Daily Devotional for October 23, 2016

Matthew 5:17-19
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true. With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My last year in the classroom as a teacher was 1985-1986. I’ve been tutoring elementary students the last few months, and a lot has changed in 30 years!  There are “new” teaching methods…and the expectations for young students have definitely changed!  I taught kindergarten students to memorize their address, tie their shoes and count to twenty. Now they are doing addition and subtraction, reading and writing sentences…and most of the shoes have Velcro fasteners!  Second graders not only write stories…they are learning how to enhance them with details…to have an opening and a conclusion…and how to do a lot of their lessons via a “Chrome book” and a “smart board.”

Does this mean that the “old ways” have no value?  Absolutely not!  Because at the end of the day, I utilize a lot of the “old” methods I learned almost 40 years ago in order to drive home concepts, such as how to listen for the main topic of a paragraph…what prefixes and suffixes do to change “root” words…and more.  One-on-one instruction will never be obsolete!  And the BIG thing that has not changed is the necessity for each child to feel loved and valued.  At the end of the day, a hug and a few words of genuine concern and encouragement have as great an impact as any tangible “reward” or lesson.

So when we talk about how the “old ways” of the Old Testament have been replaced because of Jesus, we don’t mean they are to be totally discarded.  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty glad I don’t have to slit the throat of a baby lamb or calf and spill its blood in order for God to forgive my sins.  But I still have to obey the commandments that God laid out in scripture before Jesus was born!  I am thankful that many of the punishments that God meted out (like the plagues on Pharaoh’s Egyptians) are a thing of the past.  But when God speaks, I still listen – and do my best to comply quickly and completely!

In Mark 12:29-31, Jesus says… “The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ The second is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.”  If you follow these commands, you will encompass all of God’s laws by default.  They are still God’s laws…and we must follow all of them. But God has given us a new “method” by which to accomplish this – Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our Savior…our blessing…our teacher and Forever Friend.  But He is also our “hug and encouragement” to keep trying and making every effort to be obedient disciples and servants.

Isn’t it time we stopped making this so complicated? I don’t want to have to be constantly asking myself if I am on track with this command or that one.  So I choose to love God – and love others. Anything that I think, say or do that doesn’t line up with this is outside the realm of God’s commands and should not be happening.  I thank Jesus for making this so simple to understand…and for sacrificing His blood to wash away my sins, once and for all.  What about you? 

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 15, 2014

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from 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.

Today, the National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated at Ground Zero in New York City.  I sat down with Greg to watch the televised ceremony, and it wasn’t long before tears filled my eyes as the stories of that horrific day began to unfold.  In particular, the account of 24-year-old Welles Remy Crowther touched me deeply.  Dubbed “the man in the red bandana,” Crowther’s story of heroism was shared by President Obama in his remarks to the attendees.  He told how Welles, a former volunteer fireman who worked in finance in the south tower, covered his face with a red handkerchief/bandana and guided more than a dozen people to safety before he perished.  Crowther’s body was found some six months later in the South Tower Lobby, alongside the bodies of firefighters and emergency workers.

Many of those Welles Crowther rescued knew him only as “the man with the red bandana”, but as his story was shared, Allison Crowther realized that this was her son.  Welles had carried a red bandana with him ever since he was a young boy.  She knew that this hero who showed such courage, love and compassion was her Welles.  A red bandana is displayed in the “9/11 Museum” to remind others of Welles Crowther’s heroism.

Today, Allison Crowther spoke to the crowd in attendance at the memorial, along with Ling Young, one of the women who Welles rescued.  In her brief remarks, Crowther noted…”This is life's most precious meaning. It is our greatest hope that when people come here and see Welles' red bandanna, they will remember how people helped each other that day, and we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”

I don’t know much else about Welles Crowther.  Aside from a mention on a Wikipedia* page that Welles’ penchant for handkerchiefs came from observing his father, Jefferson, dress for church, we really don’t have a clue about the Crowthers and their faith.  But I have to believe that somewhere along the way, they found God…that He strengthened them and guided them through this horrific day and the ones to follow…that they embraced the teachings of Jesus and truly internalized His commands to love God AND to love others.  And I believe that Allison and Jefferson Crowther instilled these teachings in their precious son, Welles.

Some will say, “People are innately good.  It would be human nature for many of them to have done what this young man did, regardless of whether they knew God or not.”  Maybe so.  But a whole lot of people would also have rushed to save themselves and adopted the “every man for himself” mentality.  The point I wish to emphasize is contained in Allison Crowther’s statement that we will remember how people rushed to help each other that day, and…”we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.” 

God will not call all of us to save people from a crumbling, burning building.  He will not make us heroes…at least not to this magnitude.  Few if any of us will not be immortalized for our acts of love and compassion…or have a lasting tribute created on Wikipedia or in a national museum.  But our acts of love and care for others…our demonstration of our devotion to God… are no less significant.  Their impact is just as powerful and lasting.  And the “recognition” we are afforded in the form of eternity at the feet of Almighty God will be the ultimate reward.

Those of us who have truly found God and keep His Holy Spirit in our hearts have the capacity to be “heroes” for Jesus in ways great and small each and every day…to demonstrate the powerful presence of His love, grace, mercy, compassion, healing and forgiveness.  We can be the face of God to others.  This is our privilege…and our purpose.

I am humbled today by the stories that were shared at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial Museum.  I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifices and sufferings of that day…the tests of faith that are beyond what I can comprehend.  But I am also reminded of the power of God’s love for His children…and the effectiveness of believers who share that love with one another.  I am challenged to harness God’s gifts of strength, power, love and courage in my own situations and circumstances…I am determined to trust Him and walk in His love and care more surely each day. 

