Daily Devotional for December 5, 2016

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

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.

There are people in this world who are hard to love…but no one is unloveable.  If you don’t remember anything else I ever say, please remember this.  I get it…some people are rude and insensitive…some children never seem to behave themselves...and some folks simply smell bad.  Others do horrible, unspeakable things…treat each other with disrespect…and present conduct so terrible that nobody wants to be around them.  Some people act as if they don’t care…about anything or anyone (except maybe themselves.)  And God sent Jesus for all of them.

I frame these thoughts in the context of three locations…school, the workplace, and church.  If you are a teacher or someone who works with children, remember that your most important job every single day is to make each child feel worthwhile and special.  Building up their self-worth is far more critical than building their knowledge base.  School should be their safe haven…the place where they are accepted and acknowledged…the place where they feel that they belong.

If you are a student, you should be surrounded by people who encourage you and build your heart and character every day…and you should do all that YOU can to encourage your fellow students in the same manner.

In the workplace, you should recognize that every customer and employee has worth…that every one of the people you encounter each day brings a unique set of abilities, problems and concerns with him/her…and your most important role is to show kindness, respect, and tolerance.

Church should be the one place above all others where people feel loved and acknowledged.  Many who come through the doors are seeking respite and refuge…love and acceptance...someone who will offer them encouragement and hope.  Instead, I’m afraid that many find people arrogance, social cliques, criticism and judgment, and a strong dose of condemnation that makes them feel inferior.  There doesn’t seem to be much room in some of our churches for the broken - and brokenhearted.

The thing is…God sent Jesus for ALL of us…not just the nice ones – or the pretty ones.  He didn’t say, “I am only sending my Son to save those who are clean and behave themselves every single minute…the ones whose home life is perfect, and those who have no money problems or struggles with addiction.  I’m not sending Him for those who are emotionally a little off balance…are anything other than 100% heterosexual…and have less than creamy white skin and a fat bank account.

God did not put a single limitation or qualification on who could have salvation because of Jesus Christ.  So why do we?  God gave us the most perfect gift possible…a gift that not a single one of us can ever earn or deserve.  He loved every single one of us enough to do this. So what makes us think we can love others any less?

Most of us learned early in life to be gracious recipients of gifts…even the ones that we didn’t ask for – or really don’t like.  But there is nothing unlikeable about God’s gift of salvation.  In fact, the mere idea that someone would reject this gift is probably absurd to most of us – although there will be those who do so.  I trust that you are not among them.  And in accepting God’s gift of Jesus, we must also accept the command to love others as we love Him – and ourselves…and to treat them as we would wish to be treated.  As you go to school, work, church – or just out in the world each day – think about Jesus and what He did for you.  Ask yourself if how you are treating others and responding to them lines up with this perfect Gift.

Make every minute of your day a time to show God your gratitude for Jesus.  Do this with your words and actions – and by treating others as the precious recipients of this great Gift, as well.   Because of God’s great love for us…no one is unloveable. Are you demonstrating this in your daily living?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 18, 2016

Romans 13:8-10
Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won’t sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you 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.

Fridays have become a busy time for me.  I​ spend the morning and at least part of the afternoon helping in Timothy and Zola’s classrooms at school.  It is no secret that I love children.  I love getting to know them…teaching them and watching as their minds expand with knowledge.  I love “loving” them and seeing their faces light up when they receive a smile or a hug.  I love encouraging a child and seeing the joy that he/she experiences when the “light bulb” goes on and things improve or a concept is fully understood. I love the purity and innocence with which children give and receive love.

Sometimes, children have to be corrected.  After all, we do have work to do and academic goals to achieve!  I have to remind students to stay on task.  I have to tell children that I cannot give them the answers to the test…that I will help them all I can, but I can’t do their work for them. I must remind the children to stay quiet in the hallways  - and stay in their seats and listen to the teacher in the classroom - even though they have a bazillion things they feel they simply must tell me immediately!  But these moments of correction are peppered with love and kindness.  I may speak firmly…but hopefully I am never harsh.  I may give a child an answer that he/she doesn’t want to hear…but I never want to make anyone feel ashamed.

