Romans 2:12-16
If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, that’s a different story entirely. Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.
When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.
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.
On ABC television show, “The Middle,” husband Mike Fleck (played by Neil Flynn) enters the kitchen and asks his wife, Frankie (played by Patricia Heaton) if she signed them up to drive a float in an upcoming Centennial parade. “Frankie” says no… then realizes that she might have actually agreed to this at a party earlier where she and “Mike” were a little drunk. “Frankie” says to “Mike”… “See, this is what happens when we drink.”
On multiple levels, the characters are excusing their “sins” by blaming their inebriation. They didn’t know what they were doing. And while you may never touch a drop of alcohol or take anything stronger than an aspirin, I’m betting that you have had some sort of handy excuse at one time or another for your “sins”. “I was just a little kid… I didn’t know that helping myself to the neighbors’ watermelon patch was stealing”… or “I am old and absentminded… I totally forgot that I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about such-and-such!” And while there are children who don’t know better in some situations… and aging adults who suffer dementia and truly don’t remember or realize what they are doing… most of us fall into the category of knowing what we are doing – but blaming something or someone else for our transgressions and shortcomings. And this is disrespectful to God… and to others.
Everyone seems to at least “know of” someone who appears to be successful in his/her personal and professional life… is upstanding in the community and always seems to behave in a respectful and respectable manner... and yet this person will readily tell you that he/she does have a personal relationship with God. He/she may even say, “I really don’t believe in God” or “I’m not all that religious”… or one of my favorites – “I just like to find God in nature.” And maybe you have wondered how this person managed to fare so well. Or perhaps you have seen people who seem to skate through life and make all sorts of mistakes and sort of “fly by the seat of their pants”… and yet they appear to have an easier, less stress-filled life in many regards than you do. You might have even said, “If *I* lived that way – or did this or that – I would be in all sorts of trouble.”
Can I tell you something? These people are not fooling anyone… least of all, God. They are not “getting by” with anything, because He will hold them accountable at some point. And the “nice guy” who doesn’t seem to need God in his/her life probably has the influence of someone who does have a relationship with our Heavenly Father that resonates with them in some way. Do not underestimate God’s power and ability to permeate even the hardest heart… or the most uninformed mind… and plant seeds of His grace, mercy, love and authority there.
We need to be certain that we are respectful toward God… and others… because we have heard the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. We are presented at every turn with opportunities to hear, study, and internalize His commands. And by any and all measures available, we are to share this message with others, so that they may also have a full understanding of God and all that He offers. We may never get drunk at a party and promise to participate in a parade, but we still need to keep a check on our words and actions - in every area of our lives. Our example may be the very echo of God into another’s heart!
How are you showing respect to God for His gift of wisdom, grace and mercy? You’ve heard His voice…how will are responding?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label innocence of children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label innocence of children. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 31, 2013
Psalm 41:11-13
I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
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.
This morning, we took Timothy and Zola to an Easter egg hunt at our church campus… held after morning services on the grounds surrounding the sanctuary. There were people everywhere, and the grass was thoroughly covered in plastic eggs filled with candy. Timothy, Zola and several of the younger ones really didn’t know what to do with the whole situation…but they figured it out pretty quickly. After all the eggs were gathered, the children did what children like to do… they ran willy-nilly as far and as fast as they could!
When it was time to leave, my husband and I herded our two toward the car… but Timothy pulled loose and began to run. As we approached the street, I reminded him that he had to hold his Uncle Greg’s hand, because cars could be coming, and the drivers might not be watching for little ones. Sure enough, a car came up the street, and the man driving it headed directly for Zola and me. I am not sure if he saw Timothy, and he never really got that close to him, but my husband scooted over quickly to shield Timothy and protect him.
The man was intent on asking directions to another church in town, and I honestly don’t think it even registered with him that we had small children in our charge as he pulled up beside us. And certainly, my husband and I would both move heaven and earth to protect our little ones, so neither he nor any other driver was about to cause them any harm. But I said a quick, “Thank You, LORD!” anyway, as my husband scooped up Timothy and put him into our car!
