Matthew 4:18-20
Walking along the beach of Lake
Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew.
They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their
regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of
fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead
of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their
nets and followed.
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.
Many years ago, I was
shopping in Walmart just before Thanksgiving, and I saw my friend,
Frances Evans. We talked about preparing the Thanksgiving meal and how
much work was involved, and I mentioned making homemade rolls. Frances,
who was one of the best cooks in the county, said, “Don’t do that! Go
to the freezer case and find the Sister Schubert’s® Parker House Style
Rolls. They are so good that you will never make homemade rolls
again!” I knew if Frances said these rolls were good, they were GOOD!
And she was exactly right!
My dear friend Frances is gone now,
but every time I buy Sister Schubert’s rolls®, I think of her. And
while I have made homemade rolls from my Mam-ma Polly’s recipe, these
were good enough that even she commented on how delicious the rolls
tasted!
I share this to say that sometimes, there is nothing
necessarily wrong with what we are doing or how we are doing it…but
Jesus has something so much better in mind for us to accomplish. There
was nothing wrong with Peter and Andrew fishing for a living…but Jesus
wanted them to work for Him…to “fish” for the souls of men and women and
to share the Good News with them as His disciples. And the amazing
part of this story for me is that they dropped their nets and followed
Jesus.
You see, it was one thing for me to mark homemade rolls
off my “to-do” list for Thanksgiving dinner and buy frozen rolls.
France had told me they would be delicious, and I knew that she would
not steer me wrong. I had eaten countless meals that she prepared. I
had years of “history” with her. But these two men really didn’t know
Jesus that well…at least not well enough to drop their very livelihood
and leave their homes and families to follow Him. And yet, they did it!
Peter and Andrew had not grown up with Jesus. They had met
Him…they had been told that He was the Messiah. But they didn’t have
years of “history” with Him. And still they gave Him their complete
faith and hope…they stepped up and out and followed Jesus with complete
confidence that He knew best – that their work for Him would matter.
Here’s
the thing…in some ways, we really don’t know Jesus all that well,
either. We’ve never even met Him in the flesh. All we know is what we
have been told…what we have read in the Bible…what we have seen
demonstrated in the faithful words and actions of others. And yet, we
are called to “come and follow” Him and “fish” for the hearts and souls
of others on His behalf. Honestly, your life may be pretty good
already. Your “old ways” are working fairly well, and there might not
seem to be much need for any changes in how you worship and serve.
But
often, Jesus calls us to make a few adjustments that add up to so much
more…to cast off our “old ways” and take up the His new ones…to step out
of our comfort zone and serve a Messiah that we have never physically
seen. Jesus calls us to live for Him and do all that we can to convince
others to surrender their hearts serve Him as well. These are all
expressions of incredible faith and hope. And this is what Jesus asks
of us.
So I guess my question today is this…”Are you content to
keep ‘fishing’ like you’ve always done it…or are you ready to trust
Jesus and try something new?” Will this be the day/week/year that you
step out of your comfort zone and trust Jesus to show you a new – and
better – way of doing things? Are you ready to drop your nets and
follow Him…completely and faithfully? Don’t you think it’s time you
were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label knowing when to change course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knowing when to change course. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 10, 2015
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Tough decisions are a part of life…and I’ve had to make my share. I will be the first to tell you that there were times that God told me to go one direction – and people told me to go another. And I struggled with which choice to make. When Greg and I decided to leave “good jobs” with benefits and “security” and start a new business, there were moments of trepidation. A lot of people thought we were nuts…but we felt in our hearts that God was leading us in a different direction. And was He ever!
Later in my adult life, I adopted the mantra that “I’ll only move when God moves me.” And more than once, He has done just that. He moved me into a position with our church’s Praise Band…and eight years later, He moved me out of it – despite the protests of several who thought I should stay. God moved us from our “family farm” and the “dream home” we had built there – and He has moved us twice since! He also put me in a position to write these daily devotionals…and so far, He has not told me to stop, despite suggestions and thoughts that perhaps I am too busy to keep up with them.