I found a blog called Swords&Snoodles*, written by a woman in the United Kingdom named Becci Nicholls.  She shared a meme on Pinterest that said…” Don't become preoccupied with your child's academic ability. But instead, teach them to sit with those sitting alone. Teach them to be kind. Teach them to offer their help. Teach them to be a friend to the lonely. Teach them to encourage others. Teach them to think about other people. Teach them to share. Teach them to look for the good.  This is how they'll change the world.”

At the end of the day…love is what matters. This scripture passage is right…”Love your neighbor as yourself” is the only law we need.  This one commandment encompasses everything else.  Love does no intentional wrong to anyone…ever. A lot of us seem to have forgotten this.  Don’t you think it’s time we were reminded?

Are you looking for the good and operating in love - at all times toward all people?  Isn’t it time you were?
          
©2016 Debbie Robus

* http://swordsandsnoodles.co.uk/

Daily Devotional for September 20, 2016

Luke 10:25-37
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”

He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

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.

Police have apprehended the 28-year-old man who allegedly placed a series of homemade bombs along the streets of New York City and a couple of New Jersey communities in recent days.  Fingerprints left on some of the bombs led to this man’s arrest after a brief shootout with police in which he and two policemen were wounded.

Not long after news broke about this man’s apprehension, politicians took the airwaves to weigh in with their opinions.  One person complained loudly that this suspected bomber will most likely receive quality medical care and be treated by top-notch doctors. In my mind, there are two obvious reasons to do this…1) we don’t often apprehend a would-be bomber and have the opportunity to question him/her to possibly learn things that might help prevent future acts of terrorism; and just as importantly…2) it’s the right thing to do.

I watched news coverage as emergency personnel loaded this young man into an ambulance.  I looked at his face and thought of our own nephews – about this same age - and our little great-nephews and cousins who we love so dearly. I couldn’t help but look at him as the precious son of a mother and father – or the perhaps someone’s beloved brother or nephew. I do not in any way condone this man’s actions, and I do hope that justice is served.  But I also pray that he encounters some “Good Samaritans” among the law enforcement and medical personnel who will attend to him now.

Perhaps he will be treated by a doctor or nurse who will give him the same tender care that would be given to his/her own child or loved one. Maybe he will be handled with respect and fairness…and just MAYBE this young man will recognize that this is better than he deserves. It is possible that this would-be bomber might see the love of Jesus in the words and actions of those who are now guarding his every move…and that God will be glorified.

Every day, we waste countless opportunities to love others as Christ loves us.  We are so caught up in “What’s in it for me?” that we fail to see what Jesus wants us to see…to minister to others in His name and let Him control the end result.  We don’t look at others as Jesus sees them…with the same lens through which He views each of us.  We do not consider them to be as precious in Jesus’ sight…and we don’t love them like He does – or as He loves us.

Jesus is not ours exclusively…He came to save the world…not just the minuscule “sphere” in which you and I operate.  Isn’t it time you opened your heart and mind to what He desires?  Will this be the day that we become the “Good Samaritans” - wherever and whenever Christ provides us with an opportunity?  Don’t you think it’s time we did?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 16, 2016

Leviticus 19:18
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Last week, I purchased something on eBay, and the seller contacted me the next day to say that extra items were inadvertently shipped with my order.  This person asked if I would return these things and said she would e-mail me a prepaid shipping label.  I agreed to do this.  When the box arrived, there were double the “extra items” - and double the weight.  So I had to contact the seller – who emailed me ANOTHER label that would cover the extra postage costs.
 
I thought about giving this seller a negative rating on eBay - or sending a message to express my dissatisfaction.  But in the end, I have done nothing.  Why?  Partly because someone really MIGHT be in trouble if I did this…and I’ve tried to put myself in that person’s shoes.  Were I to make such a mistake, I would truly appreciate a buyer who didn’t “rub salt in the wound!”
 
Additionally, it WAS a small inconvenience – and something of an aggravation to have to deal with this.  But at the end of the day, it’s really not worth any more of my time and energy…certainly not worth “stirring the pot” and causing a problem for someone else.
 
So often, we "fly off the handle" and react to things that really don’t deserve that much effort and attention.  We get angry when there is no need and seek revenge where it would be best to simply leave things alone.  Timothy told me once when he had pushed Nathan…”He needed to be taught a lesson!”  The truth is that most of the time, this is not our job! Sometimes our efforts to handle things on our own are not pretty – and don’t represent true Christian discipleship.
 
