Daily Devotional for October 14, 2016

Matthew 4:18-22
One day as he was walking along the beach beside the Lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—out in a boat fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen.

Jesus called out, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!” And they left their nets at once and went with him.

A little farther up the beach he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets; and he called to them to come too. At once they stopped their work and, leaving their father behind, went with him.

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

This school year, I am helping at least one day a week in Timmy’s second grade class.  Like many children (including our own at times), there are a couple of students who absolutely seem to ignore the teacher and me when we call to them.  They look the other way and act as if they did not hear us speaking directly to them! So I cannot imagine saying to one of these students, “Drop everything and follow me!”  This summons would most likely fall on deaf ears!

I bet you see where I’m headed with this!  In scripture, we see that Simon-Peter, Andrew, James and John dropped EVERYTHING and went with Jesus.  They didn’t look away and pretend not to hear Him calling to them.  They didn’t say, “I’ll be there after I finish fishing or mending nets!”  None of them said, “I can’t right now…I am busy doing XYZ!”  To a person, they immediately heeded the voice of Jesus - and followed Him.

You and I are pretty much like second-grade students.  We have our own agendas.  In some cases, we don’t want to do what Jesus asks of us.  But often, we just want to finish what we are doing first!  This is not faithful obedience and humble servitude!  When Jesus whispers our name – or even when we feel that gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit – we should stop and answer right away. There is no such thing as a good excuse.  To suggest otherwise not only demonstrates disobedience…it shows complete arrogance on our part.  And God is not impressed.

There will surely be times when Jesus calls on us to follow Him - and what He asks is not convenient.  His requests may even be downright difficult.  But remember, when God calls you to something, He will see you through it!  So put down your “nets” and prepare to “fish” for souls with Jesus.  When He calls to you, do not dawdle!  Answer right away and trust Him to handle all of the details.

You and I are not in second grade any more.  Failure to listen for the voice of Jesus – and answer promptly – has no place in our lives as Christian disciples.  At least it shouldn’t!  Are YOU listening with faithfulness and obedience?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for October 7, 2016

Matthew 21:12-14
Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:

My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.

Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.

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.

How many people do you know who cannot park their car in the garage, because it is full of other things?  Maybe you are one of them!  I know people who live in an RV and use their shower/tub for a closet – and shower at RV park or truck stop bath/shower houses. Please don’t misunderstand me…this is totally none of my business where you park your car, bathe or shower!  But we all understand the concept of clutter and how it can overtake our lives – and our space!

The same can be said for “spiritual clutter.”  And just like those who set up shop in the temple and moved the focus away from that structure’s intended purpose, we fill our hearts and minds with things that truly don’t belong there and do not glorify God.  And at some point, Jesus calls us to clean house…to clear away the clutter of those things that steer our focus away from Him…and to make room in our heart and mind for His healing power.

All of my life, I’ve heard this story of Jesus kicking over tables in the Temple and scattering the money and merchandise of the merchants and thieves who had set up shop there.  And I can picture Jesus figuratively slashing at the things in our hearts that distract us and pull us away from a relationship that serves Him and honors our salvation – and the mission He calls us to accomplish in His name.

In a way, this is painful and shocking…but it is also necessary from time to time, because we are all human and imperfect.  But we can work on this.  We can make a concerted effort to keep our lives steeped in prayer…to ensure that we always have room for the will of God – and that our focus is on creating an atmosphere where Jesus has plenty of room to work.

What is cluttering your heart and mind?  Where in your life do you have areas that have become a “hangout for thieves” rather than a “house of prayer?”  Is there room for “the blind and the crippled” to get in…and for Jesus to heal them?  Are you a catalyst for His message and ministries…or do you need to get busy and clear out some clutter to make room for Him to work?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Luke 10:21-24
Then he was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the intellectuals and worldly wise and for revealing them to those who are as trusting as little children. Yes, thank you, Father, for that is the way you wanted it. I am the Agent of my Father in everything; and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then, turning to the twelve disciples, he said quietly, “How privileged you are to see what you have seen. Many a prophet and king of old has longed for these days, to see and hear what you have seen and heard!”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
From the time Timothy was a baby, I have prayed that he would know Jesus at an early age and develop a strong, intimate relationship with Him.  When Zola and Nathan came along, my prayers expanded to include them.  I also pray this for the other “little ones” in our circle of family and friends – and all children really – but especially those with whom I have contact.  I consider it not only my obligation as a Christian disciple – but also my privilege – to share the love and teachings of Jesus with these children and offer them the opportunity to embrace Him for themselves.

