Philippians 4:10-14
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Do you know someone who seems to be totally self-sufficient? When you think of this person, you readily assume that he/she has everything under control, lacks for little to nothing, and seems to always manage quite nicely. We all know people who seem to need lots of help. But don’t we also know those who seem to always have all of their bases covered?
Here’s the thing…nobody’s life is THAT together all the time! And while you may feel like there is very little you can do for some people, you must never underestimate the power of letting them know how much you care. The person who seems so busy caring for others needs a little tender “caregiving” from time to time. The friend or co-worker who never appears to have a bad day is probably putting on a good front. Everyone gets sick once in a while. At some point, every person will have troubles, grieve, or feel discouraged. And even if we never see this side of a person, we must assume that these things happen in his/her life.
So what can you do? Reach out to others. The Apostle Paul says quite clearly that he is content…that all of his needs are met, and he has learned how to live with little – or a lot. But at the same time, he is clearly grateful for the love and support of others. In our own “ministry”, this support might come in the form of a phone call or note of encouragement. It might mean just being friendly to others and offering a smile…asking “How is your day going?”…or saying, “I really appreciate how hard you are working on XYZ.” It might mean asking, “Is there anything I could do for you?”… or just saying, “If you ever need anything – even just a friendly ear – I’m here for you.”
When given an opportunity to meet physical needs of someone else, we must be first in line to do so. We must be ready, willing, and able to share a meal, a ride, a hand with a task, or even a few dollars when possible. This goes beyond the obvious…the canned food drives…the mission projects at church and in our community...the public fundraisers for this cause or that. I’m talking about meeting people on a personal level…sharing and caring…showing compassion and concern – even for those who seem to have no needs and are in fact busy meeting the needs of others.
Everyone gets weary. Everyone has needs on any given day. A good example is our pastors. They are human beings with families and daily challenges just like the rest of us. Yet we expect them to be superheroes that come to our rescue and minister to us at the drop of a hat! So while this scripture passage is often referred to for other reasons…while the focus is usually on the verses about learning to be content in whatever situation we find ourselves…I want to emphasize other sentences today.
Let’s look at three phrases:
- “I know that you have always been concerned for me.” Do people know this about you? Do they sense your concern and compassion for them? Do they believe that you truly care?
- “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Do you trust God to give you the strength, courage, wisdom and compassion as you meet the needs of others each day?
- “... you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.” Have you modeled true Christian discipleship by sharing with others in their present difficulties? Have you opened your eyes and ears to the needs of those in your midst…and done your best – with God’s help – to meet them?
Isn’t it time we started truly caring about one another and making an effort to show concern? Will you offer those you encounter genuine care…and will they be able to recognize it? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Philippians 3:2-6
Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God's law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book.
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 know the difference between an obituary and a eulogy? The obituary is what is read at funerals and posted in newspapers and on websites… “Paul worked for AmTrak for 30 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Anytown, USA, and served as church treasurer for a number of years. He belonged to the Anytown Noon Rotary Club, coached Little League baseball, and volunteered for the Red Cross. Paul graduated from Anytown High School in 1962, and received a B.A. in Business from Stanford in 1966. He is survived by his wife, Sue, and his two daughters, Ann and Mary.”
The eulogy tells the real tale. Often read or delivered by a close friend or relative, the eulogy tells about Paul’s daily living… what he enjoyed, who his friends were… and gives us a better insight to the man’s true character. The obituary gave us Paul’s “credentials,” but the eulogy gives us the real story about His ministry and lasting impact on this earth. While both are important, what is revealed about a person in his/her eulogy is usually far more significant in the scheme of things than the pedigree outlined in the obituary.
This is how we should view our life as a Christian. What we have accomplished… where we came from… what organizations we serve, our family members and friends - and even which church we attend - are all important. These things do help define us. But who we are as Disciples of Christ is what really matters. If we belong to every civic organization in town and serve in a “high-level” position within our church structure… yet fail to acknowledge and address the everyday needs of those who live and work alongside us… we are just another “barking dog or busybody.”
It doesn’t matter if you have sung in the youth choirs since preschool and done local mission work on Saturdays with your friends. If you didn’t genuinely care about those to whom you sang or ministered - or worse yet, you felt this gave you extra “clout” with God or your peers - you missed the mark. Sure, the work got done. But God cares about your heart while you are serving! Consider it the equivalent of stopping by to visit someone who isn’t at home. You leave a business card or note and say, “Well, I tried,” and never return. Exactly how interested were you in visiting in the first place?
