2 Samuel 7:18-29
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:
Lord
All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done
for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you
usually treat people? I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so
there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful
thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep
your promise.
Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others.
No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard
about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel,
the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became
famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and
their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have
chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.
And
now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants.
Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God
All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen
kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful.
You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I
have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your
servant.
Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me
some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise.
Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings.
You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family
forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Don’t
make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or
some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot
about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.” Both of these
quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools.
So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a
promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”
I bet if you
are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made
to you and never kept. But over the course of your life, there are
probably at least one or two promises you were given that never
happened. And you remember this like it happened yesterday. I try to
be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones. They
have memories like elephants! If I promise that the next time they
visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me. If I promise Owen that I
will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring
me?” Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!” Sometimes it is implied. Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.
See,
the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of
mushrooming into big ones. It’s sort of like “little white lies”. Once
you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to
lie about more significant things. The next thing you know, your life
is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or
promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess
you’ve created!
Thankfully, God never breaks a promise. So we
need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises
made…and kept. I love the verses in this passage where David tells God
that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to
you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his
prayers – and to bless him and his family. David can truly “rest in the
LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.
Do you know
this sort of “rest”? Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s
promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do
another? Are you a faithful model of this in your own life? Are you a
person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble
to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your
relationships with others? Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the
excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship
of kept promises with God? Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start?
You won’t regret it…I promise!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label keeping promises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping promises. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2013
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 9, 2012
James 2:14-17
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
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.
One day last fall, I promised Timothy I would come and get him on Sunday morning at his grandparents’ house. We had a commitment on Saturday night, so he stayed with my sister and her husband. My sister let me know that there was really no need for me to come after Timothy on Sunday. She was working, but she assured me that Timothy’s grandfather could watch him while she was away. However, I had promised to come after him. A few people said, “He won’t remember”… and maybe he wouldn’t. But I made a promise… and I wasn’t about to break it - unless circumstances were beyond my control.
If you know me very well, you know that I am something of a stickler for people keeping their word. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you promise to call or stop by… you should call or stop by! If you can’t follow through on a promise, don’t make it. And in my opinion, this starts with small children. It really shouldn’t matter whether the person will remember or not… GOD remembers! He has called us to a life of words and deeds… and the two should match!
So think carefully – and prayerfully – about what you say and do. Look for ways to offer words of encouragement… but back them up with action! The old adage “Don’t make promises you can’t keep” applies… even to phone calls, visits, and commitments to show up in life. By the same token, don’t be a person who is “all talk and no action.” A fully committed disciple of Christ is ready to serve with words and deeds! I promise you… the times you get out of your comfort zone and get off your duff to serve will be your best moments as a Christian.
A couple of weekends ago, the husband of one of my dad’s cousins died. His visitation was in Searcy, some thirty miles away. I had a prior commitment on the day of the funeral and knew I could not attend. So I decided to drive over for the visitation. I really didn’t want to spend my Friday evening this way. I had a lot going on already, and this was not in my plans. But I did it, because I felt that it was the right thing to do… to go and support my cousin and his family in the loss of his dad. I have to tell you, I am so glad I went. I visited with a half-dozen or more cousins I have not seen in a while… some for decades. We reconnected and exchanged Facebook info so we could keep up… and we reminisced about fun times spent at our grandmothers’ houses.
Had I blown off the visitation, I could have sent my cousin a condolence note and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the visitation.” That would have been a true statement, and he would have understood. But I would not have been obedient to God’s command to be a disciple of words and actions! And the look on my cousin’s face when I reached him in the receiving line told me that I had done the right thing.
Before you go adding stars to my crown, be assured that there have been plenty of times that I have failed miserably in this department. I’ve skipped funerals I should have attended, put off phone calls, substituted a note for a visit, and made promises I couldn’t keep. But I am reminded in this scripture that these are not the behaviors of a true Disciple of Christ! This is not how faith-filled Christians behave. Dr. Seuss’s character, Horton the Elephant, says, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant… an elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!” I want to be a “Horton” kind of Christian… don’t you? Will you join me today and renew your commitment to put your words… and deeds… into action each and every day? Will your God-talk be followed up with God-acts? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
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.
One day last fall, I promised Timothy I would come and get him on Sunday morning at his grandparents’ house. We had a commitment on Saturday night, so he stayed with my sister and her husband. My sister let me know that there was really no need for me to come after Timothy on Sunday. She was working, but she assured me that Timothy’s grandfather could watch him while she was away. However, I had promised to come after him. A few people said, “He won’t remember”… and maybe he wouldn’t. But I made a promise… and I wasn’t about to break it - unless circumstances were beyond my control.
If you know me very well, you know that I am something of a stickler for people keeping their word. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you promise to call or stop by… you should call or stop by! If you can’t follow through on a promise, don’t make it. And in my opinion, this starts with small children. It really shouldn’t matter whether the person will remember or not… GOD remembers! He has called us to a life of words and deeds… and the two should match!
So think carefully – and prayerfully – about what you say and do. Look for ways to offer words of encouragement… but back them up with action! The old adage “Don’t make promises you can’t keep” applies… even to phone calls, visits, and commitments to show up in life. By the same token, don’t be a person who is “all talk and no action.” A fully committed disciple of Christ is ready to serve with words and deeds! I promise you… the times you get out of your comfort zone and get off your duff to serve will be your best moments as a Christian.
A couple of weekends ago, the husband of one of my dad’s cousins died. His visitation was in Searcy, some thirty miles away. I had a prior commitment on the day of the funeral and knew I could not attend. So I decided to drive over for the visitation. I really didn’t want to spend my Friday evening this way. I had a lot going on already, and this was not in my plans. But I did it, because I felt that it was the right thing to do… to go and support my cousin and his family in the loss of his dad. I have to tell you, I am so glad I went. I visited with a half-dozen or more cousins I have not seen in a while… some for decades. We reconnected and exchanged Facebook info so we could keep up… and we reminisced about fun times spent at our grandmothers’ houses.
Had I blown off the visitation, I could have sent my cousin a condolence note and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the visitation.” That would have been a true statement, and he would have understood. But I would not have been obedient to God’s command to be a disciple of words and actions! And the look on my cousin’s face when I reached him in the receiving line told me that I had done the right thing.
Before you go adding stars to my crown, be assured that there have been plenty of times that I have failed miserably in this department. I’ve skipped funerals I should have attended, put off phone calls, substituted a note for a visit, and made promises I couldn’t keep. But I am reminded in this scripture that these are not the behaviors of a true Disciple of Christ! This is not how faith-filled Christians behave. Dr. Seuss’s character, Horton the Elephant, says, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant… an elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!” I want to be a “Horton” kind of Christian… don’t you? Will you join me today and renew your commitment to put your words… and deeds… into action each and every day? Will your God-talk be followed up with God-acts? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2011
2 Kings 20:1-11
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. Isaiah the prophet went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, so you had better start doing what needs to be done."
Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, "Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with this message: Hezekiah, you are the ruler of my people, and I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will heal you, so that three days from now you will be able to worship in my temple. I will let you live fifteen years more, while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city as an honor to me and to my servant David.
Then Isaiah said to the king's servants, "Bring some mashed figs and place them on the king's open sore. He will then get well." Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "Can you prove that the LORD will heal me, so that I can worship in his temple in three days?"
Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" "It's normal for the sun to go forward," Hezekiah answered. "But how can it go back?" Isaiah prayed, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Four years ago, my husband and I moved into a new house that had been constructed for us by a local builder, his son, and other members of the his crew. Over the years, we have used this builder more than once, and he has become our trusted friend. We know that he will always do what he promises. So when we moved into our present house, we were not surprised to see his son drive up one afternoon, bucket and rags in hand. “I have come to wash your windows,” he said. “I told you I would not present your final bill until those outside windows were clean.” He washed all of the windows, as promised.
Truthfully, we had not even thought about the windows. We trusted that everything the builder and his son promised to do would get done. And they proved us right. Yes, we gave them “punch lists” of things to complete, but we didn’t have to have a written contract. They didn’t have to knock on the door and say, “I did XYZ.” They listened to our requests and answered us.
I can understand Hezekiah’s desire for proof that God was going to heal him and give him 15 more years of life. And frankly, there are a lot of people who make a lot of promises in this world that leave me saying, “Prove it!” But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father, we have no need to worry. We’ve already had all the proof we need in the blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. He was willing to lay down His own life for our sins… so why would He ever default on a promise?!
As much as this passage is a reminder to trust the promises of God and rest assured that He will deliver, according to His perfect will… it is also a message to us to be faithful in our own promises. If you tell a friend you will call, pick up the phone and follow through. If you promise to do something for someone else, do it. Don’t tell Grandma you will come to see her, and then skip the visit. Don’t promise your little brother you will read to him before bedtime, then make up excuses and do something else. Don’t commit your heart to a significant other, and then look around for someone better. And don’t promise to love God and serve Him with all your heart, then wander off to do whatever you please and serve your own desires… or worse yet – those of the devil.
God will never make a promise He can’t keep… and neither should we. There’s one more thing you should notice. Hezekiah cried and poured out his heart to God… and God listened. I’m not saying that all we have to do is cry and whine, and God will change His mind and do what we please. But God wants us to be honest with Him. When our desires line up with His and we call out to Him, He hears us and answers accordingly. Communicate with God… trust Him… and honor His faithfulness to fulfill promises by exercising integrity in your own relationships.
