Daily Devotional for December 28, 2016

1 Corinthians 1:10-13    
But, dear brothers, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.  For some of those who live at Chloe’s house have told me of your arguments and quarrels, dear brothers. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul”; and others say that they are for Apollos or for Peter; and some that they alone are the true followers of Christ.  And so, in effect, you have broken Christ into many pieces.

But did I, Paul, die for your sins? Were any of you baptized in my name?

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

Twenty-nine years ago, my Mam-ma Polly gave me money for Christmas and said, “Buy whatever you want.” Greg and I had just started our new business venture…and there were plenty of things on which we could have spent this money (I think it was $25).  But I wanted to buy something that would last…a tangible reminder of my grandmother and this gift.  So I went to a local “Christmas store,” and I bought two nativity sets…a large 4-piece white ceramic Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on a manger of straw…and a musical nativity scene snow-globe that played “Silent Night.”  With a few dollars left, I purchased a small wooden 3-piece set that had been hand-crafted by an Arkansas artisan.

Sadly, the snow globe leaked and ruined last year and had to be discarded…but over the last 3 decades, I have added to the collection, so that today has grown from the initial 3 sets to nearly 100 if you count “nativity” ornaments we hang on our tree.  I have enjoyed rescuing sets from the thrift store to go alongside those I purchased at estate auctions.  Many sets once graced the homes of people I knew who are in heaven now - from a plaster set that belonged to my mother’s first grade teacher to a beautiful towering Madonna that I purchased at the estate sale of dear friends.  And this year – the large creamy colored set that my parents purchased in Mexico several decades ago has a special place of honor among the other sets.

A few years ago I wrote a song about how “we set out nativities beside Santa Claus.”  Indeed, plenty of people collect “Santas”…and I will admit that I have a table of them in the same room with most of the nativities!  When starting my nativity collection, I decided that I would rather amass something that celebrated the birth of Jesus…the hope and faith of Mary…the “true meaning of Christmas.”  So while I have a few “Santas” on display…I have far more images of Jesus, Joseph and Mary.

Does this mean that I feel my collection is superior to those who collect “Santas?”  Absolutely not!  Does it mean that I disapprove of the secular compilations…or judge those who assemble them?  Never!  Can “Santa” and Jesus be recognized in the same space?  Most definitely!  Are we worshipping Santa and splintering our faith – or devaluing the true meaning of this holiday season?  I don’t think so…as long as we keep Jesus the real “reason for the season.”

But too many of us HAVE placed a great emphasis on the teachings of one person, like a particular evangelist or Bible scholar.  We have made too much of which form of worship is the best…traditional, contemporary – or even “communing with nature.”  We have drawn a line in the sand that only the King James Version of the Bible should be studied and quoted…or that traditional hymns are outdated and no longer “speak to us.”  And we have definitely made people who practice other religious beliefs feel inferior…or even evil!

In numerous ways that we don’t even realize, we have “broken Christ into many pieces.”  We have created division among us…the very thing that Jesus taught against.  And in so doing, we have dishonored and disrespected our Lord and Savior.

It is time to regain our focus.  In these waning days of 2016, let’s take some time to think about Jesus…the commandments He gave us…the sacrifice He made for each of us.  Let’s remember who the real KING of KINGS and LORD of Lords is! And let’s stop pitting ourselves against one another over petty issues.  Christian faith is not a competition…it is a unification – or it should be.

Now is the time to “be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”  Are you ready to be a part of the body of Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 21, 2016

Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked.

But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”

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

For the last few years, I have worked with children at church as a Sunday school teacher and VBS assistant. Now that Timothy, Zola and Nathan are in school, I also volunteer in their classrooms. I never lost my love for teaching – or children…but as I work with children nowadays, I am reminded of an incredibly critical objective – to keep the main thing the main thing!

