Daily Devotional for November 17, 2016

Romans 12:19-21
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be “heaping coals of fire on his head.” In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don’t let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good.

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

I’ve shared this story before, but when my siblings and I were little, my mother was nursing this pitiful magnolia tree sprout in our yard.  It must have been about 2½ feet tall and was almost laughable as a “tree.”  One day, the neighborhood kids and I were playing a little game of “Jack Jump Over the Candlestick” and hurdling this “tree.”  Let’s just say that my attempt was less than successful…and the top of the tree snapped off.

I knew I was in terrible trouble, so I did what any quick-thinking seven-or-eight-year-old would do…I blamed my little brother.  I can still see my mother – absolutely furious over this broken tree – switching my brother all the way into the house.  I can hear him crying.  I can feel the mixture of angst that he was being punished – and relief that I was not.  And this incident haunts me even today.

My brother did not retaliate toward me.  And years later when I begged his forgiveness once again, he laughed and assured me that there were no hard feelings.  Still, I cannot tell you how ashamed I am of that incident – and others, I’m sure, where I blamed him to save my own hide.

To be sure, we did our share of fighting as siblings.  I still remember the day that my brother hit me in the front yard, and my dad stood in the doorway and said, “Hit him back!”  I burst into tears, looked at my brother, and said, “I can’t!”

Today, the magnolia tree towers several stories high into the sky in the corner of my mother’s front yard. I have to say, I have a love-hate relationship with that tree!  It reminds me of a time when I behaved badly, and my brother graciously did not seek revenge.  The other incident reminds me that I had an opportunity to seek retribution for an offense…and I could not bring myself to do it.  Whatever the reason, I am truly grateful.  I don’t have to live with the guilt and shame of that day!

A lot of us are fighting battles that are not ours.  We are trying to “make them pay” (whoever “them” is) for something that offended or upset us.  Or maybe we are on the other end…we have said or done something we shouldn’t…and we’re pretty well waiting for “the shoe to fall” as we receive retribution. Here’s the thing…we need to let go and allow God to work…because He can, and He will – and in a far better manner than we ever imagined.

God is calling us to “go high”…to treat others as we wish to be treated and to offer others the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and compassion that He gives to us every minute of the day.  We are called to feed the “hungry and thirsty”…to “heap coals of kindness” upon the heads of those who have mistreated us.  Maybe they will feel shame and remorse…and maybe not.  Either way, it won’t matter, because our response will please God…and He will make the difference – for us AND the other guy. Are you ready to let Him?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Mark 7:24-30
Then he left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and tried to keep it a secret that he was there, but couldn’t. For as usual the news of his arrival spread fast.

Right away a woman came to him whose little girl was possessed by a demon. She had heard about Jesus and now she came and fell at his feet, and pled with him to release her child from the demon’s control. (But she was Syrophoenician—a “despised Gentile”!)

Jesus told her, “First I should help my own family—the Jews. It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied, “That’s true, sir, but even the puppies under the table are given some scraps from the children’s plates.”

“Good!” he said. “You have answered well—so well that I have healed your little girl. Go on home, for the demon has left her!”

And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

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

At the end of a reality TV program I watch called “Project Runway,” the host says, “One day you’re in – the next day you’re out.”  Let’s be honest…this is probably how we sometimes feel about ourselves…and/or how we treat others – and neither is acceptable.

Jesus demonstrated that there is no need to apologize for who we are if we genuinely trust that He is our LORD and Savior. There is no reason to assume that we have to wait in line behind those who are “more” in some manner to receive OUR salvation – or God’s blessings. Jesus also tells us not to treat others in this manner.  We are in no way more important than another person – no matter who he/she is - or what he/she may have done.  ALL who believe and demonstrate faith in Jesus – and surrender to Him – are welcome, and qualify for Salvation.  ANYONE who believes in Jesus can be saved…and blessed.

I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is that we recognize not only our value in Jesus’ eyes…and but the fact that none of us is better than another to Him.  “Country Club Christianity” runs somewhat rampant these days… and it needs to come to a screeching halt.  The concept of “us vs. them” must disappear from our vocabulary – and our thought process.  We need to look at every person we meet as a potential child of God - not a dog underneath the table waiting for scraps – even when they act like that’s where they belong.

Aren’t you tired of “Christians” judging others?  I know I am!  If you have ever for one minute felt like you were an “outsider” – for ANY reason, you know how horrible it feels.  I am so grateful that Jesus does not recognize us in this way…that in His arms, we are ALL are welcome. Jesus is simply waiting for us to show Him that we accept His offer to sit at the table rather than glean scraps from the floor.  Jesus is waiting for us to demonstrate to others that they are loved and accepted…that we know that He wants to share His table with them, as well…and so do we.

In the world of a reality TV fashion design contest, you may be in one day and out the next.  But this is not the case with Jesus.  The question you must settle is where your level of faith and Christian discipleship has positioned you – seated at the table, or on the floor underneath it waiting for scraps.  Make this the day that you hear Jesus say, “Sit with me, and fill your plate.”  And make sure that those you encounter know that they are welcome to join you.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 30, 2016

Mark 7:14-23
Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. Your souls aren’t harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!”

Then he went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had just made.

“Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that what you eat won’t harm your soul? For food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the digestive system.” (By saying this he showed that every kind of food is kosher.)

And then he added, “It is the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly. All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
There has been lots of talk lately in the news about the “5-second rule.”  Apparently, new studies have been done (who pays for these things?!) to determine whether food that is dropped on the floor is safe to eat, if picked up within a certain amount of time - like five seconds. It turns out that there are extenuating circumstances…particularly what type of floor surface was involved and the specific food item in question.

The bottom line is that it probably is NOT a good idea to eat food that has fallen on the floor.  However, we’ve all seen our kids do it before we could get to them to stop this – and the children are still here!  I’ve been volunteering at the elementary school in Timothy and Zola’s classrooms, and I have had to remind myself that children are resilient…and they must have stomachs of iron! As they take turns drinking from the water fountain…eating all sorts of things without using hand sanitizer or washing their hands…and so much more, I try not to think about what they are ingesting!

In a way, you could maintain that we should be more worried about the knowledge and wisdom our children internalize than the potential for a few germs to enter their bodies as they eat their snacks and lunch – or quench their thirst.  And this is essentially the message that Jesus is giving to us about our own daily living.

Too often, we are overly concerned with the wrong things.  We worry about what this one or that one is thinking - or how he/she is living - but we don’t pay a bit of attention to what is in the person’s heart. We condemn all sorts of behaviors from others while demonstrating plenty of sins and “errors” of our own. In The Message, verse 16 says, “It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life; it’s what you vomit—that’s the real pollution.”

So let’s stop worrying so much about “appearances.”  Let’s quit judging others based on surface observations and things that really don’t matter that much…ditch the name calling and overt criticisms…and stop acting like we are better than the other guy because we call ourselves Christians. Let’s take a long hard look at what is in our heart…and what we present to others.

Are our words and actions polluted with sin? Do we have our priorities in line with those of Jesus?  Are we focused on keeping the main thing the main thing? Are we more concerned with keeping up appearances and feeding the body…or feeding the heart and soul?

Jesus is very clear that what we think and say – and how we treat others – matters. Our thoughts, words and actions have lasting consequences.  Are you more worried about the Spiritual “5-second rule”…or spending Eternity in His presence?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 15, 2016

John 3:8-9
As he was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the staring crowd.
 
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”
 
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”
 
Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
I truly believe that God allows us to experience many things in order to teach us empathy for others…including not only events like illness, personal loss, and natural disasters…but our own sins, as well.  We are more empathetic when we have walked in another person’s shoes. Someone who has overcome a handicap is probably more understanding toward those like him/her.  No one can talk to a smoker or another person with an addiction about quitting better than one who has already given up the habit. Unfortunately, the only way to truly understand grief and loss seems to be to experience it firsthand.
 
While personal knowledge and experience may increase our “street cred” when commiserating or encouraging someone else…this does not define our calling – and our ability – to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus with others. To put it another way, you do not have to be an adulterer, murderer, or addict in order to offer love, compassion, and encouragement to someone who is.  Why?  Because we all have sinned in some manner…and in the eyes of Jesus, no one is better or worse than another.
 
So while you judge the single mother whose significant other has been jailed for possession of drugs, you are overlooking that juicy tidbit of gossip you just shared with your best friend.  While you shake your head and talk about the sexual predator who has moved into your neighborhood, you fail to acknowledge that you called someone (whether you know him/her personally or not) an unkind name – or you posted something derogatory about him/her on social media.
 
While you are busy looking down your nose at people you consider “less than” in some manner, you are completely oblivious to the fact that you have done your fair share of breaking Jesus’ commandments - just by passing judgment on another. If all of your sins were laid bare, the world would most likely see just how despicably you have behaved, as well.

The lesson for us is that while we want to pick up the stone and hurl it, we had best take a long hard look at all that we have asked God to forgive in our own lives first.  The time has come to love others with the love of Christ, which means we are going to have to get down off our high horses and stop judging and condemning others.  We need to start looking at everyone with the attitude that we could easily be the ones that other people are so eager to stone.
 
Look around.  Who could use a smile…a hug…a handshake or an encouraging word that says, “I see you…not your mistakes.”?  Do you love others with the love of Christ, regardless of who they are or what they have done?  Do you understand that others look at you with the same disdain because of your own sins and shortcomings?  When will we "put down the stone and" pick up an attitude of kindness and compassion for others, in order to ensure that they seek complete forgiveness from the only One who can truly give it? 
 
Are you ready to practice true Christian discipleship and love of all people?  Will this be the day that you get started?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 21, 2016

1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you.

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

If you have spent any time around children, you’ve probably experienced something that one of them said or did that had you asking, “Where did you learn that?”  The answers will vary…Mom or Dad - or another adult…in a movie…on TV…at the store…at a ballgame…at school.

People are watching.  I know I say that a lot…but it’s the truth.  And no group among us is paying closer attention than our children.  So when we use four-letter words, ugly gestures, or disdainful and insulting talk toward someone else, they notice.  When we gossip, criticize and disparage others, our children assume that this is acceptable.

We tell our kids, “We don’t say those things,” and “We don’t use those words.” But sometimes, they reply with, “So-and-so does!”  Then we have to try to explain why this is not okay – without disrespecting the person who uttered such things.  It’s a slippery slope.  As a teacher, I have experienced this many times.  Even when you ask the child, “Do you see me doing those things?  Do you hear me using those words?”…they often reply, “No, but my mom does…” or “My dad/grandpa does…”  OR, they will say, “I heard this person or that one say these things on television.”  There is certainly plenty of the latter to go around these days!

I ask you…is this really what we want to project to our children – and others?  Youngsters have actually said to me, “When we get to be grown-ups, we can say these things.”  I’ve heard adults say, “He/she doesn’t talk that way in the workplace”…or “It’s just politics.”  It’s as if we have one set of rules for certain people and settings…and another for everyone else.  I think God must hang His head in shame and disgust when we act this way.

You do not have a license to speak in a certain manner…to insult, use foul language, or criticize others…just because you are an adult - or you are in a certain setting.  As a disciple of Christ, you have no business giving someone a special “salute” when he/she cuts you off in traffic…or calling people liars, morons, and names I cannot write in this devotional.  We simply cannot act like this and claim the name of Jesus! Many are trying to do this very thing…but trust me, others see right through the ruse – especially the unbelievers in our midst!

We cannot pick and choose the time and place to honor God’s word.  We cannot justify insults, name-calling, back-biting, spreading rumors and falsehoods, and so much more.  People are watching.  They see how we conduct ourselves in every situation.  And many base their ideas of what it means to follow Jesus on what you and I say and do while claiming to be His disciples.

When others look at you, WHO is represented?  Do you go the second mile to ensure that your words and actions line up with God’s admonition to be kind, humble, and demonstrate love and concern for others?  Are you ready to check your conduct and make sure that you never say/do something that would embarrass or disgrace God?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 20, 2016

1 Peter 3:7
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.

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.

Please don’t skip this devotional.  This verse is about so much more than just how husbands treat their wives. For all of the strides we have made in recognizing the abilities and rights of women AND other “minorities”…we still have a long way to go.

God blessed me with a husband who has never treated me as less than equal.  Yes, Greg is physically stronger than I am.  But I can’t think of anything that he has ever discouraged me from doing because he felt I was not capable intellectually, creatively…or for any other reason.  In our nearly 42 years of marriage, Greg has included me in all decisions, made me his equal, and supported me in any and all endeavors.  And I thank God for such a blessing!

I’ve seen my share of marriages and associations where this was not the case - and that’s where you fit into this message.  See, we tend to treat a lot of people as “less than” - in all sorts of relationships…our jobs…friendships…the community…and even in “church work” and Christian service!  We do not honor and delight in the strengths and abilities of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are often so busy making a name for ourselves that we will do anything and everything to get ahead – even at the expense of someone else.

As this verse illustrates, when we fail to honor – if not elevate - those around us, we diminish our Christian witness.  When we do not acknowledge their importance, God is greatly disappointed.  God takes this into account as He considers our prayers and petitions.  How we treat others matters greatly!

People are watching.  They notice how we treat those with whom we interact…family, friends, co-workers – and even strangers.  When we disparage others…criticize and cut them down…treat them with disrespect as we try to elevate ourselves to a position of superiority, we dishonor God and discount our pledge to be Disciples of Christ.

God doesn’t make any distinction…those in the world spotlight have no more obligation in this regard than “regular folk” like you and I do.  We must stop name calling, criticisms and cutting remarks, crude and ugly references, and any form of disrespect or denigration.  If we are going to truly honor God and represent Him, we have to start treating our wives – and all others – as equals.  There is much work to be done in this area…are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get busy?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 17, 2016

1 John 4:18-21
We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first.

If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen? And God himself has said that one must love not only God but his brother too.

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

This morning as we left church, Timothy’s Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Glenda, said to him…”Remember, God loves you!”  Timothy got in the car telling me that God loves us the MOST!  I said, “Yes!  Imagine…as much as I love you – God loves you MORE!  How can that even be possible?!”  We marveled the rest of the way home about how much God loves us and how we wish we could see Him…but we know that He is with us.  Someday, we will see God face-to-face in Heaven – and it will be glorious.  (We have some pretty deep conversations in the short few blocks from church to home!)

In the pre-K class, we studied Joseph, and how he trusted God even as one bad thing after another happened to him. Through all of this, Joseph trusted God.  Our scripture memory verse has been Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (NIV).  We have talked for at least four weeks now about how Joseph trusted God…even when bad things happened – and how we must do the same.  We must believe that God loves us the MOST…that He will take care of us, hear our prayers, and meet our needs.

Greg and I spent the afternoon with family, and when we returned home, we learned that once again, police officers have been shot and killed – this time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  As I caught up on reading e-mail messages and social media posts, I was heartsick to see that countless people have already begun a barrage of comments and attacks on certain groups – and a particular individual.

Honestly, I don’t know how I am supposed to teach our children that God loves us and wants us to love others when so many who claim the name of Jesus are spewing such hatred and have such unloving attitudes.  I know that as heartbroken as God is about all of the violence that is occurring in our world…He must be equally devastated by the hatefulness being expressed by some of His children toward others.

I hope we will all take a collective breath and search our hearts – and prayerfully ask God to work to bring about some serious attitude adjustments in many of us.  We cannot be part of the solution until we stop being part of the problem…and hating others and assigning blame based on our own agendas or personal preferences is a problem. I don’t know your heart…what might have caused you to be so angry, fearful, or disapproving of a particular person, race, ethnic group, sexual orientation, socio-economic group, gender, religious belief – or whatever.  I know that sometimes people just don’t like someone else because of the way that he/she looks, walks or talks. We humans are terribly judgmental!  But hear this…God is not pleased with our judgments!

If you are bound and determined to continue judging someone else, then quit saying you love God.  Because scripture plainly states that we cannot love God and hate our brother.  If this offends you, take it up with God.  I cannot sugarcoat this.  I plan to meet God face-to-face someday…and I intend to be able to stand before Him and say with 100% assurance that I loved my brothers and sisters…all of them.

This is a tall order, because I must love not only those who are easy to love…but those who want to hate – and hurt.  I have to love the guy with the weird hair and that dirty person who smells funny - and the person who hurt my feelings.  I have to love my “friends” who post ugly things on social media and the people in the public spotlight who call each other horrible names! I’ll tell you, I’m gonna have to spend some time on my knees to accomplish this! But I am fully committed to doing it, because I love God, and I know that He loves me even more. And this is what He requires of me in return.  What about you?©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 12, 2016

Romans 9:15-16
For God had said to Moses, “If I want to be kind to someone, I will. And I will take pity on anyone I want to.” And so God’s blessings are not given just because someone decides to have them or works hard to get them. They are given because God takes pity on those he wants to.

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

“Because I said so!”  If you are an adult of any age who has been around children, you’ve probably uttered this phrase!  On some level, we all seem to understand this concept that grownups don’t always have to justify their decisions to youngsters.  Sometimes, it is enough that the adult made the choice and subsequent pronouncement…and the child must accept and honor it.

So when we want to throw up our hands and ask God, “Why did you help Joe and not me?  Why did that person live while my own loved one died?  Why did you let Sue get by with ABC, while Mary was dragged through the mud for something far less significant?  Why do I work so hard and scrimp and scrape to get by, while Tom and his family always seem to have more than enough and put forth very little effort?”  Sometimes, the plain answer is, “Because I said so.”

Does God do this to be mean?  Is He playing favorites?  I don’t think so.  We’ve all asked the proverbial question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”…and we’ve not always liked the answer.  Sometimes, we simply just don’t get it…and we’re not supposed to. I will be honest…in the last six months, a lot of my good friends and precious loved ones have left this world for heaven.  I’ve been tempted to ask God WHY He took them and left others…people who do have reached a point where they don’t even know that they are alive any longer…people who do not appear to contribute anything to the betterment of society or others in their midst…people who commit deranged and horrific acts of abuse and mistreatment toward people and animals alike.  And if you are really honest, you’ve had these same thoughts.  We know it is not our job to judge – or to pick and choose who lives and dies.  But it is our human nature to wonder – at least silently – why these seeming “injustices” are allowed.

I try to tell myself that the reason God takes some who appear to be doing His work  - and leaves others who seem to be taking up space, if not hurting others – is that He still sees potential for those in the latter group to be redeemed.  Or maybe in the case of “saints” who have aged and declined to the point that they are merely existing…God speaks to others through their presence to accomplish certain plans.

But the bottom line is that it really doesn’t matter what we know about WHY God operates in this manner or that one.  What matters is that we trust Him…that we acknowledge and accept that God is the Supreme Authority of perfect plans…and His choices to receive a hefty dose of grace and mercy are flawless.  Additionally, consider that there might just be people who are wondering why WE receive His grace and mercy on occasion!

A big part of faith in Jesus depends on trust that His ways are not always clear to us…much less in alignment with our thoughts and desires.  Just as young children do not understand why they cannot have a piece of candy – and the adult’s “because I said so” answer doesn’t satisfy – we are not ever going to fully understand all that God allows.  But we must trust that He has a plan…that everything is working according to His purpose.  Our job as Christian disciples is to keep putting one foot ahead of the other - and move forward to share His grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and promise of hope with others.  Because God said so should be more than enough motivation for us to do this.  Will it be enough for you today?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 29, 2016

Celebrating my brother's first birthday.

Matthew 7:3-5
And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own? Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Today, I am thinking of my brother, Tim, who was born 55 years ago on June 29, 1961.  I am also thinking of a childhood friend, Aaron, who came into this world 2 years later.  Both men are in heaven now…Tim left us in 1998 after a lengthy struggle with liver disease…and Aaron fought a valiant battle with cancer that resulted in his death in 2008.  Tim was a Registered Nurse (RN) who specialized in cardiac care.  Aaron was a well-respected general surgeon. Tim was a gay man who never got to have a spouse and children. Aaron was married – and the father of Colby and Aubrey.

Both Tim and Aaron loved God, medicine – and people.  I am confident that neither of them saw others in terms of race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or even gender.  They saw people who had medical needs that they could address…God’s creations…someone who had issues that they were capable of mending in some way.  Both men were very good at what they did and used the gifts that God gave them well.  Both men epitomized the kind of person that I would want to treat me, should I need medical care.

Sadly, as in any profession, I know that there are cases where this is not the norm.  I have personally witnessed people in need of medical care who received the “third degree” because of how they looked…what they were wearing…a perceived idea of their socio-economic level or sexual orientation, and more.  I saw it happen to my Tim…as if because he was a gay man, he was not worthy of the same treatment, kindness, and courtesy as others. I always found this rather odd, because I have a feeling that those same people would have been GLAD to have Tim’s expertise on their side, should they have experienced cardiac arrest!  This even happened to Tim once as he filled out a medical history for two nurses – who both knew that he was an RN and “one of THEM!”

I know there are probably people who think I am something of a “drum-beater” on this issue.  But once it happens to you, the perspective shifts dramatically.  Once you see firsthand how hurtful, destructive, and hypocritical such criticism of others can be, surely one can’t help but behave differently – and champion the feelings of our fellow man. I feel like God has allowed me to see these things in order to sound the bell for others before similar things happen to them – or they engage in such behaviors.  This is my reason for being so vocal about discrimination and mistreatment of others…for any reason.  And I hope and pray that I am never guilty of these things myself…although I suspect that at times, I have indeed been critical - and even hurtful.

Not all of us are called to be surgeons and nurses. Thankfully, we won’t all have to live out our Christian witness via terminal illness.  God has given each one of us a unique purpose on this earth…but each one of us also has our own “plank in the eye.” None of us is perfect.  We will all have moments where we speak without thinking…and say or do things that are hurtful to others – and detrimental to our Christian witness.

God has called us to further His kingdom…not just by TELLING others about Jesus – but also by demonstrating in thought, word and deed that we embrace His teachings of grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, tolerance, kindness, and compassion.  I am so glad that God allowed me to know Tim and Aaron…to see them grow into examples of men who fully accepted their mission and represented Jesus in their daily work.  I hope that I am fulfilling my own Godly assignments…and doing so in a way that honors and glorifies my relationship with Jesus.

Today, I celebrate my brother, Tim, and my sweet friend, Aaron…and all who serve Jesus with unconditional love and kindness.  I am striving to get rid of the “board in my eye” – and keep it at bay forever and ever.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 28, 2016

Matthew 7:1-2    
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

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 caring for my Mam-ma Polly, there were plenty of people who wanted to give me advice.  One night, Mam-ma got out of bed to adjust the air conditioner unit in her Assisted Living apartment, and she tripped over the bedspread and fell.  The result was a broken femur near the hip socket.  As she lay in bed after surgery, unable to even put a sentence together…much less stand or even sit up – we made the decision to place her on Hospice care.  Mam-ma was 99 years young at the time, and the therapy in a nursing home to try to rehabilitate her seemed torturous and futile.

The orthopedic surgeon came for a follow-up visit and mentioned “rehab,” and I explained why we were not doing this.  At first, he seemed surprised, but as I described the situation, he softened. We had not come to this decision lightly…the nurses and therapists had all agreed that my grandmother did not seem to be a likely candidate to walk again.

Mam-ma returned to her apartment, where she lived to the age of 100 years and 123 days. She managed to rehabilitate herself to the point that she could pedal around in a wheelchair (and occasionally walk herself to the bathroom when no one was looking!)…but for all practical purposes, she did not walk again.  I still believe that this was the best decision for her…and one of many options that “outsiders” criticized as we navigated the “senior aging” journey together.

It’s easy to be critical…until it happens to you.  I’ve had many people tell me, “I just had no idea what all is involved (in caring for elderly persons).”  My mother wrote a book about caring for her own parents as they aged (When Heads and Hearts Collide), and everyone who reads it asks, “How did she know what I was experiencing?”  It’s as if she wrote it just for them.  Many of those who criticized how she handled things have had to eat their words as it happened to them!

Here’s the thing…none of us is perfect.  I know I made mistakes in caring for my grandmother…and my mother said more than once that she would have done some things differently, given a “do-over.”  But when we criticize or berate others, we are saying, “I am better than you” …or even “I could have done better!”  We may think we are helping…but often, our comments are thinly veiled attempts to put down another person and build up ourselves.  And God is not amused.

We often fail to recognize how hurtful criticism, nagging, or disparaging treatment is until someone does it to us. So before YOU get hurt – or hurt someone else - take a mental walk in the other guy’s shoes. You don’t have to try to figure out WHY someone behaves a certain way…or what they could have done differently.  You just have to love them with the love of Christ…and leave the judgment to God.

Don’t be guilty of thinking more highly of yourself and your opinions than you ought.  Prayerfully ask God to guide your thoughts, words and actions.  Be known as someone who leaves the judging to God and loves people right where they are…and hopefully they will do the same for you.
      
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 25, 2016

Matthew 18:18-20    
“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

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.

I have grown so weary of what people are saying to one another these days – particularly on social media – that I’ve almost quit reading.  So if I miss an important post from one of you, please understand that it was not my intention to ignore you.  I really do care about the ups and downs in my friends’ lives.  But when they resort to name-calling and vicious criticisms of others, I am just not able to support this.

Let’s focus primarily on one particular line of this scripture passage today… “What you say to one another is eternal.” Jesus could not have been more clear, could He?  I’ve seen some pretty nasty comments lately from people I know and love…and perhaps they were just engaging in some banter that they felt teetered close to the edge of ugliness while remaining harmless.  I am here to say that it is not innocuous…because not everyone knows you.  Not everyone who reads what is posted or hears what is said will have the “back story” and know that this is a teasing exchange between two acquaintances or old friends.

In the same manner, when we share off-color comments – or make them - we are demonstrating a level of acceptance of this kind of behavior…and showing our immaturity in the bargain.  We have to be very careful as Christians to monitor our words and actions.  What we say matters!  What we do is important!  Jesus has told us…these things have eternal consequences!

I think we would all pretty well concede that when we pray for someone – or when two of us agree before God about something, we trust that God will hear our answer and respond according to His will.  When we gather with a friend or two and speak of God or share in His word – or even discuss how God has worked in an area of our lives – God is with us, and He blesses the discussion.  What we don’t seem to recognize is that when we say and do ugly or unkind things…when we “misbehave,” God sees this, too.  And He hangs His head in shame and disgust.  Nothing gets by God!

Maybe you don’t care.  Maybe you think that you will say and do what you please…that Jesus has forgiven your sins, and your seat at His table in heaven is secure – so the rest doesn’t matter.  But I am here to tell you that it does.  Maybe you believe that this person or the other truly is a jerk or an idiot, and telling the world is your job!  It isn’t!  God will handle this situation – and countless others like it – if only you will give the problem to HIM…then back off and allow Him room to work!

Let’s pay closer attention to our words and actions.  Let’s be very careful about labels and criticisms and offering our opinion as “gospel”…because Jesus made it very clear that what we say and do has eternal consequences. In light of this consideration, don’t you want to be more careful?  Will this be the day that you get started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 22, 2016

Luke 6:37-38
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

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.

There is a “local” morning show on television that I like to watch, and each Wednesday, a psychologist is interviewed for a segment on personal relationships.  This morning, she was talking about people who try to do too much and have it all – particularly women.  She said that often, we look at other people and think that they have it all together…and we try to be just like them.  She also pointed out that when we see people in public – or on social media – we are often seeing their best.  Their life may not be all that rosy or carefree behind closed doors.

So what does this have to do with today’s scripture passage?  Every person has a story.  The psychologist pointed out that each one of us has “issues”…struggles, concerns, things that are not perfect in our lives.  And just after this segment aired, I saw a “promo” for a story that will air later about Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade, who says as a child, he had body image issues and would not swim without wearing a shirt.  The promo featured a photo of the incredibly fit and muscular Wade with the tag line that even HE has body issues.  See…we all have our challenges and idiosyncracies!

You’re probably still wondering how this relates to a scripture on judgment and criticism.  So here goes…everybody has issues.  Nobody is perfect. As well as you think you know someone, you really have no clue what is going on in their heart and mind…or maybe in the privacy of their own home.  And they don’t know you, either.  So when you criticize someone or pick on their faults, you are setting yourself up for the same scrutiny.  And others might just end up judging you unfairly.  At the very least, it doesn’t feel good to be criticized or disparaged – about anything!

Before you call someone a “jerk”…or a “screw-up”...or cluck your tongue about this or that thing that he/she said or did…stop and look at your own life.  Remember that time when you acted so foolishly?  Do you recall the incident where your judgment was seriously clouded?  What about the horrible or thoughtless thing you said or did in the heat of the moment?  These misbehaviors do not excuse those of someone else…one person’s sins do not justify another.  But we are not the judge and jury…we are not God!

We cannot have it both ways…although I sometimes wish we could – don’t you?  I’m human…and an imperfect sinner, so yes, there are days when I wish I could rant and rave and rail against the world as if I know what is best!  But I have to stop and remind myself that the person who is getting on my last nerve – or behaving in a manner that is unacceptable to me – has just as much right to a relationship with Jesus and the privilege of being called His precious child as I do.  The same forgiveness that I am afforded is offered to him/her, also.  And judging others is simply “not my circus, not my monkeys.”

I don’t have a handle on this yet…but I am surely working on it. I am asking God each day to give me a heart like His…to allow me to see others as He sees them – and treat them as Jesus demonstrated.  I’m not where I want or need to be yet…but will prayerfully keep trying to do better.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 26, 2016

Proverbs 21:15
Good people celebrate when justice triumphs,
    but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day.

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.

There is a commercial running on local television where two young men are pulled over by a police woman.  The passenger is mocking the driver…making fun of him for getting a ticket…teasing him about how it must feel.  And then the officer walks to the passenger side of the car and writes up the passenger for not wearing his seatbelt. The driver just looks at his passenger friend and smiles.

My mother always told me to do the right thing and let others worry about their own behaviors.  Even when it seemed that some people were “getting away with murder,” I was taught to “take the high road.”  Whether these folks got what they deserved at some point or not was to be of no concern to me.  Don’t misunderstand me…I’m not saying that we should never point out evil deeds or injustice.  But we should not lower ourselves to a level where we call others names, make up lies, treat someone unkindly, and more…just because we don’t like how they are behaving.

Additionally, we should not boast and brag when someone gets his/her due justice.  We shouldn’t be sore losers…but we should not be arrogant “winners,” either!  God wants us to love everyone…the good, the bad, and the ugly.  And this means that we must celebrate victories – but we must not publicly revel in the defeats of others.  We should encourage good behavior rather than always pointing out another person’s faults.  We are to be busy building up God’s Kingdom, rather than tearing down those who do the devil’s work.

The message for me in today’s passage is that God always prevails…and for those who are doing His will, the day that justice triumphs is a good one.  For those who choose to follow the devil and ignore the teachings of Jesus, there will be some bad days – and lots of defeats.  It may not seem that way “to the naked eye,” (think Jesus’ crucifixion) but I assure you, God always makes things right.  Our job is to stick with Him…to trust His timing…and to always do the right thing. 

We are to be like the driver in the commercial, rather than the passenger…focused on the road ahead and doing the right thing rather than making the business of others our own. Which “seat” do you occupy these days?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 3, 2016

1 John 2:9-11
Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

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.
       

My great-aunt Altha (left) and my
maternal grandmother Loree - obviously
on a family picnic.  In the background
is my paternal grandmother, Polly!

Last night I was looking through an old photo album from my mother’s.  I found a photo of my grandmother and my great-aunt – her sister – standing arm-in-arm.  They were obviously on a family outing…both had on red “pedal-pushers” (we sometimes call them “capris” today), and there were items in the background that indicated this was a picnic.  I wanted to get a closer look at this photo, which was dimmed by age.  So I moved the photo album directly under a lamp with a fairly strong light bulb.  I plan to scan the photo and see if I can enhance the details even further with light and shadows, so that I can get a full and clear picture of what was going on that day.

If ever there were an applicable scripture passage for what is currently happening, this is it!  I know that people have been disparaging one another for centuries…but with all of the media that is instantly available to us these days, we are far more aware of this – and much too numb to its effects. 

We have become all too complacent with the darkness of hatred.  You may think it is not only your right – but your DUTY – to speak out against people who observe other religions – or no religious belief at all. You may honestly believe that people who practice alternative lifestyles are sinners who live in immorality. You or someone you know and love may have had an unpleasant experience with a person from another race or ethnic or socioeconomic group, and now you feel justified in lumping everyone from that group together and judging them negatively.

You may be aggravated and disgusted with lazy people who won’t work and those who appear to always have their hand out…often at YOUR expense, if only inadvertently through your tax dollars and charitable gifts.  And you may feel compelled to publicly express your disdain with these folks – even at the risk of including some who really are trying and cannot help their situation and need for assistance.

In each of these situations and circumstances…you may feel completely entitled to shed a little darkness.  And in every one of them, you would be living a contradiction to your Christian faith.  If we truly live in God’s light…we must step aside and let Him shine on every person…with no exceptions.  When we start to criticize, berate, disparage…and yes, HATE someone else…we have effectively blocked God’s light and “blurred the photograph” of others’ lives.  And God is heartbroken by this.

I cannot say this any more effectively than scripture…we cannot claim to live in God’s light and then create an atmosphere of darkness for others.  We cannot say or do anything that might even suggest the impression of blocking His light from anyone else.  We cannot discriminate, condemn, judge, insult, verbally abuse, and yes, HATE other people because they make us uncomfortable or we do not like their words and actions, for whatever reason.  We cannot risk blocking God’s light.  Conversely, we must do everything we can to allow His light to shine even more brightly on all people.

Let me be clear. I am not pleased in the least with a lot of people who are offering their opinions on a variety of subjects and situations these days.  I do not approve of the venom that is being spewed by politicians…the hatred that is directed at so many people and groups.  But insulting these people and trying to “shout them down” in some manner makes us just as bad in God’s eyes. 

Jesus had the power and authority to do this, and yet, the times I can actually count in scripture where He lashed out at someone else are minimal.  Instead He taught us to operate in love, compassion, grace, mercy, forgiveness…and yes, LIGHT!  Jesus demonstrated how we must step aside and let God’s light shine on all people, so that the features and details are fully illuminated and clarified…and His glory can truly be illuminated.

Are we contributing to the darkness with our words and actions?  Or are we positioned so that God’s glory and power shines brightly on others? My question for each of us today is…”Where are we standing?” 

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 2, 2016

Psalm 67:1-7
Our God, be kind and bless us!
    Be pleased and smile.
Then everyone on earth
    will learn to follow you,
    and all nations will see
    your power to save us.
Make everyone praise you
    and shout your praises.
Let the nations celebrate
    with joyful songs,
    because you judge fairly
    and guide all nations.
Make everyone praise you
    and shout your praises.
Our God has blessed the earth
    with a wonderful harvest!
Pray for his blessings
    to continue
    and for everyone on earth
    to worship our God.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
   
It has been four weeks this morning since my mother left for heaven. My mother and I did not physically see each other all that often – even though we lived in the same town.  Mother traveled a lot…and when she was home, she was busy with writing projects and I was busy with little ones.  So we used the telephone and e-mail messages to keep in touch.

One of the frequent topics of conversation between us was politics and the state of the world.  And one of the things that drove my mother nuts was when people would speak with an “exclusive” attitude.  In other words, when people railed against those who practiced other religions…those of other races…and those who discriminated against people who were different from them – in any way…she bristled and was deeply grieved by these words and actions.

As I read this passage, I thought of our conversations…and how Mother and I both shared the desire that EVERYONE would come to know Jesus.  But a lot of us are doing everything in our power to ensure that this doesn’t happen.  How?  By acting superior…ramming our Christian faith down the throats of others…declaring in words and actions that it is “God’s way or the highway” (translation…OUR way).  We really aren’t seeking HIS will…we just want everyone to agree with US!

Go back and CAREFULLY read this passage again.  Learn from the psalmist…be kind and smile…bless others and give them a reason to want to follow our Jesus. Operate in with an attitude of gratitude…with joy and a continual declaration of the blessings of God in your own life.  Demonstrate how God meets your every need – in everything from the joy of your happiest days to the depths of your most profound grief and loss.  Judge fairly – or better yet, don’t judge at all.  Be a walking example of life in Christ that makes others say, “I want what he/she has!”

The world is filled with so much hatred…but if you read scripture, this is nothing new, either!  We seem to be poor, slow learners, when it comes to Christian discipleship and “how to win friends and influence people!”  But we can change this!  We can start today to operate in the words of this Psalm…to praise God and show our gratitude for His blessings…to demonstrate to the world at large how powerful His presence is in our lives…how He makes EVERYTHING better.  We can give them something to seek - JESUS, living in and through us. 

My mother was not perfect.  None of us are.  But over and again during her last days, people spoke of Mother’s kindness and encouragement…and her steadfast Christian faith.  She demonstrated the blessings of Jesus to others…and they noticed.  Can the same be said of you? 

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 13, 2015

Psalm 37:1-2
Don’t be annoyed by anyone
who does wrong,
    and don’t envy them.
They will soon disappear
    like grass without rain.

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

There are probably few among us who haven’t said at some point of another person… “Man, he/she gets buy with murder!  If I did that, I’d be in jail!”  For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would envy a person who lies, cheats, steals, uses bad language,  speaks unkindly of others, or treats anyone poorly.  But this is essentially what we are doing when we make such a statement.

I will tell you, I’ve struggled with writing this devo today.  Perhaps this is partly because this “lesson” hits me squarely between the eyes.  I get exasperated with people who say and do things that are clearly wrong.  Sometimes, I gripe about them…and  sometimes, I turn and look the other way.  I will say, “He’s a good guy – he just can’t seem to control his mouth.”  Or I will say, “I don’t like this and that about a candidate…but he/she is the lesser of the evils, so I’ll vote for him/her anyway.”

The Bible tells us that we are not to judge…and as the second verse in this passage points out, those who “misbehave” don’t actually “win” in the end.  The day will come when we will all have to answer for what we have said and done.  Meanwhile, the misdeeds of others are really “not our circus – not our monkeys.”  And worrying about them doesn’t do any of us one bit of good.

Instead, let’s focus on ourselves.  There are times when we must speak out and say, “That is wrong”…or “I cannot condone this.”  But when we dwell on the poor choices of others and worry about them instead of focusing on our own words and actions, we have failed to trust God to handle all things. It really is a matter of “walking the walk” vs. “talking the talk!”

Look…on any given day, we have our hands full with our own thoughts and deeds.  Worrying about the other guy truly is a waste of our time and energy – and a demonstration of dishonor and mistrust toward God.  And none of us wants that…do we?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 2, 2015

Romans 14:10-12
So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

“As I live and breathe,” God says,
    “every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
    that I and only I am God.”

So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

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.

As I read this scripture passage, I thought about my Facebook friends.  I pictured many of them, and I made a mental list of things I knew about challenges and “issues” that each one is facing or has had to face.  This one’s son is being deployed to the Middle East…and that one’s son is undergoing tests at Mayo Clinic.  One has spent an entire year molding and shaping her body into an amazing work of muscular art through careful diet and weight training…while another who is working with a personal trainer recently posted a picture of a pair of jeans with the caption, “Well, HELLO, size 12!”

Some are dealing with the aftermath of breakups, while others are planning weddings or anticipating the birth of a new baby.  Some are experiencing discrimination because of their sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views…while others are the ones who are discriminating and criticizing.  Some are gaga for their dogs, and others are unapologetically in the cat camp.  Some are all about the lives and activities of their kids…while others are totally into the enjoyment of retirement living.

I imagined each one of us standing side-by-side in something non-descript - surgical scrubs, perhaps – barefoot and stripped of caps, jewelry, makeup, and other “adornments”.   You can’t always see a person’s characteristics and preferences with the naked eye.  You can’t always know what is going on behind the scenes in their lives.  You also cannot see their heart…or their heartaches.  You can’t know for certain what kind of relationship they have with God…or what is truly in their hearts.  But God knows ALL of this.  And as this passage tells, at the end of the day when we kneel before Him, He will decide who has served Him well and “lived right”...not you and I.

We have to get this right.  We have to quit criticizing…to “live and let live”…and to get on with focusing on getting our OWN lives in order.  We only have one responsibility…and that is to mind our own business and live in such a way that God is honored as we serve Him.  In the current vernacular, we need to learn to “stay in our lane.”  For many of us, this is really hard.  We want to make suggestions…to impose OUR thoughts and feelings onto others…to interject ourselves into their lives.  If only they would do this or say that or think another way – in other words, be more like us! – their lives would be so much better!

Do you see how skewed this is?  Do you understand how this displeases God…how we place ourselves in an unmerited position of authority?  Are you ready to humble yourself and find your true place as Christ’s disciple?  Will this be the day that you start to look at other people as God sees them…and quit criticizing and looking at them with condescension?  Don’t you think it should be?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 7, 2015

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’

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 friend posted an aerial photo on Facebook of the home of a well-known televangelist.  Her caption was, “Room for a refugee or two? Too far out of your comfort zone? I just can't relate to you, Mr. XYZ.”  I get it…I truly do.  It’s hard for us to believe those who want to tell us what God’s word says to those who are struggling, hurting and downtrodden, while they live in “McMansions” and fly around the country on luxury jets – all while calling on us to “give until it hurts” at the altars of their churches.

Please open your heart and mind to what I am about to say. This is not for us to judge. We don’t have to listen to these people or follow their teachings.  We do not have to attend the churches in which they lead.  But we cannot condemn them or make any judgments about how they conduct their own lives.  There are two reasons for this that come to mind, and I will try to explain both of them.

The first is a no-brainer…Jesus tells us not to judge others.  It’s scriptural, and that should be all that we need to know.  But there is another thing to consider...we do not know how God might be using this person. Almost two decades ago, I found myself compelled to watch the teaching/preaching of a certain televangelist.  I began to study his sermons…to dig deeply into my Bible and to discover what God had to say to me.  I started watching other televangelists and Bible scholars and reading their books and commentaries. 

I learned a lot about my relationship with God and what the scriptures have to say…I was reawakened to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I was also prayerfully cautious to sift through what these people were saying and find God’s truth. I did not buy what they were “selling” hook, line and sinker.  And yes, I was disappointed when some of them began to take an ugly turn…to ask for millions of dollars for new jets…to be arrested for domestic violence…to be investigated by the federal government for alleged violations of “possible misuse of donations.”

But here’s the thing…God used these people to speak to me – and to countless others.  And while they may have taken a wrong turn, haven’t we all?  Except for His grace, couldn’t others criticize us just as much for our own hypocritical words and actions? 

So what does this all mean for us as faith-filled Christians?  Are we to turn a blind eye to hypocrites and those who claim the name of Jesus to support their own selfish desires and agendas?  For me, the answer is that we must let God do the judging.  And just as importantly, we must make sure that our own thoughts, words and actions are above board at all times.  We must not fall into the devil’s trap of saying and doing one thing while acting in another manner.  We must be certain that we are about the LORD’s business…and busy minding that instead of someone else’s.

We must be careful about who we follow and remember that we are all mere mortals…sinful, vulnerable, and capable of falling into the traps of the devil at any given moment.  We must make sure that we are truly “Godly” in our daily living…and not merely giving others the appearance that we are “religious.” 

It’s time to check our words and actions to see where we are truly showing up for Jesus…and where we are simply making a show.  I pray that God will use you and me to further His kingdom…in spite of our own sins and shortcomings…and that He will grant us wisdom and restraint to always reflect His teachings - and not our own agendas. I also pray that God will grant me humility…that I may let Him make the judgment on others - and render their verdict as He deems appropriate.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 25, 2015

Luke 6:37-42
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

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’ve seen some pretty stark examples in the news media lately of people who criticized others with no regard to their own “ugly sneer.”  Sadly, you can probably name several…the list seems quite lengthy on any given day.

It is puzzling to me that we cannot seem to get over ourselves…that we have heard this passage of scripture all of our lives, yet criticism and judgment of others has almost become a global hobby. We seem to take delight in the misery and downfall of others. Perhaps it is because we think this makes us look better.  It doesn’t.

I can’t add a whole lot to these words in Luke 6.  Read them again and again until they are imprinted on your heart and mind.  The next time you start to bombast “the other guy,” stop and take a look in the mirror.  There but for the grace of God go you…and on any given day, the spotlight could easily shine a little brightly in your direction! 

Here is your exercise for today…sit quietly and think about Jesus.  Picture Him on the cross…or walking toward you – His soft-yet-strong, loving arms spread widely to receive you.  Imagine that you have just blown it – big time.  Still, He is there…embracing you…dying for you…forgiving you…loving you.  Now put that person you have just criticized or condemned in your place.  Yep!  Jesus is still there…what He offers to each of us, He also offers to that person you judged and discarded!

Let this message really soak into the depths of your soul today.  Learn to stop yourself mid-criticism, and remember that you serve a God who loves ALL of us – even that person.  Get so comfortable with this concept that you make love your all-purpose garment…that treating others with contempt becomes almost a foreign concept!  As you begin to go easier on people, discover how much more peaceful your own daily living becomes.  Treat others as you wish to be treated…as JESUS treats them. Operate in His love and peace…and trade the devil’s contempt for Christ's continual peace and blessings.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 17, 2015

James 4:11-12
My friends, don’t say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God’s Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?

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

Today is the first day of public school for children in our state.  I have every confidence that there were more than a few children who entered the doors of their classrooms with at least a little trepidation…and probably even MORE mothers who tearfully left them.  I still remember one mother who stood at the door to my classroom…tears pouring down her face…and said, “This is SO hard!”  I knew that her child would be perfectly fine…and so would she. I could see a part of the “story” that she could not…I knew that within five minutes of her departure, her child would probably be playing with the other children – as happy as a clam.  But it was hard to convince this mom…and there may have been a little “eye-rolling” on my part! 

I have to admit…as I’ve watched our little ones begin their school “career” one-by-one, I have better understood the tug at a parent’s heartstrings when these “babies” step out into the big world.  I see their side of the “story.”  I know what it’s like as a teacher for parents to say, “You just don’t understand”…and I know how that feels for the parents.  I also know what it’s like for a child to have some natural apprehension about an unfamiliar setting and new people.  I “get” all sides.  And this has been a good lesson for me in why criticism and condemnation is a bad idea.

So often, we only see our “side” of things.  And that’s where we get into trouble.  Whether we operate out of fear, misinformation, or just a judgmental spirit, we are sometimes condescending and hypercritical of other people and situations...and often, we don’t have a complete picture that includes all of the information.  More importantly, we fail to realize that when we do this to others, we are doing the same to God. So when we criticize the person who we think is “lazy, different, or worthless,” we are essentially saying that God does not have the power or desire to make changes in these people…that He intentionally creates “junk”…and this is simply not the case.

When we are judgmental of another person for their choices…or because of their size and appearance, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, struggles of some kind, socio-economic status, or even their spiritual beliefs…we are declaring that God created divisions among us and surely must love us more than the other guy.  And we should know better! 

As the late Maya Angelou said (and I’m paraphrasing)…“When we know better, we must do better.” If we trust God and believe that He has created us and loves each of us equally, we must act like it.  This doesn’t leave any room for criticism and condemnation.  Just as surely as the first day of school will come and go and all will settle into their roles and routines, we must trust God to show each of us our “role” and routine…and leave the “fixing” to Him.  We.can.do.this! Are you with me?

©2015 Debbie Robus