Daily Devotional for November 21, 2016

Romans 5:6-8
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway.

We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

We’ve all heard stories of a parent who jumped into the water to save a drowning child…and ended up drowning instead.  I know of a woman who was killed when she pushed her child out of the way of an oncoming truck.  While none of us can say for certain we would do in such a situation, I’m pretty sure I would risk my life for that of one of our children. And you probably would, also.

Conversely, you may have said of someone, “I would not walk across the street to spit on him if he was on fire!”  Now, whether you meant this or not…it was a harsh statement, to be certain.  But sometimes, the devil whispers in our ear and causes us to feel this way about people.  And sometimes, we play the “stranger card.”  We say, “I don’t know him/her…what happens is none of my business.”

Here’s the thing…it’s ALL the business of Jesus!  And aren’t we glad?!  Jesus gave His very life for us before we were even formed!  He sacrificed His blood on the cross for the child who is so precious to you and me…the stranger…and even that person we would not venture to save!  JESUS will save them, if only they will call on Him.

This kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?  Jesus died for ALL of us…even those we find despicable!  He didn’t pick and choose based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, politics, socio-economics, or even attitudes and opinions!  In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”  He doesn’t specify WHO can come to Him…ALL are welcome!

As we approach Thanksgiving Day and reflect on our blessings, we must surely include Jesus among them.  We should all be grateful for how He welcomes each of us…and the incredible sacrifice that He made on our behalf.  There is nothing we can offer Jesus that is truly special…yet He died for us anyway.  We are all afforded equal opportunity to receive salvation in Him. We didn’t deserve it…we can’t earn it…but still, He laid down His life for each of us.

There might be someone, somewhere, who would be willing to lay down his/her life for you and me…and vice versa.  But only Jesus can say that He could do this for ANYONE and EVERYONE. Whether we accept Him as our Savior was not a deciding factor…He did it anyway.

Praise God for sending His precious Son – for His incredible, selfless gift.  My prayer is that you have embraced Jesus for yourself – that you have humbly and gratefully surrendered your heart to Him and asked that He forgive your sins – and fill your heart forever. ThisThanksgiving, can you count Jesus as your biggest blessing?  Isn’t it time you could?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 10, 2016

1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I wish you could have been in the car with me this morning as Timothy, Nathan, and I drove home from the library.  It was hot when we got in our car, and I turned the air conditioning on full blast.  Timothy asked, “Will we sweat in heaven?”  I told him probably not! Then he asked, “Who makes the laws in Heaven?”   I told him that God makes the laws…and Timothy wanted to know what kind of laws God makes. I told him “Good ones!” 

A conversation ensued about heaven and God, and Timothy added…“Even if I am bad, God will still love me.”  So we started talking about Jesus and how He died on the cross for our sins…and when we tell Jesus that we are sorry for our sins and ask Him to forgive us, He does – forever and ever.  This doesn’t mean that we can act badly.  In fact, because Jesus loved us enough to do this, we should want to thank Him by doing our very best not to sin.

Imagine, if you will, the indignity of a 4-year-old and a seven-year-old as we talked about how badly Jesus was treated.  They were aghast that “those mean people” did such awful things to Him – particularly on the cross…and both readily said, “I will beat them up for that!”  I tried to explain that 1) this is not possible; and 2) Jesus would not want this. We still have a lot of work to do as the children mature enough to understand the grace and mercy of Jesus…but hopefully, you are in a far different place!

So let me spell this out for you.  Yes, we should be offended by how Jesus was treated.  But think of how you and I have treated Jesus.  What if He got offended about that?  Where would that leave us?  Would we have the gift of salvation and the promise of Eternity with Him?  If we fail to forgive others…do we really honor all that Jesus has done for us?

I stressed to the boys that Jesus wants us to love other people…to share His message with them and tell them how much He loves us.  We cannot do that if we are busy beating each other up…literally and figuratively – with thoughts, words and actions.  So I hope that today, you will stop and examine your life and your attitudes and behaviors.  Where have you failed to forgive…and where have you dishonored Jesus in doing so? 

Make this the day that you redouble your efforts to demonstrate your gratitude for all that Jesus has done – and continues to do for us.  Ask Him once again to forgive YOU for your transgressions...then get busy showing others what it means to glorify Him in every aspect of your daily living.  And thank Him that when we get to heaven, sweat will never be a concern!

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 3, 2016

Ephesians 2:8-9
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

“Look what I got!”  Have you ever said this?  Have you ever showed a gift to someone else and said, “Look what XYZ got me!” as if you had really done something special.  In truth, you did nothing to merit this gift…someone presented it to you out of love and care.  Still, we seem to act as if we really earned such a present!