What does this mean?  As I look at the children in each classroom, I see little minds ready to be filled with wisdom and knowledge.  But more importantly, I see little hearts that need to be filled with love…the love of Jesus - and my own.  On any given day, we have no clue what kids bring to the classroom. Some are foster children who may have been shuffled from home to home. Some are living in dysfunctional families with parents who argue constantly or have mountains of problems that fill the home with stress and strife. Some have special needs – physically and mentally - while others just have trouble fitting in with their peers.

Some are brilliant thinkers…or are highly creative and need lots of stimulation to nurture their gifts, while others struggle to grasp even the simplest concepts and need extra attention and repetition. Some are incredibly athletic and fit, while others can barely walk a straight line or dribble a ball.

The bottom line is that each and every child comes hungry for love and attention…for someone to meet them right where they are in that moment.  And if we miss this as teachers/leaders/volunteers, we have missed the most important detail of the day. As I look back to the years that I was actually a public school teacher, I wonder how many days I was more concerned with getting all of my reports in on time - or meeting stated goals - and I missed an opportunity to reassure a child.  How many times was I so frustrated and stressed out that I didn’t smile and offer a kind word to a child who really needed that more than anything else?

I cannot return to my kindergarten classroom of the 80s…but I can make a concerted effort moving forward to meet “children” of all ages, right where they are.  We live in “Martha’s” world…but I want “Mary’s” heart!  At the end of the day, my “to-do” list may still be full. But if I hear the voice of Jesus – and follow His lead, it won’t matter what else is left unchecked.

Have you discovered the One Thing worth worrying about…or are you busy with all of the little details?  Don’t miss out on the most important part of Christian discipleship.  Learn to focus on sharing Jesus with others every day – in all that you do.  Trust Him to organize your details. Ensure that the ones that truly matter are accomplished. Are you ready to focus more on Jesus’ details and missions than your own?  Will this be the day that you get started?
  
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 31, 2016

Acts 7:54-60
The Jewish leaders were stung to fury by Stephen’s accusation and ground their teeth in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and Jesus the Messiah standing beside God, at his right hand!”

Then they mobbed him, putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, and dragged him out of the city to stone him. The official witnesses—the executioners—took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Paul.

And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” and with that, he died.

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 don’t know about you, but I feel like in so many ways, I have often failed to keep “the main thing” the main thing!  When “life” gets in the way, it’s sometimes hard to focus on what really matters, because we get stuck “in the weeds” of illness…death and the “business” that must be attended to afterward…holidays…work…studies…kids and their activities/needs…caregiving…and so much more.  We look up and realize that we have not spent much quality time with God. 

Oh, sure, we’ve talked to God and asked Him for help…strength…courage…stamina…and healing.  We’ve thrown out some desperate cries for His attention.  We might have even mentioned to someone else that we are getting through the days “only because of the grace of God.”  But are we really focused on Him?  Are we truly engaged in living for Jesus and sharing His Good News with others?

If you have a few minutes today, please read the entire seventh chapter of Acts.  Stephen was witnessing and preaching in Jerusalem, and as we read in Verse 9, he met up with “the Jewish cult of ‘The Freedmen’… joined by Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria in Egypt, and the Turkish provinces of Cilicia, and Asia Minor.”  Basically, Stephen gave these men a history lesson of Old Testament scripture, then accused them of resisting the Holy Spirit – and killing Jesus.  It was more than the group could handle…and they dragged Stephen out to the edge of town and stoned him to death.

I am struck by Stephen’s words as he saw the heavens open up and Jesus appeared.  He asked Jesus to receive his spirit…and also to forgive these men who were killing him. This was a truly amazing demonstration of “keeping the main thing the main thing.”  Even in the midst of this horrific act, Stephen was focused on Jesus.  And while hopefully, none of us will ever be literally stoned to death, this scripture passage has practical application for each of us.

