1 Peter 1:17
You call out to God for help and he
helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a
responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.
All rights reserved.
We’ve been practicing for the
children’s Christmas program at our church. I am helping with the music
this year…and this is Timothy’s first time to participate in the
program for children in elementary school. His sister and brother will
ring bells with the “Little Ringers” – which includes ages 3-5.
Our
practices for the program are on Sunday nights at 5:00. This is just
about the worst hour of the week for elementary school children to
rehearse for a program. They are weary…they are distracted...some are
hungry…they’ve had a big week, and some have had an even bigger weekend.
So
the children stand and halfway sing. They go through the motions, and I
wonder if, with two rehearsals left, the program will be even remotely
decent on December 13th. I almost know that it will be – that God will
provide. Still, I coach the children to sing louder…to “stand up
straight and do your best!” And I pray for a good outcome!
One
night, Timothy was especially tired, and I actually let him leave
practice early. He told his mother and me, “I don’t want to do this
anymore.” He loves the music, and his mother says that he practices at
home on his own and sings like a bird. And to her credit, she told him
that…”We finish what we start.” So he has been a good “soldier” and
marched to practice since – and I am confident that he will sing beautifully for the actual performance.
Here’s the thing. My heart
aches for those little kids who are weary and disinterested. But “rules
are rules”…and Timothy’s mother is right – “we finish what we start.”
And it’s that way with God, too. Yes, He meets our needs…and often, His
heart is broken for us and what wears us down. He has committed to
caring for us at all times…”through thick and thin.” But at the same
time, we’ve made a commitment to love and serve God in return…and there is no room in this covenant for sloppy living.
We
cannot have it both ways. We cannot take and take from God and expect
Him to keep on giving without any reservations. We cannot give less
than our best in “rehearsals” and expect a flawless “performance” at the
actual program!
I am so grateful for God’s love and care.
Today, my challenge for all of us is that we would examine our hearts –
and our thoughts, words and actions – and see where we have gotten a
little sloppy. Where do we need to “stand up straight and do our
best?” Where do we need to work a little harder to finish what we have
begun…even if it takes the rest of our lives? Will this be the day that
you recommit to your covenant with God? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label honoring commitments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honoring commitments. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 26, 2013
Romans 13:3-7
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.
That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
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.
Greg and I were driving home the other day, and we pulled up to the stoplight at a major intersection. There was a car in front of us when the green arrow began flashing… indicating that we were cleared to “go”! The driver sat stock-still, until Greg honked the horn. Just as we suspected, this man was talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to his driving! We see this so often. We hear about the dangers of texting and driving… of becoming distracted by our phone, the radio, eating or some other non-driving-related activity. I kid you not… we passed a woman on a bridge approaching the Arkansas River entering Little Rock yesterday, and she had a pen and pad in her hands. She was making notes to herself as she drove along this incredibly busy stretch of interstate. The irony is that the traffic had just begun to move in this area again, following a major accident! Still, we always seem to think that calamity will strike “the other guy” and never ourselves.
In many areas of life, we try to “skate by” and dance around the fringe of the law… and reckless driving is only one of them. We fail to recognize that we are not only “breaking the rules”… we are also disrespecting God-sanctioned government and its officers. While there may be laws and rules with which we disagree, none of us is above them. Speed limits are not for the other guy. The payment of taxes is not arbitrary. Can you imagine checking out at Wal-Mart and telling the cashier…”Just leave off the sales tax today… I don’t feel like paying it!”? No! The privilege of living in a city/state/country comes with some conditions… and taxation is one of them! Respect for the laws and those who create and enforce them is another.
On a more personal level, we have to pay for what we purchase and/or consume. God calls us to show respect for those who employ us… and those whom we must pay, including our landlords, our lending agents, storekeepers, and persons who provide us with services. We should not expect anyone to be at our beck and call out of the goodness of their heart. People may do kind and generous things for us along the way, but to “ride their coat-tails” is incredibly disrespectful. And God is not pleased. I always go back to the family of a student I taught who depended on the assistance of Social Services for the basic necessities – food, clothing and shelter. The father told his caseworker one day that he needed a car – and he told her this in an “I-expect-you-to-get-this-for-me” voice. The caseworker calmly asked, “What color would you like?”