Small children are indeed innocent. They have not yet learned about the perils of “enemies” such as fast-moving cars on a busy street… crowds of people at an outdoor event… and even the ramifications of eating too much candy or biting into something that is rock hard, like an all-day sucker that can crack a baby tooth! They have not yet learned the impropriety of announcing to the world that they don’t want to do something, or screaming at the top of their lungs in public just because it feels good. They don’t know how to be nice and polite to others… to speak when spoken to… or to come immediately when summoned. So we adults have to protect them, teach them, and nurture them… just as God has done for us.
In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” The time has come for us to put away childish things and operate with integrity and honor. We can live with the assurance that God will protect us - not because of our innocence or immaturity… but rather, because we have put away the childish things and now walk in His truths – and demonstrate them in our daily existence.
Today of all days, as we think of Jesus and how He rose from the grave and conquered death, we should stop and thank Him for the tremendous work and sacrifices He has done on our behalf. We should praise Him for protecting us from our enemies – often when we totally do not deserve His help. We should humbly glorify Him for loving us enough to suffer for our sins… and we should make every effort to live each day in a way that shows how truly appreciative we are. Will you do this? Will you put aside childish behaviors and begin to operate with integrity and honor? Has God brought you into His presence? Do you live in a way that says that you belong there? Isn’t it time that you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
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.
This morning, we took Timothy and Zola to an Easter egg hunt at our church campus… held after morning services on the grounds surrounding the sanctuary. There were people everywhere, and the grass was thoroughly covered in plastic eggs filled with candy. Timothy, Zola and several of the younger ones really didn’t know what to do with the whole situation…but they figured it out pretty quickly. After all the eggs were gathered, the children did what children like to do… they ran willy-nilly as far and as fast as they could!
When it was time to leave, my husband and I herded our two toward the car… but Timothy pulled loose and began to run. As we approached the street, I reminded him that he had to hold his Uncle Greg’s hand, because cars could be coming, and the drivers might not be watching for little ones. Sure enough, a car came up the street, and the man driving it headed directly for Zola and me. I am not sure if he saw Timothy, and he never really got that close to him, but my husband scooted over quickly to shield Timothy and protect him.
The man was intent on asking directions to another church in town, and I honestly don’t think it even registered with him that we had small children in our charge as he pulled up beside us. And certainly, my husband and I would both move heaven and earth to protect our little ones, so neither he nor any other driver was about to cause them any harm. But I said a quick, “Thank You, LORD!” anyway, as my husband scooped up Timothy and put him into our car!
Small children are indeed innocent. They have not yet learned about the perils of “enemies” such as fast-moving cars on a busy street… crowds of people at an outdoor event… and even the ramifications of eating too much candy or biting into something that is rock hard, like an all-day sucker that can crack a baby tooth! They have not yet learned the impropriety of announcing to the world that they don’t want to do something, or screaming at the top of their lungs in public just because it feels good. They don’t know how to be nice and polite to others… to speak when spoken to… or to come immediately when summoned. So we adults have to protect them, teach them, and nurture them… just as God has done for us.
In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” The time has come for us to put away childish things and operate with integrity and honor. We can live with the assurance that God will protect us - not because of our innocence or immaturity… but rather, because we have put away the childish things and now walk in His truths – and demonstrate them in our daily existence.
Today of all days, as we think of Jesus and how He rose from the grave and conquered death, we should stop and thank Him for the tremendous work and sacrifices He has done on our behalf. We should praise Him for protecting us from our enemies – often when we totally do not deserve His help. We should humbly glorify Him for loving us enough to suffer for our sins… and we should make every effort to live each day in a way that shows how truly appreciative we are. Will you do this? Will you put aside childish behaviors and begin to operate with integrity and honor? Has God brought you into His presence? Do you live in a way that says that you belong there? Isn’t it time that you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 13, 2011
Matthew 18:3
Then he said: I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has been staying with us lately, and I always marvel at how curious he is… and how we can almost see his thought processes. There are three decorative “nested” metal tins stacked on the floor beside our staircase. Each lid is painted with a picture of angels. Timothy loves them… mostly because the empty tins make a great noise when he bangs them together or on something else. But he also loves to try to stack the tins… although usually his efforts result in much clanging as the stack falls to the floor.