Serving God is not about accumulating credentials or garnering more accomplishments for your obituary. Genuinely serving God with your whole heart is about just that… serving GOD – with your whole heart… praising Him the entire way, and not caring who notices. This is how you truly minister!
When your earthly life is over, do you want to have an impressive obituary… or an amazing eulogy? Neither is truly important to God on its own merits… but the person behind them matters greatly. What other people say or think about you really doesn’t count… but it DOES make a difference what God thinks! In what context will God know you? Are you all bark and no bite?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Romans 15:1-6
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?”
That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
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 grew up in an atmosphere of “seeing after” others. It was common to “take a dish” when someone died or got sick. I’ve seen my grandmother make everything from vegetable soup to a pan of hot rolls to a full meal for others who were going through a rough patch. I’ve heard her talk about going to someone’s home and taking care of them and their family when they were sick and in need. My late cousin Eddie was known for the smoked or baked hams he delivered to families who had suffered a loss. I remember how a dear neighbor brought a delicious meal to the home of my husband’s parents the night my father-in-law died.
As important as food and nurture are when we are in need, human contact and support are equally vital. I will never forget the half dozen or more ladies who came from my parents’ church and organized shifts to prepare meals and run my mom’s kitchen and household when my dad and brother died. It seemed as if there was someone there to organize everything from the morning breakfast to mopping the floors before bedtime – for almost a week! I can still picture a dear friend who lay across a bed with my grandmother and consoled her after my dad – her only son – had died. I still recall the weekly visits of a certain pastor in our town when my dad and brother were ill. Neither of them were members of his congregation… yet, he found time to visit and offer support to all of us.
I know as surely as I am writing this devotional that there are people in my community – and in my own circle of family and friends – who are in need of help, strength and encouragement today… the kind that I can offer. And I am sure that it is the same for you. Who is sick? Who has been injured? Who has suffered the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, their health, a home, and more? Who is moving or working on a project that could use a couple of extra hands and feet? Where are you able to offer God’s love and a little hope to someone who might need it? Can you “take a dish” and offer physical sustenance? Can you offer a hug, write a note of encouragement, or share a conversation to let someone know that you care? Can you give someone a ride, care for a pet, or babysit for a few hours?
I guarantee you, as much as people notice when you help them, they also notice when you don’t. And we can all come up with dozens of excuses for not coming to the aid of those around us who are in need – even down to our own family members. The tasks are not always pleasant. It’s often downright difficult. Knowing what to say and do takes prayer… and practice!
Meeting the needs of others may not come as easily for you as it seems to for some… but that doesn’t give you a “free pass.” God will equip you with exactly what you need to say and do… but you have to get up and get going. You have to be willing to take a risk and “take on the troubles of the troubled” in Jesus’ name.
Who will you reach out to this day? Where will you lend a hand… offer God’s hope… surrender yourself and do what is less than convenient? I can assure you already that you will never regret it. You will find that in blessing others in God’s name, you always get the bigger blessing. Are you ready to truly count for God? Are you ready to serve Him and exercise your “faith muscle?” Where will you “wade in” and make a difference today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
1 Chronicles 19:1-5
Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king. David said, "Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son." He sent some officials to Ammon to tell Hanun how sorry he was that his father had died.
But when David's officials arrived at Ammon, the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, "Do you really believe King David is honoring your father by sending these men to comfort you? He probably sent them to spy on our country, so he can come and destroy it."
Hanun arrested David's officials and had their beards shaved off and their robes cut off just below the waist, and then he sent them away. They were terribly ashamed. When David found out what had happened to his officials, he sent a message that told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then you can come home.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In previous devotionals, I’ve cited the adage that “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.” And honestly, sometimes all we need is to know that someone else cares about us. In this instance, David was doing the right thing, but people questioned his motives. And that will happen… especially if you are not in the business of genuinely caring for others on a regular basis. We’ve probably all had someone do something nice for us at one time or another and wondered, “Why did that happen? What did he/she really want?”
The bottom line is that God calls us to genuinely care for others… to love them as He loves us. David demonstrated this… not only in sending officials to express his sympathy, but also in allowing those officials to stay away until their time of shame had ended and their beards had grown back. He not only showed great concern for his own men… but also for others.
I can see where the Ammonites might have thought David had selfish motives. After all, didn’t a king have more important things to think about than the grief of someone else? And don’t we have plenty to occupy our time and our thoughts? Do we really have time to think about the troubles and needs of others? The answer lies in another question… “How much do you want to serve and honor God and your commitment to Him?”