I am encouraged to know that in ways great and small, I can be one of God’s servants…a “rescuer” of sorts who faithfully “dons a red bandana” and rushes in to help others Jesus’ name.  What about you?  Will you join me in the mission?  Will you answer Jesus’ call to love others as you love yourself…and God?  Isn’t it time we focused more on service to Him and less on service of self? Is this the day that you will pry your “red bandana” of God’s love and care from your pocket and put it on as you serve others in Jesus’ name?  Don’t you think you should?

©2014 Debbie Robus

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welles_Crowther

Daily Devotional for December 5, 2012

John 3:16
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

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

Think of at least one person you love and believe you couldn’t live without. Now… imagine if the only way to save millions of people was to sacrifice the life of that person. Would you do it? COULD you?

This is exactly what God did for us. He looked at each one of us… sinful and imperfect… and said, “It would be worth it.” He was willing to allow His one and only Son to suffer and die in order to potentially save the rest of us. Even crazier is the fact that this was not guaranteed. God still allows us free will, which means that some will actually choose NOT to claim Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives. Some will declare that God does not exist, while others will turn their backs on Him at some point. Some will mock Him and worship other gods instead. Still… God looked at all of these possible outcomes and said, “It’s worth the sacrifice… and the risk."

I don’t know if you have ever watched someone you love suffer in pain or sickness. Maybe you have stood by a friend or family member who was going through an emotional trauma and offered them your support and encouragement. If so, you have some idea of how hard it is to observe your loved one in discomfort – if not downright agony. Now imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch His Son be ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, tortured, mocked, bloodied… and crucified. Still, He said, “It’s all worth it.”

Do you get that He was thinking of YOU? YOU were worth all of this. YOU were so loved that God was willing to trade the life of Jesus for yours. YOU have so much value to God that He does not wish for any harm to come to a single hair on your head…so He numbers them. YOU are so important to God that He cares about every aspect of what is happening in your life… every single day. And He was willing to allow His only Son to die the most horrific death imaginable in order to pay the price for YOUR life.

Who could love you more than this? Who could handle the worries of your day better? Who should have your unending faith, trust and loyalty? Who do you worship… and Who is the LORD of YOUR life?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 12, 2012

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.

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.

Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students, whose parents are good friends of ours. As we were seated, the girls who were presiding over the guest book handed us a card on which to sign our name. “Write out some advice for the couple,” they told us. I signed our names to the card and wrote, “Always put God first… and never go to bed angry.” Had I thought a little longer and harder, I could have possibly written something clever, but I’m not sure I could have written anything that will serve them better in life. I wish I had been able to quote Deuteronomy 10:12-13… because this passage says it all in a neat, concise form!

I could also have quoted Mark 12:30… “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV) But truly, when we put God first, everything else falls into place, doesn’t it? Because to truly put Him first, we must follow the road He sets out for us… love Him… serve Him with everything we have in us… and obey His commandments and regulations. When we do this, we can’t help but live a good life.

When you think about your own life… and times when you feel like things weren’t going so well… just how close were you to God? Did you trust Him and praise Him even when you suffered illness or injury – loss of one kind of another – or something of a failed experience? Did you continue to look to God for strength when things were going extraordinarily well… or did you get cocky and decide you could handle things on your own? Do you stew and stress, argue and fight, criticize and complain… or do you “love one another” as outlined in 1 John 4:7-12? Do you look the other way and pretend not to hear when others rebuke God or take His name in vain? Do you truly respect and revere Him at all times?

In order to fully serve God, we have to live in His presence in both the big things and the little ones. We have to follow the road He sets out for us every day… not just when it feels good or we are in dire straits.

The more I think about it, the more I believe my advice to the newlyweds was solid. When we truly put God first in everything, the rest will follow. Life may not always be easy – or fun – but God will bless us in the end… and the results will all be good. Are you putting God first in everything? Isn’t it time you did?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 7, 2011

Psalm 96:10-13
Get out the message—God Rules!
He put the world on a firm foundation;
He treats everyone fair and square.


Let's hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.

Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

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.

“It’s not fair!” If you have never uttered this sentence, you must be an alien from another planet! We all feel that life isn’t fair at some point… that we have not been treated well… that the world is spinning off its axis. And we complain loudly to anyone and everyone who will listen – especially God!

What we often fail to recognize is that many of the indignities and injustices we feel are being imposed on us are very much like those we impose on God! We go days/weeks/months without speaking to Him. We disappoint… speak unkindly… even lie to create the situation we prefer over that we know is honorable to God… we manipulate, whine, complain, disrespect, and more. And remember… any time we do this to another living being, we are doing these things to God, too!

Still, God comes and sets everything right. This is not a license to take Him for granted, but rather, a call to recognize His power, grace and mercy. God treats everyone fairly… He loves each of us and orchestrates the events of our lives - often showering us with undeserved blessings.

Much of life is not fair… or conducted on our terms. And I’m learning that often, when I call out to God, “This is not fair!” or “I am hurt and upset by this,” He answers… “Now you know how I feel sometimes.” I’m not saying God wants us to be hurt or feel mistreated… but sometimes these experiences humble us to the “log in our own eye,” so to speak, and help us to see how we are treating others… and God. When we realize how merciful He is to us in spite of our behavior that, frankly, is often quite awful… we see how much He loves us… how worthy He is of our constant praise.

Today, examine areas of your life where you feel you have been treated unfairly – and where you might have doled out that same treatment to others. Think about how you treat God… how much of your time and attention you give Him (and I’m talking about time spent loving, praising, and worshipping – not asking for something from Him). Praise God for loving us so well… treating us so fairly… and setting everything right on earth.

©2011 Debbie Robus