Proverbs 16:6
If we truly love God,
our sins will be forgiven;
if we show him respect,
we will keep away from sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My
mother was fairly lucid until about 36 hours before she died. In one
of our last conversations, she looked my sister and me squarely in the
eyes and said, “We are a strange species.” I later learned from my
niece, Jasmine, that Mother peppered this phrase all throughout a
journal she kept for her grand-daughter for the last 23 years. And
indeed, we are a strange species. As I read this passage from
Proverbs, I thought of things that have happened even in this last week
and reminded myself that our actions do not always line up with our
talk…particularly as supposed Christian disciples.
I have said
time and again that people are watching. They notice when we demonstrate
great faith and hope in Jesus…and when we belie His teachings. The
nicest person in the world can say and do some pretty nasty things in
any given moment…or “act a fool” at some point. This doesn’t make any
of us particularly bad people…but depending on who observes these sins
(and yes, these are sins, because they represent disrespect and
disobedience toward Jesus and His teachings) we may do tremendous harm
to God’s Kingdom – and our effectiveness as His witness.
We
cannot judge others. We cannot treat them with
disdain…discriminate…criticize unkindly and unconstructively…or
humiliate. We have to be on our best behavior and continually check our
words and actions. There are people who will get on our last nerve…and
God calls us to love them anyway - even those who “are a strange
species.”
If we truly love God, we must obey Him. We have to
follow the teachings of Jesus and love others – ALL others. We have to
respect others and treat them fairly, because this demonstrates our
respect and reverence for the God we love and worship. We must stay
awake and alert for opportunities to sin - and avoid them at all cost.
Mother was right…we are
a strange species…ALL of us – not just the other guy! What we think,
say and do matters – to others AND to God. If we want Him to forgive
us, we must do what can be the hard work of following all of His
commands and demonstrating resolve, reverence, respect, and a healthy
dose of restraint!
Spend some time in prayer today and ask God to
show you where there are opportunities to demonstrate respect and
reverence…and where you need to operate in reservation and
self-discipline. He will give you the strength and courage you need to
do both. We are a strange species…and people are watching one another. When they look at you…what – and WHO – do they see?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label genuine Christian witness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genuine Christian witness. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 29, 2015
1 Peter 3:15
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.
Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend and I were talking about a situation that is dear to both of us, and she said, “I guess I need to practice my response to people about this, because I don’t have as good of an answer handy as you seem to have. I need to be able to talk to people about this with more confidence.” Let’s be honest, if we are speaking to someone about an issue, and we stumble over our words and don’t seem to have a full grasp of things, we probably won’t be very convincing!
This passage reminds us that it’s not enough to “walk the walk, and talk the talk.” We have to demonstrate our faith by our actions…but we also have to have answers that make sense. Does this mean that all Christians must be Bible scholars and know scriptures by heart that can be recited at a moment’s notice? Absolutely not! But you have to be able to tell people WHY you are so sure that God is in control. We must be ready to explain how God has answered prayers in our own lives. We need to be confident in our justifications of our hope in Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with suggesting that you look up scripture passages together…or in saying, “I don’t know…but I’ll find out!” But ask yourself this…wouldn’t you “do your homework” before trying to explain things to someone else...everything from how to prepare a certain recipe to how to repair something to what “home remedies” work best for you? This is no different. We Christians are called to “get our ducks in a row” and speak confidently from the heart about our hope and faith in Jesus. We don’t need to second guess ourselves or fear that we will say the wrong thing – we need to be so “practiced” that we’re sure our words make sense.
The best way to accomplish this is to actually practice…to find opportunities to share with others what Jesus is doing in your life. If you are not comfortable yet having these conversations with others, write down your thoughts and study them. Have an idea in your head of what you would say to someone if he/she asked you about your faith. Know how you would respond when given an opportunity to share what Jesus has done for you. Then take advantages of chances to share your hope with others. The more you do this, the easier it will become.
There is nothing wrong with spontaneous, heart-felt witness...and when you ask God to give you the right words, He will surely do so. But it doesn’t hurt to practice a few responses, so that you feel more confident when you do speak on Jesus’ behalf. Spend some time in prayerful preparation…and get so comfortable with expressing your hope and faith that it becomes second nature. You will honor God…and you will represent Him well. And isn’t that what being a Christian disciple is all about?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.
Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend and I were talking about a situation that is dear to both of us, and she said, “I guess I need to practice my response to people about this, because I don’t have as good of an answer handy as you seem to have. I need to be able to talk to people about this with more confidence.” Let’s be honest, if we are speaking to someone about an issue, and we stumble over our words and don’t seem to have a full grasp of things, we probably won’t be very convincing!
This passage reminds us that it’s not enough to “walk the walk, and talk the talk.” We have to demonstrate our faith by our actions…but we also have to have answers that make sense. Does this mean that all Christians must be Bible scholars and know scriptures by heart that can be recited at a moment’s notice? Absolutely not! But you have to be able to tell people WHY you are so sure that God is in control. We must be ready to explain how God has answered prayers in our own lives. We need to be confident in our justifications of our hope in Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with suggesting that you look up scripture passages together…or in saying, “I don’t know…but I’ll find out!” But ask yourself this…wouldn’t you “do your homework” before trying to explain things to someone else...everything from how to prepare a certain recipe to how to repair something to what “home remedies” work best for you? This is no different. We Christians are called to “get our ducks in a row” and speak confidently from the heart about our hope and faith in Jesus. We don’t need to second guess ourselves or fear that we will say the wrong thing – we need to be so “practiced” that we’re sure our words make sense.
The best way to accomplish this is to actually practice…to find opportunities to share with others what Jesus is doing in your life. If you are not comfortable yet having these conversations with others, write down your thoughts and study them. Have an idea in your head of what you would say to someone if he/she asked you about your faith. Know how you would respond when given an opportunity to share what Jesus has done for you. Then take advantages of chances to share your hope with others. The more you do this, the easier it will become.
