve Him, who we are as a Christian disciple changes dramatically. Total obedience to God is one of the hardest things for Christians to attain. Part of our resistance lies in our human selfishness… and part lies in the devil’s ability to fill us with fear and to convince us that following Jesus will cost us – freedom, friends, ridicule, and more. And he’ll tell you that the last thing you want to do is to “give up” anything in your already great life.
In truth, the devil wants you to stay right where you are… to never go anywhere. He wants you stuck in a rut… focused on yourself, and operating in fear. If you really, truly drop everything and follow Jesus, be prepared for some tough times, because Satan will fight like mad to get you to quit and go home. But also get ready to experience true joy and blessings. When we are fully obedient to God, even when what He asks us to do makes no sense at all, we experience real abundance. I can’t explain it fully – you have to experience this for yourself. But the best description I can offer is that complete surrender to God will bring you a joy and peace you have never known before. Even on your worst day with God, you will feel better than you did sitting at home with the devil.
So get up… get going. When Jesus says, “Come with me,” be ready to roll! Don’t look back… look to Heaven! Don’t ask, “Why, LORD?” Ask, “What next?” Make this the day you turn the corner and truly surrender to Jesus. Operate fully in the will of God, with total abandon… and experience complete joy in the LORD. Are you ready to really follow Jesus? When He calls…will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day a few months before my grandmother moved to the assisted living facility, I drove over to her house, and she wasn’t there. The door was unlocked, her purse was where she kept it, as was her walker… but she was nowhere to be found. After several minutes of frantically searching through her house and around the yard outside, I decided she had gone somewhere with a friend. If she had left for a walk around the block, she would have taken her walker. Sure enough, in a few more minutes a truck pulled up, and my grandmother and two feeble, elderly, and most unwell friends emerged. They had all been to buy some peaches somewhere out in the countryside. I reminded my grandmother that she had agreed not to ride with these people because they were in such poor health, and she said, “… but they wanted me to go with them.”
My grandmother was a “gad-about” in her time. We had a running joke that even on her sickest day, she would get up and go with the first person who stopped by and invited her. It didn’t matter who it was or where they were going, really… or in this case, that her “driver” had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Someone said, “Come with me!” And she did!
If only we were as eager to follow Jesus! If only we were eager and willing to get up on our worst day and do whatever He needed us to do! But we find all sorts of excuses, don’t we? “Not today, LORD. Maybe next week – or next year. I’m not able… I’m not well… I’m not dressed nicely enough… I’m having a bad hair day…I’m busy…I’m not interested.”
When we come to the point where we can drop what we are doing to follow Jesus and serve Him, who we are as a Christian disciple changes dramatically. Total obedience to God is one of the hardest things for Christians to attain. Part of our resistance lies in our human selfishness… and part lies in the devil’s ability to fill us with fear and to convince us that following Jesus will cost us – freedom, friends, ridicule, and more. And he’ll tell you that the last thing you want to do is to “give up” anything in your already great life.
In truth, the devil wants you to stay right where you are… to never go anywhere. He wants you stuck in a rut… focused on yourself, and operating in fear. If you really, truly drop everything and follow Jesus, be prepared for some tough times, because Satan will fight like mad to get you to quit and go home. But also get ready to experience true joy and blessings. When we are fully obedient to God, even when what He asks us to do makes no sense at all, we experience real abundance. I can’t explain it fully – you have to experience this for yourself. But the best description I can offer is that complete surrender to God will bring you a joy and peace you have never known before. Even on your worst day with God, you will feel better than you did sitting at home with the devil.
So get up… get going. When Jesus says, “Come with me,” be ready to roll! Don’t look back… look to Heaven! Don’t ask, “Why, LORD?” Ask, “What next?” Make this the day you turn the corner and truly surrender to Jesus. Operate fully in the will of God, with total abandon… and experience complete joy in the LORD. Are you ready to really follow Jesus? When He calls…will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 30, 2011
July 30 ~ John 5:30
I cannot do anything on my own. The Father sent me, and he is the one who told me how to judge. I judge with fairness, because I obey him, and I don’t just try to please myself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all heard the term, “play God.” Most likely, we all know someone who at least likes to think that the general rules do not apply to him/her. These people are only concerned with pleasing themselves. If we are honest, we must admit that the person who drinks or takes drugs and then drives is “playing God.” He/she is taking the risk of harming others in the name of feeling good. The person who hacks into your computer and steals your credit card number is “playing God.” He/she is not thinking about anyone else… how you will pay your bills and feed your kids.
The person who spreads gossip and tarnishes the reputation of others is “playing God.” This person doesn’t care about anything but looking good… big… important… and tearing down others is the chosen method to accomplish this. The person who picks out who they will love in the name of Jesus… only those who are of a certain race, socio-economic bracket, sexual orientation, level of intellect, and good looking are acceptable… is essentially “playing God.” Those who fall outside these parameters – borders of the individual’s own making – are given the brush-off… judged inferior and unpleasant.
The point is… even JESUS said, “I cannot do anything on my own.” Even our LORD and Savior recognized that all power and authority comes from God… and only from God. Unless He is telling us what to think… who to judge… how to behave – and we are listening carefully – we are pretty well operating on our own.
How do we know when we are hearing from God and operating under His authority? A good “litmus test” is to ask yourself two questions: 1) Is this what I really want to do… and was that my primary motivation? and… 2) What does the Bible say about this? What has God shown me in scripture and prayer about these situations? The odds are pretty good that you know the correct answers… and the true will of God in these instances. The question then becomes… upon whose authority will you act…your own, or that of our Heavenly Father?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I cannot do anything on my own. The Father sent me, and he is the one who told me how to judge. I judge with fairness, because I obey him, and I don’t just try to please myself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all heard the term, “play God.” Most likely, we all know someone who at least likes to think that the general rules do not apply to him/her. These people are only concerned with pleasing themselves. If we are honest, we must admit that the person who drinks or takes drugs and then drives is “playing God.” He/she is taking the risk of harming others in the name of feeling good. The person who hacks into your computer and steals your credit card number is “playing God.” He/she is not thinking about anyone else… how you will pay your bills and feed your kids.
The person who spreads gossip and tarnishes the reputation of others is “playing God.” This person doesn’t care about anything but looking good… big… important… and tearing down others is the chosen method to accomplish this. The person who picks out who they will love in the name of Jesus… only those who are of a certain race, socio-economic bracket, sexual orientation, level of intellect, and good looking are acceptable… is essentially “playing God.” Those who fall outside these parameters – borders of the individual’s own making – are given the brush-off… judged inferior and unpleasant.
The point is… even JESUS said, “I cannot do anything on my own.” Even our LORD and Savior recognized that all power and authority comes from God… and only from God. Unless He is telling us what to think… who to judge… how to behave – and we are listening carefully – we are pretty well operating on our own.
How do we know when we are hearing from God and operating under His authority? A good “litmus test” is to ask yourself two questions: 1) Is this what I really want to do… and was that my primary motivation? and… 2) What does the Bible say about this? What has God shown me in scripture and prayer about these situations? The odds are pretty good that you know the correct answers… and the true will of God in these instances. The question then becomes… upon whose authority will you act…your own, or that of our Heavenly Father?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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