I know that for every time I have listened for God’s voice and trusted Him, there have been times that I have missed the mark…that I have been swayed by the opinions of others – and even the devil – and gone in a different direction. And those are probably some of the times that just never felt “quite right” in my heart. When we listen to God and trust Him instead of worrying about what others might think, He always works out the details. There is always enough time to get everything done…always enough of whatever is needed to make things happen…always a peace and calm that we have done what He was calling us to do.
God sometimes speaks to us through the thoughts and opinions of other human beings…but we must be very careful to ensure that we are hearing His voice and not theirs – or the desires of our own heart. I pray that you trust God to give you direction in all things…that you carefully weigh all influences and sift out those that are human from that of our Heavenly Father, which is always perfect.
I pray that you never “move until God moves you”…and that you replace worry about these decisions with confidence that He will never steer you in the wrong direction. May you learn to trust God more fully for all things…and may you begin today.
©2015 Debbie Robus
The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Tough decisions are a part of life…and I’ve had to make my share. I will be the first to tell you that there were times that God told me to go one direction – and people told me to go another. And I struggled with which choice to make. When Greg and I decided to leave “good jobs” with benefits and “security” and start a new business, there were moments of trepidation. A lot of people thought we were nuts…but we felt in our hearts that God was leading us in a different direction. And was He ever!
Later in my adult life, I adopted the mantra that “I’ll only move when God moves me.” And more than once, He has done just that. He moved me into a position with our church’s Praise Band…and eight years later, He moved me out of it – despite the protests of several who thought I should stay. God moved us from our “family farm” and the “dream home” we had built there – and He has moved us twice since! He also put me in a position to write these daily devotionals…and so far, He has not told me to stop, despite suggestions and thoughts that perhaps I am too busy to keep up with them.
I know that for every time I have listened for God’s voice and trusted Him, there have been times that I have missed the mark…that I have been swayed by the opinions of others – and even the devil – and gone in a different direction. And those are probably some of the times that just never felt “quite right” in my heart. When we listen to God and trust Him instead of worrying about what others might think, He always works out the details. There is always enough time to get everything done…always enough of whatever is needed to make things happen…always a peace and calm that we have done what He was calling us to do.
God sometimes speaks to us through the thoughts and opinions of other human beings…but we must be very careful to ensure that we are hearing His voice and not theirs – or the desires of our own heart. I pray that you trust God to give you direction in all things…that you carefully weigh all influences and sift out those that are human from that of our Heavenly Father, which is always perfect.
I pray that you never “move until God moves you”…and that you replace worry about these decisions with confidence that He will never steer you in the wrong direction. May you learn to trust God more fully for all things…and may you begin today.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 13, 2014
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever."
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever watched a boxing match in which one opponent keeps getting pulverized by his opponent...yet he gets back up and goes at it again? You have to wonder why he doesn’t just lie down and let the referee count him out. But there he goes again...up and ready for another blow – perhaps hoping that this time it will be different and he might even get in a good jab of his own!
We all know someone who is in a situation where others are asking, “Why does he/she put up with that?” Maybe YOU are that person today! There are times when it seems that people are “down for the count” – or should be...times when a person or circumstance in life has beaten him/her to a pulp, and it seems pointless to keep standing up to receive another dose. We “sideline quarterbacks” may even tell this person to “cut your losses”...to move in a different direction.
Sometimes, this is good advice. But there are situations where God wants us to stay and continue to fight. Consider this...Jesus could have taken Himself down from the cross at any second. He could have said, “That’s enough...none of these people are worth this suffering and torture. I’m done.” But He didn’t. He stayed to the bloody end – quite literally. And as we see in Malachi 3:6, God has NEVER given up on us...even when we gave Him every reason to do so.
