1 John 4:1-3
My dear friends, don’t believe
everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.
Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of
lying preachers loose in the world.
Here’s how you test for the
genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus
Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood
person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to
confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the
spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner
than we thought!
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.
Today
on one of the “morning shows,” one of the reporters interviewed a man
who was holding a “real human skull”…except the skull was not real – it
was created using a 3D printer. A CT-scan of a woman’s skull was used
to create this 3D printing. The man said, “This woman is alive.”
Well…yes…there is a woman alive somewhere whose image was used to create
this plastic skull. But the skull is not technically a “real skull.”
The
man went on to explain that scientists are now recreating rare, ancient
fossils via 3D printing, so that students in schools around the world
can actually handle these incredible specimens. I speculated to my
husband that this could cause confusion…that children might be led to
believe these were the ACTUAL fossils and not reproductions. Greg noted
that these printed specimens would most likely be plastic…and that
would help people make the distinction. I hope he is right. The
skeptic in me sees the potential for people to perfect the materials in
3D printing – and the process – to the point where we cannot tell the
man-made “relic” from the authentic one.
I see this often in the
world of antiques. I’ve been fooled more than once by a “real” vintage
piece of glassware or pottery that turned out to be a modern-day
reproduction. There are some pretty talented folks out there who are
ready, willing, and able to convince the rest of us that they have a
genuine vintage piece to sell us. And by the same token…there are plenty
of people who are more than happy to try to convince us that they are
something – or someone – we want them to be.
A few years ago, a
friend noted that she knew a lot of people who claim to be
Christians…but she felt very few of them truly were - based on how they
lived. This speaks to the point I make here often…people are watching.
They listen to what we say…but they also watch how we follow up with
our actual behavior. They study us to see if we are the “real deal”…or
just a plastic 3D reproduction.
Just as there are ways to tell
the difference between a reproduction and an authentic piece, we can
learn to spot those who claim the name of Jesus but lack a true spirit
of the Living God. Look at more than just what people say…examine their
treatment of others. Do they share the love of Christ with ALL
people? Do they disparage and discriminate…or play favorites? Do they
resort to name calling, gossip, and a “what’s-in-it-for-me” mentality?
Will they say whatever it takes to make their point or get ahead…then
turn around and step all over others when it suits their purposes?
I
am not calling on you to make judgments…but I am suggesting that we be
very careful in our own daily living. We must also be awake and alert
to those in our midst who use the smokescreen of a relationship with
Jesus to further their own personal agendas. God wants us to be able to
discern His true disciples…and to be one of them, as well. And the way
to do this is to study His word and stay in continual communication
with Him. There should be no doubt in our mind when we are hearing from
God…either directly, or via another person.
We cannot afford
to be duped by reproductions or imposters. God has given us a clear
outline for discerning His truth. How well are you reading His
“blueprints?”
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label hiding behind the name of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiding behind the name of God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for July 5, 2016
Matthew 7:15-20
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
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 recent weeks, political pundits have noted that quite a few candidates for major public offices sign on to run with a fair amount of confidence that they will not be able to get elected. But they go ahead and engage in a campaign that keeps their names and faces in the public eye…and bolsters the amount that can be charged for speaking engagements. More than a few pen at least one book and use the campaign trail as an opportunity to raise a copy in the air and suggest that people purchase it.
If we stop and think about this, it’s pretty upsetting to realize that people play on our emotions…and ask for our contributions – in order to line their own pocketbooks and/or boost their own egos. But it happens more than we think in all walks of life. And if you believe that this doesn’t also go on in Christian circles at all levels, you are sadly mistaken. From the musicians who get more caught up in their Sunday morning performance than engaging churchgoers in corporate worship and praise…to the televangelists who stand behind the pulpit and urge supporters to give generously toward the purchase of a 70-million-dollar jet that is deemed “necessary in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry”…to the pastor who feels the pressure from his/her deacons, elders and church body to add to the membership roll by any and all means necessary…the devil is busy creating opportunities for insincerity and disingenuousness - if not downright Spiritual fraud.