See, the demand was so preposterous… so disrespectful on every level imaginable, that the caseworker couldn’t help but answer with a ridiculous statement. I wonder how often we are telling God, in essence, “I need a car!” – and expecting Him to deliver? How often are we disobeying and disrespecting Him and those He has placed in our path? How frequently do we take everything that God has granted us and pretty well throw it back at Him and say, “I need more!”? When and where have you essentially said to God, “I deserve everything You do for me…but don’t expect me to do anything for You in return.”?
Do you see that this is about so much more than obeying law enforcement officers, paying taxes… and paying your bills in general? Do you understand that God has blessed us exceedingly above all that we could ever deserve… that the very least we can offer Him in return is our respect and appreciation? Does it make sense to you that anytime you disrespect someone else, you have insulted God? What do you have to say for yourself? How can you rectify this situation going forward? Are you ready to humble yourself before God and thank Him for His many blessings… are you ready to live in obedience and reverence – to honor Him and behave responsibly in all things? Isn’t today the perfect day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.
That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
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.
Greg and I were driving home the other day, and we pulled up to the stoplight at a major intersection. There was a car in front of us when the green arrow began flashing… indicating that we were cleared to “go”! The driver sat stock-still, until Greg honked the horn. Just as we suspected, this man was talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to his driving! We see this so often. We hear about the dangers of texting and driving… of becoming distracted by our phone, the radio, eating or some other non-driving-related activity. I kid you not… we passed a woman on a bridge approaching the Arkansas River entering Little Rock yesterday, and she had a pen and pad in her hands. She was making notes to herself as she drove along this incredibly busy stretch of interstate. The irony is that the traffic had just begun to move in this area again, following a major accident! Still, we always seem to think that calamity will strike “the other guy” and never ourselves.
In many areas of life, we try to “skate by” and dance around the fringe of the law… and reckless driving is only one of them. We fail to recognize that we are not only “breaking the rules”… we are also disrespecting God-sanctioned government and its officers. While there may be laws and rules with which we disagree, none of us is above them. Speed limits are not for the other guy. The payment of taxes is not arbitrary. Can you imagine checking out at Wal-Mart and telling the cashier…”Just leave off the sales tax today… I don’t feel like paying it!”? No! The privilege of living in a city/state/country comes with some conditions… and taxation is one of them! Respect for the laws and those who create and enforce them is another.
On a more personal level, we have to pay for what we purchase and/or consume. God calls us to show respect for those who employ us… and those whom we must pay, including our landlords, our lending agents, storekeepers, and persons who provide us with services. We should not expect anyone to be at our beck and call out of the goodness of their heart. People may do kind and generous things for us along the way, but to “ride their coat-tails” is incredibly disrespectful. And God is not pleased. I always go back to the family of a student I taught who depended on the assistance of Social Services for the basic necessities – food, clothing and shelter. The father told his caseworker one day that he needed a car – and he told her this in an “I-expect-you-to-get-this-for-me” voice. The caseworker calmly asked, “What color would you like?”
See, the demand was so preposterous… so disrespectful on every level imaginable, that the caseworker couldn’t help but answer with a ridiculous statement. I wonder how often we are telling God, in essence, “I need a car!” – and expecting Him to deliver? How often are we disobeying and disrespecting Him and those He has placed in our path? How frequently do we take everything that God has granted us and pretty well throw it back at Him and say, “I need more!”? When and where have you essentially said to God, “I deserve everything You do for me…but don’t expect me to do anything for You in return.”?
Do you see that this is about so much more than obeying law enforcement officers, paying taxes… and paying your bills in general? Do you understand that God has blessed us exceedingly above all that we could ever deserve… that the very least we can offer Him in return is our respect and appreciation? Does it make sense to you that anytime you disrespect someone else, you have insulted God? What do you have to say for yourself? How can you rectify this situation going forward? Are you ready to humble yourself before God and thank Him for His many blessings… are you ready to live in obedience and reverence – to honor Him and behave responsibly in all things? Isn’t today the perfect day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 12, 2013
April 12 ~ Exodus 4:10-17
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
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 lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
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 lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2013
1 Kings 19:20-21
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”
“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”
So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.
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.
Excuses! Excuses! We’ve all got ‘em! “When I finish watching this program, I’ll get up and do XYZ… if I get the job I want, I will move out and get my own place… when I lose a few pounds, get a haircut, or all the stars align, I’ll start coming to church.” We have built a lifetime of “not nows,” “maybe laters” and “somedays.” Sometimes the ramifications seem to be rather benign… other times, we realize that our excuses will have major ramifications. Still, we make choices – and excuses – and generally, we just hope for the best.
