Daily Devotional for October 15, 2016

October 15 ~ Matthew 4:23-35
Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God’s kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.

Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

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

Sit with me for a bit while I throw a little pity party.  For someone who is retired, I have had a BUSY week that included a field trip with Timothy’s class to Little Rock on Thursday, and a morning of tutoring at school yesterday.  This was followed by an afternoon spent with Timmy and Zola, who got out of school early and came home to stay with Greg and me!  I was one tired aunt last night!  This morning as I enjoyed a second cup of coffee while perusing email and organizing my thoughts for this devotional, a car appeared in our driveway.

I looked out the window, and a man dressed in a suit was headed for the front door, papers in hand.  You guessed it…he wanted to invite us to attend his church – and he had literature ready to present to me. Still dressed in my pajamas, I peeped out the door and politely thanked him with the added note that “We belong to the Methodist church.”  He smiled and thanked ME - and turned to leave.

As I watched the man make his way back to his car, I read this scripture passage again.  And I reminded myself that Jesus was busy, too!  The Bible tells us that He sought places to rest.  He grew weary from all of the preaching and teaching and healing.  But Jesus never stopped ministering to others.  He was strengthened for His journey…and God refreshed Him every time He began to tire.

I began to think about how God gives me strength to keep going when I am tired.  If I am doing what He has called me to do, I always manage to have everything I need to get it done…energy, stamina, courage, and more.  God equips me with His supernatural strength and ability.  And He will do that for each of us, when we listen for His voice and do what He has ordained.

The other thing I thought about was the man who knocked on my door on this Saturday morning.  Whether I agree with his church doctrine or not, this man and his fellow congregants are faithful to what they hear God telling them…to get up, go out, knock on doors, and invite people to worship.  A man was almost literally shouting scripture passages in Walmart a few days ago as I shopped…stopping people and talking their ear off about Jesus and salvation – and the promise of Heaven for those who believe.  He SAID that God told him to do this!  And while busy shoppers (and I was one of them) ducked down alternate aisles to avoid him and hurry on, I had to think…this man was doing what he heard God tell him to do.

Sure, there are people who THINK they hear from God about certain things, when in truth, we don’t know WHO they are hearing from…maybe aliens from outer space!  I know that some people use “God told me” as an excuse for crazy talk or behavior.  But you and I both know that there are plenty of times when we hear God speaking to us…or we feel a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit to say or do something in the name of Jesus.  And we roll back over in bed or look away and say, “Not today, Father” – or “Not me!  Ask someone else!”

My point is this…Isaiah 40:31 tells us “But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.”  When you grow weary, think of this passage – and the unending works of Jesus.  Remind yourself that Jesus NEVER quits working on our behalf…that He is always available to help us with whatever we require.  Even when we are not aware that we need Jesus, He is with us…working behind the scenes.  How can we stop doing what He calls us to do?  How can we gripe, complain, and say that we are too tired…too scared…too unprepared or ill-equipped?

God will give provide us with plenty of time to rest.  Meanwhile, it’s time for us to soar like eagles…to walk and run - and trust Jesus to supply us with everything we need for the work at hand. Are you ready to get busy with the work of the LORD?  Will this be the day that you begin?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 26, 2015

Romans 14:6-9
What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.


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


When I was very young, there was a “shouting match” at our church service one evening.  At least one man sitting in our congregation began to try to “shout down” the pastor as he spoke while standing at the pulpit.


I was too little to understand why they were arguing, but my mother said it centered partly on comments the pastor had made to choir members who did not attend the Wednesday night prayer meetings.  This man told the choir members that when they came into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, and he saw the faces of those who had not attended prayer meeting, they were an “affront” to him.


Do you see a problem here?  Christian people who honored God by devoting their time and energy to participate in a church choir on Sundays were berated because they weren’t attending a prayer service on Wednesdays!  This offended the pastor – and obviously he judged their Christian faith and witness accordingly.


I’ll be the first to tell you that there is a LOT about the Bible that I do not know or understand.  But I honestly don’t know of any scripture that says you have to attend every service that your church holds each week.  Just because you have a lovely voice doesn’t mean you have to sing in the choir. We are supposed to read God’s word, but I’m not familiar with any scriptures that say, “You must go to Sunday school and attend organized Bible studies.”  I don’t recall Jesus sharing His last supper with the disciples and saying, “You can only do this in remembrance of Me at certain churches or in specific settings.”


We humans have created a plethora of rules about our Christian faith…and nothing could be more of a paradox.  A holy Christian relationship that encompasses grace, mercy, acceptance and love is often used as a justification for some of the worst judgments and persecutions of others. And I have to believe that God hangs His head in heartache and disappointment.


But we can change this…and it starts with you and me.  We can dig deeply into God’s word and spend some serious time in conversation with Him.  We can genuinely ask Him, “Where – and how – do you wish for me to serve and witness?”…and DO IT!  We can leave judgment and intolerance of others - and how THEY worship - out of our lives…and let every person work out his/her discipleship as God directs them.


As Paul explained to the Romans…Jesus died to release us from such “petty tyrannies”.  Isn’t it time we let them go once and for all?


©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 21, 2015

Philippians 1:17-18
But the ones who are jealous of us are not sincere. They just want to cause trouble for me while I am in jail. But that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad.
 
I will keep on being glad...
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Greg recently helped his mother purchase a new computer.  I was visiting her one day, and she asked me to help her find something on the Internet.  I am not familiar with this new machine, but I fumbled around and found what she was seeking.  She turned to me and said, “You and Greg do things differently on the computer, don’t you?!”  I agreed with her that, aside from my unfamiliarity with this particular computer, our “methods” probably differ a little…but we achieve the same end result.
 
These words of the Apostle Paul have great relevance for us today.  It has become common in certain situations for a person to have a “platform”…a cause that he/she champions – often with great passion.  Some people have missions that are near and dear to their hearts…and yes, some people simply have personal agendas.  But many folks from all of these “camps” have a common denominator…they truly love Jesus and desire to live for Him and serve others in His name.
 
Many people want to share the love of Christ with others…but their “methods” of doing so can vary greatly.  This doesn’t make them bad or wrong.  As Paul points out…all that matters is that they share the message of Jesus Christ.  Instead of criticizing our friends and neighbors because they don’t mirror our politics, lifestyle choices, skin color or ethnicity, economic level, preferences in style and physical appearance – or they root for a different sports team! – let’s look at their heart.
 
Consider whether they love Jesus – and it shows!  Do they minister to others in His name?  Do they demonstrate His teachings and operate in grace, mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, compassion, and unconditional love?  If the answer is yes, then be glad.  The rest is all just immaterial “fluff” that doesn’t truly matter in the quest to love and serve God and further His Kingdom.  This is the real mission!
 
Are you focused on what really matters…or are you bogged down by the extraneous distractions that the devil wishes to flood into our lives?  Isn’t it time we dropped all of the judgments and looked at the heart of others?  Will this be the day that you get started?
 
©2015 Debbie Robus