There will be times when God tells you...”That’s enough. Throw in the towel and move on.” In the words of Luke 9:2 (paraphrased)...”shake the dust from your shoes and get on with your life.” But there will also be times when God says, “Hang on just a little longer. I’m working on something here. Keep the faith and give me just a little more time to pull this all together as I designed. I promise you...it’s going to be worth the wait!”
How do we know the difference? It’s not always easy! I have found that when I am in doubt about which way to move...I should just sit still for a while. Sometimes, God wants us to watch, wait, be patient, and listen for His voice. He will honor your “reverent pause”...God delights when we act with restraint and do not operate in impulsivity! The more you listen and operate in His will, the more you will know in your gut when you are truly supposed to move – or stay.
One more thing...sometimes, God says to us, “I’ll handle this now...I need you somewhere else.” Just because God moves us does not mean that He has deserted the person(s) involved. God doesn’t change...He is not easily deterred...He gives each of us every possible chance to turn to Him. God’s love and mercy are beyond our comprehension! He will do whatever it takes to rescue us and bring us to a right relationship with Him!
This is GOOD NEWS! The God who loves us beyond all we can imagine is always working on our behalf and in every situation. Spend some time with Him today and ask Him where He wants you to serve. Is He calling you to “get up off the mat and go another round” in your present circumstances? Or have you been “reassigned”? Either way, He is with you...and that will never change.
©2014 Debbie Robus
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever."
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever watched a boxing match in which one opponent keeps getting pulverized by his opponent...yet he gets back up and goes at it again? You have to wonder why he doesn’t just lie down and let the referee count him out. But there he goes again...up and ready for another blow – perhaps hoping that this time it will be different and he might even get in a good jab of his own!
We all know someone who is in a situation where others are asking, “Why does he/she put up with that?” Maybe YOU are that person today! There are times when it seems that people are “down for the count” – or should be...times when a person or circumstance in life has beaten him/her to a pulp, and it seems pointless to keep standing up to receive another dose. We “sideline quarterbacks” may even tell this person to “cut your losses”...to move in a different direction.
Sometimes, this is good advice. But there are situations where God wants us to stay and continue to fight. Consider this...Jesus could have taken Himself down from the cross at any second. He could have said, “That’s enough...none of these people are worth this suffering and torture. I’m done.” But He didn’t. He stayed to the bloody end – quite literally. And as we see in Malachi 3:6, God has NEVER given up on us...even when we gave Him every reason to do so.
There will be times when God tells you...”That’s enough. Throw in the towel and move on.” In the words of Luke 9:2 (paraphrased)...”shake the dust from your shoes and get on with your life.” But there will also be times when God says, “Hang on just a little longer. I’m working on something here. Keep the faith and give me just a little more time to pull this all together as I designed. I promise you...it’s going to be worth the wait!”
How do we know the difference? It’s not always easy! I have found that when I am in doubt about which way to move...I should just sit still for a while. Sometimes, God wants us to watch, wait, be patient, and listen for His voice. He will honor your “reverent pause”...God delights when we act with restraint and do not operate in impulsivity! The more you listen and operate in His will, the more you will know in your gut when you are truly supposed to move – or stay.
One more thing...sometimes, God says to us, “I’ll handle this now...I need you somewhere else.” Just because God moves us does not mean that He has deserted the person(s) involved. God doesn’t change...He is not easily deterred...He gives each of us every possible chance to turn to Him. God’s love and mercy are beyond our comprehension! He will do whatever it takes to rescue us and bring us to a right relationship with Him!
This is GOOD NEWS! The God who loves us beyond all we can imagine is always working on our behalf and in every situation. Spend some time with Him today and ask Him where He wants you to serve. Is He calling you to “get up off the mat and go another round” in your present circumstances? Or have you been “reassigned”? Either way, He is with you...and that will never change.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 18, 2013
1 Samuel 2:27-30
One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:
When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. I wanted them to offer sacrifices and burn incense to me and to find out from me what I want my people to do. I commanded everyone to bring their sacrifices here where I live, and I allowed you and your family to keep those that were not offered to me on the altar.