©2011 Debbie Robus
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. Isaiah the prophet went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, so you had better start doing what needs to be done."
Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, "Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with this message: Hezekiah, you are the ruler of my people, and I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will heal you, so that three days from now you will be able to worship in my temple. I will let you live fifteen years more, while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city as an honor to me and to my servant David.
Then Isaiah said to the king's servants, "Bring some mashed figs and place them on the king's open sore. He will then get well." Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "Can you prove that the LORD will heal me, so that I can worship in his temple in three days?"
Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" "It's normal for the sun to go forward," Hezekiah answered. "But how can it go back?" Isaiah prayed, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Four years ago, my husband and I moved into a new house that had been constructed for us by a local builder, his son, and other members of the his crew. Over the years, we have used this builder more than once, and he has become our trusted friend. We know that he will always do what he promises. So when we moved into our present house, we were not surprised to see his son drive up one afternoon, bucket and rags in hand. “I have come to wash your windows,” he said. “I told you I would not present your final bill until those outside windows were clean.” He washed all of the windows, as promised.
Truthfully, we had not even thought about the windows. We trusted that everything the builder and his son promised to do would get done. And they proved us right. Yes, we gave them “punch lists” of things to complete, but we didn’t have to have a written contract. They didn’t have to knock on the door and say, “I did XYZ.” They listened to our requests and answered us.
I can understand Hezekiah’s desire for proof that God was going to heal him and give him 15 more years of life. And frankly, there are a lot of people who make a lot of promises in this world that leave me saying, “Prove it!” But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father, we have no need to worry. We’ve already had all the proof we need in the blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. He was willing to lay down His own life for our sins… so why would He ever default on a promise?!
As much as this passage is a reminder to trust the promises of God and rest assured that He will deliver, according to His perfect will… it is also a message to us to be faithful in our own promises. If you tell a friend you will call, pick up the phone and follow through. If you promise to do something for someone else, do it. Don’t tell Grandma you will come to see her, and then skip the visit. Don’t promise your little brother you will read to him before bedtime, then make up excuses and do something else. Don’t commit your heart to a significant other, and then look around for someone better. And don’t promise to love God and serve Him with all your heart, then wander off to do whatever you please and serve your own desires… or worse yet – those of the devil.
God will never make a promise He can’t keep… and neither should we. There’s one more thing you should notice. Hezekiah cried and poured out his heart to God… and God listened. I’m not saying that all we have to do is cry and whine, and God will change His mind and do what we please. But God wants us to be honest with Him. When our desires line up with His and we call out to Him, He hears us and answers accordingly. Communicate with God… trust Him… and honor His faithfulness to fulfill promises by exercising integrity in your own relationships.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 12, 2011
1 Kings 4:12-13
If you obey my commands and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this temple you are building, and I will not desert them.
Psalm 111:7-8
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In many ways, two-year-olds trust no one! I promise Timothy that he can play outside when he wakes from a nap, but he doesn’t believe me. I tell him that he cannot play on the stairs unattended, because he might fall… but he has to take a little tumble to be convinced. We tell him that the kitties don’t want to be bothered, but he has to get a spit and a swat from them to believe it.
We always have Timothy’s very best interest at heart… but he doesn’t see it that way at all! In this little two-year-old’s mind, every time we leave without him, we’ve deserted him forever. We have broken every promise we ever made… and he is crushed. The good news is that we do honor our promises, and his trust is always restored. He forgets all about being upset with us and showers us with hugs and kisses and giggles.
Do you think God sees us as His very own two-year-olds? Don’t we behave much like little Timothy? Do we not act as if God’s promises are unbelievable and unworthy of our trust? Don’t we treat God like He has completely deserted us at the first sign of trouble? Aren’t we crushed the second God tells us to stand on our own two feet and operate in faith that He will carry us through whatever we are facing?
Timothy will grow up soon enough. Hopefully, he will learn who to trust… and when he is being told the truth. For us as Christians, the time to grow up is NOW! We can no longer act like fickle two-year-olds. God has told us… shown us… demonstrated over and again His power, love, grace, and mercy. He has delivered on countless promises already… and assured us that He will make good on hundreds more.
We must mature in our faith and trust God to do what He says. We must recognize His laws as honest, fair, and in our best interest. We must believe that He will hear our prayers and answer in a way that is perfect for our situation. And we must shower Him with “hugs, kisses and giggles” in the form of our praise and devotion… our service and gratitude.
Growing up is never easy… whether you are a two-year-old just learning the ropes or a Christian trying to operate in total surrender of self. Both are a process… but you have to start somewhere. Are you ready to trust God and believe Him? Are you growing in your faith… or are stuck in the “terrible twos”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
If you obey my commands and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this temple you are building, and I will not desert them.