Are you making every effort to operate in love and a spirit of “second chances?” Do you give others the benefit of the doubt? Don’t you think it’s time we learned to check our attitudes before we react to others?  Ask God to help you mature in this area. Learn to take a breath and step back before you totally make a mess of things. Think about how YOU would like to be treated…and make this your guideline for how to respond in kind.
 
In both the Old and New Testaments, we are commanded to love others as we love ourselves.  We are told not to get angry or seek revenge.  I’d say that this is pretty high on God’s list of priorities…wouldn’t you?  So what are you doing to eliminate anger and revenge from your life?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus   

Daily Devotional for July 15, 2016

1 John 4:7-11
My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.

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

Children and pets are great equalizers.  It is amazing to me how much we will overlook for both.  Did the dog chew up your favorite shoe? He’s just doing what puppies do.  Did the kids spill juice on your living room rug?  They didn’t mean it. For years, we had a chenille couch and love seat with arms that were perpetually shredded by our cat’s claws as they climbed aboard.  We just trimmed the strings with sharp scissors periodically. Thankfully, that was a most forgiving fabric that never went threadbare. But it somehow would not have mattered.

The house I thought had to look spotless at all times less than a decade ago now resembles Romper Room and/or the after-effects of a tornado – and often all at once!  And I am okay with that!  In both instances, these are “scars of love.”  They demonstrate that life took place…and love, tolerance and understanding were shared.

My point is that we are willing to overlook a lot of things for our pets and our children…because we love them unconditionally.  We understand the love of a cat snuggled on our lap – or a dog who faithfully nuzzles us for affection.  We relish the hugs and laughter of children…and their unsolicited expressions of love.

For all that we overlook with certain people and pets…we can surely be hard on others. I am amazed at how it appears that some of us would walk across hot coals for our children or pets…but we cannot even muster a smile or a kind word for others.  Our disdain – if not the downright hate that we feel toward some - is palpable.  There is a disconnect in our understanding that these are God’s creatures, too.  He loves them just as much as He loves US!

God overlooks a bazillion things we do each day that displease Him, out of nothing but pure love…and yet we cannot overlook even some of the simplest “slights” from others.  Still, we want to claim the name of Jesus and declare that we are God’s children…bathed in His love and offering it to the world!

It’s time to “get real.”  We’re not fooling God…and we’re probably not fooling most people, either.  And there is no way that we can please God and serve Him until we begin to truly operate in love, grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion – toward EVERYONE!  It will never be enough just to say that we love God and wish to serve Him.  We have to go the second mile and show it in our daily living and the way that we treat each and every one of Hi’s creatures.  Some of us have a lot of work to do in this area.  Don’t you think it’s time that we got started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 16, 2016

John 13:34-35
“And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

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

Greg and I have a front-row seat for observing sibling rivalry in action!  Zola had a day off from school recently, so she came with Nathan to our house while their parents worked.  Nathan was in a “snit” about it all day long. He did NOT want to share us with his sister.  When I poured “shoklit” milk for lunch, he had a fit because that was “his” milk and Zola was not to have any.  I assured him that I had plenty for both of them.  “But it’s MINE!” he tearfully insisted.

By contrast, Zola had come to our house to spend the night about a week ago, and she was totally “in the zone” when she arrived…so much that she would not even look up at her dad and Timothy and tell them “Good-bye” as they left.  So Timothy took matters into his own hands, walked over to Zola, cupped her face in his little hands and planted a big kiss on her forehead - and told her to have a good time!

Here’s where I am going with these illustrations…1) when it comes to God’s love, we do not have a “corner on the market;” and 2) we cannot pick and choose who we love – or how and when.

We are commanded to love others as God loves us.  And God loves each one of us – the good, the bad, and the ugly!  He doesn’t love Joe more than Bill…He doesn’t provide for the needs of Sue and not Betty.  God doesn’t have a fridge full of “shoklit milk” for Nick and refuse to share any with Nora!  God’s gifts of love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, healing, wisdom, and so much more are available to each and every one of us.