If you truly are God’s disciple and desire to serve Him with honor and glory, then you will find plenty of time to show love and concern to others for their needs. If you are “in it for yourself,” the outcome will be totally different… and any demonstration of concern may seem suspicious.
I challenge you to consider how you show your love for God by loving others. I suggest that you try to reach out to at least one person every day. You can write a note or mail a card… make a phone call or send an e-mail… visit someone… offer to run an errand or cook a meal… babysit or pet sit… send a gift or a flower…offer up a prayer… or simply and ask someone, “How are you today?” – and mean it! The end result must be that someone knows that you are thinking of them and genuinely care about their well-being.
You can choose family members and close friends… but why not expand your circle to include a church member, a classmate, or someone you haven’t been in contact with for a while. We find it easy to care about those in our immediate circle… and we do a fairly good job of showing our love and concern. But what if we broadened our horizons a little bit and reached out to those with whom we are not quite so close or don’t know as well?
I know this won’t be easy for many of us… especially not at first. But as we make it a daily habit and ask God to guide us, we will find that it gets easier… and more rewarding for everyone. People truly don’t care what we know until they know that we care. Who knows that you care… and who else needs to hear from you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
John 19:38-42
Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross.
Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead. In the place where Jesus had been nailed to a cross, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they were in a hurry to put Jesus' body there.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For weeks now, an acquaintance who belongs to my church has posted on Facebook about her journey with her dad, who suffered a stroke several months ago. She talked about how she had been away from home for weeks on end, sitting by his bedside in a hospital and rehab facility in nearby cities. She lamented missing many of the activities surrounding her daughter’s activities as part of the high school homecoming court and other events. And many of us have encouraged her, prayed for her, and sent her “virtual hugs.” But I have to tell you, after only six days of sitting with my grandmother in the hospital, I sent this friend an apology. Hospital sitting/caregiving is exhausting – and often lonely… and I was not sympathetic enough toward this friend in her lengthy ordeal.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea could easily have said, “I’m so sorry Jesus is dead… I will pray for His family.” They could have gone on their way and never looked back. They could have asked, “What will others think if I get involved? Will they misinterpret my actions and think I’m a busybody? Do I really have time for this? Can I afford to step in and help? Do I really know Jesus and His family well enough to ask for His dead body?”
The bottom line is that Nicodemus and Joseph operated out of great love and care in taking responsibility for Jesus’ remains. The tenderness and thoughtfulness they showed in preparing this mangled, maimed shell that had housed our Heavenly Father are in many ways a direct mandate for all of us. We can all do more to help others… to notice their needs and meet them.
How can we apply this to our own lives and those in need around us? Make a phone call or send a personal note or e-mail to ask, “How are you doing? Could I do something to help?” – and mean it! Those in need may be hesitant to ask for help, but you can contact them and say, “I’m headed to the grocery store… could I pick up anything for you?” Call and let them know that, “I’m bringing you a burger,” or “I made cookies or banana bread… could I bring you a tray?” Offer to pick up kids at school or walk the dog. If the person in need is a close friend or relative and you can make time, offer to come to their home and do laundry or help with yard work. Look for needs that might be less obvious to most… and do your best to meet them.
I “get it” that we are all busy. But helping others is not about doing what is convenient. Do you think the acts of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea would have been as significant to Jesus if they had truly had nothing better to do with their time or no sacrifice to make? When we operate out of a deep desire to serve rather than a place of obligation or boredom, we are truly honoring Jesus and our relationship with Him.
The old adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care” applies. We can’t really be the hands and feet of Jesus until we truly become exactly that. Actions do speak louder than words. What are you saying about your walk with Christ today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
July 23 ~ John 4:1-3
Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When David Letterman opens his segment, “Stupid Pet Tricks,” he says, “Remember… this is not a competition – it is an exhibition. Please… no wagering.” We would do well to remember this in our Christian living. The life of a Christian is not a competition… we are not in a race to see who can witness to the most people or serve more in need. God is not counting how many people we mention in prayer each day… and He is certainly not comparing our life to that of the next guy!
