Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led out
into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan.
For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry.
Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of
bread.
“It will prove you are the Son of God,” he said.
But
Jesus told him, “No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed
men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Excuses! Excuses! We’ve all made them…
- “If I don’t look the other way, I’ll lose my job.”
- “If I make my kids behave, they won’t like me.”
- “If I speak out against racist remarks, I’ll lose my friends.”
- “If I don’t serve on high profile committees in my church, people will think I don’t love God.”
- “I don’t approve of this person, but if I don’t support him/her, things will be really tough for me.
You
and I are often very hungry…for attention, for reassurance, for
friendship, for acceptance and approval. It’s as if we have been in the
desert for 40 days without food, and the devil comes along and says,
“Have all you can eat. It comes with some ‘strings’ and some
compromises, but they won’t really matter. What’s important is how YOU
feel…what this means for YOU in the short run. I know what you’re going
through…and only I can make you feel better! So EAT!”
Here’s
the thing…when we compromise our values or fall victim to the devil’s
schemes – or when we succumb to his temptations, we lose big time. Not
only that…when we “eat” from Satan’s plate of lies, we totally deprecate
our faith that God can handle things. We are often so fearful of what
will happen to us if we stand up for what we KNOW God is telling us is
the right thing that we completely turn our backs on Him. Essentially
we say, “LORD, I know You SAID you could handle anything, but I really
don’t believe You!”
So where will you stand today? Are you
really ready to tell the devil to get lost - and trust God…for
EVERYTHING? Dare to say, “I have no clue what this may cost me in the
short run…but I am willing to risk it to stay in Your will, LORD.” God
will make a way where you see none at all. I know, because I have done
this…more than once!
More than a few of us are “wandering in the
desert” today…and we are starving. The devil is standing before us with
the most attractive and delectable offerings to tempt us over to his
side. But God is standing there, also…and I promise, what He offers
makes Satan’s enticements look like ridiculous.
Don’t be
fooled…and don’t make the mistake of choosing poorly. TRUST GOD! Allow
HIM to feed you and meet your needs. He can…and He will! Are you
ready to take a leap of faith?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Luke 1:46-50
Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my Savior. He cares for me, his humble servant.
From
now on, all people will say God has blessed me. God All-Powerful has
done great things for me, and his name is holy. He always shows mercy to
everyone who worships him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I
have quite the Christmas nativity collection, and I love to display it
each year in our piano room. A few years ago, I acquired several
porcelain “Madonnas,” and I now proudly display those alongside the full
nativity sets. At first, I thought it was a little strange to add the
Madonnas. But I have to say, as I have studied scripture over the years
and pondered the circumstances of Jesus’ “conception,” I have grown
quite fascinated with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
In the first
place, Mary was probably all of age 13 or 14 at best…and yet, she
exhibited tremendous maturity – especially for a young girl who was
“disgraced” with an unwed pregnancy. The fact that she quickly
recognized the importance of what God was placing on her – and humbly
accepted it – astounds me. Knowing that she might be ostracized by
Joseph AND her entire family because of this…yet praising God for His
“blessing”…is nothing short of incredible.
After studying other
Biblical accounts of Mary and how she “mothered” Jesus, I have gained a
newfound respect for her – and for her tremendous level of faith. I ask
myself sometimes, “Could you even come close to operating at this
level, if you were presented with Mary’s circumstances?” I simply don’t
know if I would really have her fortitude and confidence. I’d like to
think so…but what this young woman was asked to do was truly
extraordinary.
What God is asking us to do pales in comparison to
what He asked of Mary. Yet many of us are hesitant…full of excuses…and
fearful. We see the things that God asks us to do as burdens – not
blessings. We want to know “What’s in it for me?” We are anything but
ready to step up and out and say, “With all my heart, I praise the Lord”
– and eagerly accept His assignments.
But we can take a page
from Mary’s book. We can begin to trust God more - and change how we
look at the things He asks of us. We can take on a more positive,
worshipful, and grateful persona…and look for the blessings in the
things that we are called to do…rather than the challenges and
roadblocks. We can trust God and fear less…and we can begin today.
Are
you ready to emulate the Madonna? Are you prepared to risk everything
to gain even more? Will this be the Christmas season that you begin to
throw your fears to the wind and say, “It’s all in or nothing with
God…and I’m ready to go all in!”? Isn’t it time you made this level of
commitment? If a teenage girl can do it, why can’t we?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Acts 22:16
Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your
Word. What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away
your sins by praying to the Lord.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
- Not today.
- When I have time.
- When I get good and ready.
- I will if you will.
- That’s just not me.
- I will not be manipulated into anything.
- I will someday, but I’m still having fun and “sowing my wild oats.”
