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 March 3, 2015

John 16:12-15
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
   
One of my biggest regrets from the 9 years that I taught elementary school is that I didn’t take very many photographs.  This was pre-digital cameras, and it just was not as simple as picking up a camera or a phone and snapping pictures that were saved on to a memory card.  So I have a couple dozen snapshots…and an envelope of the “school pictures” of several of my students.

I found the school pictures this week, and as I looked at them, I thought about many of those little faces and recalled incidents from the time we shared.  I also considered what has happened to those children – many of whom are now adults with children of their own.  I know these “children” became teachers, an orchestra director, a nursing instructor, a dentist, a sheriff’s deputy…and one student tells me he is working on a Ph.D. in bioinformatics (Google it!)!  Several of my students own their own businesses – and even more manage a business for someone else. I am very proud of each one of them and their “success stories”.

But as I think about this time in my life, which encompassed most of my twenties, I regret something else… that I was not as in tune with the Holy Spirit. I did not fully understand the mission and ministry that God gave me with these precious children.  Oh, I loved them fiercely – like they were my own. And I showered them with attention and affection.  But I see now how I could have embraced them even more fully – how I could have nurtured and encouraged these children and their families…had I truly heard from the Holy Spirit on their behalf.

“Well, that’s just part of growing up,” you might say.  Yes…and no.  The Holy Spirit is available to us at any age.  We don’t have to “grow into” our relationship with Him…but we have to understand Him and recognize His presence.  Once I learned that the Holy Spirit (or “Holy Ghost” as I was taught to call Him as a child) is not a nebulous spirit – or truly some scary “ghost” – I was eager to really feel His presence in my heart.  Who wouldn’t want such a direct line to God?!  Who wouldn’t want a constant companion to guide your thoughts and actions as God directs them?

My message to you this day is that you can have the presence of “The Friend” – or Holy Spirit – in your heart…now…today…this minute!  You can recognize that Jesus is with you in this form…speaking God’s word into your heart, mind and soul.  You can call on Him to guide you as you make daily decisions and choices.  You can learn to recognize when the things you “hear” or “see” are from Him…and when they are not.  All it takes is a willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to guide your steps…and a commitment to pay attention to His “voice”.

None of us get a “do-over”…but we can start today to do better.  And “The Friend” – God’s Holy Spirit – will help us with this.  Won’t you invite Him into your heart and see what a difference His presence can make?  Will this be the day that you say, “Come, Holy Spirit!” – and get started?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 28, 2014

Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

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

The words “be still” are really not high on my vocabulary list!  In my own defense, I grew up with a grandmother who would call and say, “there are peas and beans to be picked in the garden.” By the time my parents, siblings and I got to her farm to help, said peas or beans were already picked, shelled – and either put up in the freezer, or simmering in a pot on the stove alongside an all-out country dinner!  My dad (her son) was one of these “if-you-want-that-fence-torn-down-then-show-me-where-to-put-the-remnants” …or “you’re-thinking-of-moving-so-I’ll-hook-my-trailer-to-the-truck” sort of guy.

Then I married someone who was more pensive and patient.  Greg thinks things through…sometimes for days or weeks.  He studies all of the angles and carefully weighs the outcomes.  He can make split-second decisions…but he can also say, “Let’s not get in a hurry…there is no rush!”  He is not an impulse buyer…nor does he have a quick temper.  He has helped me to discover that while “The early bird gets the worm”…there is also wisdom in knowing that “Good things come to those who wait”!

As I have grown in my faith and my relationship with the Holy Spirit, I have come to understand the delicate balance of knowing when to act quickly, and when to “be still”.  I will be the first in line to press the button when tickets go on sale for a James Taylor concert…but it may take me weeks or months to pick out a new laptop computer or a car.  I may be one of the “first responders” when someone I know or care about is in need…but now, I may take a step back and prayerfully consider my response and/or reaction when someone offends me.

I have learned that evil people with wicked schemes don’t really prosper…even when it seems that they may – momentarily, at least.  Name one person who truly “skirted by” his/her entire life without some sort of downfall or defeat.  I don’t say this to imply that I wish anyone to suffer or to receive “just desserts”.  I know plenty of “good people” who have suffered tremendous injustices while it seems that those who defy God at every turn seem to skate along.  But I also know that not all rewards and blessings are visible and tangible in this earthly lifetime…nor are the consequences for bad behaviors.

And so, as I sit here with a cup of coffee and talk with you, I suggest that we all take time today – and every day – to “be still”…to consult God before we make decisions of all sizes, shapes and colors…and to wait patiently for His wise reply.  Would you really rather have “the worm”…or the “good things” that come from waiting on the LORD?  Are you ready to “be still and know” the difference?

©2014 Debbie Robus