Let me ask you… are you making excuses with God? Is he knocking on the door to your heart, but you have a ready list of justifications for hiding in the shadows? Are you one of those who says, “I’m coming with you LORD… but let me do this or that first.”? Do you have a zillion reasons – most of which you feel are good ones – that you just can’t follow Him completely today?
We all have a stash of ready excuses…at home, at work, in our personal relationships – and yes, for God. The question is… are they justifiable - especially when it comes to our faith walk? Is there ever truly a good excuse when God calls? Examine your heart – and your explanations. Are any of them really reasonable? When God reaches out to you, and you hesitate… what will be your excuse? Do you remember what He has done for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”
“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”
So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.
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.
Excuses! Excuses! We’ve all got ‘em! “When I finish watching this program, I’ll get up and do XYZ… if I get the job I want, I will move out and get my own place… when I lose a few pounds, get a haircut, or all the stars align, I’ll start coming to church.” We have built a lifetime of “not nows,” “maybe laters” and “somedays.” Sometimes the ramifications seem to be rather benign… other times, we realize that our excuses will have major ramifications. Still, we make choices – and excuses – and generally, we just hope for the best.
Let me ask you… are you making excuses with God? Is he knocking on the door to your heart, but you have a ready list of justifications for hiding in the shadows? Are you one of those who says, “I’m coming with you LORD… but let me do this or that first.”? Do you have a zillion reasons – most of which you feel are good ones – that you just can’t follow Him completely today?
We all have a stash of ready excuses…at home, at work, in our personal relationships – and yes, for God. The question is… are they justifiable - especially when it comes to our faith walk? Is there ever truly a good excuse when God calls? Examine your heart – and your explanations. Are any of them really reasonable? When God reaches out to you, and you hesitate… what will be your excuse? Do you remember what He has done for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2013
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
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.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
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.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 2, 2013
1 Kings 9:4-5
“As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”
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.
When I was in high school, I truly enjoyed math… probably in large part because of my teacher, Mrs. Marilyn Berry. She really cared about her students – inside and outside of the classroom- and I loved her dearly. Now don’t get me wrong… on plenty of days, Mrs. Berry frustrated my classmates and me by giving us tests that didn’t seem to fit what we had just studied – especially in geometry. I loved geometry… there was a “method” to it. Geometry was not so much about finding the right answer as showing how we arrived at it… our “proof.” And as Mrs. Berry would review where we went wrong on the tests and point out the flaws in our “proofs,” the right path would reveal itself.
The heart of geometry lies in hypothesis and conclusion – or proof. According to information at http://hstutorials.net, the geometry definition of hypothesis is explained this way… “A conjecture is something believed to be true, but not yet proved true. We usually state these as if...then statements. The "if" part is the hypothesis...the "then" part is the conclusion.” For us as Christians, life is a lot like geometry. We have been promised eternal life in Jesus Christ. If we have truly committed our hearts to Him (which is the hypothesis)… our place in heaven is secured (which would be the conclusion). But the proof of our devotion and commitment lies in how we get there – which path we take.
God has made great promises over our lives and the lives of our descendants. He has shown us the right path to choose. He has offered us things we could never earn, much less deserve. If we truly want to prove that we appreciate His generosity, we have to operate in obedience, humility, faithfulness… and with integrity. Our word and actions have to be our bond.
People have to know that when we say we will show up… we will show up. When we tell someone we will keep their secret… we must keep it and not go blabbing to everyone we know. When someone asks us to pray for them, we should do so. We need to show up for work, school, church services and activities - even dates with friends or significant others – on time… if not a little bit early. We must be where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be there. When we are at work, we should be working… when we are engaged in any task or activity, we should be fully committed to it. We should be genuine, attentive, and responsible in our relationships with friends, family members, co-workers, church members and acquaintances.
As Christians, we must be fully committed to God. We promised to love Him and to love others as ourselves. How are you doing with that? We promised to serve Him and tell others about the amazing life He offers… the incredible sacrifices He made for all of us through Jesus Christ…the love, care, grace, mercy and forgiveness He provides for us each and every day. Are you doing these things? Are you truly a person of integrity? What is your proof? God has said, “If you will do these things, then I will bless and keep you.” I believe God’s promises (conclusion) to be true… and my “proof” will not be finished until I get to heaven. But I plan to work on it every single day. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”
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.