Psalm 111:7-8
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In many ways, two-year-olds trust no one! I promise Timothy that he can play outside when he wakes from a nap, but he doesn’t believe me. I tell him that he cannot play on the stairs unattended, because he might fall… but he has to take a little tumble to be convinced. We tell him that the kitties don’t want to be bothered, but he has to get a spit and a swat from them to believe it.
We always have Timothy’s very best interest at heart… but he doesn’t see it that way at all! In this little two-year-old’s mind, every time we leave without him, we’ve deserted him forever. We have broken every promise we ever made… and he is crushed. The good news is that we do honor our promises, and his trust is always restored. He forgets all about being upset with us and showers us with hugs and kisses and giggles.
Do you think God sees us as His very own two-year-olds? Don’t we behave much like little Timothy? Do we not act as if God’s promises are unbelievable and unworthy of our trust? Don’t we treat God like He has completely deserted us at the first sign of trouble? Aren’t we crushed the second God tells us to stand on our own two feet and operate in faith that He will carry us through whatever we are facing?
Timothy will grow up soon enough. Hopefully, he will learn who to trust… and when he is being told the truth. For us as Christians, the time to grow up is NOW! We can no longer act like fickle two-year-olds. God has told us… shown us… demonstrated over and again His power, love, grace, and mercy. He has delivered on countless promises already… and assured us that He will make good on hundreds more.
We must mature in our faith and trust God to do what He says. We must recognize His laws as honest, fair, and in our best interest. We must believe that He will hear our prayers and answer in a way that is perfect for our situation. And we must shower Him with “hugs, kisses and giggles” in the form of our praise and devotion… our service and gratitude.
Growing up is never easy… whether you are a two-year-old just learning the ropes or a Christian trying to operate in total surrender of self. Both are a process… but you have to start somewhere. Are you ready to trust God and believe Him? Are you growing in your faith… or are stuck in the “terrible twos”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 2, 2011
Proverbs 20:25
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
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.
Recently, a politician claimed that she would get gasoline prices down to $2 a gallon if elected President. No sooner had she made this claim than her staff began to backpedal and say, “What she really meant was… XYZ.” Politicians do this all the time. And honestly, we’ve become somewhat numb to it… to the point that we often don’t even hear what they are saying, much less pay attention to the “meat” of their message.
I’m not sharing this analogy to spark political debate. ALL politicians… all PEOPLE… make promises they can’t keep. But the point is that we often engage our mouths before our brains… then find that we surely wish we could retract what was just said!
My challenge for each of us today is to think more carefully before we make promises. Did you just tell Joe you would pick him up after work, when you know full well you have other obligations at that hour? Have you promised someone you will “do whatever you need”… knowing that you have appointments and other obligations to fulfill and can’t possibly be available on a moment’s notice? Did you vow to love another person and be faithful to him/her, even while you were looking around to see if someone better might come along? Did you promise God that you would love Him and serve Him… that He would be LORD of your life… and now you are living in a way you know does not please Him?
Vows are serious business. And like dishonesty, breaking seemingly insignificant or small “vows” leads to failure to deliver on bigger ones… and the cycle that is created can be vicious. Check your thoughts, your words… and your promises. Ask God to guide you as you make daily decisions and vows… and you will have no regrets.
©2011 Debbie Robus
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
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.
Recently, a politician claimed that she would get gasoline prices down to $2 a gallon if elected President. No sooner had she made this claim than her staff began to backpedal and say, “What she really meant was… XYZ.” Politicians do this all the time. And honestly, we’ve become somewhat numb to it… to the point that we often don’t even hear what they are saying, much less pay attention to the “meat” of their message.
I’m not sharing this analogy to spark political debate. ALL politicians… all PEOPLE… make promises they can’t keep. But the point is that we often engage our mouths before our brains… then find that we surely wish we could retract what was just said!
My challenge for each of us today is to think more carefully before we make promises. Did you just tell Joe you would pick him up after work, when you know full well you have other obligations at that hour? Have you promised someone you will “do whatever you need”… knowing that you have appointments and other obligations to fulfill and can’t possibly be available on a moment’s notice? Did you vow to love another person and be faithful to him/her, even while you were looking around to see if someone better might come along? Did you promise God that you would love Him and serve Him… that He would be LORD of your life… and now you are living in a way you know does not please Him?
Vows are serious business. And like dishonesty, breaking seemingly insignificant or small “vows” leads to failure to deliver on bigger ones… and the cycle that is created can be vicious. Check your thoughts, your words… and your promises. Ask God to guide you as you make daily decisions and vows… and you will have no regrets.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2011
Matthew 21:32
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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