What is gratifying – and somewhat amazing – is how readily most children accept the existence of God…and Jesus.  They sometimes question…”Where is God?” or “What does Jesus really look like?”  But when we talk about God and share stories of the Bible…when I tell them about Jesus and how “mean men” nailed Him to a cross, where He died because of our sins…they nod, agree and seem to readily accept and internalize this information.  They seem to grasp the concept of a “Forever Friend” (the Holy Spirit) who will live in their hearts and guide them each day - and help them make good choices. And my heart bursts with joy that they trust so eagerly.

Somewhere along the line, we become skeptical. I don’t know if the pressures of “the world at large” get to us or exactly what causes the shift…but we lose some of this innocent faith and start to crumble a bit. Some of us all but disintegrate!  We begin to question God…and His motives and methods. We let go of Jesus’ hand and close our hearts to the Holy Spirit…and we start to trust mere mortals instead.

We listen to the opinions of others, rather than the teachings of Jesus. Like Timothy, Zola and Nathan, some of us have heard the Word of God since we were tiny babies.  We have seen Christian faith in action through the role models and mentors in our lives. But when ungodly influences show up – and they always do – we are drawn to them as if they were irresistible shiny objects.  Remember, all the devil needs is the tiniest of openings, and he will sneak into our lives like the slimy creature that he is – and wreak havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us!

Jesus acts as God’s “Special Agent” and provides us with all of the information and tools that we need to live in accordance with His will – and to accomplish His missions for us on this earth.  For all of this to work as God ordained, we have to trust like little children.  Is this a leap of faith?  To some degree - yes. But don’t you know in your heart that this is how you should be living?  Don’t you realize how privileged we are to have Jesus as our Savior…and God as our Heavenly Father?

Isn’t it time we stopped acting like we are such high-brow intellectuals who know it all…and surrendered our hearts completely to Jesus?  Will this be the day that you “reconnect with your inner child” - and that level of innocence and faith - and let God have complete control in your life?  Aren’t you ready to be His kid again?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 31, 2016

John 20:1-9
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and me and said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!”

We ran to the tomb to see; I outran Peter and got there first, and stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but I didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went on inside. He also noticed the cloth lying there, while the swath that had covered Jesus’ head was rolled up in a bundle and was lying at the side. Then I went in too, and saw, and believed that he had risen - for until then we hadn’t realized that the Scriptures said he would come to life again!

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 saw a talk show interview with actor/comedian/filmmaker Mel Brooks in which he spoke of his dear friend, the late actor Gene Wilder.  Brooks said he knew that his friend was not well – that his time on earth was growing short.  But once Wilder passed, Mel Brooks said that he actually felt “shocked” for a while.  Brooks could not accept that he would never be able to call Wilder and speak to him again.  This this is a typical reaction for someone who is grieving…part of a normal process.

When American gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman took the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 2016 Rio Olympics,  there were a few moments where the two young women and their coaches stood and hugged each other somewhat in disbelief.  The “talk” for days had been that these girls would win medals.  It was certainly no surprise that Biles took the gold.  But in the initial moments, there was a bit of surprise and excitement…and awe!  Again, this was a normal reaction.  The culmination of all that had happened was almost overwhelming.

Think of a time when someone told you something…but what they were saying didn’t really register.  Maybe you were not paying enough attention. Perhaps you simply did not comprehend what you were being told.  Or maybe, what you were hearing was so astounding that you didn’t think it could possibly be accurate or really happen.  So when you realized that this.was.real…you were “dazed and confused” – at least momentarily.

When I read this scripture passage, I asked myself…”What is our take-away?”  And the message I kept getting is…”pay attention!”  So often, we are caught up in a myriad of circumstances and emotions – many of them important, but some not so much – and we don’t really comprehend what we read or hear.  This is especially true when it comes to God’s word for our life.  So we can read a scripture passage over and again for decades…and one day, it all “clicks” and we realize…”THIS is what Jesus was saying!”  Or we move along through life and don’t realize that Scriptures told us plainly what would happen in this or that situation…and we simply didn’t grasp it!