How do we know who is the “real deal”…in any area of life? Jesus is telling us to stay awake and alert…to guard our hearts and minds against misplaced loyalties and hidden agendas. If we stay focused on Jesus and carefully examine every person and situation through the lens of prayer and Godly wisdom, we have a far better shot at avoiding some of these pitfalls. There will still be people who abuse their position…or misrepresent their faith. But God will reveal them to us for who they really are…and we can pray for them and offer them His grace and mercy – while we avoid getting caught up in their deceptions.
Jesus wants us to be smart and safe (mentally, physically, and Spiritually)…to know who we are dealing with and how to handle these situations. If we stay close to God by studying His word and communicating with Him through prayer, we can operate with confidence that we are serving in His will and not serving a hidden agenda – the other guy’s, or our own. This is our goal – or it should be. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
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 recent weeks, political pundits have noted that quite a few candidates for major public offices sign on to run with a fair amount of confidence that they will not be able to get elected. But they go ahead and engage in a campaign that keeps their names and faces in the public eye…and bolsters the amount that can be charged for speaking engagements. More than a few pen at least one book and use the campaign trail as an opportunity to raise a copy in the air and suggest that people purchase it.
If we stop and think about this, it’s pretty upsetting to realize that people play on our emotions…and ask for our contributions – in order to line their own pocketbooks and/or boost their own egos. But it happens more than we think in all walks of life. And if you believe that this doesn’t also go on in Christian circles at all levels, you are sadly mistaken. From the musicians who get more caught up in their Sunday morning performance than engaging churchgoers in corporate worship and praise…to the televangelists who stand behind the pulpit and urge supporters to give generously toward the purchase of a 70-million-dollar jet that is deemed “necessary in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry”…to the pastor who feels the pressure from his/her deacons, elders and church body to add to the membership roll by any and all means necessary…the devil is busy creating opportunities for insincerity and disingenuousness - if not downright Spiritual fraud.
How do we know who is the “real deal”…in any area of life? Jesus is telling us to stay awake and alert…to guard our hearts and minds against misplaced loyalties and hidden agendas. If we stay focused on Jesus and carefully examine every person and situation through the lens of prayer and Godly wisdom, we have a far better shot at avoiding some of these pitfalls. There will still be people who abuse their position…or misrepresent their faith. But God will reveal them to us for who they really are…and we can pray for them and offer them His grace and mercy – while we avoid getting caught up in their deceptions.
Jesus wants us to be smart and safe (mentally, physically, and Spiritually)…to know who we are dealing with and how to handle these situations. If we stay close to God by studying His word and communicating with Him through prayer, we can operate with confidence that we are serving in His will and not serving a hidden agenda – the other guy’s, or our own. This is our goal – or it should be. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 29, 2015
Matthew 15:3-9
But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:
These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”
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.
Nathan has developed a new “game” that he likes to play where he hides behind an open door (in the little wedge of space between the door and the wall), peers through the crack where the hinges are…and says, “I’m hiding! You can’t see me!” Whether he realizes that we indeed can see him or not, he revels in his perceived “cover.”
This is his way of saying, “I know you are there, but since you can’t see what I’m really doing behind this door, it doesn’t count!” I’ve warned him repeatedly that he is going to pinch is little fingers in that hinge space someday…and he continues to test this idea. It will be a sad day if/when this happens.
We are all hiding and testing God, in some way. We go to church on Sunday, read our Bible, and “say and do all the right things.” But then we hide behind the “door” of our Christian faith and judge others. We pretend that no one can see us when we commit sins – of all kinds (I’ll let you fill in the blank). We claim the name of Jesus as we interpret scripture to suit our own needs and desires…or to condemn others…and we try to mold the meaning of Christian discipleship to fit the way we want things to be. In a nutshell, we fail to keep the main thing (Jesus), the Main Thing! And someday, a lot of us are going to get our fingers pinched in the doorway.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find a lot of the things that “Christians” hold to so dearly as the be-all-end-all tenets of their faith. Scripture doesn’t say that we have to shove God’s commandments down the throats of others – or plaster them on our walls. There is no Bible verse that tells us that we must pray at a certain hour each day – in a certain place…or that we must offer a prayer before every meal or ballgame. There is no specific commandment that tells us that we are to let every person who thinks or feels differently from us know that we are right – and they are wrong.