But lately, he has figured out if he will put the largest tin on bottom, then the smallest one next, and then the middle-sized one on top, they stay in place and he can pick the stack up and move it from one place to another. It’s really rewarding to see him develop – even in such a small way. His thought processes have progressed to a stage where he can reason out this little dilemma and come up with a viable solution.
Imagine how we must seem to God. Think of our faith in the context of a baby who grows and progresses in development. In the “toddler” stage, we begin to figure out how to use the gifts God has given us to handle difficult situations… to call on Him to give us wisdom and discernment to navigate challenges and problems. As we grow and mature, we learn even more about how God operates within us… how the Holy Spirit moves to guide us through every minute of the day. This must give Him such delight to see us grow and discover how He works.
None of us “knows it all” the day we become a Christian. None of us ever has all of the wisdom and potential that God wishes for us… we are all forever works in progress. We all began as babies… and we are hopefully growing and developing in our walk with Christ and our abilities to serve Him well. Just like children, some of us will progress more quickly than others… while some of us will be “slow learners.”
The key to this passage is our understanding that we must approach God with the innocence of a child… the wonder and awe at even the simplest things, like three nested tin cans! We must not come with a “know-it-all attitude” that we don’t need guidance… or that our salvation makes us better than anyone else. We must come to Jesus with humility, a hunger for knowledge, and the childlike enthusiasm for all He wishes to share with us.
For some of us, this means we need to make a change. Maybe we tried to “skip ahead” and be more than we were capable of too soon. Perhaps we need to humble ourselves and say, “Lord, I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did… but I’m willing to listen and learn.” Maybe we need to rekindle our excitement and enthusiasm… our wonder and awe… for the amazing life we have in Christ. Maybe we need to reacquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit. Whatever we need to do… the time for change is now. The day to start is this one. Are you ready to become like a kid again?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Then he said: I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has been staying with us lately, and I always marvel at how curious he is… and how we can almost see his thought processes. There are three decorative “nested” metal tins stacked on the floor beside our staircase. Each lid is painted with a picture of angels. Timothy loves them… mostly because the empty tins make a great noise when he bangs them together or on something else. But he also loves to try to stack the tins… although usually his efforts result in much clanging as the stack falls to the floor.
But lately, he has figured out if he will put the largest tin on bottom, then the smallest one next, and then the middle-sized one on top, they stay in place and he can pick the stack up and move it from one place to another. It’s really rewarding to see him develop – even in such a small way. His thought processes have progressed to a stage where he can reason out this little dilemma and come up with a viable solution.
Imagine how we must seem to God. Think of our faith in the context of a baby who grows and progresses in development. In the “toddler” stage, we begin to figure out how to use the gifts God has given us to handle difficult situations… to call on Him to give us wisdom and discernment to navigate challenges and problems. As we grow and mature, we learn even more about how God operates within us… how the Holy Spirit moves to guide us through every minute of the day. This must give Him such delight to see us grow and discover how He works.
None of us “knows it all” the day we become a Christian. None of us ever has all of the wisdom and potential that God wishes for us… we are all forever works in progress. We all began as babies… and we are hopefully growing and developing in our walk with Christ and our abilities to serve Him well. Just like children, some of us will progress more quickly than others… while some of us will be “slow learners.”
The key to this passage is our understanding that we must approach God with the innocence of a child… the wonder and awe at even the simplest things, like three nested tin cans! We must not come with a “know-it-all attitude” that we don’t need guidance… or that our salvation makes us better than anyone else. We must come to Jesus with humility, a hunger for knowledge, and the childlike enthusiasm for all He wishes to share with us.
For some of us, this means we need to make a change. Maybe we tried to “skip ahead” and be more than we were capable of too soon. Perhaps we need to humble ourselves and say, “Lord, I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did… but I’m willing to listen and learn.” Maybe we need to rekindle our excitement and enthusiasm… our wonder and awe… for the amazing life we have in Christ. Maybe we need to reacquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit. Whatever we need to do… the time for change is now. The day to start is this one. Are you ready to become like a kid again?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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