Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each
other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of
God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp
eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed
can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome:
trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term
appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and
wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
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.
A couple of years ago, Greg
planted some ivy in the back yard along the bluff line for “ground
cover.” Ivy creeps and crawls and does a good job of filling in areas
where grass doesn’t grow well and you want some “greenery.” This ivy
has done so well that it has virtually taken over a nearby cedar tree.
I’ve watched the vine trail up the tree and noted its progression.
First, it overtook a lopped off branch…then it reached a knot in the
trunk…and then the vine far surpassed the knot and began to wrap all
around the tree.
Greg knew about the “habits” of ivy when he
planted this ground cover, so he isn’t surprised that the vine latched
onto this tree. He says he will remove the ivy this fall so that it
doesn’t kill the tree…and he is keeping a close eye on things now to
make sure that the tree isn’t harmed in any way.
You probably see
where I am going with this. We sometimes start out with the best of
intentions…and suddenly, we are on the wrong path. Or we allow
ourselves to get caught up in something we know is at best a “slippery
slope” with the potential to get us into places we don’t need to
be…cause a problem between us and someone else…or negate our Christian
witness altogether…but we can’t seem to help ourselves. Or maybe we
just plain don’t want to do differently! We can often be pretty
selfish!
We need to hear the words of this scripture passage and
pay close attention. None of us know how much time we have… and
certainly, we have no business wasting a single minute! God’s kingdom
cannot – and should not – wait on us to decide to get our act together
and serve Him honorably and obediently!
So make this the day that
you “trim the vines” and pull the weeds. Get it right, once and for
all…and serve God with everything you have. Make sure your conduct is
above reproach at all times. Choose your words and actions wisely. And
never, ever risk trading God’s blessings for tears of regret!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label getting by with misbehavior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label getting by with misbehavior. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 29, 2015
Romans 13:1-3
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
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.
Back in the day, it seemed like everyone had one of those little gizmos that sat on the dash of your car and alerted you if there was a policeman “running radar” nearby. I remember our nieces and nephews (who are now parents themselves) talking about THEIR parents having these devices. Something about the idea of teaching children to obey the laws and those who enforce them…then using a device to circumvent the same…seemed a little skewed to us. Doesn’t having a “radar detector” pretty much say, “I plan to exceed the speed limit…but I don’t plan on getting caught!”?
One of the child psychology principles I learned was that we should never tell a child, “If I see or hear you do that again, XYZ will happen.” This signals to the child that what we don’t see or hear doesn’t count! Many have internalized this idea and taken it to new levels as adults. As long as we don’t get caught…we’re okay.
HELLO! Someone is ALWAYS watching! And I’m not talking about other people. If no mortal ever sees or hears you do something sinful, disobedient, unlawful, judgmental or unkind…God will know. That should be all you need to know…the end of the story…enough reason to be a good citizen - in your community, state, and country…and in the Kingdom of God.
This is a critical point that many miss. There was a commercial for hair color years ago that said, “Only your hairdresser knows for sure.” Our culture is filled with suggestions that “nobody will know” – and that this makes everything okay. We must stop and realize that GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. In light of this thought, is what you are saying, doing, and thinking truly alright?
There is no such thing as a “radar detector” with God! And aren’t we glad?! Because God knows everything about us, He is also totally ready to protect and bless us. As long as we are good stewards of His love and grace, we have no need to worry…nothing to fear. This should be all the incentive we need to honor Him in everything.
There is no need to hide behind the “protection” of a device on the dash – or the “comfort” of secrecy - when we are honestly and obediently serving God. Will this be the day you get rid of your “radar detectors” and begin to live responsibly as an earthly – AND heavenly – citizen? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
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.
Back in the day, it seemed like everyone had one of those little gizmos that sat on the dash of your car and alerted you if there was a policeman “running radar” nearby. I remember our nieces and nephews (who are now parents themselves) talking about THEIR parents having these devices. Something about the idea of teaching children to obey the laws and those who enforce them…then using a device to circumvent the same…seemed a little skewed to us. Doesn’t having a “radar detector” pretty much say, “I plan to exceed the speed limit…but I don’t plan on getting caught!”?
One of the child psychology principles I learned was that we should never tell a child, “If I see or hear you do that again, XYZ will happen.” This signals to the child that what we don’t see or hear doesn’t count! Many have internalized this idea and taken it to new levels as adults. As long as we don’t get caught…we’re okay.
HELLO! Someone is ALWAYS watching! And I’m not talking about other people. If no mortal ever sees or hears you do something sinful, disobedient, unlawful, judgmental or unkind…God will know. That should be all you need to know…the end of the story…enough reason to be a good citizen - in your community, state, and country…and in the Kingdom of God.
This is a critical point that many miss. There was a commercial for hair color years ago that said, “Only your hairdresser knows for sure.” Our culture is filled with suggestions that “nobody will know” – and that this makes everything okay. We must stop and realize that GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. In light of this thought, is what you are saying, doing, and thinking truly alright?
There is no such thing as a “radar detector” with God! And aren’t we glad?! Because God knows everything about us, He is also totally ready to protect and bless us. As long as we are good stewards of His love and grace, we have no need to worry…nothing to fear. This should be all the incentive we need to honor Him in everything.
There is no need to hide behind the “protection” of a device on the dash – or the “comfort” of secrecy - when we are honestly and obediently serving God. Will this be the day you get rid of your “radar detectors” and begin to live responsibly as an earthly – AND heavenly – citizen? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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