The bottom line is that we must pay closer attention to God’s word for us…both written and whispered.  We must be awake and alert to His “signs and wonders”…in tune with His directives.  We must ask questions…dig deeper…and really GET what we are being fed!  The mission is too important…the message is unbelievably crucial.  We don’t have time to waste…and figuring things out after the fact – when “the tomb is empty” – is unacceptable.  God wants us to be so attuned to His word that we anticipate what is coming next…that we expect Him to show up…that we are never caught off guard.

I don’t know about you, but this means that I have work to do!  I have to get my act together and sharpen my focus.  I have to start seeking God more and living with confidence that He is always close at hand.  I have to be less shocked when God shows up and “shows out”…and better prepared for His miraculous presence and perfection.  I suspect it is much the same for you, as well.

Will you be like John and Peter at the empty tomb?  Or will this be the day that you sit up a little straighter, perk your ears, and zero in on what God is showing you?  Are you truly paying attention?  Don't you think you should be?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 23, 2016

Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”

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.

Yesterday, three-year-old Nathan came to me and said, “I’m thirsty.”  “I’ll get you something in a minute,” I told him.  “But I’m THIRSTY!” he wailed.  He gave me his most pitiful pouting lip, big crocodile tears, and the repetitive “fit” of a toddler as he pled his case. Patience is not the strong suit of three-year-olds!  The other day as I told Nathan “no” about something, he muttered, “You don’t like me…you don’t love me anymore.”  Oh, the pity parties children can throw!

My passage from Jesus Calling* this morning was about self-pity.  It said in part, “When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face.”  WOW!  This echoed in my head as I read the words of Jesus…”Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me…”  In recent months, I feel like Satan has tried very hard to separate Greg and me from Jesus.  He has pretty well “thrown the book at us” with the sudden deaths of Greg’s brother and my mother…an upper respiratory virus that sapped our health and strength for a few weeks during all of this turmoil…the general stresses and energy drains of the holidays…and more.  It would be so easy to stay in bed, pull the covers over our heads, and let the world pass us by as we feel so very sorry for ourselves and all that has befallen us.  But then the devil would win…and we simply cannot have that!

I was reminded in Jesus Calling that “…the closer you live to Me, the more distance there is between you and the pit.”  In this passage from Luke, we hear Jesus tell Simon that HE has prayed for him.  Can you imagine it…Jesus praying for us?!  That took my breath! With this in mind, how could we possibly cave in and succumb to the devil’s insistence that all is lost?  Do you see how important it is that we turn to Jesus and focus on Him rather than on our situation?  If He is praying for us, how on earth can we possibly continue to wallow in self-pity?

There is an old song called “Pick Yourself Up**” – written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields 1936 for the movie “Swing Time.”  One phrase says:

“Nothing's impossible, I have found
For when my chin is on the ground.
I pick myself up, dust myself off
And start all over again.”

This is exactly what Jesus is commanding us to do.  We are not to give the devil any satisfaction.  We are to recognize that Jesus is fighting for us…petitioning God on our behalf…guiding and caring for us through His Holy Spirit.  We are to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, start over…and help others do the same.

We are not self-absorbed three-year-olds…and we should not act like them.  Regardless of how badly we want to stomp our feet, stick out our lower lip and throw a fit…this is not what those who trust in Jesus do when the chips are down! The choice is ours completely…but to choose to spend even a little while in self-pity doesn’t seem like a viable option to me.  What about you?
   
©2016 Debbie Robus

*www.jesuscalling.com
**©Copyright 1936 T.B. Harms & Company Incorporated

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

Daily Devotional for July 15, 2015

Romans 8:5-8
People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God’s laws. If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
As we drove home from swim lessons today, Nathan was alternately making “Minions” sounds in the back seat and declaring that he was a superhero!  On any given day, we have Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman riding in the back seats of our vehicle!  But I can assure you, in real life, NONE of us are truly superheroes.  We like to think we are at times…but God has a way of showing us Who is really in control!  And our efforts to resist and have things our way never work out like we hoped.

So I have learned that I cannot conquer the world…that there are times that God wants me to step up and serve in a certain ministry or capacity.  But there are also times when He says, “That’s not your responsibility,” or even, “You have enough on your plate…it’s time to step back and take a break.” 

I had three little ones who informed me that they would not need naps after swim lessons and lunch.  But I reminded them that we have one more night of VBS, and a nap might be in order.  And sometimes, God tells us, “You’ve done this and that and something else this week, so you should skip the XYZ event tonight – or let someone else handle that project.”  I can tell you from personal experience that when I listen to God, I never regret what I “missed.”  But I have paid dearly at times when I tried to satisfy my own desires and take on too much – even with the best of intentions.

This is about more than just wanting to “sow wild oats” or do as you please. Even the most well-meaning Christians sometimes overload themselves.  And while we think we are doing this to be good servants and disciples, the truth is that often, we are just afraid of what others will think if we say “No!”…or we simply want more than we can handle.  It’s like a kid who looks through the toy store flyer that comes at Christmas time and says, “I’ll take this…and this…and this!” with no regard for how expensive all of those things are – or who will foot the bill!

When we try to do what we want rather than what God wants, the road can get pretty rocky!  We wear ourselves out chasing our tails and getting nowhere… the real work of God doesn’t get done…and everybody loses.  This doesn’t please God in the least.  Like little children who must learn that poor choices and selfishness have consequences, we must learn that serving our own desires rather than God’s can get us into a heap of trouble, also…everything from losses and disappointments to sickness brought on by wearing our bodies down with too much busyness.

Spend some time with God and ask Him what He wants you to do.  Learn to run EVERY activity and option by Him first…to determine whether He endorses your choices – or they are of your own making. Begin to operate within God’s plans, and see how much better things can be.  You won’t actually become a Ninja Warrior or Superman…but when you learn to operate under the power and wisdom of the “Ultimate Superhero,” He might just make you feel like one!

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2015

1 John 4:6-7
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
 
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Each January, countless people resolve to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their health.  By the last day of this month, a good number of them have succumbed to all sorts of outside persuasions and temptations…and those good intentions have gone out the window.
 
Every day, we are bombarded with thoughts and ideas from a myriad of sources.  Some of these are “healthy” views…but many are not.  Try as we might to stay focused and headed in the right direction, the surrounding arguments and temptations often get the best of us. Just as there are no quick and permanent “fixes” for our health and fitness, our Spirit-filled fellowship with God requires continual “maintenance” as well.  We will be bothered on all sides by those who wish to tempt or sway us toward their way of thinking…both unbelievers and those who believe in Jesus but do not listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit.  And honestly, it can often be hard to discern who is Who!
 
I know this is a confusing passage.  I’ve read it and studied more than a dozen commentaries just to try and get a handle on it for myself.  And the conclusion I have drawn is that we are to continually seek God…through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with Spirit-filled believers, and genuine efforts to emulate the teachings of Jesus.  We are to constantly strive to abide in God…to feel His presence and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  This will help to insulate us from deceptive voices.
 
I find it amazing that we are already one month into this New Year!  The time surely flew by for me!  But there is still time to get on track…physically, mentally - and most assuredly – in a Spiritual sense.  We can redouble our efforts to abide in Jesus and listen for His voice each and every minute of the day.  We can tune out the noise and chatter of deceptive spirits…and strive to truly understand that we are children of God and belong to Him!  He is with us…His love surrounds us!  Our job is to embrace it.  Are you ready to do exactly that?  Will this be the day that you begin?
 
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 23, 2014

Mark 13:33-37
So watch out and be ready! You don’t know when the time will come. It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. So be alert! You don’t know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. But if he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you asleep. I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
“Are you ready for Christmas?”  This is the question of the day!  And if you are like many people, the answer is a resounding…”NO!”  There are still last-minute presents to wrap...turkeys, hams and pies to bake...rooms to be prepared for guests…and so much more!  And smack in the middle of it all…anything could happen!  A friend posted on Facebook that her mother was admitted to the hospital with Type A flu.  I’m reminded of a childhood Christmas when my sister, brother and I got a stomach virus…and we could have cared less about Santa – much less eating anything!  Three years ago on Christmas Eve, my Mam-ma Polly stepped out of my mom’s car, fell on our driveway, and hit her head…resulting in a concussion and a two-day hospital stay.  She never made it into the house for our holiday celebration!
 