When I was in high school, I truly enjoyed math… probably in large part because of my teacher, Mrs. Marilyn Berry. She really cared about her students – inside and outside of the classroom- and I loved her dearly. Now don’t get me wrong… on plenty of days, Mrs. Berry frustrated my classmates and me by giving us tests that didn’t seem to fit what we had just studied – especially in geometry. I loved geometry… there was a “method” to it. Geometry was not so much about finding the right answer as showing how we arrived at it… our “proof.” And as Mrs. Berry would review where we went wrong on the tests and point out the flaws in our “proofs,” the right path would reveal itself.
The heart of geometry lies in hypothesis and conclusion – or proof. According to information at http://hstutorials.net, the geometry definition of hypothesis is explained this way… “A conjecture is something believed to be true, but not yet proved true. We usually state these as if...then statements. The "if" part is the hypothesis...the "then" part is the conclusion.” For us as Christians, life is a lot like geometry. We have been promised eternal life in Jesus Christ. If we have truly committed our hearts to Him (which is the hypothesis)… our place in heaven is secured (which would be the conclusion). But the proof of our devotion and commitment lies in how we get there – which path we take.
God has made great promises over our lives and the lives of our descendants. He has shown us the right path to choose. He has offered us things we could never earn, much less deserve. If we truly want to prove that we appreciate His generosity, we have to operate in obedience, humility, faithfulness… and with integrity. Our word and actions have to be our bond.
People have to know that when we say we will show up… we will show up. When we tell someone we will keep their secret… we must keep it and not go blabbing to everyone we know. When someone asks us to pray for them, we should do so. We need to show up for work, school, church services and activities - even dates with friends or significant others – on time… if not a little bit early. We must be where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be there. When we are at work, we should be working… when we are engaged in any task or activity, we should be fully committed to it. We should be genuine, attentive, and responsible in our relationships with friends, family members, co-workers, church members and acquaintances.
As Christians, we must be fully committed to God. We promised to love Him and to love others as ourselves. How are you doing with that? We promised to serve Him and tell others about the amazing life He offers… the incredible sacrifices He made for all of us through Jesus Christ…the love, care, grace, mercy and forgiveness He provides for us each and every day. Are you doing these things? Are you truly a person of integrity? What is your proof? God has said, “If you will do these things, then I will bless and keep you.” I believe God’s promises (conclusion) to be true… and my “proof” will not be finished until I get to heaven. But I plan to work on it every single day. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 9, 2012
James 2:14-17
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
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.
One day last fall, I promised Timothy I would come and get him on Sunday morning at his grandparents’ house. We had a commitment on Saturday night, so he stayed with my sister and her husband. My sister let me know that there was really no need for me to come after Timothy on Sunday. She was working, but she assured me that Timothy’s grandfather could watch him while she was away. However, I had promised to come after him. A few people said, “He won’t remember”… and maybe he wouldn’t. But I made a promise… and I wasn’t about to break it - unless circumstances were beyond my control.
If you know me very well, you know that I am something of a stickler for people keeping their word. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you promise to call or stop by… you should call or stop by! If you can’t follow through on a promise, don’t make it. And in my opinion, this starts with small children. It really shouldn’t matter whether the person will remember or not… GOD remembers! He has called us to a life of words and deeds… and the two should match!
So think carefully – and prayerfully – about what you say and do. Look for ways to offer words of encouragement… but back them up with action! The old adage “Don’t make promises you can’t keep” applies… even to phone calls, visits, and commitments to show up in life. By the same token, don’t be a person who is “all talk and no action.” A fully committed disciple of Christ is ready to serve with words and deeds! I promise you… the times you get out of your comfort zone and get off your duff to serve will be your best moments as a Christian.
A couple of weekends ago, the husband of one of my dad’s cousins died. His visitation was in Searcy, some thirty miles away. I had a prior commitment on the day of the funeral and knew I could not attend. So I decided to drive over for the visitation. I really didn’t want to spend my Friday evening this way. I had a lot going on already, and this was not in my plans. But I did it, because I felt that it was the right thing to do… to go and support my cousin and his family in the loss of his dad. I have to tell you, I am so glad I went. I visited with a half-dozen or more cousins I have not seen in a while… some for decades. We reconnected and exchanged Facebook info so we could keep up… and we reminisced about fun times spent at our grandmothers’ houses.
Had I blown off the visitation, I could have sent my cousin a condolence note and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the visitation.” That would have been a true statement, and he would have understood. But I would not have been obedient to God’s command to be a disciple of words and actions! And the look on my cousin’s face when I reached him in the receiving line told me that I had done the right thing.
Before you go adding stars to my crown, be assured that there have been plenty of times that I have failed miserably in this department. I’ve skipped funerals I should have attended, put off phone calls, substituted a note for a visit, and made promises I couldn’t keep. But I am reminded in this scripture that these are not the behaviors of a true Disciple of Christ! This is not how faith-filled Christians behave. Dr. Seuss’s character, Horton the Elephant, says, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant… an elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!” I want to be a “Horton” kind of Christian… don’t you? Will you join me today and renew your commitment to put your words… and deeds… into action each and every day? Will your God-talk be followed up with God-acts? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
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.
One day last fall, I promised Timothy I would come and get him on Sunday morning at his grandparents’ house. We had a commitment on Saturday night, so he stayed with my sister and her husband. My sister let me know that there was really no need for me to come after Timothy on Sunday. She was working, but she assured me that Timothy’s grandfather could watch him while she was away. However, I had promised to come after him. A few people said, “He won’t remember”… and maybe he wouldn’t. But I made a promise… and I wasn’t about to break it - unless circumstances were beyond my control.
If you know me very well, you know that I am something of a stickler for people keeping their word. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you promise to call or stop by… you should call or stop by! If you can’t follow through on a promise, don’t make it. And in my opinion, this starts with small children. It really shouldn’t matter whether the person will remember or not… GOD remembers! He has called us to a life of words and deeds… and the two should match!
So think carefully – and prayerfully – about what you say and do. Look for ways to offer words of encouragement… but back them up with action! The old adage “Don’t make promises you can’t keep” applies… even to phone calls, visits, and commitments to show up in life. By the same token, don’t be a person who is “all talk and no action.” A fully committed disciple of Christ is ready to serve with words and deeds! I promise you… the times you get out of your comfort zone and get off your duff to serve will be your best moments as a Christian.
A couple of weekends ago, the husband of one of my dad’s cousins died. His visitation was in Searcy, some thirty miles away. I had a prior commitment on the day of the funeral and knew I could not attend. So I decided to drive over for the visitation. I really didn’t want to spend my Friday evening this way. I had a lot going on already, and this was not in my plans. But I did it, because I felt that it was the right thing to do… to go and support my cousin and his family in the loss of his dad. I have to tell you, I am so glad I went. I visited with a half-dozen or more cousins I have not seen in a while… some for decades. We reconnected and exchanged Facebook info so we could keep up… and we reminisced about fun times spent at our grandmothers’ houses.
Had I blown off the visitation, I could have sent my cousin a condolence note and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the visitation.” That would have been a true statement, and he would have understood. But I would not have been obedient to God’s command to be a disciple of words and actions! And the look on my cousin’s face when I reached him in the receiving line told me that I had done the right thing.
Before you go adding stars to my crown, be assured that there have been plenty of times that I have failed miserably in this department. I’ve skipped funerals I should have attended, put off phone calls, substituted a note for a visit, and made promises I couldn’t keep. But I am reminded in this scripture that these are not the behaviors of a true Disciple of Christ! This is not how faith-filled Christians behave. Dr. Seuss’s character, Horton the Elephant, says, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant… an elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!” I want to be a “Horton” kind of Christian… don’t you? Will you join me today and renew your commitment to put your words… and deeds… into action each and every day? Will your God-talk be followed up with God-acts? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2012
Psalm 111:5-10
He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever. God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy.
Respect and obey the Lord! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we take out a loan to buy a house or a car, we sign a contract that says we agree to make the payments. When a couple marries, they exchange vows and then sign a document that says they are legally bound to one another. Many people take an “oath of office” and “solemnly swear” to uphold certain principles. In our lifetime, most of us will sign dozens of contracts of one kind or another, make promises, and agree to all sorts of things. And more than a few of us will fail to keep at least some of these agreements. If everyone kept every agreement, we would have no divorces, defaulted loans, “scandals,” or disappointments. And the devil would be even more miserable!
The only covenant we can truly count on is our agreement with God. HE will never let us down. God will never break his agreement with us or back out on His promises. God sealed His covenant with the blood of Jesus. Satan wants us to fear that God’s word won’t work, but we know better! If God said it, He will do it. If he spoke it, He will bring it to pass.
When we read the Bible or pray, we must remember to keep God’s covenant in mind. Just to refresh your memory, God’s covenant says that He loved us enough to send His only Son to die on the cross, so that everyone who believes in Him will have Eternal Life with Him in Heaven. Beyond this, God has promised many things… that all things are possible with Him… that He is always with us and will never leave… that He is always ready to rescue and restore us… and so much more.
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad we serve a God who keeps His word. I can’t imagine His grace and mercy and how He puts up with all of us, but I’m surely glad He does! And I am truly grateful that to know that I can count on His promises… aren’t you? Isn’t this a great day to stop taking so much for granted and being more aware of just how blessed we are to serve such an honorable God? Isn’t this a good time to stop and thank Him for honoring His covenant? Won’t you take a moment with me now and do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever. God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy.
Respect and obey the Lord! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we take out a loan to buy a house or a car, we sign a contract that says we agree to make the payments. When a couple marries, they exchange vows and then sign a document that says they are legally bound to one another. Many people take an “oath of office” and “solemnly swear” to uphold certain principles. In our lifetime, most of us will sign dozens of contracts of one kind or another, make promises, and agree to all sorts of things. And more than a few of us will fail to keep at least some of these agreements. If everyone kept every agreement, we would have no divorces, defaulted loans, “scandals,” or disappointments. And the devil would be even more miserable!
The only covenant we can truly count on is our agreement with God. HE will never let us down. God will never break his agreement with us or back out on His promises. God sealed His covenant with the blood of Jesus. Satan wants us to fear that God’s word won’t work, but we know better! If God said it, He will do it. If he spoke it, He will bring it to pass.
When we read the Bible or pray, we must remember to keep God’s covenant in mind. Just to refresh your memory, God’s covenant says that He loved us enough to send His only Son to die on the cross, so that everyone who believes in Him will have Eternal Life with Him in Heaven. Beyond this, God has promised many things… that all things are possible with Him… that He is always with us and will never leave… that He is always ready to rescue and restore us… and so much more.
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad we serve a God who keeps His word. I can’t imagine His grace and mercy and how He puts up with all of us, but I’m surely glad He does! And I am truly grateful that to know that I can count on His promises… aren’t you? Isn’t this a great day to stop taking so much for granted and being more aware of just how blessed we are to serve such an honorable God? Isn’t this a good time to stop and thank Him for honoring His covenant? Won’t you take a moment with me now and do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 16, 2012
1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
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.
From the time we are very small, we know about Holy Communion. We may not participate directly, but we most likely see our parents “take communion” at church services… or we may have even seen this ritual portrayed in movies or on television. While very young children probably do not have the capacity to understand the true meaning of Holy Communion, emphasizing that this is a reverent and important gesture is certainly appropriate.
Sadly, many of us come to adulthood with a sense that Holy Communion is a ritual… and little more. We understand the symbolism of eating the bread and drinking the cup… but we don’t truly grasp the full meaning represented in this sacrament. I’m afraid this is true of many of the ways we represent Jesus in our everyday life. We have gotten pretty good at going through the motions of our faith, while giving little thought to their impact or importance.
I will admit that I was well into my thirties before I truly grasped the significance of Holy Communion. This sacrament is a vital component of the Emmaus Walk and is celebrated each day participants are in attendance. At the Emmaus Walk, I fully realized that eating the bread not only represents the body of Christ… it also represents our sins – surrendered to Him. The cup represents the blood of Jesus washing us clean, covering those sins, and creating in us a new life. The first time you participate in Holy Communion with this in mind can be a truly humbling and moving experience. And I will tell you, I have never thought of Communion the same since. It is an honor and a privilege to participate in this ceremony… and to renew my commitment and covenant with Jesus in the process.
At the same time, we need to all examine other actions and rituals in which we participate with regard to our faith. Remember, Jesus has told us that what we have done to the least… we have done to Him. So how we treat others… how we react to them… how we think and act in everything from participating in all aspects of a worship service to smiling at someone in Wal-Mart… matters! The next time you tell someone you will pray for them… follow through and remember them to God. When you start to make fun of someone or belittle them – whether to another person or directly – consider that this person belongs to Jesus just as you do. Remember that to belittle another is to belittle Jesus. When you can’t decide whether to pay your bills and honor the commitment you made when you placed charges on your credit card or rented the apartment and hooked up the utilities… or whether to blow your paycheck on dinner out with friends, a new outfit, the latest video game or a weekend at the casino… consider the commitment Jesus made to you. What if He blew you off? What if Jesus said, “I’ll let somebody else worry about that,” or “Today, I’m going to do what *I* want to do… I’ll think about the rest later.” Do you see that in failing to honor your worldly commitments, you fail to honor your commitment to Jesus?
In everything we do, we need to be humble, deliberate, and mindful of Jesus. There will be times when we still miss the mark. Believe me…I have plenty! But I am more aware these days of how important it is to strive to live honorably in Christ. Every choice I make has consequences – in this life and for eternity. When I eat the bread and take the cup, I am saying to Jesus, “Here I am LORD… take my sin and wash me clean. Set me upright for another day.” But I want to do more. I want to back this up with my day-to-day living.
I encourage you to look for ways each day to remember Jesus… and to ask Him to remember you. You don’t have to literally eat bread and drink wine to have a “Holy Communion” experience with Jesus each and every day. Always keep Christ at the forefront. Come before Him with a spirit of humility – and thanksgiving - and He will remember you in all things.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
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.
From the time we are very small, we know about Holy Communion. We may not participate directly, but we most likely see our parents “take communion” at church services… or we may have even seen this ritual portrayed in movies or on television. While very young children probably do not have the capacity to understand the true meaning of Holy Communion, emphasizing that this is a reverent and important gesture is certainly appropriate.
Sadly, many of us come to adulthood with a sense that Holy Communion is a ritual… and little more. We understand the symbolism of eating the bread and drinking the cup… but we don’t truly grasp the full meaning represented in this sacrament. I’m afraid this is true of many of the ways we represent Jesus in our everyday life. We have gotten pretty good at going through the motions of our faith, while giving little thought to their impact or importance.
I will admit that I was well into my thirties before I truly grasped the significance of Holy Communion. This sacrament is a vital component of the Emmaus Walk and is celebrated each day participants are in attendance. At the Emmaus Walk, I fully realized that eating the bread not only represents the body of Christ… it also represents our sins – surrendered to Him. The cup represents the blood of Jesus washing us clean, covering those sins, and creating in us a new life. The first time you participate in Holy Communion with this in mind can be a truly humbling and moving experience. And I will tell you, I have never thought of Communion the same since. It is an honor and a privilege to participate in this ceremony… and to renew my commitment and covenant with Jesus in the process.
At the same time, we need to all examine other actions and rituals in which we participate with regard to our faith. Remember, Jesus has told us that what we have done to the least… we have done to Him. So how we treat others… how we react to them… how we think and act in everything from participating in all aspects of a worship service to smiling at someone in Wal-Mart… matters! The next time you tell someone you will pray for them… follow through and remember them to God. When you start to make fun of someone or belittle them – whether to another person or directly – consider that this person belongs to Jesus just as you do. Remember that to belittle another is to belittle Jesus. When you can’t decide whether to pay your bills and honor the commitment you made when you placed charges on your credit card or rented the apartment and hooked up the utilities… or whether to blow your paycheck on dinner out with friends, a new outfit, the latest video game or a weekend at the casino… consider the commitment Jesus made to you. What if He blew you off? What if Jesus said, “I’ll let somebody else worry about that,” or “Today, I’m going to do what *I* want to do… I’ll think about the rest later.” Do you see that in failing to honor your worldly commitments, you fail to honor your commitment to Jesus?
In everything we do, we need to be humble, deliberate, and mindful of Jesus. There will be times when we still miss the mark. Believe me…I have plenty! But I am more aware these days of how important it is to strive to live honorably in Christ. Every choice I make has consequences – in this life and for eternity. When I eat the bread and take the cup, I am saying to Jesus, “Here I am LORD… take my sin and wash me clean. Set me upright for another day.” But I want to do more. I want to back this up with my day-to-day living.
I encourage you to look for ways each day to remember Jesus… and to ask Him to remember you. You don’t have to literally eat bread and drink wine to have a “Holy Communion” experience with Jesus each and every day. Always keep Christ at the forefront. Come before Him with a spirit of humility – and thanksgiving - and He will remember you in all things.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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