I heard a sermon lately in which the pastor made a very good point about the crucifixion – and our relationship to it.  He noted that during the beatings, the trials and “kangaroo court” that was conducted prior to Jesus' “conviction,” Jesus never spoke.  Over and again, Jesus was asked who He really was…or why He didn’t save himself.  And we find multiple notations in scripture where Jesus said nothing.

Then, when soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross…when His hands and feet were spiked to the wood, and He hung there for all to see…He asked God to “forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”  The pastor pointed out that many – perhaps including you and I – have internalized this to mean that we must forgive others for how they treat us.  And in doing so…we have effectively elevated ourselves to a position on the cross - right along with Jesus. 

This is absolutely not the case!  We could never do what Jesus did…suffer the physical blows that He was dealt…endure His torture and agony – much less ask God to forgive those who did these horrific things to us.  In truth, WE are the Roman soldiers, just as much as the men who stood there and drove the nails or flung the whip.

So this amazing, incredible, indescribable gift of salvation for ALL of our sins is completely that – a GIFT!  We did nothing to earn it.  There is no way we can repay Jesus for it.  He gave freely, from His heart…because He cared.  So we have no business telling others, “Look what I’ve got!” or “See what I’ve done!” – because we have not done a single thing.  It’s all Jesus.  I am reminded of a phrase that the late actor Walter Brennan made famous on a TV western in the 60s…”The Guns of Will Sonnet.”  Brennan’s character, an old army scout, liked to tell people that he could draw his gun faster than his son.  He would qualify this statement by saying…”No brag – just fact!”

In this case, we would have to say, “No brag…just JESUS!”  The FACT is that Jesus died for our sins and saved us - and we are called to live in humble gratitude …to honor Him with our servanthood and obedience.  We are to let others know that Jesus will extend this same gift to anyone who will surrender to Him and accept His offer.  We must live in such a way that others see the gift we have been given – and want in on it for themselves.  “No brag…just JESUS!”  He deserves all of the credit for our salvation and redemption. Have you been giving Him all that is due?
   
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 12, 2015

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Unless you have been under a rock lately, you know that there are almost two dozen "contenders" to be the next President of the United States…and to hear many of them tell it, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon them, and they have been anointed to save the world!  Were it not so sad and serious, it might almost be laughable, as each of these men and women rushes to outdo the others in their efforts to convince “we the people” how lofty and noble they are…and how qualified they are to lead us!

It will probably take the better part of this next year to sift through all of the noise and figure out who truly might be at least partly suited to be our next President.  I know that it will take a lot of prayer and careful consideration as we formulate our opinions and come to what hopefully will be a wise conclusion.

Meanwhile, let there be NO question about who has been anointed by God to bring the Good News to each of us - the “suffering and afflicted” referenced by the prophet Isaiah.  Let us be assured that Jesus Christ has indeed come “to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.” 

My prayer is that we never get confused about this…that we never doubt…and that we live in such a way that others are certain of where we stand – and with WHOM we stand!  It doesn’t matter whether you and I agree about who should lead our nation…but it matters profoundly that we agree about Who leads our hearts and souls…and controls the destiny of our every breath - and our Eternity.

Do you live in a way that demonstrates your faith and confidence in the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Have you received His anointing upon your life…and are you busy acting on His behalf in a way that brings glory and honor to Jesus?  When others look at you, do they want what (and Who) you have in their life?  Or are you one more arrogant and confusing “voice” in the mix? 

The time has come for us to figure out who we are as Christ’s disciples…and to pare down, in many instances, to what He has anointed…and discard anything that we have added.  Are you really ready to do this?  Are you prepared to deliver the unadulterated, pure and true Good News to others in every aspect of your daily living?  Will you stand out from the crowd for Jesus in a good way? Or are you just one more in a line of noisy distractions?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 7, 2014

Colossians 2:6-7
You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
A cattle farmer purchased harvested timber land to develop for his farming operation.  The land had originally been covered in timber, which the previous owner sold and had cleared.  This left the ground littered with stumps – and ruts where the equipment had dragged the logs away.
 
The farmer had to do extensive work to get the soil in condition to produce grass for his cattle.  Once he removed all of the stumps and filled in the ruts, he had to treat the land with fertilizers and other nutrients, just to get it to a point where grass would grow.  In other words, a lot of work had to be done before the grass would actually take root and rise from the ground. It all began with the soil…a firm foundation for the vegetation that would ultimately feed and sustain his cattle and bring him good prices for them.
 