If you boil it down to what the Bible does say, you will see that we are commanded to love and respect God…to love others as He loves them and as we love ourselves…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with our words and actions. Everything else is just a smokescreen that the devil likes to use to make us think we are something we aren’t…that we can hide behind God and have it our way – and drag others along for the ride. Yes, someday, a whole lot of us are going to get pinched!
Where are you hiding today? How are you using God and your Christian faith as a “cover” to do as you please? Where have you twisted scripture to suit your desires and attitudes? Are you really ready to step out into the light of day and be who God has called you to be…to serve Him as He desires…to truly dig into His word and find out what He is saying…and to act on His intentions, not your own? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:
These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”
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.
Nathan has developed a new “game” that he likes to play where he hides behind an open door (in the little wedge of space between the door and the wall), peers through the crack where the hinges are…and says, “I’m hiding! You can’t see me!” Whether he realizes that we indeed can see him or not, he revels in his perceived “cover.”
This is his way of saying, “I know you are there, but since you can’t see what I’m really doing behind this door, it doesn’t count!” I’ve warned him repeatedly that he is going to pinch is little fingers in that hinge space someday…and he continues to test this idea. It will be a sad day if/when this happens.
We are all hiding and testing God, in some way. We go to church on Sunday, read our Bible, and “say and do all the right things.” But then we hide behind the “door” of our Christian faith and judge others. We pretend that no one can see us when we commit sins – of all kinds (I’ll let you fill in the blank). We claim the name of Jesus as we interpret scripture to suit our own needs and desires…or to condemn others…and we try to mold the meaning of Christian discipleship to fit the way we want things to be. In a nutshell, we fail to keep the main thing (Jesus), the Main Thing! And someday, a lot of us are going to get our fingers pinched in the doorway.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find a lot of the things that “Christians” hold to so dearly as the be-all-end-all tenets of their faith. Scripture doesn’t say that we have to shove God’s commandments down the throats of others – or plaster them on our walls. There is no Bible verse that tells us that we must pray at a certain hour each day – in a certain place…or that we must offer a prayer before every meal or ballgame. There is no specific commandment that tells us that we are to let every person who thinks or feels differently from us know that we are right – and they are wrong.
If you boil it down to what the Bible does say, you will see that we are commanded to love and respect God…to love others as He loves them and as we love ourselves…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with our words and actions. Everything else is just a smokescreen that the devil likes to use to make us think we are something we aren’t…that we can hide behind God and have it our way – and drag others along for the ride. Yes, someday, a whole lot of us are going to get pinched!
Where are you hiding today? How are you using God and your Christian faith as a “cover” to do as you please? Where have you twisted scripture to suit your desires and attitudes? Are you really ready to step out into the light of day and be who God has called you to be…to serve Him as He desires…to truly dig into His word and find out what He is saying…and to act on His intentions, not your own? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2015
2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong.
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 I told you that in order to belong to a certain church in your community, you had to support a particular political candidate or social issue. No one would openly discuss this, but it would be understood by everyone that this person was the “Christian” choice - or this social issue was “black and white” with a clear right and wrong side. And these were GOD’s choices. To support anyone else – or the opposite side of said issue – would be the equivalent of saying, “I’m not really a Christian…and I am more than a little wrong!”
In small groups and other church activities, there would be little to no open, direct discussion of this candidate and/or social issue. But there would be enough “What is the world coming to?” and “God is punishing us” talk that everyone would get the message loudly and clearly. And there would be an “us vs. them” undercurrent within the church. If anyone questioned the general “stance” of this church body, the reply would be that the majority was operating on God’s behalf…and the “tone” would be that these tenets were not to be questioned.
You think this doesn’t happen in our churches today? Think again! Do you feel that I am exaggerating? Let’s get real for a moment. There are a lot of churches that operate along party lines – with membership that is both liberal and conservative and a clear and deep underlying divide along these “sides”. Less common, but more troubling, are extreme pockets of “church folk” who have gone so far as to create autonomous leaders who can do as they please…even if that means “marrying” 14-year-old girls and fathering children with them – or putting little boys in the fields to do manual labor to support the church body at large. Just watch the story at http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/2015-05/08-2020-050815-flds-a-house-divided.
The thing you and I have to be most concerned with is the little inroads that the devil tries to make in our daily lives “in the name of God.” We have to be very careful that we are not sucked into this deceit…that we focus on Jesus’ commands to “Love one another” and to love others as He loves us. This means we must love and serve unconditionally, inclusively and without discrimination. We must learn to express our opinions without an ounce of judgment or superiority…leaving room for others to make up their own minds about things like politics and social issues. It is one thing to say, “I support XYZ”…but quite another to say, “If you love God, you will support XYZ.”
We must focus on cultivating deep and abiding, intimate relationship with God, so that we KNOW when we are hearing from Him…and when we are listening to outside forces. We have to guard our hearts and minds against becoming so caught up in being right (if only in our own minds) that we pick a fight with anyone who challenges us, rather than recognizing that Satan and his agents are having a heyday!
I know this may seem like a threatening or even fearful message. But this is where we need to truly get honest about faithful discipleship and what it means to be a Christian. We need to be busy listening for God’s voice. We must be steeped in His word and digging deeply to find out what HE is telling us, rather than those who have an agenda. We should be going to God in prayer for answers and opinions and considering how outside opinions and influences “stack up” against them – or they don’t. We need to learn to be comfortable in our own “skin” – the New Life in Christ Jesus that He has so graciously given us. We need to weigh everything against His standards and make sure that all thoughts, words and actions line up accordingly. If we do these things, we have nothing to fear.
False prophets live among us…but we don’t have to fall into their camp – or even give them the time of day! Who are you listening to these days? Are you able to tell right from wrong? Have you opened the door even slightly for the devil? It’s time to close that door, lock it…and throw away the key! Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong.
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 I told you that in order to belong to a certain church in your community, you had to support a particular political candidate or social issue. No one would openly discuss this, but it would be understood by everyone that this person was the “Christian” choice - or this social issue was “black and white” with a clear right and wrong side. And these were GOD’s choices. To support anyone else – or the opposite side of said issue – would be the equivalent of saying, “I’m not really a Christian…and I am more than a little wrong!”
In small groups and other church activities, there would be little to no open, direct discussion of this candidate and/or social issue. But there would be enough “What is the world coming to?” and “God is punishing us” talk that everyone would get the message loudly and clearly. And there would be an “us vs. them” undercurrent within the church. If anyone questioned the general “stance” of this church body, the reply would be that the majority was operating on God’s behalf…and the “tone” would be that these tenets were not to be questioned.
You think this doesn’t happen in our churches today? Think again! Do you feel that I am exaggerating? Let’s get real for a moment. There are a lot of churches that operate along party lines – with membership that is both liberal and conservative and a clear and deep underlying divide along these “sides”. Less common, but more troubling, are extreme pockets of “church folk” who have gone so far as to create autonomous leaders who can do as they please…even if that means “marrying” 14-year-old girls and fathering children with them – or putting little boys in the fields to do manual labor to support the church body at large. Just watch the story at http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/2015-05/08-2020-050815-flds-a-house-divided.
The thing you and I have to be most concerned with is the little inroads that the devil tries to make in our daily lives “in the name of God.” We have to be very careful that we are not sucked into this deceit…that we focus on Jesus’ commands to “Love one another” and to love others as He loves us. This means we must love and serve unconditionally, inclusively and without discrimination. We must learn to express our opinions without an ounce of judgment or superiority…leaving room for others to make up their own minds about things like politics and social issues. It is one thing to say, “I support XYZ”…but quite another to say, “If you love God, you will support XYZ.”
We must focus on cultivating deep and abiding, intimate relationship with God, so that we KNOW when we are hearing from Him…and when we are listening to outside forces. We have to guard our hearts and minds against becoming so caught up in being right (if only in our own minds) that we pick a fight with anyone who challenges us, rather than recognizing that Satan and his agents are having a heyday!
I know this may seem like a threatening or even fearful message. But this is where we need to truly get honest about faithful discipleship and what it means to be a Christian. We need to be busy listening for God’s voice. We must be steeped in His word and digging deeply to find out what HE is telling us, rather than those who have an agenda. We should be going to God in prayer for answers and opinions and considering how outside opinions and influences “stack up” against them – or they don’t. We need to learn to be comfortable in our own “skin” – the New Life in Christ Jesus that He has so graciously given us. We need to weigh everything against His standards and make sure that all thoughts, words and actions line up accordingly. If we do these things, we have nothing to fear.
False prophets live among us…but we don’t have to fall into their camp – or even give them the time of day! Who are you listening to these days? Are you able to tell right from wrong? Have you opened the door even slightly for the devil? It’s time to close that door, lock it…and throw away the key! Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2013
Psalm 1:1-6
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.
That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God. The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently saw a post on Twitter from a woman who was thanking a certain Independent Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, for helping her explain to her children how Muslims feel about Al Qaeda. You see, many leaders and members of this church, which I refuse to name, have made it their mission to protest at funerals and other events to raise awareness for their hatred of homosexuals, in particular. They have also protested against Jews… and some members have actually stomped on the American flag at some of these events. They threatened to go to Boston and protest there after the bombings last month. In their minds, every disaster and tragedy that befalls someone is a direct result of the “sins” of the groups they choose to hate. Still, they call themselves “Christians” and encourage everyone to believe as they do. In my book, they are sneering at God.
What does this have to do with Muslims and Al Qaeda? I read a response to this question on the Internet from one Muslim that I believe sums this up fairly well. This person said “the integrity of my religion is tarnished by this group.” You see, people do all sorts of things in the name of religion… even Christianity. Yet, as our pastor pointed out so bravely yesterday, there is no room for such thinking in the church… and there are no good excuses. Racism must go… intolerance cannot be allowed… we must search our hearts, study the word of God and realize that we are called to love.one.another - and everyone who trusts in God is welcome at His table. Scripture doesn’t say to pick and choose… to judge others… to protest against certain groups in the name of God and ostracize those who do not believe as we do.
God has not called us to cram our way of thinking down the throats of others. Our mission is quite clear…
Our pastor used the Sunday school movement, which began in 1790 in England, as an example. This movement was initially unpopular, because the children were taught to read the Bible on Sunday, which was considered a “day of rest.” This was the only day of the week that most children in England were not working in the factories. If they were to learn to read – and study the Bible as their textbook – it would have to be on Sundays. Clearly, many felt it was more important to “observe the Sabbath” than to learn to read God’s word on that day! But as we all know, enough people “refused evil advice” and persevered…and Sunday school eventually became a virtually universal aspect of childhood for most.
My point in sharing these things with you is not to spark a debate over social issues or various religious beliefs. God uses the same scripture passage to speak to me in different ways on any given day. Today, I feel that this passage is showing us that we must be very careful about who we listen to and what we internalize as “Christian” attitudes and behaviors. We must ask ourselves why we form certain opinions… what caused us to treat certain people in one way or another…and how this all lines up with the word of God. Do our protests and public disdain for certain activities or groups truly draw others to Jesus? Do those who observe us (and remember… people are always watching!) surmise that if we are saying that this person or group is evil… and we are Christians… it must be so? Or do they look at us and declare that they want nothing to do with Jesus, if this is how His followers treat each other? Either way, we may be misleading others… in the name of Jesus!
Are we using our Christian faith – and God’s word – as an excuse to misbehave… rather than our manual for how to live and grow like strong trees that “develop fruit in season and always have leaves?” What does our behavior, talk, body language and general attitude say to others about our relationship with God… and what does it say to God Himself? We all have areas that need work. We all have people who rub us the wrong way for one reason or another… and attitudes that need an adjustment. There is no time like the present to stop and ask God to help us with this. Tell Him how much you want to live like the strong tree that is firmly rooted, instead of the straw that blows in the wind. Ask God to show you where you need to be more tolerant and progressive in your thinking… and how to more closely follow Jesus’ commandments.
It is time to drop the excuses and stop hiding behind them… to step up and out and be the people God has called us to be. I’m ready to get in line… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.
That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God. The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently saw a post on Twitter from a woman who was thanking a certain Independent Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, for helping her explain to her children how Muslims feel about Al Qaeda. You see, many leaders and members of this church, which I refuse to name, have made it their mission to protest at funerals and other events to raise awareness for their hatred of homosexuals, in particular. They have also protested against Jews… and some members have actually stomped on the American flag at some of these events. They threatened to go to Boston and protest there after the bombings last month. In their minds, every disaster and tragedy that befalls someone is a direct result of the “sins” of the groups they choose to hate. Still, they call themselves “Christians” and encourage everyone to believe as they do. In my book, they are sneering at God.
What does this have to do with Muslims and Al Qaeda? I read a response to this question on the Internet from one Muslim that I believe sums this up fairly well. This person said “the integrity of my religion is tarnished by this group.” You see, people do all sorts of things in the name of religion… even Christianity. Yet, as our pastor pointed out so bravely yesterday, there is no room for such thinking in the church… and there are no good excuses. Racism must go… intolerance cannot be allowed… we must search our hearts, study the word of God and realize that we are called to love.one.another - and everyone who trusts in God is welcome at His table. Scripture doesn’t say to pick and choose… to judge others… to protest against certain groups in the name of God and ostracize those who do not believe as we do.
God has not called us to cram our way of thinking down the throats of others. Our mission is quite clear…
- Love the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
- Love others as you love yourself.
- Go and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
Our pastor used the Sunday school movement, which began in 1790 in England, as an example. This movement was initially unpopular, because the children were taught to read the Bible on Sunday, which was considered a “day of rest.” This was the only day of the week that most children in England were not working in the factories. If they were to learn to read – and study the Bible as their textbook – it would have to be on Sundays. Clearly, many felt it was more important to “observe the Sabbath” than to learn to read God’s word on that day! But as we all know, enough people “refused evil advice” and persevered…and Sunday school eventually became a virtually universal aspect of childhood for most.
My point in sharing these things with you is not to spark a debate over social issues or various religious beliefs. God uses the same scripture passage to speak to me in different ways on any given day. Today, I feel that this passage is showing us that we must be very careful about who we listen to and what we internalize as “Christian” attitudes and behaviors. We must ask ourselves why we form certain opinions… what caused us to treat certain people in one way or another…and how this all lines up with the word of God. Do our protests and public disdain for certain activities or groups truly draw others to Jesus? Do those who observe us (and remember… people are always watching!) surmise that if we are saying that this person or group is evil… and we are Christians… it must be so? Or do they look at us and declare that they want nothing to do with Jesus, if this is how His followers treat each other? Either way, we may be misleading others… in the name of Jesus!
Are we using our Christian faith – and God’s word – as an excuse to misbehave… rather than our manual for how to live and grow like strong trees that “develop fruit in season and always have leaves?” What does our behavior, talk, body language and general attitude say to others about our relationship with God… and what does it say to God Himself? We all have areas that need work. We all have people who rub us the wrong way for one reason or another… and attitudes that need an adjustment. There is no time like the present to stop and ask God to help us with this. Tell Him how much you want to live like the strong tree that is firmly rooted, instead of the straw that blows in the wind. Ask God to show you where you need to be more tolerant and progressive in your thinking… and how to more closely follow Jesus’ commandments.
It is time to drop the excuses and stop hiding behind them… to step up and out and be the people God has called us to be. I’m ready to get in line… are you?
©2013 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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)