Surely there have been times when you wrestled with which way to turn.  On one hand, you could “do the right thing” and face the ridicule (or even wrath) of those around you.  Your choice to honor God with your commitment and daily living might be uncomfortable in a lot of ways. Despite our best efforts to please God, there will be times when we fall short, because we are human. As I sifted through memories and “treasures” my mother saved, I found a 7-year baby book.  In it, she wrote an account of my 2nd birthday party, which included several invited guests.  Mother noted that “Debbie fought with Robin (my cousin, who was also two!), as usual…and Mommy was embarrassed.”  Trust me…it was not the last time I embarrassed my mother!  I know she loved me, but I could easily picture her greeting me with outstretched arms - and a look of disappointment on her face!

So often, we buckle when things get hard and take the easy way out.  And Stephen could have easily done this.  He could have “folded his tent” and moved on and left these rabble-rousers to believe and act as they pleased.  He could also have condemned them for stoning him to death and asked Jesus to “pour out your wrath” on these evil men!  But this would not have honored Stephen’s commitment to Jesus - or his trust in Him to handle such matters according to His will.  And the account of Stephen’s reaction as he saw the gates of Heaven open and His Lord standing there to greet him illustrates the consolation. 

I cling to the thought that when it’s all said and done, Jesus will great me at Heaven’s gate with outstretched arms and a look of delight.  It will make everything worthwhile, won’t it?  So I am working to make better choices…to keep the main thing (Jesus) the MAIN THING!  I am trying to let Him handle other people and mete out justice as He determines.  I look forward to the day when I can say with confidence, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and see His welcoming smile.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 27, 2015

Matthew 10:34-39
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.

“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me."

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.

Regional sections of our state newspaper carried a front-page article about young man from El Paso/Vilonia, Arkansas, who is beginning his freshman year of college.  He is pictured wearing a green jacket and shirt, and the headline is “4-H is My Life.”  Now I don’t know this young man, so I have no idea what he truly thinks or feels.
I don’t know if he really said these exact words…and if he did, I’m not sure that he meant them literally. 

But I know several people who truly have made something or someone the most important focus of their lives.  They have put this interest or person above everything else…even Jesus. I know people who are obsessed with work or a hobby…their own self-interests…or a significant other.  There are people who live and breathe for their children or another family member…to the detriment of others around them. There are people who are obsessed with a particular sport or hobby – either as a spectator or a participant.  Some people are so focused on their physical diet, exercise, and appearance that everything else is secondary.

I know people who have been told by their family members…it’s me or Jesus.  I know spouses and children who have had to make this difficult decision…knowing that to choose Jesus might end their marriage or family relationship.  And sadly, there are some people who are so focused on “church” or the activities and causes that they think define their Christian faith that they have totally left Jesus out of the mix. 

Some or all of these situations – and countless others – could describe you and me on any given day.  And in each instance, we have failed to keep the main thing the main thing!  So look at the first verse of this passage again…the one where Jesus says “Don’t think I’ve come to make things cozy.”  In other translations, it says, “I came to bring trouble, not peace.”(CEV) 

Why would Jesus come to bring trouble?  Let’s realize that this is not the typical “trouble” we envision.  Jesus wants to “shake things up” a bit…to “rattle our cages” and make us think about Who He truly is…and where our priorities lie.  He wants us to discover the depths of His love…and our loyalty.  He wants us to be so devoted to Him that we are willing to strip away everything and everyone else…even parents, children, siblings, significant others, careers, possessions, hobbies, and personal desires of every kind. 

We must be willing to put aside those things that we think define our Christian faith…the campaigns we wage to make a point about this commandment or that one…our efforts to sway lawmakers and the general public to “put God back” into XYZ…and focus on truly putting God back into our lives – at the very center of our every breath!

This is HARD STUFF!  But it is critical.  What – or who – is your “life” today?  If we are not willing to let go of our own agendas and desires in order to focus totally on Jesus, then He is exactly right – we don’t deserve Him!  And that’s just not an option for me…what about you?

©2015 Debbie Robus