So “life” happens, and we don’t know what lies around the next bend…or even what the next hour will hold!  But more importantly, Jesus “happens”…all around us – and we never know where or how He will show up…but I assure you, He IS coming!  So we must be awake and alert, as the scripture tells us.
 
Just as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, kings and others did not know when the baby Jesus would arrive…we have no clue when He will show up in the flesh again.  We just know that it will happen.  Meanwhile, Jesus arrives every day in some way, shape or form…and in this regard, “Christmas” comes all the time. Do you recognize Him?  Are YOU always and forever “ready for Christmas?”  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 19, 2014

Mark 6:30-34
The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.

So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.

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.

We’re all aware of the adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”  Such was the case in 1959, when then 14-year-old Linda Balough was working a shift in a small franchised shoe store in Owensboro, Kentucky.  She recalled this day for the June 2014 issue of AARP Bulletin.   One Saturday during a local tobacco market, a disheveled, rather dirty family of five came into the Kentucky shoe store where Linda worked, and none of the employees would wait on them.  Linda was operating the cash register and noticed that her colleagues looked the other way.  One of them actually said to her that this family smelled of coal and had on clothing that indicated that they would not purchase anything, and that serving them would be a total waste of time.  So Linda grabbed her foot-measuring device and approached the mother of the family – and asked her shoe size.

The family ended up purchasing 10 pair of shoes.  The father explained that this was the time of year when he and his family brought their tobacco to sell at market…and they outfitted everyone with shoes for the entire year.  He thanked Linda for being so respectful and helpful.  As it turns out…this was one of the store’s largest sales - of.the.year!

Timing is everything.  There are times when we should be bold…and times when we need to take a step backward.  There are times when we need to rest…and times when we need to get the work done, no matter how tired we may be.  There are times when we are busy and cannot drop what we are doing…and times when we need to totally change course – or our preconceived notions about a person or situation – and meet that immediate need.

Jesus knew that His disciples were tired and needed a break.  I am sure He longed to get away with them for a while…to rest and hear their accounts of their ministries.  But in the middle of all of this, Jesus noticed a group of people who needed Him.  No doubt, some were dirty and disheveled.  There were probably little kids and crying babies in the crowd, as well as rowdy teenagers and a few people who might have seemed like “unsavory characters” who were a “total waste of time”.  I’m sure it was a noisy, chaotic scene as these people rushed to the beach.  For whatever reason, they were coming to see Jesus…and He sensed the urgency in the needs of many of them.  So Jesus stayed and ministered to the crowd…teaching, healing, and feeding bodies and souls.

Where have we put our own desires above the ministries of Jesus?  Have we judged someone in an instant and deemed them unworthy of our time and attention – and missed an opportunity to share Christ’s love in the process?  Are there times when we are so dead-set on doing what we want that we leave someone who is truly in need without an ally?  Are our priorities just a little out of whack on many occasions?

There are times when it is important to say “No!”…to take time for ourselves…to focus on our own rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. But often, we choose this option selfishly…without giving any consideration to what God is showing us or where He is leading.  Essentially, we say, “Not now, LORD…it’s MY turn,” or “LORD, surely you can’t mean for me to associate with this person or situation!”  In both cases, we miss valuable opportunities for discipleship and ministry…and for the blessings that God has in store for us.

I am sure that the 14-year-old Kentucky girl who made one of the store’s largest sales of the year was delighted – and received accolades from management for her astute salesmanship.  But the fact that Linda recounts this story with such clarity some 55 years later tells me that the impact on her life went far beyond dollars and cents - and a “job-well-done” pat on the back. This young girl saw people who were in need, and she dropped what she was doing – and any judgments – and met them right where they were.

