Matthew 15:13-20
Jesus answered, “Every plant
that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots.
Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other
blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”
Peter replied, “What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?”
Jesus
then said: Don’t any of you know what I am talking about by now? Don’t
you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach
and then out of your body? But the words that come out of your mouth
come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God.
Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in
marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.
These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will
not make you unfit to worship God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our
three-year-old nephew, Nathan, is in his “bath phase.” He begs to take
a bath at our house…which is more like a “swim” in a small pool with
lots of tub toys! One day last week, his mother said that he had three
baths in one day…one before coming to our house, a 30-minute soak with
us, and another bath that he insisted on taking before bedtime. Nathan
is one clean three-year-old!
If only we could soak in a bubble
bath and wash our heart clean…what a quick, easy “fix” that would be!
But this is not how matters of the heart and Christian faith work…and
sadly, Jesus says that our heart is what truly makes us unclean. I want
you to notice the list of “unclean” thoughts and actions in this
scripture passage that Jesus says come from our heart…and among them, He
lists “unfaithfulness in marriage” and “insulting others.” In my mind,
Jesus is painting with a broad brush today…and catching a lot of us
with each “stroke!”
Most of us would readily agree that things
like lying, stealing, and murder are sinful – or “unclean” – actions.
But when you start to recognize that putting work, a friendship, the
love of possessions and quest for more, or a hobby above your spouse and
family falls into the category of “unfaithfulness”…a whole lot of
people are caught in the snare. When you stop to think that the unkind
comments we all make…the criticisms, judgments and discriminations…are
all considered part of “insulting others,” we are all incredibly
guilty. Each one of us could use an extra “bath!”
The time has
come to stop picking and choosing. We’ve pigeonholed sin into neat
little categories…usually those that we feel do not encompass our own
thoughts, words, and actions. We’ve excused ourselves and pretended that
it’s the other guy who is really unclean and in need of a bath in the
blood of Jesus! Dear friend, you and I need this cleansing just as much
as anyone. We need to examine our heart and see what lies there…and we
need to ask Jesus to wash us clean from the inside out, once and for
all.
Are you ready to come before God and allow Him to strip
away the dirt and grime of your unclean actions and attitudes? Will
this be the day that you get an extra “bath” – one that signifies the
beginning of a renewed, pure heart? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label insulting others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insulting others. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 5, 2014
1 Timothy 1:12-14
I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We have a running joke in our family about our niece and nephew – both grown now with children of their own – and their “competitive” card playing some twenty-plus years ago. One would claim the other cheated, and the “winner” would gloat like there was no tomorrow. There was no grace or mercy in their games of “Old Maid”…it was every person for himself/herself, and the “winner” bragged unapologetically!
As you might imagine, there were quite a few hurt feelings as a result of these exchanges…and each gained a “reputation” as a “cheater” – or at least a “bad sport”. But as the kids grew and matured, they learned to “forgive and forget” (although an occasional tongue-in-cheek jab still appears from time to time on Facebook!)…and the two of them have mutual love and respect for each other today. They realize that these were the behaviors of somewhat-innocent children who really didn’t know better or fully understand the long-term ramifications of breaking the rules - even in a child’s game of “Old Maid”.
We are like these children…eager to have our own way – and perhaps willing to say or do things we shouldn’t in order to get it. At least, this would have described many of us before we had a personal encounter with Jesus. And perhaps even today, some of us who claim to know Him continue to be critical…insulting…and arrogant. We ridicule others and gloat about everything from “our” team’s latest win to our personal possessions and accomplishments. And we fail to remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 25:40 that…" When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!” (Living Bible)
Today, I am humbled and grateful for Jesus’s “grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me.” I am thankful that He offers me mercy and forgives my sins. I want to honor the trust that Jesus has placed in me to “minister” to others in His name by acting with integrity and respect – for Him and for others. I want to conduct myself in a way that reflects His grace and mercy over me...and to share Him in this same manner with those whom I encounter.
Often, our immediate “gut-reaction” to outside comments and actions is to retaliate…to yell, “He/she cheated!” But Jesus has demonstrated compassion and tolerance…and if we want to be like Him, we must pay this forward.
Let’s start today with a prayer of gratitude for the grace, mercy, forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus offers each of us. And then let’s make a concerted effort to honor Him by sharing these things with everyone we meet…even those who insult or disrespect us or show us no mercy in return. It won’t always be easy, but that will make it even more honorable and tender to Jesus. Isn’t He worth the effort? How grateful are you for what He has done in your life…and just how far are you willing to go to show it?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We have a running joke in our family about our niece and nephew – both grown now with children of their own – and their “competitive” card playing some twenty-plus years ago. One would claim the other cheated, and the “winner” would gloat like there was no tomorrow. There was no grace or mercy in their games of “Old Maid”…it was every person for himself/herself, and the “winner” bragged unapologetically!
As you might imagine, there were quite a few hurt feelings as a result of these exchanges…and each gained a “reputation” as a “cheater” – or at least a “bad sport”. But as the kids grew and matured, they learned to “forgive and forget” (although an occasional tongue-in-cheek jab still appears from time to time on Facebook!)…and the two of them have mutual love and respect for each other today. They realize that these were the behaviors of somewhat-innocent children who really didn’t know better or fully understand the long-term ramifications of breaking the rules - even in a child’s game of “Old Maid”.
We are like these children…eager to have our own way – and perhaps willing to say or do things we shouldn’t in order to get it. At least, this would have described many of us before we had a personal encounter with Jesus. And perhaps even today, some of us who claim to know Him continue to be critical…insulting…and arrogant. We ridicule others and gloat about everything from “our” team’s latest win to our personal possessions and accomplishments. And we fail to remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 25:40 that…" When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!” (Living Bible)
Today, I am humbled and grateful for Jesus’s “grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me.” I am thankful that He offers me mercy and forgives my sins. I want to honor the trust that Jesus has placed in me to “minister” to others in His name by acting with integrity and respect – for Him and for others. I want to conduct myself in a way that reflects His grace and mercy over me...and to share Him in this same manner with those whom I encounter.
Often, our immediate “gut-reaction” to outside comments and actions is to retaliate…to yell, “He/she cheated!” But Jesus has demonstrated compassion and tolerance…and if we want to be like Him, we must pay this forward.
Let’s start today with a prayer of gratitude for the grace, mercy, forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus offers each of us. And then let’s make a concerted effort to honor Him by sharing these things with everyone we meet…even those who insult or disrespect us or show us no mercy in return. It won’t always be easy, but that will make it even more honorable and tender to Jesus. Isn’t He worth the effort? How grateful are you for what He has done in your life…and just how far are you willing to go to show it?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 27, 2013
Romans 14:19-21
So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.
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.
“The two best times to keep your mouth shut are when you are swimming and when you are angry.” This quote appeared a few months ago on the Facebook wall of my friend Mich Magness, who was celebrated and buried in Oklahoma today. Mich was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor known as Glioblastoma on June 14th and died August 23rd. He was only 52. I’ve talked about Mich in previous devotionals, so I won’t repeat the story of how we became friends. But I have to mention Mich today, because he truly understood these verses in Romans 14. Mich stood up for what was right… and he spoke out when necessarily. But Mich was very careful not to judge others… or to criticize or speak in a way that would make the other person feel inferior or unimportant. And that’s why so many people loved him so dearly.
Sunday afternoon, Greg, my mother-in-law Elaine, and I went to see the movie, The Butler. We found the film to be extraordinarily good. As my dear friend John Birdsong put it, “I thought it was an amazingly courageous look at an ugly time in America, and even though we have granted racial equality in our country by law, there are many people who never saw what was going on or understood the human toll our racial divide took on real people and real families. I thought the movie told a story that needs to be heard again and again.”
John is one of the most fair, honest men I know. He always presents his thoughts in a careful, gentle manner. Still, he took flak over his movie review… as he has for other comments in the past. In many cases, Facebook commenters lodge their attacks and ugliness at John himself. At times, it’s gotten very personal. This happens all the time… not just on Facebook, but all over the place. Even in church and Sunday school classrooms, people often voice their opinions as if they are straight from the Gospel, giving little consideration to who might take offense. These people are entitled to their views… but one statement spoken unkindly or with judgment can condemn someone else (even inadvertently) and cause him/her to turn away from God – possibly forever! In other words, these people may decide that…”If this is how those who serve God feel… and perhaps even how GOD feels… then I don’t want any part of Him!” And in essence, the “meal around Jesus’ table” is ruined.
Again, I am not asking you to compromise your values… or even to sugarcoat the hard teachings of the Bible. But I am suggesting that you think carefully about what you say and how you act… that you temper your opinions with a hefty dose of grace and mercy – and the love of Christ. Be gentle. Make sure that you are acting and speaking in a way that represents Jesus Christ and everything He stands for… compassion, generosity, forgiveness, acceptance, and kindness. Remember our place in the word as Christ’s disciples. We are not the judge and jury… we are His hands and feet – His humble servants. Nurture others and quietly guide them toward a right relationship with Jesus… don’t hit them over the head with a hammer!
For the most part, critical, opinionated Christians are not bad people…they just don’t pause to think about their words and actions and how they might affect others. I’m asking each of us to take a hard look at our lives and see where we have “spoiled the meal” with our behavior. Like the quote from Mich’s wall reminds us…let’s learn to keep our mouths shut more often – and not only when we go swimming!
©2013 Debbie Robus
So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.
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.
“The two best times to keep your mouth shut are when you are swimming and when you are angry.” This quote appeared a few months ago on the Facebook wall of my friend Mich Magness, who was celebrated and buried in Oklahoma today. Mich was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor known as Glioblastoma on June 14th and died August 23rd. He was only 52. I’ve talked about Mich in previous devotionals, so I won’t repeat the story of how we became friends. But I have to mention Mich today, because he truly understood these verses in Romans 14. Mich stood up for what was right… and he spoke out when necessarily. But Mich was very careful not to judge others… or to criticize or speak in a way that would make the other person feel inferior or unimportant. And that’s why so many people loved him so dearly.
Sunday afternoon, Greg, my mother-in-law Elaine, and I went to see the movie, The Butler. We found the film to be extraordinarily good. As my dear friend John Birdsong put it, “I thought it was an amazingly courageous look at an ugly time in America, and even though we have granted racial equality in our country by law, there are many people who never saw what was going on or understood the human toll our racial divide took on real people and real families. I thought the movie told a story that needs to be heard again and again.”
John is one of the most fair, honest men I know. He always presents his thoughts in a careful, gentle manner. Still, he took flak over his movie review… as he has for other comments in the past. In many cases, Facebook commenters lodge their attacks and ugliness at John himself. At times, it’s gotten very personal. This happens all the time… not just on Facebook, but all over the place. Even in church and Sunday school classrooms, people often voice their opinions as if they are straight from the Gospel, giving little consideration to who might take offense. These people are entitled to their views… but one statement spoken unkindly or with judgment can condemn someone else (even inadvertently) and cause him/her to turn away from God – possibly forever! In other words, these people may decide that…”If this is how those who serve God feel… and perhaps even how GOD feels… then I don’t want any part of Him!” And in essence, the “meal around Jesus’ table” is ruined.
Again, I am not asking you to compromise your values… or even to sugarcoat the hard teachings of the Bible. But I am suggesting that you think carefully about what you say and how you act… that you temper your opinions with a hefty dose of grace and mercy – and the love of Christ. Be gentle. Make sure that you are acting and speaking in a way that represents Jesus Christ and everything He stands for… compassion, generosity, forgiveness, acceptance, and kindness. Remember our place in the word as Christ’s disciples. We are not the judge and jury… we are His hands and feet – His humble servants. Nurture others and quietly guide them toward a right relationship with Jesus… don’t hit them over the head with a hammer!
For the most part, critical, opinionated Christians are not bad people…they just don’t pause to think about their words and actions and how they might affect others. I’m asking each of us to take a hard look at our lives and see where we have “spoiled the meal” with our behavior. Like the quote from Mich’s wall reminds us…let’s learn to keep our mouths shut more often – and not only when we go swimming!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 31, 2012
Matthew 5:11-12
God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a teenager, a mean-spirited girl gave me a nickname. It was supposed to be an acronym for something – although she would never tell me what the initials represented. All I knew is that others snickered and giggled when she told them what she meant by it… and I felt insulted. At a reception earlier this summer, I encountered someone I had not seen since high school, and he said, “Aren’t you XYZ (insert ugly nickname)?” I smiled and told him I had not thought about that name in years, but yes, he had recognized me.
The conversation was uncomfortable and brief. Old, unpleasant feelings were quickly dashed by the happiness of greeting friends who would never dare utter that name to me. We focused instead on remembering good times and celebrating where we are now and what is yet to come. God reminded me that I am so much more than a silly nickname. While I have not forgotten its sting – this slur does not define me.
My mother used to tell me, “People only pick on you because they like you.” She was trying to make me feel better and rise above insults and jabs made by my peers. Sorry, Mom… the truth is that people pick on others out of fear and their own insecurities. It’s hard to explain that to a kid… and nobody wants to see their child hurt or insulted by another. Just the thought that any of my nieces, nephews or little cousins might have to endure even one unkind moment breaks my heart. So imagine what this does to Jesus when HIS children are unloving toward each other!
I look at people who are hurling insults left and right these days, and I wonder what is so lacking in their own lives that they feel this is appropriate. I have to conclude that they are certainly not operating out of a spirit of grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. They may hide behind the “Christian” label, but their actions are anything but Christ-like. I’ll be honest… I find myself asking, “What about the people who worship with me… are their thoughts and actions insulting and judgmental toward those who threaten them or their opinions in some manner? Do we as a body represent the unconditional love of Christ? If the person sitting next to me knew my true sentiments, would he/she hurl insults and mistreatment toward me?”
It’s not really a stretch to see how people become skeptical and guarded… and why a lot of folks avoid the church and those who claim to be Christians. What are we truly offering in the name of Jesus? And just as importantly, how are we reacting to insults and mistreatment launched in our direction?
Clearly, I hear God calling for me to relax… to step back and let Him have control. I feel God telling me to resist the temptation to react to insults… and most certainly to refrain from retaliation! I look at the nickname I bore through high school and see what little long-term effect it truly had on me… how God has blessed me and given me such a wonderful, abundant life. I trusted God to handle this for me, and He did. And we must encourage our children – and each other – to operate in the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father... and to rely on Him to bless us even as we are insulted and mistreated.
We must also use our own experiences with insults and mistreatment as a reminder of how to regard others. When we have any urge to offer an affront, use a slur against someone, or be openly critical or unkind, let’s stop and think about Jesus. Ask yourself, “Will my words or actions hurt another of Jesus’ children… and will His heart be broken? Will this really be worth my momentary ‘satisfaction’?”
We all need to take a step backward and remind ourselves WHO is really in charge. For whatever reason, too many of us have appointed ourselves as “judge and jury” on God’s behalf… a position He neither delegated to us nor sanctioned. We are called to operate in love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy - even when others mistreat and insult us - and to let the love of Jesus shine through. How we act – and react – will say all that is needed about our Christian faith. What are you saying these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a teenager, a mean-spirited girl gave me a nickname. It was supposed to be an acronym for something – although she would never tell me what the initials represented. All I knew is that others snickered and giggled when she told them what she meant by it… and I felt insulted. At a reception earlier this summer, I encountered someone I had not seen since high school, and he said, “Aren’t you XYZ (insert ugly nickname)?” I smiled and told him I had not thought about that name in years, but yes, he had recognized me.
The conversation was uncomfortable and brief. Old, unpleasant feelings were quickly dashed by the happiness of greeting friends who would never dare utter that name to me. We focused instead on remembering good times and celebrating where we are now and what is yet to come. God reminded me that I am so much more than a silly nickname. While I have not forgotten its sting – this slur does not define me.
My mother used to tell me, “People only pick on you because they like you.” She was trying to make me feel better and rise above insults and jabs made by my peers. Sorry, Mom… the truth is that people pick on others out of fear and their own insecurities. It’s hard to explain that to a kid… and nobody wants to see their child hurt or insulted by another. Just the thought that any of my nieces, nephews or little cousins might have to endure even one unkind moment breaks my heart. So imagine what this does to Jesus when HIS children are unloving toward each other!
I look at people who are hurling insults left and right these days, and I wonder what is so lacking in their own lives that they feel this is appropriate. I have to conclude that they are certainly not operating out of a spirit of grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. They may hide behind the “Christian” label, but their actions are anything but Christ-like. I’ll be honest… I find myself asking, “What about the people who worship with me… are their thoughts and actions insulting and judgmental toward those who threaten them or their opinions in some manner? Do we as a body represent the unconditional love of Christ? If the person sitting next to me knew my true sentiments, would he/she hurl insults and mistreatment toward me?”
It’s not really a stretch to see how people become skeptical and guarded… and why a lot of folks avoid the church and those who claim to be Christians. What are we truly offering in the name of Jesus? And just as importantly, how are we reacting to insults and mistreatment launched in our direction?
Clearly, I hear God calling for me to relax… to step back and let Him have control. I feel God telling me to resist the temptation to react to insults… and most certainly to refrain from retaliation! I look at the nickname I bore through high school and see what little long-term effect it truly had on me… how God has blessed me and given me such a wonderful, abundant life. I trusted God to handle this for me, and He did. And we must encourage our children – and each other – to operate in the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father... and to rely on Him to bless us even as we are insulted and mistreated.
We must also use our own experiences with insults and mistreatment as a reminder of how to regard others. When we have any urge to offer an affront, use a slur against someone, or be openly critical or unkind, let’s stop and think about Jesus. Ask yourself, “Will my words or actions hurt another of Jesus’ children… and will His heart be broken? Will this really be worth my momentary ‘satisfaction’?”
We all need to take a step backward and remind ourselves WHO is really in charge. For whatever reason, too many of us have appointed ourselves as “judge and jury” on God’s behalf… a position He neither delegated to us nor sanctioned. We are called to operate in love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy - even when others mistreat and insult us - and to let the love of Jesus shine through. How we act – and react – will say all that is needed about our Christian faith. What are you saying these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)