But you honor your sons instead of me! You don’t respect the sacrifices and offerings that are brought to me, and you’ve all gotten fat from eating the best parts.
I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised to always let your family serve me as priests, but now I tell you that I cannot do this any longer! I honor anyone who honors me, but I put a curse on anyone who hates me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1978, country music singer Kenny Rogers recorded a song called “The Gambler”. The chorus said in part:
If you have done all you can in a situation and it doesn’t show any signs of improving, you may be justified in walking away. If you have served on a committee or volunteered for an organization with generosity and a willing spirit, and others are taking advantage of you, it may well be right for you to pull back in your efforts. When you continually give of your time, talents and energy – and maybe even your heart – and you realize you are being disrespected or dishonored, there is no shame in redirecting your attention. Again, God will show you how to proceed. And believe it or not, sticking with something that is not God’s will actually disrespects and dishonors Him!
Again I am reminded of the family that several people and I tried to help when I was teaching kindergarten. After we had given far above and beyond what most would consider reasonable, the father demanded of his caseworker one day… “I need a car.” It broke my heart to learn that a local pediatrician had bought the family bus tickets and sent them packing back to live with family members in Pennsylvania. I wonder to this day what happened to my little Charlie and his younger sister. But I know that we had no choice… the disrespect and dishonor simply could not continue. Not only was it time to “fold ‘em”… it was time to run.
For some of us, the problem these days is not that we are being disrespected… or that our efforts are dishonored. The trouble lies directly with us and how we are treating our Heavenly Father – and others. And that is the heart of this scripture passage. God is blessing us at every turn… and many are taking full advantage of all that He offers and practically thumbing their noses at Him in the process. Rather than thank God for everything He has done for us… and do everything humanly possible to serve and honor Him in return, some of us have essentially said, “Oh… and I’ll take a car, too!” We fall apart at the least little thing and fling our hands to the sky, wailing, “Why me, LORD?” We skate along through life taking risks and dancing as closely to the edge as we dare - while expecting God to always be there to protect us and fix every mess we make.
The truth is that God is not amused… nor does He appreciate disrespect and dishonor. He is loving, compassionate, gracious and merciful - and ready to forgive… to a point. But we cannot continue to reject or scorn His will and His word… and we most certainly cannot expect Him to take care of our every need while we deny Jesus and our Christian discipleship. “Oh, but I would NEVER do that!” you may say. Really? Exactly how long has it been since you did something selfless for another? When was the last time you did something you really didn’t want to do because you felt God was calling you to it? When was the last time that you were unkind to someone or even spoke hatefully to them or about them? Who have you mocked behind their back? What tidbit of gossip did you share? Who did you last criticize… maybe even to their face? How strong is your prayer life? Do you even have one? Are you willing to give to others – or is it all about what’s in it for you?
How often are you doing what you want to do instead of what you know God is asking you to do in Jesus’ name? Where are you spinning your wheels while God tells you…”It’s time to fold ‘em and move along.”? Do you see that this can also be disrespectful and dishonorable toward God? It’s probably time for each and every one of us to have a long, serious conversation with God… to examine our daily living and where we are operating selfishly and with disrespect… and to discover where He really wants us to be spending our time and energy.
The last thing any of us wants is for God to turn His back on us… even for a minute. Won’t you take some time to talk to God and ask Him to show you where you are missing the mark? Ask Him to show you where you need to mend fences, correct course… or even jump ship! I assure you that if God is calling the shots, you will always make the right move.
©2013 Debbie Robus
One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:
When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. I wanted them to offer sacrifices and burn incense to me and to find out from me what I want my people to do. I commanded everyone to bring their sacrifices here where I live, and I allowed you and your family to keep those that were not offered to me on the altar.
But you honor your sons instead of me! You don’t respect the sacrifices and offerings that are brought to me, and you’ve all gotten fat from eating the best parts.