Where do we need to open our eyes and ears to what God is calling us to do?  Are we so in tune with His voice that we know when to rest…and when to get busy serving others in Jesus’ name? Are we blinded by judgment and our own selfishness…or do we able to discern when God calls us to action – and go?  Isn’t it time we learned to tell the difference?   What is God calling you to do today?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 12, 2014

John 10:6-10
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

Jesus said:  I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I’ll be the first to admit that there are times when I read a scripture passage and ask, “What does this mean?”  Thank goodness for commentaries and the Internet search engines!  So let me see if I can give a quick synopsis of what I believe Jesus means in these verses from the Book of John.

In New Testament times, sheep were prized possessions.  They provided wool for clothing and blankets – and milk and meat to feed the family.  Sheep have been characterized as less than intelligent animals…subject to wandering away from the flock and getting lost. Each shepherd took his sheep out into the pastures to graze during the day, but at night, many shepherds housed their flocks together in a common, walled area where they could rest safely…known as a sheepfold.

As dumb as sheep could be, they did have one particularly important knack…they could discern their shepherd’s voice from that of any other person.  So when the shepherds came each morning to gather their flock, all they had to do was speak, and their particular sheep would assemble around them.

The sheepfold had thick stone walls and only one gate, which was guarded overnight by a doorkeeper – sometimes known as a “porter”. This was a good system, unless the porter fell asleep.  Robbers and thieves would scale the wall and steal the sheep…and carry them back over the wall. 

Commentaries suggest that Jesus is comparing the Jewish leaders to the thieves who came in the night – men who have created their own religion and tried to infiltrate through a back way to acquire followers.  Jesus represents the gate…the One Way in and out for genuine nurture and rest.  The thieves are not interested in the sheep…other than for their own personal gain…and the sheep certainly do not recognize the voices of these robbers.  So they do not “follow” of their own volition.  Jesus suggested that the Jewish leaders convinced people (the “sheep”) to follow them with clever lies and deceptions.

By now you are probably wondering what this has to do with us.  After all, we are not sheep…at least not in a literal sense.  But here’s the thing…too many of us are easily swayed by outside influences.  I read a news report just today about a 4-year-old boy in a very small northwest Arkansas community who was approached by two men in a mini-van.  They offered the child an ice cream sandwich.  Thankfully, this little boy had been taught what to do in such situations, and he loudly yelled, “NO!”  This brought his mother running from around the corner of the house!  Police have compared this incident with other recent events that bear striking similarities, and they have determined that someone is in the area who is dead-set on abducting children.

While this is a tangible example…there are plenty of subtle situations that occur in our lives to which we fall victim out of either ignorance, peer pressure, apathy, or a lack of due diligence.  In essence, we are either like the porter who falls asleep – or the sheep who are captivated and/or captured by the robber – or both.  Often, we never even saw it coming!  So we fall prey to warped ideas about religion and morality…we are tempted to participate in sinful activities…we are convinced that this or that conversation or activity is really not that bad – or that nobody is looking, so it doesn’t matter.  And in some instances, we actually can be persuaded that there is more than one “Gate”…that salvation through Jesus Christ is not necessary in order to be considered one of God’s children…or to secure a place in His Kingdom.

Often we know these things are not coming from our Shepherd…that the voice we hear is not God’s…but we follow along anyway.  Other times, we are so out of touch with God…so blind, deaf and dumb to His wisdom and instruction…that we are “easy pickin’s” for the devil and his band of robbers and their propaganda!

Just as I encourage my friends who are parents of young children to review “stranger danger” rules with their little ones, I believe we need to essentially do the same.  We need to stay awake and alert to attempts to be lured “over the wall” and into sinful behaviors.  We must listen for our Shepherd’s voice, and stay near to Him.  We must recognize that there is only ONE WAY into the “sheepfold” of God’s Kingdom – and it ain’t over the wall!  Remembering this should make it easier to recognize and identify the “thieves and robbers” in our lives.

Jesus stands at the gate and beckons us to come in and rest. He calls on us to learn His voice – and learn it well…to know when it is He who calls to us, and when the thieves and robbers are near.  This is a good day for all of us to review our “stranger danger” rules…whether they are the guidelines for keeping young children safe or those that guard our hearts and our souls.  When the devil’s thieves and robbers attempt to scale the walls of your heart, do you know what to do?  Don’t you think you should?

©2014 Debbie Robus