James 2:14-17
My friends, what good is it to say
you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do
have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? If you know someone who
doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all
goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What
good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that
doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A friend posted a picture on Facebook this morning of a chalkboard that said, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person…your behavior does.” As I read this passage from James 2, I decided that God must think that this is a pretty important message for us today!
So
let’s unpack a little. Are you a person who is “all talk and no
action?” Are you the first in line to rant about the injustices of this
world…and the last to actually get off your duff and do something about
them? When was the last time you physically did something for someone
else? I am not talking about writing a check or making a
donation…although these are sometimes important ways to help others.
I’m talking about actually preparing a dish or a meal (even take-out)
for someone who is sick, injured, busy, or just plain HUNGRY! I’m
talking about offering to provide rides or kiddie carpool…or to sit with
a child, elderly person, or even a pet for a few hours or a day – or
longer, if you are able – to give someone a much-needed break.
I’m
talking about sending a thoughtful and heartfelt note of encouragement
to someone who is going through something difficult…or recognition and
congratulations to someone who has had a happy experience, reached a
milestone, or achieved a new level of accomplishment. I'm talking about
offering to run an errand or lend a helping hand...and actually
following through on the proposal.
I’m talking about doing
whatever you are able to physically do…and I realize that sometimes, for
some of us, prayer IS what we can do. But by golly, let’s do it to the
best of our abilities. When we tell someone we will pray for them…let’s
actually lift them in prayer and ask God to meet their needs. And
let’s not just do this once and forget it…let's keep on praying!
There's
one more thing…people ARE watching…but they don’t need a “show.” They
don’t need to hear what you did for this person or that one…or how long
and hard you prayed for "Suzy." If we are living out our faith and
following through with our thoughts and actions, others will see it…and
they will want this same relationship with Jesus for themselves.
So
what does your behavior say about you today? When others look at you,
do they see someone who puts his/her faith into action? Don’t you think
it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label following through on promises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label following through on promises. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2011
2 Kings 20:1-11
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. Isaiah the prophet went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, so you had better start doing what needs to be done."
Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, "Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with this message: Hezekiah, you are the ruler of my people, and I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will heal you, so that three days from now you will be able to worship in my temple. I will let you live fifteen years more, while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city as an honor to me and to my servant David.
Then Isaiah said to the king's servants, "Bring some mashed figs and place them on the king's open sore. He will then get well." Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "Can you prove that the LORD will heal me, so that I can worship in his temple in three days?"
Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" "It's normal for the sun to go forward," Hezekiah answered. "But how can it go back?" Isaiah prayed, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Four years ago, my husband and I moved into a new house that had been constructed for us by a local builder, his son, and other members of the his crew. Over the years, we have used this builder more than once, and he has become our trusted friend. We know that he will always do what he promises. So when we moved into our present house, we were not surprised to see his son drive up one afternoon, bucket and rags in hand. “I have come to wash your windows,” he said. “I told you I would not present your final bill until those outside windows were clean.” He washed all of the windows, as promised.
Truthfully, we had not even thought about the windows. We trusted that everything the builder and his son promised to do would get done. And they proved us right. Yes, we gave them “punch lists” of things to complete, but we didn’t have to have a written contract. They didn’t have to knock on the door and say, “I did XYZ.” They listened to our requests and answered us.
I can understand Hezekiah’s desire for proof that God was going to heal him and give him 15 more years of life. And frankly, there are a lot of people who make a lot of promises in this world that leave me saying, “Prove it!” But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father, we have no need to worry. We’ve already had all the proof we need in the blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. He was willing to lay down His own life for our sins… so why would He ever default on a promise?!
As much as this passage is a reminder to trust the promises of God and rest assured that He will deliver, according to His perfect will… it is also a message to us to be faithful in our own promises. If you tell a friend you will call, pick up the phone and follow through. If you promise to do something for someone else, do it. Don’t tell Grandma you will come to see her, and then skip the visit. Don’t promise your little brother you will read to him before bedtime, then make up excuses and do something else. Don’t commit your heart to a significant other, and then look around for someone better. And don’t promise to love God and serve Him with all your heart, then wander off to do whatever you please and serve your own desires… or worse yet – those of the devil.
God will never make a promise He can’t keep… and neither should we. There’s one more thing you should notice. Hezekiah cried and poured out his heart to God… and God listened. I’m not saying that all we have to do is cry and whine, and God will change His mind and do what we please. But God wants us to be honest with Him. When our desires line up with His and we call out to Him, He hears us and answers accordingly. Communicate with God… trust Him… and honor His faithfulness to fulfill promises by exercising integrity in your own relationships.
©2011 Debbie Robus
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. Isaiah the prophet went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, so you had better start doing what needs to be done."
Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, "Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with this message: Hezekiah, you are the ruler of my people, and I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will heal you, so that three days from now you will be able to worship in my temple. I will let you live fifteen years more, while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city as an honor to me and to my servant David.
Then Isaiah said to the king's servants, "Bring some mashed figs and place them on the king's open sore. He will then get well." Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "Can you prove that the LORD will heal me, so that I can worship in his temple in three days?"
Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" "It's normal for the sun to go forward," Hezekiah answered. "But how can it go back?" Isaiah prayed, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Four years ago, my husband and I moved into a new house that had been constructed for us by a local builder, his son, and other members of the his crew. Over the years, we have used this builder more than once, and he has become our trusted friend. We know that he will always do what he promises. So when we moved into our present house, we were not surprised to see his son drive up one afternoon, bucket and rags in hand. “I have come to wash your windows,” he said. “I told you I would not present your final bill until those outside windows were clean.” He washed all of the windows, as promised.
Truthfully, we had not even thought about the windows. We trusted that everything the builder and his son promised to do would get done. And they proved us right. Yes, we gave them “punch lists” of things to complete, but we didn’t have to have a written contract. They didn’t have to knock on the door and say, “I did XYZ.” They listened to our requests and answered us.
I can understand Hezekiah’s desire for proof that God was going to heal him and give him 15 more years of life. And frankly, there are a lot of people who make a lot of promises in this world that leave me saying, “Prove it!” But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father, we have no need to worry. We’ve already had all the proof we need in the blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. He was willing to lay down His own life for our sins… so why would He ever default on a promise?!
As much as this passage is a reminder to trust the promises of God and rest assured that He will deliver, according to His perfect will… it is also a message to us to be faithful in our own promises. If you tell a friend you will call, pick up the phone and follow through. If you promise to do something for someone else, do it. Don’t tell Grandma you will come to see her, and then skip the visit. Don’t promise your little brother you will read to him before bedtime, then make up excuses and do something else. Don’t commit your heart to a significant other, and then look around for someone better. And don’t promise to love God and serve Him with all your heart, then wander off to do whatever you please and serve your own desires… or worse yet – those of the devil.
God will never make a promise He can’t keep… and neither should we. There’s one more thing you should notice. Hezekiah cried and poured out his heart to God… and God listened. I’m not saying that all we have to do is cry and whine, and God will change His mind and do what we please. But God wants us to be honest with Him. When our desires line up with His and we call out to Him, He hears us and answers accordingly. Communicate with God… trust Him… and honor His faithfulness to fulfill promises by exercising integrity in your own relationships.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 2, 2011
Proverbs 20:25
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
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.
Recently, a politician claimed that she would get gasoline prices down to $2 a gallon if elected President. No sooner had she made this claim than her staff began to backpedal and say, “What she really meant was… XYZ.” Politicians do this all the time. And honestly, we’ve become somewhat numb to it… to the point that we often don’t even hear what they are saying, much less pay attention to the “meat” of their message.
I’m not sharing this analogy to spark political debate. ALL politicians… all PEOPLE… make promises they can’t keep. But the point is that we often engage our mouths before our brains… then find that we surely wish we could retract what was just said!
My challenge for each of us today is to think more carefully before we make promises. Did you just tell Joe you would pick him up after work, when you know full well you have other obligations at that hour? Have you promised someone you will “do whatever you need”… knowing that you have appointments and other obligations to fulfill and can’t possibly be available on a moment’s notice? Did you vow to love another person and be faithful to him/her, even while you were looking around to see if someone better might come along? Did you promise God that you would love Him and serve Him… that He would be LORD of your life… and now you are living in a way you know does not please Him?
Vows are serious business. And like dishonesty, breaking seemingly insignificant or small “vows” leads to failure to deliver on bigger ones… and the cycle that is created can be vicious. Check your thoughts, your words… and your promises. Ask God to guide you as you make daily decisions and vows… and you will have no regrets.
©2011 Debbie Robus
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
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.
Recently, a politician claimed that she would get gasoline prices down to $2 a gallon if elected President. No sooner had she made this claim than her staff began to backpedal and say, “What she really meant was… XYZ.” Politicians do this all the time. And honestly, we’ve become somewhat numb to it… to the point that we often don’t even hear what they are saying, much less pay attention to the “meat” of their message.
I’m not sharing this analogy to spark political debate. ALL politicians… all PEOPLE… make promises they can’t keep. But the point is that we often engage our mouths before our brains… then find that we surely wish we could retract what was just said!
My challenge for each of us today is to think more carefully before we make promises. Did you just tell Joe you would pick him up after work, when you know full well you have other obligations at that hour? Have you promised someone you will “do whatever you need”… knowing that you have appointments and other obligations to fulfill and can’t possibly be available on a moment’s notice? Did you vow to love another person and be faithful to him/her, even while you were looking around to see if someone better might come along? Did you promise God that you would love Him and serve Him… that He would be LORD of your life… and now you are living in a way you know does not please Him?
Vows are serious business. And like dishonesty, breaking seemingly insignificant or small “vows” leads to failure to deliver on bigger ones… and the cycle that is created can be vicious. Check your thoughts, your words… and your promises. Ask God to guide you as you make daily decisions and vows… and you will have no regrets.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 16, 2011
Exodus 34:5-9
The LORD God came down in a cloud and stood beside Moses there on the mountain. God spoke his holy name, "the LORD." Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, "I am the LORD God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins. When people sin, I punish them and their children, and also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren." Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD. He prayed, "LORD, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Life is filled with promises. And being human, we often make promises we cannot keep. Oh, sure… our intentions are often good ones… promises to love someone forever, to stop smoking or drinking… promises to pay back loans or keep in touch with someone. But somehow, “life” gets in the way, as we like to say, and the first thing you know, we’ve broken more promises than we’ve kept.
Aren’t you glad you don’t serve a God who is human and frail? Aren’t you glad that our God keeps His promises… and has since the time of Moses? Doesn’t He deserve our utmost loyalty and devotion… immeasurable trust and confidence… our unfailing obedience? And don’t we often promise all of this… then fall short?
Moses’ prayer should be ours… “forgive our sin and let us be your people” – and because of the blood of Jesus, it can be. God does just this, and more. He understands our humanness and does for us what we cannot seem to do for Him… He loves us even when we break promises to Him and others… and He promises to always do this. God shows us great love, and He can be trusted to keep His promises to us forever. How will you treat Him in return?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD God came down in a cloud and stood beside Moses there on the mountain. God spoke his holy name, "the LORD." Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, "I am the LORD God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins. When people sin, I punish them and their children, and also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren." Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD. He prayed, "LORD, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Life is filled with promises. And being human, we often make promises we cannot keep. Oh, sure… our intentions are often good ones… promises to love someone forever, to stop smoking or drinking… promises to pay back loans or keep in touch with someone. But somehow, “life” gets in the way, as we like to say, and the first thing you know, we’ve broken more promises than we’ve kept.
Aren’t you glad you don’t serve a God who is human and frail? Aren’t you glad that our God keeps His promises… and has since the time of Moses? Doesn’t He deserve our utmost loyalty and devotion… immeasurable trust and confidence… our unfailing obedience? And don’t we often promise all of this… then fall short?
Moses’ prayer should be ours… “forgive our sin and let us be your people” – and because of the blood of Jesus, it can be. God does just this, and more. He understands our humanness and does for us what we cannot seem to do for Him… He loves us even when we break promises to Him and others… and He promises to always do this. God shows us great love, and He can be trusted to keep His promises to us forever. How will you treat Him in return?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2011
Hebrews 6:18
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2011
Matthew 21:32
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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