Daily Devotional for December 15, 2016

Matthew 19:21-23
Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.

Jesus said to his disciples, “It’s terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven!

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

Greg and I cleaned our closets yesterday.  It was long overdue.  We will donate the purged items to a local clothes closet that helps people in need…many who have nothing due to a house fire, domestic violence, job loss, or other unfortunate circumstances.  For the record, I am a bit of a clothes hoarder.  I’ve cleaned my closet countless times and put pretty much everything back on the racks and in the drawers.  I tell myself that I might actually be able to wear the jeans that fit when I was 40…or that I really need a shirt I bought for a song – in 1994!

This time, I tried to be ruthless…and I have to say, I did better than expected.  Because I asked myself one question…”Who needs this worse?”  And if you looked at my closet today, you might ask if I really removed anything.  See, I still have plenty…but now, the person who really needs a good pair of Levis® will be able to have them.  The warm jacket that I have not worn in at least five years will keep someone cozy this winter instead of taking up space in our closet.  Those shoes that pinched my toes might be just the right size for a woman who is looking for a job and wants to look professional.  And honestly, these days, my need for “office attire” is pretty well nil.

I inherited this “clothes hoarding” gene from my mother and grandmother.  I know that to be a fact, because I cleaned out their closets!  And I am not criticizing them…they were careful bargain shoppers.  And after decades of scrimping and scraping so that we kids could have nice things, they deserved to have beautiful garments.  But I also know that “you can’t take it with you.” Even after my purging, I could pretty well wear a different outfit every day for a month and not repeat myself!  In view of the fact that some have NOTHING to wear – at least nothing that is decent – this makes no sense.

So I’ve made a small step toward sharing my “riches.”  I have not sold or given away everything that I own, but I’ve started letting go of an unreasonable attachment to clothes that clutter my closet and could actually benefit someone else.

A couple of years ago, I went through every closet and drawer and purged and organized what was in them…and it’s time to do that again.  This may not seem like a huge deal in the realm of God’s Kingdom, but it is. When we let go of our “things,” we focus more on what is really necessary and important.  When we part with something because we realize that another person has a bigger need for it than we do, we’re making progress.  And I have to believe that this makes God smile.

I don’t want to hinder my journey to heaven with clutter and “stuff”…and I’m betting you don’t either.  This small step could lead to bigger ones - and point us in the right direction, once and for all.  Are you ready to start gleaning?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 13, 2014

John 14:1-4
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A few days ago, I saw a report on my Facebook feed about a house in Whitney, Texas, that sat on Lake Whitney (located between Ft. Worth and Waco).  The home was, quite literally, falling into the lake.  The 75-foot high limestone cliff near this structure had cracked and given way…and a large section of the house – and all of its back yard – were now gone…kaput…hugging the floor of the lake below!  Today, authorities stuffed the garage of the house with hay bales soaked in diesel fuel...and burned it to the ground.  This was deemed to be the safest method of removing the home…the ground was not secure enough to risk the weight of bulldozers.

This $700,000 home was constructed in 2007, and purchased in 2012 by Robert and Denise Webb, who also own a home in Miami Beach, Florida. The Webbs insist that inspectors and geologists had assured them that the 4,000-square-foot house was perfectly safe.  A few weeks ago, they noticed large cracks along the walls and determined that the bluff near the house was breaking away and causing their house to collapse.  So they moved out, shortly before a section did indeed fall into the lake below.

One news reporter indicated that the Webb’s insurance policy will not cover this disastrous event…that they will be financially responsible for the demolition and cleanup.  The couple says they planned to leave the home to their grandchildren, and while they know it is just a house, there is a lot of sadness surrounding these events.

Honestly, I would feel the same way.  No one wants to think of their home being destroyed, by any means.  But if events like this one – and the April 27th tornado that ravaged central Arkansas – and other devastating events have taught us anything, we should surely know by now that “it’s just stuff”…that our earthly “mansions” are only temporary anyway.  Frankly, Jesus made it pretty clear that anything we can create with our mortal hands pales in comparison to the amazing homes that await us in Heaven.

While we are scrambling to create earthly homes that range from compact and cozy to magnificent mansions, we often misplace our focus.  We get so caught up in what we have or don’t have that we miss out on the true joy that comes from serving God.  We get so worked up over “things” and earthly situations that we bring on everything from restlessness and exhaustion – to poor health and physical destruction.

I am very sorry for the loss that the Webbs have suffered.  No one should have to endure that kind of physical, mental, emotional, and financial hardship.  But I hope they know where their true “mansion” awaits them…and where to find genuine rest and comfort.  If they place their trust in God…if they serve Him with their whole hearts…if they are focused on Eternity and the “bigger picture” of their lives in Christ…this will be a mere blip on the screen.

When crises come in your life and your “house” begins to crumble into the water, where do you turn?  Is your focus on the “mansion” that awaits you with Jesus – and serving Him until your rooms are ready?  Or are you busy building up “earthly mansions”…and running yourself ragged in the process?  Do you notice the “cracks in the wall” that signal trouble on the horizon? Have you convinced yourself that your foundation is secure…even while you see your “backyard” crumbling and falling over the side of the cliff?  Aren’t you ready to take a deep breath and rest in the LORD?  Isn’t this a good time to evaluate your priorities and see where you may need to make some adjustments…or even a move of sorts? Which “mansion” has your attention these days?

©2014 Debbie Robus