- Maybe someday.
- When I “fix” a few things…I’m not worthy right now.
Be honest. We have all made these excuses – or some form of them. Even if we know we should
give our hearts to Jesus and turn from a life of sin, we have trouble
making the commitment. It’s like we think we will be jumping off a
cliff into a dark abyss. And I will be the first to say that I have a
love/hate relationship with ledges…they scare me half to death, but I am
sometimes curious about what lies beneath them!
In truth,
surrendering your heart to Jesus IS a leap of faith…but not into
darkness or danger. And certainly, this “ledge” leads to anything but
an evil abyss. Giving your heart to Jesus is a one-way ticket into His
waiting arms…strong, secure – yet soft and peaceful. We don’t have to
“fix” a thing beforehand…Jesus will handle all of this for us. If we
really understand what it means to abide in Jesus and be His forever, we
would RUN LIKE THE WIND to get to Him!
So today is the day to
run…if you haven’t done so already. And if you have wandered back
toward that ledge and flirted with the darkness, this is the day to step
away. What ARE you waiting for? Ditch the excuses and take the “leap
of faith” that makes all the difference! The arms of Jesus are wide
open…and ready to hold you for all Eternity!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Matthew 1:18-21
These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.
As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a program on ABC called “What Would You Do?”…hosted by John Quinones. Actors are engaged to create “ethical situations”, such as bullying, public attacks and humiliation, neglect or abuse, and social and racial prejudice. Hidden cameras document how the people in the surrounding vicinity react to what is happening. At some point, Quinones comes in and tells the people that this was all a set-up. I have to say, it is quite interesting to see how many people say, “This is none of my concern”…and equally interesting to see that there are those who are willing to step up – and out – and take action!
Now consider this…Joseph, a carpenter in a small village, was engaged to be married. I would suspect that a lot of his work relied on word-of-mouth recommendations and his reputation. We know how this works…someone says, “I know ‘Bob the Builder’…he’s a good carpenter and a fine Christian man. You will be pleased with his work.” You rarely hear someone say, “Joe is a heavy drinker and his work is passable, but you should hire him to work for you.” So it is understandable – especially given the setting and the time in history – that Joseph would want to end this engagement.
Scripture indicates that Joseph considered Mary’s feelings and made plans to dissolve the relationship quietly and discreetly. I have to believe that he truly loved Mary and wanted to consider HER feelings and reputation, also. But more importantly, when God’s angel-agent appeared in Joseph’s dream and told him to go ahead with the wedding plans, Joseph listened!
Now I’m not saying that we should begin reading a lot into our dreams…or that reputation and “appearances” do not matter. But I believe there are far too many times when we worry more about what others will think than what God is calling us to do. There are times when we get a message from God – maybe not in the form of an angel who comes to us in a dream, but a clear message all the same - and we blow it off and discount its significance.
The call to each of us today is to wake up! Pay attention! Be on the lookout for God’s messages – and anticipate them. Prepare to be amazed and astounded by His call on your life – and be ready to take action! It took tremendous leaps of faith for Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and others to accept that these angel visits were truly sanctioned by God…and to trust the directives they received. I am convinced that God is still reaching out today…that He uses angels and other methods to deliver messages to us all the time. Are we receiving them? More importantly…are we acting on them with faith and obedience?
Obviously, God will not call us to give birth to the Savior of the World…or even His forerunner. But our mission(s) will be significant and sanctified, all the same. Others ARE watching to see how you will respond…Who and HOW you will serve. When God shows up in your life and gives you an assignment, what will you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Luke 1:34-38
Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you think Elizabeth and Zachariah were surprised to learn that “they were pregnant” in their advanced years…imagine how little Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel visited her with news that SHE was going to deliver a baby! Historians believe Mary could have been as young as twelve or thirteen. She lived with her parents, who are not mentioned by name in the Bible. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth.
I know we live in a very different time. But for the life of me, I cannot wrap my brain around an angel appearing to a teenage girl – even one who was engaged to be married – and telling her, “You are blessed…and even though you are a virgin, you are pregnant with a son.” I most certainly cannot fathom that same angel telling this girl that the baby would be the holy Son of God! I picture her initial reaction being one of fear…followed by total shock and disbelief…and then maybe even more fear and a hefty dose of embarrassment or shame! How would she ever explain this to her parents…much less Joseph? You can “do the math” and figure out pretty quickly what they would all assume.
Now picture this happening in a very small town…where reputation was EVERYTHING…especially to a young carpenter trying to establish himself in business. In a split second, Mary must have felt like her life was over – and just beginning at the same time. So her reaction as recorded in the Gospels moves me greatly. Some might say, “She was so young and naïve…her response was that of a gullible little girl.” But others will recognize the depth of faith and devotion to God that Mary’s reaction contained. In that instant, Mary recognized the hand of God upon her life. And when He spoke…she listened – and humbly obeyed.