Our Christian life is not an exhibition in the context of serving God “for show.” But our Christian life is an exhibition in the sense that we are to exhibit the characteristics that please God… love and service to others, worship and celebration of Him, grace and forgiveness, and an effort to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
We must begin to realize that God is more concerned with quality than quantity. In other words, instead of trying to mention three dozen names on a prayer list in your morning visit with God, earnestly pray over a dozen… then bring another dozen before Him later in the day. Instead of trying to add more names to your church’s membership roster… consider choosing a handful of people in your present congregation to nurture and encourage.
I’m not saying witnessing and bringing in new members isn’t important. What I am saying is that living for Jesus is not a “numbers game.” And for heaven’s sake, quit comparing your life to someone else’s. Just because Joe seems to be on every committee and visiting needy families three times a week while holding down two jobs doesn’t mean that God is calling you to do this!
Notice in this scripture passage that Jesus was so irritated by the competition factor and the troubles it created that he physically removed Himself. If this doesn’t send a signal to us that Jesus is displeased by this type of behavior, nothing will.
Ask God to show you how He wants you to serve… and where. Ask Him to give you wisdom with regard to your daily living. Seek Him earnestly as you pray – and pray with conviction… not the methodical actions of a robot. Consciously examine every action of your day and see where you are genuinely operating out of a love for Christ and a faith in Him… and where you are playing the “numbers game.” Make a concerted effort to remember… your life in Christ is not a competition… it is an exhibition of your love and gratitude for what He has done in your life. With Jesus, everybody is a winner… and that is a wager we can afford to make!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else: Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn."
The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, "God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner."
Then Jesus said, "When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You may have heard the recent news report about a woman who injects her 8-year-old daughter with Botox, because – in her words… “a lot of the moms were giving their kids Botox… and I’m not the only one doing it. I think a lot of the kids making the lines on the face a big deal made her want to do it more.” The San Francisco mother contends that she is doing this to keep up with the “beauty-take-all world” of the pageant circuit.
Sadly, this little girl will apparently not get a chance to genuinely be herself. And I have to wonder if this incessant concern over physical appearance (I mean… c’mon… wrinkles on an 8-year-old’s face?!) won’t spill over into arrogance as this little girl grows into a young woman. “Normal” people will never be in her league… and those with physical deformities and more will most certainly be viewed as less than acceptable. At least the potential is there for some pretty scary attitudes and behaviors.
I am so done with phony people, aren’t you?! I’m worn out with people who say one thing to your face and act another way when you aren’t looking. I’m tired of the people who view those with poor hygiene and shabby clothing – or the “wrong” color or lifestyle choice – as beneath them. Give me good ole humble Christians who are striving to live in God’s will and focus on serving Him rather than serving themselves! Sometimes, I think God is thinking the same thing. Don’t you figure He gets tired of all of the grandstanding and arrogance… particularly when it comes from people who profess to be His Disciples?
Let’s look at what we are doing… in every aspect of our lives. Where are we setting ourselves – or those around us – up for the potential to operate in arrogance and piety? Where are we behaving as if we are better than others… or trying to be something – or someone – we are not? Do you see how this grieves God? Isn’t it time we became humble, genuine servants who say, “Here I am LORD… warts and all. If You can use me in some manner, I’m ready and willing to serve. Just point me in the right direction.”?
God may not ask you to take a “tax collector” (or a homeless person or someone whose beliefs don’t match your own) home with you for a meal. But whatever He asks of us, we must be ready – and willing – to do. If you were one of the people in Jesus’ story, who would you most resemble today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Luke 13:23-30
A bystander said, "Master, will only a few be saved?"
He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, 'Sorry, you're not on my guest list.'
"You'll protest, 'But we've known you all our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'
"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You'll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God's kingdom. You'll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God's kingdom. And all the time you'll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last."
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 months ago, my husband joined the James Taylor Fan Club online. He began getting notices via e-mail about James Taylor and his music… where he was performing, and more. When he learned that James Taylor would be performing a concert in late April at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, he asked me if I would like to go with him. Would I?! As members of the fan club, we were given advanced opportunities to purchase tickets.
The opening day of ticket sales, I sat at the computer… credit card in hand… and waited for the 11:00 a.m. opening. I placed my order, and later we got confirmation… two tickets… on the floor… second row! We were so excited.
The concert day arrived, and we drove to North Little Rock and got in line to enter the arena. Inside, we found our seats… probably not more than twenty feet from where the musical legend and his band would soon perform. The cherry on top would be getting to walk down to the stage at intermission and actually get an autograph from the musical legend on the yoke of my denim jacket!
The arena was packed. More than 6300 people came to hear James Taylor and his band perform hits that most of us know by heart. But just as the concert began, I noticed an usher standing near the front of the floor section, and he had a couple of concert-goers standing with him. He was speaking to people sitting across from us in the second row… and soon they were leaving. See, they had taken vacant seats that did not belong to them. They were not the ticket holders for these seats – the people standing with the usher were. And these “party-crashers” were not welcome there. They had not taken the necessary steps to bring them to that particular spot, and they were turned away.
Do you see the correlation? It’s not enough just to come to God’s concert… you have to have the right ticket! Just because your family is… or was… “church people” doesn’t guarantee you a mansion in heaven. Just because you give to your church or do good works… don’t assume you will be dining at God’s table with the saints! Being a “good person” and claiming to know Jesus without really knowing Him and living for Him will get you nowhere. The only way to guarantee that you are a part of God’s Eternal Kingdom is to invite Jesus Christ to be the LORD of your life, call on His Holy Spirit to reside in your heart and guide your every step… then truly invite Him to live and breathe in and through you each day.
You have a choice. You can be a wannabe on the fringe… something of a hanger-on… the one who tries to sneak in the back door or take a seat that isn’t truly yours. Or you can have seats on the floor at God’s ongoing concert. Where do you plan to be sitting? Have you made the commitment and received the right ticket?
©2011 Debbie Robus
James 3:17-18
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
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.
Our two cats are litter mates… sisters. Each one has “adopted” one of us, and they are both quite territorial. If Mabel comes near me, Lucy becomes grumpy. Conversely, my husband spends a lot of time in his upstairs office, and when Lucy and I “visit,” Mabel lets us know we are in her domain! The funny thing is that the cats get along at mealtime… coming together alongside their food bowls and trading off letting us know they need fresh food and water. And most meals begin or end with a mutual face washing… that is, until the hissing and fighting begins! Talk about hot/cold and two-faced! We both love each of our cats dearly, but they are as fickle as they come!
Our cats have learned to tolerate each other, mainly by establishing individual territories and seldom venturing beyond the boundary lines. And sadly, that’s how a lot of us practice our faith with regard to people we deem unlovely or “hard to love.” We tolerate them… often with visible disdain… and our boundary lines are clearly defined. They better not try to sit on our pew… or speak to us in public as if we are good friends. A quiet nod of “Hello” when we see them in the store or at church is sufficient, and the rest of the time we cut them a wide berth.
Those folks who attend a church of another denomination… or are of another race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, or lifestyle choice… are nice enough, but clearly they are not as godly as we are! We can work with them, take their money in our places of business, and expect them to provide goods and services for us. But they are not in our league when it comes to God. They better not try to be in our group at school or sit with us at ballgames or the movies. We don’t really want them on the prom planning committee or helping with Little League or the church potluck. We are not going to be giving them a ride to meet our friends any time soon.
We think we are being wise and “loving” by practicing “tolerance” of others. But we need to go deeper than this. We need to extend grace, mercy, and understanding to all people… not just those we like – those who appear to think and act like we do. The person who irritates us with his/her continual negativity may have huge struggles and heartaches we can never begin to imagine. The one who comes on strong and tries too hard may have been kicked in the gut so many times that he/she feels like no one will ever like them for who they really are. The person who appears to be so confident – even arrogant – may be incredibly insecure and defeated… and desperate for someone to love them for who they really are.
Acting as agents for Jesus Christ, we can be the difference. We can operate in God’s wisdom to treat each person we meet with dignity and honor… and in doing so, we can help to build and strengthen the community of believers. We are called to do this. We are commissioned to be peacemakers for Jesus Christ… in His name. We are told to love others as we love ourselves… and genuinely - not in performances worthy of an Academy Award.
This is hard work… but nobody ever said being a Christian was easy. We’ve gotten too comfortable with picking and choosing who we love – and like – and drawing boundary lines to separate us from the rest. It’s time we remembered that the same God who is madly in love with us is also madly in love with the other guy, too! We’re not asked to lie and pretend to like someone… we’re asked to prayerfully call on God to give us the strength and wisdom to truly be kind and accepting of others… warts and all… and to work through our differences for the greater good of His kingdom.
Earlier verses of James 3 say that… “whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.” If we want to live wisely, in the full blessings of God, we must learn to humble ourselves and make a prayerful effort to get along with others… all of them… all the time! We are not cats… we don’t get to be territorial – or fickle! How wise and humble are you these days? Are you a peacemaker in Jesus’ name?
©2011 Debbie Robus
