John 8:31-38
Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered, "We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?"
Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! And slaves don't stay in the family forever, though the Son will always remain in the family. If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! I know that you are from Abraham's family. Yet you want to kill me, because my message isn't really in your hearts. I am telling you what my Father has shown me, just as you are doing what your father has taught you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently, Timothy woke up coughing and wheezing. He could barely get his breath. So my husband and I whisked him away to the ER, where a respiratory therapist tried to administer a breathing treatment… in the form of a mask that had a happy dragon face and smoke coming out. But Timmy did not understand, and he was in hysterics. He resisted the very thing that would free him from being unable breathe.
Even in his two-year-old mind, I think Timmy knew that the treatment was helping him, but he was a slave to his determination to fight us and resist the mask. Thankfully we were able to hold him still enough for a little bit, and the treatment helped greatly… and we think he will be fine. But I hope we don’t have to force another breathing treatment upon him any time soon!
We are so often the stubborn (or scared) two-year-old. Our sin is familiar. We don’t like anything that takes us outside of our “comfort zone,” even when we know it might help… and we are assured it won’t harm us in any way. God will never force Himself on us, so if we resist Him, we simply don’t get the “treatment” He offers for our sin. But if we will cooperate and trust Him, we can be free in ways we never imagined.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve hung onto some sins and sinful ways when I knew that “letting go and letting God” would be so much better. It’s the first step that is sometimes the hardest. But God understands. We tried to tell Timothy that it would all be okay… that nothing bad would happen to him. God is trying to tell us that, too… that what He offers will make us feel so much better. Are you ready to listen… and be free?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label fresh start. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fresh start. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 14, 2011
Proverbs 19:27
If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll soon be out of your depth.
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.
We have been trying to teach Timothy to ride a tricycle. We’ve shown him how to put his feet on the pedals. We’ve put him on the trike and pushed him around… we’ve even shown him YouTube videos of children riding tricycles. But he still wants to do it his way… which doesn’t involve keeping his feet on the pedals and pushing!
On some of the videos, I’ve heard parents commenting, “Maybe we should tape his/her feet to the pedals!” We have opted to let Timmy flounder a while longer. After all, he is only two years old, and he has a lot of “discovering” to do.
There is nothing wrong with letting someone figure things out for themselves, especially when there is no danger of being harmed by wrong turns along the way. Certainly, if we saw Timothy trying to do something that could be harmful or cause a serious problem, we would intervene. But as we grow, people with more knowledge and/or life experiences often try to tell us things, and we quit listening. This is when real troubles can begin.
It’s hard to believe, but the summer break is ending for many, and a new school year is upon us. For some, college lies ahead… a time when many are on their own or becoming relatively independent – possibly for the first time. You are encouraged to think for yourself… explore new philosophies… broaden your horizons. And while “self-discovery” and expressing your own ideas and opinions is important - and a natural part of growth and maturation - you must remain awake and alert.
None of us ever outgrows God. We never get too old for Bible study, and certainly, none of us ever stops needing to communicate with God in prayer. Notice I said “communicate with God”… because we need to do more than merely talk to Him. We need to listen! This is where a lot of us fall down… we do all the talking, and we don’t hear what God is telling us. And before we know it, we’ve struck off on our own and gotten out of our depth.
As a former teacher, this time of year seems more like the “New Year” to me than January 1st. This is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and the potential for exciting experiences and growth. In large part, the key to having a successful year will lie in how you listen. If you filter all you are told and taught through communication with God, you will do well. If you decide to “wing it” without God at the helm, you are setting yourself up for potential disaster and disappointment.
My prayer is that we would all commit to making the next year a time when we put God at the forefront… a time when we don’t make a move without consulting Him first… a time when we embrace new discoveries and adventures, because we know that He is leading the way. Whether you are the mom of a child headed off to kindergarten… a college freshman… a retiree… or somewhere in between these stages… ask God to guide your steps. Listen for His wise counsel. Proceed with confidence… knowing He is leading the way. Keep God close as you “strike off on your own,” and have a great, safe, blessed year!
©2011 Debbie Robus
If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll soon be out of your depth.
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.
We have been trying to teach Timothy to ride a tricycle. We’ve shown him how to put his feet on the pedals. We’ve put him on the trike and pushed him around… we’ve even shown him YouTube videos of children riding tricycles. But he still wants to do it his way… which doesn’t involve keeping his feet on the pedals and pushing!
On some of the videos, I’ve heard parents commenting, “Maybe we should tape his/her feet to the pedals!” We have opted to let Timmy flounder a while longer. After all, he is only two years old, and he has a lot of “discovering” to do.
There is nothing wrong with letting someone figure things out for themselves, especially when there is no danger of being harmed by wrong turns along the way. Certainly, if we saw Timothy trying to do something that could be harmful or cause a serious problem, we would intervene. But as we grow, people with more knowledge and/or life experiences often try to tell us things, and we quit listening. This is when real troubles can begin.
It’s hard to believe, but the summer break is ending for many, and a new school year is upon us. For some, college lies ahead… a time when many are on their own or becoming relatively independent – possibly for the first time. You are encouraged to think for yourself… explore new philosophies… broaden your horizons. And while “self-discovery” and expressing your own ideas and opinions is important - and a natural part of growth and maturation - you must remain awake and alert.
None of us ever outgrows God. We never get too old for Bible study, and certainly, none of us ever stops needing to communicate with God in prayer. Notice I said “communicate with God”… because we need to do more than merely talk to Him. We need to listen! This is where a lot of us fall down… we do all the talking, and we don’t hear what God is telling us. And before we know it, we’ve struck off on our own and gotten out of our depth.
As a former teacher, this time of year seems more like the “New Year” to me than January 1st. This is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and the potential for exciting experiences and growth. In large part, the key to having a successful year will lie in how you listen. If you filter all you are told and taught through communication with God, you will do well. If you decide to “wing it” without God at the helm, you are setting yourself up for potential disaster and disappointment.
My prayer is that we would all commit to making the next year a time when we put God at the forefront… a time when we don’t make a move without consulting Him first… a time when we embrace new discoveries and adventures, because we know that He is leading the way. Whether you are the mom of a child headed off to kindergarten… a college freshman… a retiree… or somewhere in between these stages… ask God to guide your steps. Listen for His wise counsel. Proceed with confidence… knowing He is leading the way. Keep God close as you “strike off on your own,” and have a great, safe, blessed year!
©2011 Debbie Robus
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