Can we say the same about our own relationship with God? We have all entertained “angels unaware” at some point in our lives. The hand of God has touched us…maybe even rescued us from some trouble - or even a disaster. We have heard God call to us in some fashion – maybe not as boldly as the form of an angel named Gabriel who appeared in a bright light – but He has spoken to us. How have we responded? Are we so bold – and childlike – in our faith that we readily answer, “I am the Lord’s servant!” and accept what God asks of us?
Isn’t it time we took a second look at the courage and faithfulness of Mary and incorporated more of it into our own lives? If God can entrust a teenage girl with the delivery and motherhood of the Savior of the World…what might He be calling us to do? Will we be ready, willing and able to accept His assignment(s)? Don’t you think we should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Psalm 109:26-28
Please help me, LORD God! Come and save me because of your love. Let others know that you alone have saved me. I don't care if they curse me, as long as you bless me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want a true lesson in frustration, try reasoning with a two-year-old. Tell this small child that the nice doctor with the scary device he is aiming at your ear will not hurt. Convince him/her that you have to stop doing something fun and go to sleep… and that you will play again tomorrow… whatever that means!
To God, we must be as frustrating as a two-year-old! He has shown us and told us repeatedly that His plans are good ones… that His will is perfect… that He wants only the best for us. Yet we are scared to death to surrender and operate in His will. “But I won’t have any more fun!” you may be saying. “But I’m scared… what if I lose my friends?” “I’ll lose my job… my club membership… my family/spouse/significant other!”
First of all, you may have more fun when you operate in God’s will than you ever imagined. Whomever you lose… whatever is taken from you… won’t matter nearly as much as you think. God will make everything right. It may seem hard at first… and you may wonder if you made the right choice. But the minute you surrender to God’s will and allow Him to have control, the blessings will start to flow in ways you never realized.
You might find that your significant other, family, and friends take a look at your life and make changes in their own. God might leave you in your present job or situation, so that you can serve Him “from the inside.” You really don’t know what God will do… and that doesn’t matter… because it will be the right thing. That’s all you have to know.
So pray the prayer that David prayed. Ask God to come and save you… and to let others know that He alone did this. Let others see you operating in the will of God, regardless of the “consequences” – and how He blesses you for your obedience. Allow God to show you how abundantly He can fill your life and compensate for any losses you may fear. Give Him the chance to defend you to others… and to give you amazing freedom in the form of His love and blessings.
©2011 Debbie Robus
John 5:1-9
Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem.
Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?"
The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in."
Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.
That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules."
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.
You may remember seeing this scripture passage recently. I used it for a devo on July 29th. However, I recently heard Joyce Meyer preach from this passage, and her “take-away” from the scriptures was so good that I wanted to share it. See, I think God can use the same passage in scripture to speak to us in one way one day – and in another the next… according to what we need. It’s not that one “interpretation” is right and another is wrong... God uses His word to meet our needs for each day in a truly unique manner. This is why the Bible is such a rich and vital resource in successful daily living for each of us!
As Joyce Meyer explained it, this sick man had come to the pool at Bethesda every day for 38 years. Each time the water was stirred by the angels, one person was able to dip his/her foot and be healed. Apparently this man was so sick or crippled that he had never made it to the pool ahead of the others who gathered. Joyce’s comment was something to the effect of… “Surely in 38 years this man could have scooted close enough to be the first in line to dip a toe!” What she heard in this scripture was Jesus rather impatiently saying to the man, “Don’t you want to be well?” In other words, “What have you been waiting on? Get up and get going!”
Where my message a few days ago was “be patient,” Joyce’s message was “get up and get on with it!” And both are appropriate messages. There may be a lot of us who are stuck in a rut of some sort… often of our own making… and God is telling us to get up and get going! We have all sorts of excuses… I’m too young – or too old… I need to lose 10 pounds first – or I’m not strong enough… I need to get my own life in order before I can help someone else… I don’t have enough money… I’m not smart enough or brave enough – or holy enough!
To all of these excuses… and many others… Jesus says, “Don’t you want to be well?” In other words, “Get up and get going!” Patience is a great virtue… one most of us could use more of in a healthy dose! But there is also something to be said for picking ourselves up and putting one foot in front of the other… being proactive… stepping up and out on faith in Jesus Christ – and letting Him handle the details.
So my question today for each of us is, “Don’t we want to be well? Isn’t it time we scooted closer to the pool and stuck in our toe?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