I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised to always let your family serve me as priests, but now I tell you that I cannot do this any longer! I honor anyone who honors me, but I put a curse on anyone who hates me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1978, country music singer Kenny Rogers recorded a song called “The Gambler”. The chorus said in part:
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,Those words could apply to a lot of real-life situations, it seems. At one time or another, many of us will find ourselves figuring out whether we should stick it out, walk away… or run like the wind! Maybe it’s a personal relationship… or a job that you no longer find tolerable…or maybe you have discovered that chemistry is more than you can manage, so a major in pre-pharmacy is probably not for you! You may be wondering whether God really wants you to share space with your roommate for another semester…or you may be trying to decide whether you are keeping your pet alive for your own selfish reasons rather than because his/her quality of life is still high. You might even be trying to decide whether to retire, hang up the car keys, and/or downsize into a more manageable home or apartment. And in each of these decisions, God can help you to figure out the right answer… if only you will ask – and listen.
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
If you have done all you can in a situation and it doesn’t show any signs of improving, you may be justified in walking away. If you have served on a committee or volunteered for an organization with generosity and a willing spirit, and others are taking advantage of you, it may well be right for you to pull back in your efforts. When you continually give of your time, talents and energy – and maybe even your heart – and you realize you are being disrespected or dishonored, there is no shame in redirecting your attention. Again, God will show you how to proceed. And believe it or not, sticking with something that is not God’s will actually disrespects and dishonors Him!
Again I am reminded of the family that several people and I tried to help when I was teaching kindergarten. After we had given far above and beyond what most would consider reasonable, the father demanded of his caseworker one day… “I need a car.” It broke my heart to learn that a local pediatrician had bought the family bus tickets and sent them packing back to live with family members in Pennsylvania. I wonder to this day what happened to my little Charlie and his younger sister. But I know that we had no choice… the disrespect and dishonor simply could not continue. Not only was it time to “fold ‘em”… it was time to run.
For some of us, the problem these days is not that we are being disrespected… or that our efforts are dishonored. The trouble lies directly with us and how we are treating our Heavenly Father – and others. And that is the heart of this scripture passage. God is blessing us at every turn… and many are taking full advantage of all that He offers and practically thumbing their noses at Him in the process. Rather than thank God for everything He has done for us… and do everything humanly possible to serve and honor Him in return, some of us have essentially said, “Oh… and I’ll take a car, too!” We fall apart at the least little thing and fling our hands to the sky, wailing, “Why me, LORD?” We skate along through life taking risks and dancing as closely to the edge as we dare - while expecting God to always be there to protect us and fix every mess we make.
The truth is that God is not amused… nor does He appreciate disrespect and dishonor. He is loving, compassionate, gracious and merciful - and ready to forgive… to a point. But we cannot continue to reject or scorn His will and His word… and we most certainly cannot expect Him to take care of our every need while we deny Jesus and our Christian discipleship. “Oh, but I would NEVER do that!” you may say. Really? Exactly how long has it been since you did something selfless for another? When was the last time you did something you really didn’t want to do because you felt God was calling you to it? When was the last time that you were unkind to someone or even spoke hatefully to them or about them? Who have you mocked behind their back? What tidbit of gossip did you share? Who did you last criticize… maybe even to their face? How strong is your prayer life? Do you even have one? Are you willing to give to others – or is it all about what’s in it for you?
How often are you doing what you want to do instead of what you know God is asking you to do in Jesus’ name? Where are you spinning your wheels while God tells you…”It’s time to fold ‘em and move along.”? Do you see that this can also be disrespectful and dishonorable toward God? It’s probably time for each and every one of us to have a long, serious conversation with God… to examine our daily living and where we are operating selfishly and with disrespect… and to discover where He really wants us to be spending our time and energy.
The last thing any of us wants is for God to turn His back on us… even for a minute. Won’t you take some time to talk to God and ask Him to show you where you are missing the mark? Ask Him to show you where you need to mend fences, correct course… or even jump ship! I assure you that if God is calling the shots, you will always make the right move.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)