When Jesus came to earth and taught His disciples, healed the sick and the lame, and demonstrated how to serve and honor God – then died for our sins on the cross – He laid the foundation for our faith and salvation.  He also gave us the promise of spending Eternity with Him in God’s Heavenly home.  Jesus “worked the soil” so that we could confidently “plant our roots” in Him and be assured that they would grow and produce good fruit.
 
The farmer’s “soil reclamation” took a lot of time and hard work. I would venture to say that it also required some wisdom and understanding about just which mixture of nutrients would make the ground the most fertile and receptive to plants and grasses.
 
This is what Jesus did for us.  He invested His time and hard work…the incredible sacrifices that extended to His very life…so that we could be confident of a life in Him that would grow and bloom.  Try as we might, we can never calculate – or fully comprehend what this cost Jesus…and it was all done for each of us.  But we can offer Him our very best.  We can be grateful for His amazing and selfless grace, mercy, forgiveness and love…and we can honor Him with our thoughts, words and actions.
 
Are you a visible, grateful representation of Jesus’ “fertile soil” and all that He endured to establish a firm foundation for you?  Don’t you think it’s time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 5, 2014

1 Timothy 1:12-14
I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of 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.
 
We have a running joke in our family about our niece and nephew – both grown now with children of their own – and their “competitive” card playing some twenty-plus years ago.  One would claim the other cheated, and the “winner” would gloat like there was no tomorrow.  There was no grace or mercy in their games of “Old Maid”…it was every person for himself/herself, and the “winner” bragged unapologetically!
 
As you might imagine, there were quite a few hurt feelings as a result of these exchanges…and each gained a “reputation” as a “cheater” – or at least a “bad sport”.  But as the kids grew and matured, they learned to “forgive and forget” (although an occasional tongue-in-cheek jab still appears from time to time on Facebook!)…and the two of them have mutual love and respect for each other today.  They realize that these were the behaviors of somewhat-innocent children who really didn’t know better or fully understand the long-term ramifications of breaking the rules - even in a child’s game of “Old Maid”.
 
We are like these children…eager to have our own way – and perhaps willing to say or do things we shouldn’t in order to get it.  At least, this would have described many of us before we had a personal encounter with Jesus. And perhaps even today, some of us who claim to know Him continue to be critical…insulting…and arrogant.  We ridicule others and gloat about everything from “our” team’s latest win to our personal possessions and accomplishments.  And we fail to remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 25:40 that…" When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!” (Living Bible)
 
Today, I am humbled and grateful for Jesus’s “grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me.”  I am thankful that He offers me mercy and forgives my sins.  I want to honor the trust that Jesus has placed in me to “minister” to others in His name by acting with integrity and respect – for Him and for others.  I want to conduct myself in a way that reflects His grace and mercy over me...and to share Him in this same manner with those whom I encounter.
 
Often, our immediate “gut-reaction” to outside comments and actions is to retaliate…to yell, “He/she cheated!”  But Jesus has demonstrated compassion and tolerance…and if we want to be like Him, we must pay this forward.
 
Let’s start today with a prayer of gratitude for the grace, mercy, forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus offers each of us.  And then let’s make a concerted effort to honor Him by sharing these things with everyone we meet…even those who insult or disrespect us or show us no mercy in return.  It won’t always be easy, but that will make it even more honorable and tender to Jesus.  Isn’t He worth the effort?  How grateful are you for what He has done in your life…and just how far are you willing to go to show it?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 22, 2014

Matthew 26:28
“...for this is my blood, sealing the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I’ve been seeing trailers for the movie Left Behind, starring Nicholas Cage.  This film is set to be released in October 2014.  It’s been probably a decade since I read the Left Behind series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.  This set of 12 fictional novels gave me insights into the biblical passages of the book of Revelation and helped “unpack” this chapter of the Bible for me in a manner that I could understand.  So I am anxious to see this film and see how Hollywood has treated this story.

As I read the passage from Matthew 26 today – this tiny piece of a verse in which Jesus is speaking – I was reminded of a scene in one of the last books of the Left Behind series.  Jesus has returned for His church.  All of His believers are gathered in one assemblage...millions of people – maybe more.  And Jesus is sitting on His throne and calling their names, one by one.  Each person is sitting patiently and waiting his/her turn with Jesus.  No one grows impatient...and nothing is rushed.  Time must quite literally stand still!  As each believer comes to sit with Jesus, it is as if no one else is there.  Jesus has all of the time, energy, love and focus for that one person in that moment.  Everything centers on the interchange between this Christian and his/her Jesus.  When I read this part of the story, I literally cried.  I was so moved by this deeply personal interaction and how much Jesus loves each of us...how much He loves ME!

So as I read Jesus’ words in Matthew 26 today, I thought of His blood shed on the cross...for ME...and YOU...and the other guy...each and every one of us individually.  People could easily say, “It’s really no stretch to say that Jesus’ blood was shed for each one of us, because He was there...either way He was crucified.”  And anyone who believes this has totally missed the point. 

When God sent Jesus to earth, knowing fully well what would happen to Him...how high the cost would be...He said, “I’m sending Him anyway.  I’m sending Him to die for Joe, Sue, Jim, Margaret, Sanjay, José, Chou Ling, Svetlana, Ingrid, Marco, Dakotah, Moses, Naomi, Kenyatta...” and on and on.  Jesus didn’t die on that cross for anyone else more or less significant than YOU!  When Jesus surrendered His spirit to God...He was thinking of YOU!  Out of His abundant love, grace, mercy and forgiveness, He stayed nailed to the cross and suffered unimaginable atrocities...for YOU!

If you don't take away anything else from these words today, hear this.  Jesus died for the sins of the multitudes...but no one is any more or less precious to Him than you are. When you think of the blood of the cross...when you “drink the cup” in Holy Communion...consider this to be your “time at the throne” in His presence.  Imagine that someday, you truly will have your “moment” with Him in this manner...and it will be as if you are the only one who exists for Him.  You are THAT special and important!

So whatever is happening in your life today, stop and think of the cross and Jesus’ blood...shed for you.  Remind yourself that you are so important to Jesus that He made this amazing sacrifice...just for you.  Surely He can handle the challenges of your day.  The One who sacrificed everything on your behalf is not about to abandon you now!  Feel His presence.  Recognize His amazing love for you...His grace and mercy over every aspect of your life.  Thank Him for such glorious compassion and devotion.  Honor Him with every word and action. 

Jesus came to the world for YOU.  If you have committed your heart to Jesus, He will come back...for YOU.  This promise is signed and sealed for all who belong to Jesus...those who call on Him and trust in His power to forgive.  Are you one of His already?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 26, 2014

Ephesians 4:31-32
Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Our little 3-year-old niece, Zola, spent a couple of nights with us recently, and we enjoyed seeing what she has learned since her last visit...hearing how her speech has improved...and listening to her laugh.  Her speech becomes clearer each week...and she has a LOT to say!  One of the things she repeatedly told us this time is, “I can say nice words, but I can’t say bad words.  Mommy says I can’t say bad words.  I can say ‘Yes, Ma’am’ and ‘Yes, Tir (Sir)’...but I can’t say bad words.”  A couple of times, she told me a word and said, “My mommy says I can’t say that word.”  I would remind her, “If Mommy says you shouldn’t say that word, let’s not say it!”
 
Zola’s mother (my niece, Jasmine) is trying really hard to teach her children the important lessons of Ephesians 4:31-32.  When we are with Timothy and Zola, they often tell on themselves...”I had an attitude,” or “I hit Zola because she made me mad,” or “I tore up Timmy’s book.”  They don’t always share with their baby brother, Nathan...and they don’t like it when he bothers their things.  I know that it is part of being two, three and five...and that the children do have to learn the proper behaviors.  But the sad thing is that some of us are more than ten times their ages, and we still don’t get it!  We yell, scream, curse and treat others terribly.  We hold grudges, we retaliate, we get angry...and we are terribly spiteful and bitter.  And the worst part of all is that we do this while claiming to be born-again believers in Jesus Christ!
 
We go to church on Sunday morning...and curse at the television while watching a sporting event on Sunday afternoon.  We give God the glory for the “great things He has done”, as the hymn says...and then we take His name in vain as we rake someone over the coals for something that isn’t even all that significant in the scheme of things.  We shake our fists at the guy who pulled out in front of us at the grocery store... and pretty well come unhinged over the little old lady who pulls into a parking space ahead of us. We have absolutely no patience for the young mother of two or more who is trying to sort her groceries at the check-out counter so that she can qualify for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance.  We do nothing to hide our disdain toward people who do not meet our standards for appearance...we judge everything from body piercings and tattoos to clothing, cleanliness, size, shape and hair color.  And don’t even get me started on how we treat those whose race or ethnicity is different from ours!
 
We do not take into account what is happening in other people’s lives at any given time.  We can’t possibly know everything...but we sure try to act like we do much of the time.  The Apostle Paul does a great job in these verses of reminding us to remember well what Jesus did for us...how He treats us...and to treat others the same way.  Offer them mercy and forgiveness...gentleness and kind talk...the benefit of the doubt.  Take a lesson from a young mother trying to teach her preschoolers to say nice words and to regard others with kindness, courtesy, compassion and respect.
 
Stop and ask yourself what Jesus would do...and how He would have you respond.  Remind yourself of the commitment you made when you accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation on the cross in exchange for your sins. Start saying nice words instead of bad ones...and be kind and merciful toward others.  If you really want to be Jesus’ disciple, you’ve got to act like one!  When you interact with others, who do you truly represent?  Are you a pre-school Christian disciple... or a bonafide grown-up?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 28, 2013

Ephesians 1:18
My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.
 
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.
 
Many people face some pretty big decisions today.  For some, it may be whether they should eat that second piece of pie…while for others, the choice may be far more significant – even life changing!  For far too many people, today is more a day of uncertainty than a day of thanksgiving.  For them, the only thing they know for sure is how to get through this day… and then they will begin to worry about tomorrow.  I have several friends who are experiencing grief and loss this holiday season… and for these precious souls, it’s all about putting one foot in front of the other at the moment.  Others have just welcomed new babies into their families, and the future seems full of hope and aspirations for these little ones and those who love them. In any given year, you and I could be standing in either pair of shoes… filled with extreme sadness… or overflowing with great joy.
 
The common thread that we all have today is how much God loves us… that He chose us to belong to Him and made tremendous sacrifices so that in return, we could choose to live with Him forever.  Whatever we are experiencing… wherever we happen to be today in this journey called “life”… we can have hope because of God’s gift of Jesus.  He stands ready and able to give us “glorious blessings”.  He has the strength, wisdom and power to make a way where we see none at all.  He can heal broken hearts in grownups and kids alike…and orchestrate amazing futures for “babies” of all ages.
 
Whatever you need… wherever you are…there is hope today in Jesus Christ.  Let His light flood your heart…embrace this prospect.  Run and leap with joy if you can… and at the very least, put one foot in front of the other.  Celebrate God’s goodness with those around you… or find someone with whom to share His Good News.  And never lose faith in God’s promises… they give us more than enough reasons to be thankful today.  Wouldn’t you agree?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 17, 2013

Romans 10:8-10
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
 
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.
 
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz tells the story of a mother and son who enjoy a glorious day together at the beach.  They soak up the son, revel in each other’s company, and relax in the quietness of the ocean waves.  As the sun begins to set, they hear screaming in the distance, and they realize that a woman is drowning down the beach a ways… pulled under by the current of a rip tide.  The son swims out to rescue the woman and pulls her to safety, but when she emerges from the water, he is nowhere to be found.  The mother is understandably distraught.  The rescued woman walks over and tells the mother that her son didn’t have to do anything – and he certainly did not have to die… that she would have somehow managed on her own.
 
Lotz makes the suggestion that this is how many of us are with Jesus.  He quietly and bravely suffered and died on our behalf, and all we offer in return is indignation.  We were doing just fine… we didn’t need “saving”.  We seem to somehow manage pretty well on our own… who says we need a redeemer? Besides, we’ve really not done anything to earn God’s favor.  In fact, we’ve been pretty rotten at times.  Why would Jesus want to risk His own life for ours?  What’s in it for Him?
 
The answer to these questions encompasses the beauty of our relationship with Jesus. We are not expected to “do” anything… Jesus didn’t die for us out of anything but a deep sense of love and concern.  Just as the young son who rushed into the water to rescue a woman he did not know in the least, Jesus comes after us. The young son didn’t have a clue about this woman.  She might have been a horrible person… a hardened criminal… an abusive parent…a truly hateful individual.  The young man didn’t consider any of this… he just saw a woman in peril, and he rushed to save her.  Jesus knows each of us… our past, present and future… and still, He gave His life for ours. All we have to do is accept His hand… His offer of salvation… His “rescue plan”.
 
Here’s where our story differs from the woman’s.  Once we have been saved by faith… rescued by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… we are called to “name it and claim it.” Unlike the woman who disavowed her deliverance from the treacherous ocean waters, we are called to embrace our new life in Christ… to declare Him as our LORD and Savior… and to live in such a way that all can see that we belong to Him… and to be grateful.
 
As Lotz noted, many have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation… but with something of a dismissive attitude.  We’ve either failed to share Jesus with others through our words and actions… or we have essentially scorned Him by acting as if we were managing perfectly well on our own.  And we are all guilty of this in one form or another at times.  We should all take a long, hard look at our Christian faith… and how we are treating Jesus.  Have we truly chosen to follow Him?  If so, have we fully committed to acknowledging Him in every aspect of our lives… and are we grateful for His amazing sacrifice?
 
Are you in need of a Christian “attitude adjustment” these days?  God has done His part to set things right … have YOU?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus