October 2 ~ Mark 7:31-37
Jesus left the region around Tyre and
went by way of Sidon toward Lake Galilee. He went through the land near
the ten cities known as Decapolis. Some people brought to him a man who
was deaf and could hardly talk. They begged Jesus just to touch him.
After
Jesus had taken him aside from the crowd, he stuck his fingers in the
man’s ears. Then he spit and put it on the man’s tongue. Jesus looked up
toward heaven, and with a groan he said, “Effatha!”which means “Open
up!” At once the man could hear, and he had no more trouble talking
clearly.
Jesus told the people not to say anything about what he
had done. But the more he told them, the more they talked about it. They
were completely amazed and said, “Everything he does is good! He even
heals people who cannot hear or talk.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When
my mother was admitted to the hospital about a week before she died,
she was adamant that there were to be “no visitors” outside of immediate
family. She made an exception or two, but we did our best to screen
those who entered the room – and subsequently, those who came to
Mother’s home while she was on Hospice Care. For the most part, her
wishes were honored…but still, there were times that I am sure she felt
there were too many people around her.
It’s not that my mother
was asocial…far from it! It’s not even that she did not want people to
see her in a failing condition in her last days…although that was part
of it. More than anything, Mother had things she knew she needed to
attend to while she could…and she didn’t want distractions from anyone
or anything that wasn’t germane to her agenda. Even at that, there were a
couple of times when she told me, “We need to talk” – and then someone
entered the room, and the conversation never took place.
I
don’t dwell on this…but I do wonder sometimes what my mother wanted to
talk about with me…what might have gone unsaid. And yet, I do know that
many significant conversations did occur…that even in Mother’s last
days of consciousness, she made important personal wishes known to
some…and shared Jesus’ plan of salvation with others. I make no
apologies for guarding the door and doing my best to honor her desire
for “no visitors,” because I know there were valid reasons for this
request.
When we read that Jesus healed a deaf man and told those
in the crowd not to talk of it, I can see that He was not necessarily
saying to hide His miracles from others. Jesus knew that word of these
healings would leak out…but He also knew that His miracles would draw
crowds and a lot of attention – and possibly create an unnecessary distraction. I
believe that this story in Mark 7 reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing!
Too
often, we are so busy judging others and condemning their sins that we
squander our opportunities to share how Jesus has blessed and redeemed
us…how He has worked in our lives. When we waste time and energy criticizing others, we totally negate the value and sincerity of our own testimony.
So
many “causes” that we support in the name of Jesus are nothing more
than distractions that draw a crowd of people and divert their focus
from what Jesus is really trying to share with them. We attend this
rally or that one…sign petitions…or post memes on social media…all to
show that we are supporting XYZ for Jesus. And instead, Jesus would
have been better served if we had been His hands and feet in physical
service to those in need.
As we go about our daily living and
discipleship, where are we attracting a crowd rather than focusing on
the mission at hand? Where are we setting the scene for distractions
that detract from what God wants us to accomplish? Will this be the day
that you shift your focus and pare down your activities to those that
are truly relevant to Christ’s mission for you as His disciple? Don’t
you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label keep the main thing the main thing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keep the main thing the main thing. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 9, 2016
September 9 ~ John 3:27-30
John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start?
“That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
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.
During the Sunday school lesson last week for second and third graders, I mentioned my brother Tim, who died almost 18 years ago. It was like a light bulb went on in Timothy’s head, and he said, “OH! So Uncle Tim was named for ME?” I smiled and explained that it was the other way around…that Uncle Tim was here first. This was logical thinking for a seven-year-old. Little children tend to believe that the world revolves around them. And I will have to say that most of the time, Timothy is unusually empathetic for his age. Still…every child has his/her moments.
You and I are no longer children. We cannot afford the “luxury” of selfish thinking…much less the assumption that “we’ve got this” by ourselves. There is no way that we can navigate “life” on our own for even the shortest amount of time. And if you believe differently, you are in for some pretty big heartaches and disappointments.
A friend shared a post on Facebook that started off, “Imagine getting to heaven and hearing God say”…and then “God” described how thought of us before we were born…laid out plans for us and prepared the way. “God” noted how He gave us time to accomplish these goals and supplied us with the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us…and provided us with missions and opportunities to fulfill them. And then it ends with “Let’s talk about how that all went.”
Too many of us want to have Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our hip pocket…but we still want the spotlight. We want it to be all about us…about our needs and desires. We spend our lives asking, “Is it fun? Will I enjoy this? Will it make me happy? What about ME?” And the truth is…it’s not about us at all. There’s an old hymn – “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” - that says, “Thou are the potter, I am the clay.” Jesus is the bridegroom…you and I are just the “bridesmaids and groomsmen.” Our job is to support Him…to fulfill His plans and missions…to step aside and bask in the rays of His limelight.
A little self-absorption is cute when you are a child…but it is in no way an attractive quality in adults…especially people who are supposed to represent Jesus. Humility, servitude, and the desire to keep Christ front and center are hallmarks of a faithful Christian disciple. It may never be “your turn” or “about you”…and that’s okay. When Jesus is given top priority, all other things fall into place as He designed. THIS is what truly matters!
When God has the talk with you about “how things went,” what will you have to say for yourself? Have you stepped aside and given Jesus the spotlight? Or are you still fighting to get off the sidelines and take center stage? How you answer makes all the difference…both now and for all eternity. Where are you standing today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start?
“That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
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.
During the Sunday school lesson last week for second and third graders, I mentioned my brother Tim, who died almost 18 years ago. It was like a light bulb went on in Timothy’s head, and he said, “OH! So Uncle Tim was named for ME?” I smiled and explained that it was the other way around…that Uncle Tim was here first. This was logical thinking for a seven-year-old. Little children tend to believe that the world revolves around them. And I will have to say that most of the time, Timothy is unusually empathetic for his age. Still…every child has his/her moments.
You and I are no longer children. We cannot afford the “luxury” of selfish thinking…much less the assumption that “we’ve got this” by ourselves. There is no way that we can navigate “life” on our own for even the shortest amount of time. And if you believe differently, you are in for some pretty big heartaches and disappointments.
A friend shared a post on Facebook that started off, “Imagine getting to heaven and hearing God say”…and then “God” described how thought of us before we were born…laid out plans for us and prepared the way. “God” noted how He gave us time to accomplish these goals and supplied us with the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us…and provided us with missions and opportunities to fulfill them. And then it ends with “Let’s talk about how that all went.”
Too many of us want to have Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our hip pocket…but we still want the spotlight. We want it to be all about us…about our needs and desires. We spend our lives asking, “Is it fun? Will I enjoy this? Will it make me happy? What about ME?” And the truth is…it’s not about us at all. There’s an old hymn – “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” - that says, “Thou are the potter, I am the clay.” Jesus is the bridegroom…you and I are just the “bridesmaids and groomsmen.” Our job is to support Him…to fulfill His plans and missions…to step aside and bask in the rays of His limelight.
A little self-absorption is cute when you are a child…but it is in no way an attractive quality in adults…especially people who are supposed to represent Jesus. Humility, servitude, and the desire to keep Christ front and center are hallmarks of a faithful Christian disciple. It may never be “your turn” or “about you”…and that’s okay. When Jesus is given top priority, all other things fall into place as He designed. THIS is what truly matters!
When God has the talk with you about “how things went,” what will you have to say for yourself? Have you stepped aside and given Jesus the spotlight? Or are you still fighting to get off the sidelines and take center stage? How you answer makes all the difference…both now and for all eternity. Where are you standing today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 31, 2015
Matthew 17:1-8
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Billy Graham…John Hagee…Joyce Meyer…Beth Moore…Dr. Phil…Deepak Chopra…the Dalai Lama…Bill O’Reilly…Anderson Cooper…Rachel Maddow…Megyn Kelly...your pastor…your children…your spouse or significant other…your home, car and possessions…your job…your hobby…your favorite team…your pet...your favorite entertainer or celebrity...
All of these, and countless other people and things that we could list, have been given a place of “worship” in the lives of many of us. We have essentially made “shelters” for people and things that are not nearly as worthy of adoration as we make them. In fact, God clearly indicates in this passage that only ONE is worthy of praise and reverence! Even the likes of Moses and Elijah – both great men of God – are not who we should place on such a pedestal.
There is nothing wrong with having respect and admiration for great men and women of God…or people whom we feel are intelligent and have their finger on the pulse of current events or seem to have figured out quite a bit about mental health and sound living. We should honor our spouses, children and pets – and care deeply about them. We need to work hard, do our best, and make every effort to be well-rounded and interesting. It’s fine to have hobbies and to support a team or three – or to enjoy the performances and talents of someone else.
But we must be careful to remember Who deserves our ultimate worship. We must remember that God chose Jesus…His beloved Son, to lead and guide us. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins…and in return, we are told to obey Him…to follow His teachings and make Him the center of our being - not something or someone else.
So let’s examine our hearts and lives today and see Who we have made the object of our adoration. Where have we misplaced our loyalties…if only a little. Where do we need to shift and adjust our focus – and place it more squarely on Jesus Christ? Are we ready to make only ONE shelter in our hearts and minds – for the One who truly deserves it? Don’t you think this is a good day to start?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Billy Graham…John Hagee…Joyce Meyer…Beth Moore…Dr. Phil…Deepak Chopra…the Dalai Lama…Bill O’Reilly…Anderson Cooper…Rachel Maddow…Megyn Kelly...your pastor…your children…your spouse or significant other…your home, car and possessions…your job…your hobby…your favorite team…your pet...your favorite entertainer or celebrity...
All of these, and countless other people and things that we could list, have been given a place of “worship” in the lives of many of us. We have essentially made “shelters” for people and things that are not nearly as worthy of adoration as we make them. In fact, God clearly indicates in this passage that only ONE is worthy of praise and reverence! Even the likes of Moses and Elijah – both great men of God – are not who we should place on such a pedestal.
There is nothing wrong with having respect and admiration for great men and women of God…or people whom we feel are intelligent and have their finger on the pulse of current events or seem to have figured out quite a bit about mental health and sound living. We should honor our spouses, children and pets – and care deeply about them. We need to work hard, do our best, and make every effort to be well-rounded and interesting. It’s fine to have hobbies and to support a team or three – or to enjoy the performances and talents of someone else.
But we must be careful to remember Who deserves our ultimate worship. We must remember that God chose Jesus…His beloved Son, to lead and guide us. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins…and in return, we are told to obey Him…to follow His teachings and make Him the center of our being - not something or someone else.
So let’s examine our hearts and lives today and see Who we have made the object of our adoration. Where have we misplaced our loyalties…if only a little. Where do we need to shift and adjust our focus – and place it more squarely on Jesus Christ? Are we ready to make only ONE shelter in our hearts and minds – for the One who truly deserves it? Don’t you think this is a good day to start?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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