There is nothing wrong with spontaneous, heart-felt witness...and when you ask God to give you the right words, He will surely do so. But it doesn’t hurt to practice a few responses, so that you feel more confident when you do speak on Jesus’ behalf. Spend some time in prayerful preparation…and get so comfortable with expressing your hope and faith that it becomes second nature. You will honor God…and you will represent Him well. And isn’t that what being a Christian disciple is all about?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2014
Romans 10:14-17
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”
No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Earlier this spring, our local Chamber of Commerce held a weekend festival. As part of this event, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presented a performance of “The Engine That Thought It Could” in our city park. A friend of mine felt that this would be a fun thing for Timothy to experience, so she personally sent me a message with all of the details about the date, time, and what the performance would entail. My mom and I took Timothy to see the production…and he loved it.
Sadly, this event was not well publicized. So a lot of families that would probably have enjoyed this performance did not attend. Some happened to walk through the park as the play took place on an outdoor stage, and a few stopped to watch for a few minutes. Many had bewildered, “what’s-going-on-here?” looks on their faces. It was really a shame that more people did not realize that this production was happening. But many of them simply “didn’t get the memo.”
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz maintains that with today’s technology, there is scarcely a soul on the planet who has not had at least the opportunity to hear about Jesus. And maybe she is right. But has the message truly been delivered in a way that everyone can understand? I’d be willing to bet that almost all of the people who walked past this children’s play – or didn’t come to the park at all – have cell phones, Internet connections, televisions, radios and newspapers. They probably shop locally and pass by bulletin boards and storefronts where posters announcing other events are hung. Yet they did not realize that this event was scheduled.
It’s one thing to know who Jesus is…but quite another to truly know who He is! Many people might have seen a poster or notice that listed the children’s play “The Engine that Thought It Could” as part of the spring festival. But because this event was not “talked up” or highlighted more, a lot of them didn’t really pay attention. They may have thought it was something else entirely…relatively unimportant or not of interest…or they may have completely glossed over it and missed it in a list of scheduled activities.
This is what happens sometimes with the message of Jesus Christ. We grow complacent. Jesus becomes one more thing in a list of things that are part of our life…but we don’t “talk Him up” or highlight our relationship with Him – or His message. So a lot of people end up sort of knowing about Jesus…but not really knowing Him. I don’t know if you fall into that category. Perhaps you are one of those who mention your faith in passing – or assume that others will determine that you are a Christian by osmosis! Regardless of where you fit in this scenario, it’s time we all paid more attention and took a more proactive approach to finding God in our own lives…and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Never let it be said of us that we “didn’t get the memo” about Jesus…or that we failed to spread the word! No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. Who do you need to tell today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”
No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Earlier this spring, our local Chamber of Commerce held a weekend festival. As part of this event, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presented a performance of “The Engine That Thought It Could” in our city park. A friend of mine felt that this would be a fun thing for Timothy to experience, so she personally sent me a message with all of the details about the date, time, and what the performance would entail. My mom and I took Timothy to see the production…and he loved it.
Sadly, this event was not well publicized. So a lot of families that would probably have enjoyed this performance did not attend. Some happened to walk through the park as the play took place on an outdoor stage, and a few stopped to watch for a few minutes. Many had bewildered, “what’s-going-on-here?” looks on their faces. It was really a shame that more people did not realize that this production was happening. But many of them simply “didn’t get the memo.”
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz maintains that with today’s technology, there is scarcely a soul on the planet who has not had at least the opportunity to hear about Jesus. And maybe she is right. But has the message truly been delivered in a way that everyone can understand? I’d be willing to bet that almost all of the people who walked past this children’s play – or didn’t come to the park at all – have cell phones, Internet connections, televisions, radios and newspapers. They probably shop locally and pass by bulletin boards and storefronts where posters announcing other events are hung. Yet they did not realize that this event was scheduled.
It’s one thing to know who Jesus is…but quite another to truly know who He is! Many people might have seen a poster or notice that listed the children’s play “The Engine that Thought It Could” as part of the spring festival. But because this event was not “talked up” or highlighted more, a lot of them didn’t really pay attention. They may have thought it was something else entirely…relatively unimportant or not of interest…or they may have completely glossed over it and missed it in a list of scheduled activities.
This is what happens sometimes with the message of Jesus Christ. We grow complacent. Jesus becomes one more thing in a list of things that are part of our life…but we don’t “talk Him up” or highlight our relationship with Him – or His message. So a lot of people end up sort of knowing about Jesus…but not really knowing Him. I don’t know if you fall into that category. Perhaps you are one of those who mention your faith in passing – or assume that others will determine that you are a Christian by osmosis! Regardless of where you fit in this scenario, it’s time we all paid more attention and took a more proactive approach to finding God in our own lives…and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Never let it be said of us that we “didn’t get the memo” about Jesus…or that we failed to spread the word! No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. Who do you need to tell today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 12, 2014
Ephesians 5:5-7
You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
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 saw an interview with actor/director/screenwriter Tyler Perry (creator of the “Madea” films), and he was asked about a picture he tweeted of himself shopping at the grocery store – for the first time in 15 years. He said, “I have people who do that for me now.” He explained that he spent his time on other pursuits, and he hired someone to do things for him like shopping, cooking, and more. He also noted that there was a time when he was homeless and lived in his car, so he makes no apologies for now being able to afford to hire personal shoppers and assistants.
I happen to like Tyler Perry. From what I can see, he is a decent person who has done well – and helped a lot of other people along the way. From everything I’ve observed, Perry strives to honor God with all of his endeavors…and he appears to credit God for all of his blessings and success.
Here’s the thing…a lot of us were essentially “homeless and living in our cars”…lost without God…living in a world of sin and the devil’s tricks. Then we found Jesus…we invited Him into our hearts…and He saved us. And more than a few of us went right back to the “car”. We didn’t truly grow and learn. We are content to let others do the work of Jesus’ ministry while we claim His salvation and “ride his coat-tails” – and those of others who obediently serve Him. Oh, we’re quick to “talk the good talk”. When asked, we will say that we are Christians…we will talk about the power of prayer and how “the LORD will provide”. But we’re not eager to do the hard work…we’re too busy to reach out to others and truly share how God has worked in our lives. Our talk about the power of prayer is just that – talk! We don’t really have the time or inclination to stop and pray for others.
Sadly, a lot of Christians trot out their faith when it’s convenient, serves them well, or makes them look good. But the truly earnest work of loving others in Jesus’ name and sharing His Good News with them is not on our radar. We’re first in line to expect a blessing from God – or an accolade from others for our goodness…but it’s pretty much a mask behind which we hide. Pastor Rick Warren talks in The Purpose Driven Life about the word “worship” and how we throw that word around and misuse it. Warren says that many of us claim, “I didn’t get anything out of ‘worship’ on Sunday,” when true “worship” is not designed for us…it is designed for GOD. We’re not supposed to get something out of authentic “worship” – we are to offer worship to God!
By the same token, I believe we are not to sit back on our laurels and rest in the salvation of Jesus Christ. We are not to wait expectantly for God to bless us or “fix” things for us. We are to get busy emulating Jesus…demonstrating His teachings to others…and showing them grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and unconditional love in His name. Talk is cheap. Others will know us (and our true character) by our genuine love for Jesus Christ – and how we demonstrate it (John 13:35).
Where are you today? Are you making the most of your new life in Christ? Are you sharing His message with others in everything from your physical actions to your talk and your body language? Are you busy taking God’s blessings over your own life and multiplying them in your daily living? Or are you still stuck “living in your car”? Are you expecting your salvation to be your “ticket” into heaven…and carrying on as usual in your old ways with the same people and situations that held you captive in the past? Are you hiding behind cheap talk and pretending that you are a faithful disciple to impress others? Are you content to let other Christians do the work of the LORD for you…regardless of how viable your excuses may seem?
Isn’t it time to do a “gut check”…to see where you really stand as a Christian disciple? Are you willing to risk the discovery that your discipleship needs a little work in order to become a more genuine servant of Jesus? Will this be the day you take inventory and make necessary changes? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
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 saw an interview with actor/director/screenwriter Tyler Perry (creator of the “Madea” films), and he was asked about a picture he tweeted of himself shopping at the grocery store – for the first time in 15 years. He said, “I have people who do that for me now.” He explained that he spent his time on other pursuits, and he hired someone to do things for him like shopping, cooking, and more. He also noted that there was a time when he was homeless and lived in his car, so he makes no apologies for now being able to afford to hire personal shoppers and assistants.
I happen to like Tyler Perry. From what I can see, he is a decent person who has done well – and helped a lot of other people along the way. From everything I’ve observed, Perry strives to honor God with all of his endeavors…and he appears to credit God for all of his blessings and success.
Here’s the thing…a lot of us were essentially “homeless and living in our cars”…lost without God…living in a world of sin and the devil’s tricks. Then we found Jesus…we invited Him into our hearts…and He saved us. And more than a few of us went right back to the “car”. We didn’t truly grow and learn. We are content to let others do the work of Jesus’ ministry while we claim His salvation and “ride his coat-tails” – and those of others who obediently serve Him. Oh, we’re quick to “talk the good talk”. When asked, we will say that we are Christians…we will talk about the power of prayer and how “the LORD will provide”. But we’re not eager to do the hard work…we’re too busy to reach out to others and truly share how God has worked in our lives. Our talk about the power of prayer is just that – talk! We don’t really have the time or inclination to stop and pray for others.
Sadly, a lot of Christians trot out their faith when it’s convenient, serves them well, or makes them look good. But the truly earnest work of loving others in Jesus’ name and sharing His Good News with them is not on our radar. We’re first in line to expect a blessing from God – or an accolade from others for our goodness…but it’s pretty much a mask behind which we hide. Pastor Rick Warren talks in The Purpose Driven Life about the word “worship” and how we throw that word around and misuse it. Warren says that many of us claim, “I didn’t get anything out of ‘worship’ on Sunday,” when true “worship” is not designed for us…it is designed for GOD. We’re not supposed to get something out of authentic “worship” – we are to offer worship to God!
By the same token, I believe we are not to sit back on our laurels and rest in the salvation of Jesus Christ. We are not to wait expectantly for God to bless us or “fix” things for us. We are to get busy emulating Jesus…demonstrating His teachings to others…and showing them grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and unconditional love in His name. Talk is cheap. Others will know us (and our true character) by our genuine love for Jesus Christ – and how we demonstrate it (John 13:35).
Where are you today? Are you making the most of your new life in Christ? Are you sharing His message with others in everything from your physical actions to your talk and your body language? Are you busy taking God’s blessings over your own life and multiplying them in your daily living? Or are you still stuck “living in your car”? Are you expecting your salvation to be your “ticket” into heaven…and carrying on as usual in your old ways with the same people and situations that held you captive in the past? Are you hiding behind cheap talk and pretending that you are a faithful disciple to impress others? Are you content to let other Christians do the work of the LORD for you…regardless of how viable your excuses may seem?
Isn’t it time to do a “gut check”…to see where you really stand as a Christian disciple? Are you willing to risk the discovery that your discipleship needs a little work in order to become a more genuine servant of Jesus? Will this be the day you take inventory and make necessary changes? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2014
James 1:27
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
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.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
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.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Daily Devotional for November 6, 2012
Matthew 10:12-15
“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.
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.
According to an article on www.ehow.com titled “What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?”… “A court processor serves legal documents. He delivers them to the person to whom the document is intended. The documents can include complaints, subpoenas, summons, writs, order to show cause and various other legal documents. A person can try to evade a court processor, but they're trained, they know every trick in the book, and they will find you eventually. Even if you refuse to accept the documents, you have still been technically served.” Read more: What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8394480_rights-court-processor.html#ixzz2BPoqjp5r
I don’t think I’d be very good at this job! Clearly, a court processor cannot become emotionally invested. His/her job is to deliver the documents. Whether the recipient is happy about it is truly none of the court processor’s concern. I would imagine that he/she must develop the ability to stay calm and not overreact… to do the job, deliver the papers, and be on his/her way.
We Christians are essentially “court processors” for Jesus. Our job is to deliver His Good News… to tell others about Him, to serve in His name, and to model love of others, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. We are to be diligent in our ministry…but comport ourselves in a kind, calm manner. We are to quietly go about our business – which is the business of representing Jesus to others. We are not to make a scene. If people are receptive to us and our message, that’s wonderful. If not, we must lovingly and quietly retreat. Our only responsibility is to “serve the documents” – not to act as judge and jury… or try to force Jesus on anyone - in any way.
This is not easy for many Christians. We want to go in, “guns blazing,” and save the world for Jesus! We cram our faith and morals down others’ throats, quote scripture, act all high and mighty and “holier than thou”… and then we wonder why people don’t want to be around us! We are quick to judge those who don’t agree with us. We are overbearing in our presentation of a life in Christ, and basically, we give others the impression (if not the outright claim) that “it’s pretty much my way or the highway!”
This is not the way to win friends and influence people, much less add to the Kingdom of Heaven! Remember… our “job guidelines” as Christians are very specific. We are to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others in a calm, quiet, graceful manner, and then we are to step aside and allow God room to work. If we are mistreated or given a poor reception, this is not an invitation to press harder. We are to move on… to say, “LORD, I’ve been obedient… I’ve planted the seeds… I’m trusting you for the outcome.”
What about you? Are you a gentle witness… a respectable “court processor” for Jesus Christ? Or are you pushy and overbearing… and as a result, fairly ineffective? Ask God to show you where you have allowed your personal feelings and emotions get in the way of truly serving Him… and serving well. Call on Him to reveal where – and how – you can improve your “processing” skills. Cultivate your ability to effectively deliver the message of Jesus to others… and then to faithfully move on with confidence that the outcome is not up to you. This is the “let go and let God” thing again! If people answer your knock at the door, will they be glad that they did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.
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.
According to an article on www.ehow.com titled “What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?”… “A court processor serves legal documents. He delivers them to the person to whom the document is intended. The documents can include complaints, subpoenas, summons, writs, order to show cause and various other legal documents. A person can try to evade a court processor, but they're trained, they know every trick in the book, and they will find you eventually. Even if you refuse to accept the documents, you have still been technically served.” Read more: What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8394480_rights-court-processor.html#ixzz2BPoqjp5r
I don’t think I’d be very good at this job! Clearly, a court processor cannot become emotionally invested. His/her job is to deliver the documents. Whether the recipient is happy about it is truly none of the court processor’s concern. I would imagine that he/she must develop the ability to stay calm and not overreact… to do the job, deliver the papers, and be on his/her way.
We Christians are essentially “court processors” for Jesus. Our job is to deliver His Good News… to tell others about Him, to serve in His name, and to model love of others, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. We are to be diligent in our ministry…but comport ourselves in a kind, calm manner. We are to quietly go about our business – which is the business of representing Jesus to others. We are not to make a scene. If people are receptive to us and our message, that’s wonderful. If not, we must lovingly and quietly retreat. Our only responsibility is to “serve the documents” – not to act as judge and jury… or try to force Jesus on anyone - in any way.
This is not easy for many Christians. We want to go in, “guns blazing,” and save the world for Jesus! We cram our faith and morals down others’ throats, quote scripture, act all high and mighty and “holier than thou”… and then we wonder why people don’t want to be around us! We are quick to judge those who don’t agree with us. We are overbearing in our presentation of a life in Christ, and basically, we give others the impression (if not the outright claim) that “it’s pretty much my way or the highway!”
This is not the way to win friends and influence people, much less add to the Kingdom of Heaven! Remember… our “job guidelines” as Christians are very specific. We are to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others in a calm, quiet, graceful manner, and then we are to step aside and allow God room to work. If we are mistreated or given a poor reception, this is not an invitation to press harder. We are to move on… to say, “LORD, I’ve been obedient… I’ve planted the seeds… I’m trusting you for the outcome.”
What about you? Are you a gentle witness… a respectable “court processor” for Jesus Christ? Or are you pushy and overbearing… and as a result, fairly ineffective? Ask God to show you where you have allowed your personal feelings and emotions get in the way of truly serving Him… and serving well. Call on Him to reveal where – and how – you can improve your “processing” skills. Cultivate your ability to effectively deliver the message of Jesus to others… and then to faithfully move on with confidence that the outcome is not up to you. This is the “let go and let God” thing again! If people answer your knock at the door, will they be glad that they did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 1, 2012
Matthew 7:21-23
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
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.
There are a lot of people who try to toss out the name of someone in order to gain special favors… admission to a venue that is closely guarded, preferential treatment of some kind, “freebies,” or even a pardon – as in, “They will let it slide this time, since I’m related to Joe.” Some people go through life trading on the names of others… never fully making it on their own or accepting responsibility for their own actions. To the contrary, they attempt to skate by on others’ merits and live by the motto, “It’s all in who you know or who you are.” When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, things do not work this way.
Far too many people try to trade on God’s name with little to no substance in their personal relationship with Him for collateral. We all know those who are front and center to make a big show of what good, faithful Christians they are… yet fall apart at the first sign of trouble. Can’t you think of people who are the first in line to report for “duty” when there is a mission or ministry… and also the first to wring their hands and say, “Now, what do I do?” when a crisis occurs?
What about those who stand ready to judge others who are “different”…those who are not the same race, creed, color, political party, sexual orientation, or of equal or better economic standing, for instance? You know the ones who stand ready to serve God and others… as long as everyone believes the same as they believe! We all are familiar with plenty of people who are first in line to get their pat on the back for being such good Christians… then turn and sneer all the way home at the poor misguided souls who disagree with them or are different in some way.
This passage is speaking directly to hypocrites… in other words, ALL of us on any given day! Jesus is warning us that God will not tolerate these attitudes and behaviors. Before we stand behind His name and make our claims, we better check what we are saying and doing… and make sure it is scriptural. We better be sure our talk and actions line up with the teachings of Christ and His will! You cannot slap the name of Jesus on anything and everything and expect it to “pass muster!” I’m going to be honest with you, there have been times when “Christians” have done more harm to the Kingdom of Heaven by misrepresenting God than if they had done nothing at all. And Satan has danced with delight!
There is no time like the present for us to take stock of our thoughts and actions… our Christian faith and service… and to evaluate where we need to make some changes. Where are we attaching the name of Jesus to something that disgraces Him? Where have we missed the boat? Spend some time with God and ask Him to show you where you may be “name dropping” – even just a little. Commit yourself to fully rid this type of behavior from your daily Discipleship. Call on the Holy Spirit to help you keep your thoughts and actions in check… and to be fully in – the “real deal” for Jesus.
If you really, truly want to impress God, ask Him for a steady dose of obedience, humility, grace and mercy – and exercise these daily as you share His Good News with others. Don’t miss the mark on this… the stakes are too high! In this season of campaign ads, we have heard over and over, “I’m Tom/Mary Candidate… and I approve this message.” The endorsement of what is being presented in the ad is undeniable. As the voting public, we trust that the candidate agrees with all that is said and done in the ad. Let this be a guideline in your daily living and Discipleship. When you claim the name of Jesus, be sure that He endorses your thoughts and actions!
©2012 Debbie Robus
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
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.
There are a lot of people who try to toss out the name of someone in order to gain special favors… admission to a venue that is closely guarded, preferential treatment of some kind, “freebies,” or even a pardon – as in, “They will let it slide this time, since I’m related to Joe.” Some people go through life trading on the names of others… never fully making it on their own or accepting responsibility for their own actions. To the contrary, they attempt to skate by on others’ merits and live by the motto, “It’s all in who you know or who you are.” When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, things do not work this way.
Far too many people try to trade on God’s name with little to no substance in their personal relationship with Him for collateral. We all know those who are front and center to make a big show of what good, faithful Christians they are… yet fall apart at the first sign of trouble. Can’t you think of people who are the first in line to report for “duty” when there is a mission or ministry… and also the first to wring their hands and say, “Now, what do I do?” when a crisis occurs?
What about those who stand ready to judge others who are “different”…those who are not the same race, creed, color, political party, sexual orientation, or of equal or better economic standing, for instance? You know the ones who stand ready to serve God and others… as long as everyone believes the same as they believe! We all are familiar with plenty of people who are first in line to get their pat on the back for being such good Christians… then turn and sneer all the way home at the poor misguided souls who disagree with them or are different in some way.
This passage is speaking directly to hypocrites… in other words, ALL of us on any given day! Jesus is warning us that God will not tolerate these attitudes and behaviors. Before we stand behind His name and make our claims, we better check what we are saying and doing… and make sure it is scriptural. We better be sure our talk and actions line up with the teachings of Christ and His will! You cannot slap the name of Jesus on anything and everything and expect it to “pass muster!” I’m going to be honest with you, there have been times when “Christians” have done more harm to the Kingdom of Heaven by misrepresenting God than if they had done nothing at all. And Satan has danced with delight!
There is no time like the present for us to take stock of our thoughts and actions… our Christian faith and service… and to evaluate where we need to make some changes. Where are we attaching the name of Jesus to something that disgraces Him? Where have we missed the boat? Spend some time with God and ask Him to show you where you may be “name dropping” – even just a little. Commit yourself to fully rid this type of behavior from your daily Discipleship. Call on the Holy Spirit to help you keep your thoughts and actions in check… and to be fully in – the “real deal” for Jesus.
If you really, truly want to impress God, ask Him for a steady dose of obedience, humility, grace and mercy – and exercise these daily as you share His Good News with others. Don’t miss the mark on this… the stakes are too high! In this season of campaign ads, we have heard over and over, “I’m Tom/Mary Candidate… and I approve this message.” The endorsement of what is being presented in the ad is undeniable. As the voting public, we trust that the candidate agrees with all that is said and done in the ad. Let this be a guideline in your daily living and Discipleship. When you claim the name of Jesus, be sure that He endorses your thoughts and actions!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 1, 2012
April 1 ~ 1 Corinthians 14:1-3
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you're letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
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.
Do you have a best friend? Maybe this person is someone you have been close to for a number of years… or maybe this is your spouse, or a relative. I’m talking about a person with whom you can share anything… someone with whom you trust private information you would not share with another living soul. You may even feel like there isn’t another person on the planet who understands you the way this friend does. And someone else may feel the same way about you.
There is nothing wrong with having a close friend with whom you share your private thoughts. But what if you never interacted with anyone else? What if the only person you ever spent time with was this friend… and nobody else ever got to know you? What if this kept your friend from growing as a person and interacting with other people? Wouldn’t you both miss out on a lot? Other people would never get to truly know you… or love you. The many gifts that make you special and unique would never be discovered – or enjoyed - by others… and in turn, you would probably be pretty boring!
Do you see that this is how many of us treat our relationship with God? Some of us never even bother to develop a relationship with Him at all. Others draw close to God and share their deepest, most innermost thoughts and feelings with Him. We enjoy His blessings and bask in the love, grace and mercy of His power and protection over our lives. We seek His wisdom… and sometimes we listen when He speaks. But we never bother to turn around and share God with others. We never show His love, grace and mercy to those we interact with on a daily basis. We don’t live by example… demonstrating by our behavior and lifestyle just how much God has done for us… and showing others we meet what He can do for them!
I have two questions for us to consider today…
©2012 Debbie Robus
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you're letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
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.
Do you have a best friend? Maybe this person is someone you have been close to for a number of years… or maybe this is your spouse, or a relative. I’m talking about a person with whom you can share anything… someone with whom you trust private information you would not share with another living soul. You may even feel like there isn’t another person on the planet who understands you the way this friend does. And someone else may feel the same way about you.
There is nothing wrong with having a close friend with whom you share your private thoughts. But what if you never interacted with anyone else? What if the only person you ever spent time with was this friend… and nobody else ever got to know you? What if this kept your friend from growing as a person and interacting with other people? Wouldn’t you both miss out on a lot? Other people would never get to truly know you… or love you. The many gifts that make you special and unique would never be discovered – or enjoyed - by others… and in turn, you would probably be pretty boring!
Do you see that this is how many of us treat our relationship with God? Some of us never even bother to develop a relationship with Him at all. Others draw close to God and share their deepest, most innermost thoughts and feelings with Him. We enjoy His blessings and bask in the love, grace and mercy of His power and protection over our lives. We seek His wisdom… and sometimes we listen when He speaks. But we never bother to turn around and share God with others. We never show His love, grace and mercy to those we interact with on a daily basis. We don’t live by example… demonstrating by our behavior and lifestyle just how much God has done for us… and showing others we meet what He can do for them!
I have two questions for us to consider today…
- Have we truly developed an intimate relationship with God… one where we share the innermost details of our heart and soul… and He speaks to us in return?
- Have we honored our relationship with God by sharing His truths with others, through our words and actions? Do we demonstrate Christian faith in action? Do others have an opportunity to grow and strengthen in God because of our example?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 22, 2012
2 Corinthians 4:1-4
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
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 mom tells a story about playing baseball with neighbor kids when she was growing up, and one kid would always have an excuse handy when he got up to bat. If he swung and missed, he would start saying repeatedly, “I didn’t break my wrist!” – meaning he didn’t swing through, so the attempt didn’t count in his estimation! He thought he could have another turn, as long as the swing had not counted. In other words, he didn’t bother believing the truth and chose to think what he wanted.
I’m not sure how well this worked for the boy, but I know it doesn’t work with God. We can’t make up our own rules or twist the truth to fit our own advantage and expect God to merely go along with us.
Let’s face it… things are not always going to go our way. And honestly, God has made no secret of this to Christians. There are clear indications throughout the Bible that the life of Christ’s disciples will be peppered with obstacles and challenges. Sadly, more than few Christians decide to deal with this by 1) throwing up their hands at the first sign of trouble, and 2) masking their faith and trying to manipulate God, so that they can be one person in His presence and another in the company of those who might choose to judge or ridicule them for their faith. Like the kid on the ball team who had a ready excuse for a missed swing, we are “all in” when we connect with the ball, but ready to turn tail and run when anything goes awry.
We can’t have it both ways… and we shouldn’t need or want to do this. God has done so much for us. He will never give us more than we can handle. So why would we fear the challenges and road bumps for even a minute? Every time I have faced a “hard time,” God has strengthened my faith. Every time I have fallen down, He has lifted me.
I have yet to encounter anything God could not handle on my behalf. And yes, there have been times when I’ve put on a mask and played games… and tried to manipulate God into seeing things my way. But more and more, I have learned that my ideas are never as wise as God’s. My attempts to fix things almost never work out – and certainly never in situations where I should have listened to God in the first place.
We need to be “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” Christians… the kind who trust God for everything and deal with whatever challenges come our way. The life of a Christian is not easy, nor perfect in the way we would anticipate. God is not punishing us by allowing tests and struggles to come our way… but He is teaching us how to trust Him for the outcomes. Every swing “at bat” is not going to result in a home run. We are probably going to “miss the ball” and “strike out” a good deal of the time. How we react will say a lot about our faith… and whose truth we really believe – God’s, or our own. And this will be our message – to ourselves and to others. What is your message today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
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 mom tells a story about playing baseball with neighbor kids when she was growing up, and one kid would always have an excuse handy when he got up to bat. If he swung and missed, he would start saying repeatedly, “I didn’t break my wrist!” – meaning he didn’t swing through, so the attempt didn’t count in his estimation! He thought he could have another turn, as long as the swing had not counted. In other words, he didn’t bother believing the truth and chose to think what he wanted.
I’m not sure how well this worked for the boy, but I know it doesn’t work with God. We can’t make up our own rules or twist the truth to fit our own advantage and expect God to merely go along with us.
Let’s face it… things are not always going to go our way. And honestly, God has made no secret of this to Christians. There are clear indications throughout the Bible that the life of Christ’s disciples will be peppered with obstacles and challenges. Sadly, more than few Christians decide to deal with this by 1) throwing up their hands at the first sign of trouble, and 2) masking their faith and trying to manipulate God, so that they can be one person in His presence and another in the company of those who might choose to judge or ridicule them for their faith. Like the kid on the ball team who had a ready excuse for a missed swing, we are “all in” when we connect with the ball, but ready to turn tail and run when anything goes awry.
We can’t have it both ways… and we shouldn’t need or want to do this. God has done so much for us. He will never give us more than we can handle. So why would we fear the challenges and road bumps for even a minute? Every time I have faced a “hard time,” God has strengthened my faith. Every time I have fallen down, He has lifted me.
I have yet to encounter anything God could not handle on my behalf. And yes, there have been times when I’ve put on a mask and played games… and tried to manipulate God into seeing things my way. But more and more, I have learned that my ideas are never as wise as God’s. My attempts to fix things almost never work out – and certainly never in situations where I should have listened to God in the first place.
We need to be “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” Christians… the kind who trust God for everything and deal with whatever challenges come our way. The life of a Christian is not easy, nor perfect in the way we would anticipate. God is not punishing us by allowing tests and struggles to come our way… but He is teaching us how to trust Him for the outcomes. Every swing “at bat” is not going to result in a home run. We are probably going to “miss the ball” and “strike out” a good deal of the time. How we react will say a lot about our faith… and whose truth we really believe – God’s, or our own. And this will be our message – to ourselves and to others. What is your message today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2012
1 Corinthians 10:1-7
Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—"First the people partied, then they threw a dance."
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.
Suppose you got a new car… the car of your dreams. You proudly drove it everywhere… even invited your friends to take a ride and enjoy how smoothly it drove. Everyone noticed your new car, and you felt like a different person when you were seen in it. Then the car ran out of gas… and you parked it in the garage and left it there. You still had a new car… but you went back to your old methods of getting around. A few people asked about the car, and you shrugged and said, “Yeah… I’ve got it, but gas takes money, and it’s a lot of work to keep it clean and running well, so I just parked it in the garage. It’s safe and clean there... I just don’t take it out often.”
Do you see my point? What good is a new car if you are not going to fill it with gas, maintain its engine, and drive it? And the same can be said of our faith. Many of us make a “salvation decision” – we invite Jesus to live in our hearts, and we get all excited for a while. Then the “gas” runs out, and we park our faith and return to our old habits. We don’t feed our relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with others and actual service.
Equally as bad, we Christians often do a poor job of nurturing and encouraging others as they grow in their faith walk. We are so glad to add another name to the roll at church – and to increase our numbers. But I have long maintained that church growth is a good thing… if you take care of everyone who is already in the church body. Otherwise, we are just piling up “cars in the garage.”
So my challenge for each of us today is this…
©2012 Debbie Robus
Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—"First the people partied, then they threw a dance."
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.
Suppose you got a new car… the car of your dreams. You proudly drove it everywhere… even invited your friends to take a ride and enjoy how smoothly it drove. Everyone noticed your new car, and you felt like a different person when you were seen in it. Then the car ran out of gas… and you parked it in the garage and left it there. You still had a new car… but you went back to your old methods of getting around. A few people asked about the car, and you shrugged and said, “Yeah… I’ve got it, but gas takes money, and it’s a lot of work to keep it clean and running well, so I just parked it in the garage. It’s safe and clean there... I just don’t take it out often.”
Do you see my point? What good is a new car if you are not going to fill it with gas, maintain its engine, and drive it? And the same can be said of our faith. Many of us make a “salvation decision” – we invite Jesus to live in our hearts, and we get all excited for a while. Then the “gas” runs out, and we park our faith and return to our old habits. We don’t feed our relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with others and actual service.
Equally as bad, we Christians often do a poor job of nurturing and encouraging others as they grow in their faith walk. We are so glad to add another name to the roll at church – and to increase our numbers. But I have long maintained that church growth is a good thing… if you take care of everyone who is already in the church body. Otherwise, we are just piling up “cars in the garage.”
So my challenge for each of us today is this…
- We must continually strive to grow and learn as Disciples of Christ. We must study the word of God… spend time with Him in prayer… and exercise our faith by serving God, sharing the Good News of Jesus with others, and genuinely caring for those we encounter.
- We must nurture and encourage others – believers and unbelievers alike. We must be awake and alert… always looking for ways to serve others in God’s name. We must make sure that others know that we care… and that we are willing to make the effort to help them as needed. Mere lip service is completely unacceptable.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Dailyl Devotional for March 13, 2012
John 19:23-24
When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, "Let's not tear it up. Let's throw dice to see who gets it." This confirmed the Scripture that said, "They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat." (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)
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.
Did you know that Jesus wore “designer clothes?” A robe created from a single piece of weaving with no seams was not cheap or readily available to the masses. Even today, a garment that can be made with creative piecing and seaming to save fabric is far less expensive than one that requires a single piece of woven material. Yet, when we think of Jesus, we perceive a man who dressed somewhat poorly.
Think about it… the Roman soldiers would not have thrown dice to win a filthy garment… even one belonging to Jesus. This robe had value! Yet a lot of people want to “sell everything and live like Jesus.” Our Jesus did not live poorly… He lived simply and humbly… and there is a difference! It’s not about the designer clothing you wear or your fancy car... but about how you act when you are wearing the clothes and driving the vehicle. Does everyone have to know you are wearing True Religion® jeans or carrying a Coach® bag? Do you jiggle a keychain for your Camaro or make sure everyone knows you drive a Cadillac or a Beemer? Do you have a reputation for only shopping in designer stores and snubbing discount or “middle-class” retailers as beneath your standards?
Why does this matter? Here’s the deal. Last week, I watched a video about a tyrannical monster in Uganda named Joseph Kony, who has recruited over 65 thousand children to serve in his army. He has forced them to commit heinous crimes, including mutilation and murder of their own parents, in order to show loyalty to him. To date, Kony has virtually “flown under the radar” of the world. But organizers are working to change this. By making Kony famous, they hope to expose his inhumanity to the world – and bring about his capture.
At the same time, I recently read an article about the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. I’m sure you have heard of this group. They are the ones who protest at funerals and other events… the church that went to Joplin, Missouri, last spring after the devastating tornado to tell the residents of that city that they had it coming… that this horrific, deadly storm was the wrath of God for their sins. Publicity and the limelight are goals of this church body… they want people to know about them.
What is my point? Ironically, Joseph Kony is a good example of how much can be accomplished when you don’t “toot your own horn,” so to speak… when you live a quiet, simple life and don’t attract attention. Sadly, he has used this for evil… but we can use the same approach to win others to Jesus. By quietly going about the LORD’s work, people will begin to see the results – and Jesus – rather than the Disciples who are working in the background. As for the church in Kansas, we should stop talking about them completely. By giving them the attention they crave, we are encouraging them to continue to make noise… and to damage the name of Jesus in the process. Their boisterous efforts to proclaim their version of “Christianity” is the perfect example of how not to win others to Christ. When we stand up, shout and draw attention to ourselves… in the name of our faith, how wonderful our church is or how Godly and devoted we are – and in essence, how wrong the rest of the folks are – we seriously damage our service to God.
I challenge each of us today to examine our motives and our methods. Are we promoting Jesus… or ourselves? Do we have a reputation for serving God by serving others and sharing the Good News… or are we known for our possessions, our position, and our attitude? If others perceive us as anything but humble and simple – regardless of what we have or our station in life – we have failed to serve God appropriately.
How do people perceive you? How do you represent God? Michael W. Smith has a song called “Cross of Gold” in which the lyrics say in part… “Where do you stand? What is your statement? What is it you're trying to say? What's your line? Tell me why you wear your cross of gold… Is it a flame? Is it a passion? A symbol of love living in you...Or is it a game? Religion in fashion...Some kind of phase you're going through?” Ask yourself these questions today. Seek God’s wisdom and strength and begin to live simply, and humbly. Understand fully that it’s not what you have that matters – or how much – but how you share Jesus with others. Who do others see when they look at you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Cross of Gold by Michael W. Smith – available on the CD “Change Your World” ©1993. Visit http://www.michaelwsmith.com/.
KONY2012 – http://www.kony2012.com/
When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, "Let's not tear it up. Let's throw dice to see who gets it." This confirmed the Scripture that said, "They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat." (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)
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.
Did you know that Jesus wore “designer clothes?” A robe created from a single piece of weaving with no seams was not cheap or readily available to the masses. Even today, a garment that can be made with creative piecing and seaming to save fabric is far less expensive than one that requires a single piece of woven material. Yet, when we think of Jesus, we perceive a man who dressed somewhat poorly.
Think about it… the Roman soldiers would not have thrown dice to win a filthy garment… even one belonging to Jesus. This robe had value! Yet a lot of people want to “sell everything and live like Jesus.” Our Jesus did not live poorly… He lived simply and humbly… and there is a difference! It’s not about the designer clothing you wear or your fancy car... but about how you act when you are wearing the clothes and driving the vehicle. Does everyone have to know you are wearing True Religion® jeans or carrying a Coach® bag? Do you jiggle a keychain for your Camaro or make sure everyone knows you drive a Cadillac or a Beemer? Do you have a reputation for only shopping in designer stores and snubbing discount or “middle-class” retailers as beneath your standards?
Why does this matter? Here’s the deal. Last week, I watched a video about a tyrannical monster in Uganda named Joseph Kony, who has recruited over 65 thousand children to serve in his army. He has forced them to commit heinous crimes, including mutilation and murder of their own parents, in order to show loyalty to him. To date, Kony has virtually “flown under the radar” of the world. But organizers are working to change this. By making Kony famous, they hope to expose his inhumanity to the world – and bring about his capture.
At the same time, I recently read an article about the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. I’m sure you have heard of this group. They are the ones who protest at funerals and other events… the church that went to Joplin, Missouri, last spring after the devastating tornado to tell the residents of that city that they had it coming… that this horrific, deadly storm was the wrath of God for their sins. Publicity and the limelight are goals of this church body… they want people to know about them.
What is my point? Ironically, Joseph Kony is a good example of how much can be accomplished when you don’t “toot your own horn,” so to speak… when you live a quiet, simple life and don’t attract attention. Sadly, he has used this for evil… but we can use the same approach to win others to Jesus. By quietly going about the LORD’s work, people will begin to see the results – and Jesus – rather than the Disciples who are working in the background. As for the church in Kansas, we should stop talking about them completely. By giving them the attention they crave, we are encouraging them to continue to make noise… and to damage the name of Jesus in the process. Their boisterous efforts to proclaim their version of “Christianity” is the perfect example of how not to win others to Christ. When we stand up, shout and draw attention to ourselves… in the name of our faith, how wonderful our church is or how Godly and devoted we are – and in essence, how wrong the rest of the folks are – we seriously damage our service to God.
I challenge each of us today to examine our motives and our methods. Are we promoting Jesus… or ourselves? Do we have a reputation for serving God by serving others and sharing the Good News… or are we known for our possessions, our position, and our attitude? If others perceive us as anything but humble and simple – regardless of what we have or our station in life – we have failed to serve God appropriately.
How do people perceive you? How do you represent God? Michael W. Smith has a song called “Cross of Gold” in which the lyrics say in part… “Where do you stand? What is your statement? What is it you're trying to say? What's your line? Tell me why you wear your cross of gold… Is it a flame? Is it a passion? A symbol of love living in you...Or is it a game? Religion in fashion...Some kind of phase you're going through?” Ask yourself these questions today. Seek God’s wisdom and strength and begin to live simply, and humbly. Understand fully that it’s not what you have that matters – or how much – but how you share Jesus with others. Who do others see when they look at you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Cross of Gold by Michael W. Smith – available on the CD “Change Your World” ©1993. Visit http://www.michaelwsmith.com/.
KONY2012 – http://www.kony2012.com/
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