If we want to enjoy God’s love and blessings, we have to be willing to share them with others…and we must be ready to treat them as God treats us.  So this means that we have to not only be willing to “plant a kiss on the forehead” of a brother or sister in Christ who might not deserve it…we have to watch and listen for needs that must be met.  We have to be alert to joys and heartaches that should be recognized…to insecurities and problems that we cannot even begin to imagine that cause people to behave in a sometimes off-putting manner.  We have to understand that God loves each of us, warts and all…and we are supposed to do the same.  Does this mean that we have to be “best buds” with someone who rubs us the wrong way?  Absolutely not!  But we must learn to look at that person as God sees him/her…and to remind ourselves that WE have idiosyncrasies, too!

I will be honest…when I was younger, I saw a lot of people through the “lenses” of older adults – my parents and grandparents, teachers, adult church members and pastors.  I judged a lot of people based on the opinions of these people and those of my peers.  And I “loved” accordingly.  In doing this, I almost missed out on some really lovely friendships and relationships.  Kids who we thought were “weird” or “crazy” might have simply been too intellectual and “nerdy” for us at the time – but they were - and are - great people.

Others, we liked or disliked merely because those in our circle felt this way.  And this had consequences – both good and bad, depending on the circumstances.  Ultimately, we often failed to recognize that each person, no matter how much he/she irritates us, is precious to God.  I still struggle with this in many instances.  It is hard for me to accept that God loves some persons I consider pretty despicable, like those who murder, rape, and abuse or molest people and animals. 

I wrestle with kindness toward those whose minds are closed - who want to discriminate against people of other races, ethnic backgrounds, religious preferences, sexual orientations, and more…particularly when they tout their views on these people as “Gospel” and try to set themselves apart – and above – the other guy.  I want to scream when I hear “Christians” denounce the ideas and opinions of those who disagree with them – on any subject – and declare that they are “right” and others are “wrong”…then use whatever measures they deem necessary to prove their point, including the suggestion that certain people should be exiled, jailed, or even killed for their opinions.

And yet…I love Jesus more than life itself.  I am “all in” with Him…so I must love ALL of God’s children and treat them as Jesus would…with grace, mercy, humility, forgiveness, compassion and kindness.  I must meet their needs as God directs…I must “feed His sheep” - even the unlovable ones. 

I will not sugarcoat this - it’s hard work!  But if we want to be like Jesus, we have to be like Jesus in everything…and toward everyone.  We have to “share our shoklit milk” and be the one to take the first step, cup another person’s face in our hands and plant a kiss on their forehead – and let them know, “I care about you regardless of who you are or how you act.  I love you with the love of Christ anyway!”  Have you committed to Jesus enough to do this?  Will this be the day that you begin?

© Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 26, 2015

Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?”

Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”

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

If you have watched national news at all in recent months (or any time, for that matter), you have heard reporters ask someone – especially politicians – a direct question…and the person replies with an answer that is totally about something else.  Sometimes, the reporters will even ask…”Why won’t you answer my question?”  And the short answer is that the politician or other person doesn’t want to address that particular issue.  They want to divert attention and make the discussion about something else entirely.

So when the religious scholar asked Jesus to list the most important commandment, it’s likely he thought that Jesus would change the subject…or redirect the conversation to something else.  But Jesus boldly and clearly answered.  He made no bones about telling everyone within earshot that we only have one Lord and God…that the most important commandment is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  He added that the second most important commandment is to love others as much as we love ourselves. 

I’d say Jesus knows us pretty well, doesn’t He? Jesus knows that 99.9% of us operate in the “What’s-in-it-for-me?” realm…and He clearly told us that the Number One question is supposed to be “What’s-in-it-for-God?”…followed closely by “What can I do for the other guy?”  So we have some work to do!  It’s not exactly easy to shift the focus from ourselves sometimes. And the devil will do everything he can to see that we stay bogged down in selfish thinking.

But I have learned that the more I focus on God…the more I focus on myself.  The more I love Him and seek ways to hear from Him and to serve Him…the less I care about whether I get anything out of it or not. I’m not totally “there” yet…but I’m working hard to get closer.  When our focus is on loving God…loving others is easier - and there is no need to change the subject.  Who is on your heart and mind today…and what is the Number One commandment for YOU?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus