Daily Devotional for October 25, 2016

Matthew 5:21-22  
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

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.

I voted today. I’ve cast my ballot and done my civic duty.  I am so weary of this campaign season and the horrible things that people on both sides are saying about one another.  I can barely look at my Facebook wall these days, because frankly, I feel like I am not going to have many friends left after November 8th.  People I know and love have said horrible things…called others terrible names…and basically shown me a side that I didn’t realize existed – and don’t care to embrace!  Moreover, I don’t want others to think that I support these comments – or ideologies.

So I am offering Matthew 5:21-22 as “food for thought” today…for all of us. Words kill.  Careless name calling has dire consequences…not only in personal relationships – but in the eyes of God.  If God sees this as “murder,” then we should not want any part of it.  This scripture should make us keenly aware that our thoughts, words, and actions matter greatly to God…and a lot of us should be busily trying to do a major overhaul on how we speak and behave!

I know that things won’t change after the election…that there will still be disgruntled people who want to voice their opinions.  And I am prayerfully considering a major reduction of my “friends” list to remove those who continue to engage in “murderous words and actions.” Jesus did not mince words in this passage…and it’s pretty clear to me how He feels about our engagement in these behaviors – and any association with those who do.

For me, the stakes are high.  I’d rather be Jesus’ obedient disciple and have a handful of faithful friends than to claim dozens of pals and be even remotely thought of as a “murderer” – by Him or anyone else!  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 20, 2016

1 Peter 3:7
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.

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.

Please don’t skip this devotional.  This verse is about so much more than just how husbands treat their wives. For all of the strides we have made in recognizing the abilities and rights of women AND other “minorities”…we still have a long way to go.

God blessed me with a husband who has never treated me as less than equal.  Yes, Greg is physically stronger than I am.  But I can’t think of anything that he has ever discouraged me from doing because he felt I was not capable intellectually, creatively…or for any other reason.  In our nearly 42 years of marriage, Greg has included me in all decisions, made me his equal, and supported me in any and all endeavors.  And I thank God for such a blessing!

I’ve seen my share of marriages and associations where this was not the case - and that’s where you fit into this message.  See, we tend to treat a lot of people as “less than” - in all sorts of relationships…our jobs…friendships…the community…and even in “church work” and Christian service!  We do not honor and delight in the strengths and abilities of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are often so busy making a name for ourselves that we will do anything and everything to get ahead – even at the expense of someone else.

As this verse illustrates, when we fail to honor – if not elevate - those around us, we diminish our Christian witness.  When we do not acknowledge their importance, God is greatly disappointed.  God takes this into account as He considers our prayers and petitions.  How we treat others matters greatly!

People are watching.  They notice how we treat those with whom we interact…family, friends, co-workers – and even strangers.  When we disparage others…criticize and cut them down…treat them with disrespect as we try to elevate ourselves to a position of superiority, we dishonor God and discount our pledge to be Disciples of Christ.

God doesn’t make any distinction…those in the world spotlight have no more obligation in this regard than “regular folk” like you and I do.  We must stop name calling, criticisms and cutting remarks, crude and ugly references, and any form of disrespect or denigration.  If we are going to truly honor God and represent Him, we have to start treating our wives – and all others – as equals.  There is much work to be done in this area…are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get busy?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 24, 2014

Matthew 5:21-26
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

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.

Whew, boy!  This is a tough passage to digest!  I’m reading Everybody’s Got Something*, written by ABC’s "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts.  She repeats the title of her book throughout its text...a phrase frequently spoken to Roberts by her late mother, Lucimarian.  Roberts uses this phrase to refer to struggles...challenges...issues.  But I want to use it today to refer to an entirely different kind of “something” – offenses...grudges...hurts...insults, and those things that make you go, “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”

Don’t pretend for one minute that you don’t know what I’m talking about...and do not judge.  Because we all have these feelings and behaviors!  We are human...and human beings get angry and irritated with one another!  But here’s the thing.  Jesus tells us that we cannot STAY angry.  We cannot call others names - even when we feel that they deserve them.  In the words of this scripture passage...”The simple moral fact is that words kill.”

As a society, we have honestly grown so comfortable – and complacent – with name calling and being angry about this, that or another that I don’t think we even realize the damage we do...to others AND to ourselves.  Don’t you know someone who is always angry or in turmoil about something or someone?  Have you really stopped to consider their overall attitude?  If you did, I bet you would see someone who is “emotionally turbulent”...a person whose “insides” must be churning much of the time with the stress and unsettledness of these feelings.  Now think of someone who seems to let things “roll off his/her back”...someone who appears to have a pretty good handle on the gifts of grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness toward others.  Which one seems to have the more peaceful life?  With which of these people would you prefer to spend time?

In my experience, anger and resentment are like cancers that eat away – at YOUR soul, not the other guy’s.  And clearly, God is not pleased when we harbor these feelings.  When we operate in anger and unforgiveness...when we speak unkindly of others and call them names...we essentially say, “Jesus wasted His time on this earth.  His life – and His death on the cross – are meaningless.”  I don’t believe this for one minute...do you?  We also deny the scriptures that tell us that every single person is precious to God...not one person is more important or special than another.  To speak angrily or hatefully of another is to say, “I’m better than him/her.  God loves me more.”  And this is simply not the case.  So we have to make a concerted effort to change our attitudes and what comes out of our mouths.

Who’s with me here?  Who is feeling pretty sheepish and “called out” right about now?  I know I am!  I’m telling you...Christian discipleship ain’t for sissies or wimps! The next time you are tempted to be openly critical of someone...or to call him/her a name...remember this passage.  The next time you feel anger welling up in you (and you will!), take a deep breath and ask God to help you operate in a spirit of mercy and forgiveness. 

Whether you ever approach the person with whom you have the beef is not really relevant.  Scripture tells us to make things right with those whom WE have offended...but we are not instructed to go around confronting others and telling them, “You made me mad or hurt my feelings, and I forgive you.”  It seems to be pleasing enough to God that you forgive in your heart, which He discerns – unless you are asked to by someone to forgive them verbally.  Honestly, I think others will know your heart, too...because your overall demeanor will reflect your inward spirit – and your peace through Christ Jesus.

Don’t be known as someone who is angry or unforgiving.  Don’t be reputed to be a cynic and a grump.  This is not representative of the grace, mercy, love and forgiveness of Jesus.  If we want to represent Him...to be a genuine disciple of Christ...we have to work hard and be willing to accept His instruction in all things.  Everybody’s got something...don’t let yours be a grudge!

©2014 Debbie Robus

*Everybody’s Got Something - ©2014 by Robin Roberts ~ Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group

Daily Devotional for August 2, 2013

Matthew 5:9
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
 
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.
 
Recently, a friend of mine “liked” an editorial comment on Facebook that was written by a young woman who clearly has absolutely zero regard for anyone who accepts government assistance… particularly Food Stamps.  In my opinion, this young woman painted every person who accepts this type of help with a very broad brush, and I felt her comments and “solutions” to what she viewed as “our country’s problem” were harsh and unkind in most cases.  However, I did not comment to this post.  To do so would have only opened up the door for a huge argument… and honestly, it just was not worth the trouble.  I would not change the minds of those who “liked” this post… and I would only have created animosity between myself and my friend, who is not a bad person. We just happen to share different views on this subject.
 
Thankfully, we live in a country where free speech is our right and privilege.  But the temptation is often there to jump in and comment… to write a letter to the editor and publicly berate someone for their ideas and opinions… or to lambast them on social media or in person.  The worst of it is when “Christians” sink to the level of name calling.  I see this often on Facebook and other social media outlets, and it disheartens me.  Again, these are not bad people.  But I will never understand why they think that mockery and deriding others is acceptable to anyone… much less to God.
 
I know that it’s a slippery slope to ignore such comments and actions.  Will others assume we agree with these people and their rants?  Will our silence be an endorsement of sorts?  We have to carefully weigh our options.  Would it be better to keep silent and risk the assumption that we feel the same way… or to comment and open “Pandora’s box” – and perhaps subject ourselves to ridicule and derision?  Is it worth hurting another person’s feelings or damaging a friendship?  I think we have to prayerfully consider all avenues… react and respond in the manner that we feel God is leading us…and then stand by our decision.
 
When I feel strongly about something I see posted on Facebook, I will sometimes privately message the person who made the post and outline my feelings or opinions. On at least one occasion, I quietly “unfriended” a few people, rather than continue the association and have to be confronted with their insulting posts each day.  This, too, can have mixed results.  In one case, a former student realized we were no longer “friends”, and when I tried to gently diffuse the situation, she accused me of lying to her.  I apologized for anything I might have said or done to make her feel I was being deceitful in any way, but she would have none of it.  Now she no longer speaks to me or acknowledges me at all.  That is okay …I still love her. I think at the core, she knows that some of the things she was saying were wrong and inappropriate.  Rather than deal with that, she chose to turn the tide and be mad at me.  Truthfully, we are so far apart politically that she was probably looking for a reason to disassociate.  Nobody ever said being a Christian – or trying to keep the peace – was easy!
 
So what do we do?  How do we become “peacemakers in God’s army”?

• I believe we start with prayer.  We ask God to “slow us and show us”… to give us the patience to stop and prayerfully consider our response… and then to act on the wisdom that God grants us.
• If you simply must write a letter to the editor, park it on your desktop and let it simmer for a few days before you send it.  See if you still feel the same way in retrospect.  Write out your thoughts and feelings before sharing them with someone else… let some time pass.  You don’t have to respond immediately.  Ask God to help you choose your words thoughtfully and carefully.
• Avoid knee-jerk reactions of any kind… even “unfriending” people on social media. Think before you hit that “like” button… or before you share any comments, photos or cartoons.
• Stand up for what is right when God leads you to do so… but be prepared to deal with the fallout.  Trust God to give you strength and courage to do the right thing…whichever direction He sends you!
• Remember that God loves the other guy just as much as He loves you and me.  Think about how precious that person is to Him before you start slinging mud and placing labels.  At every turn, lead with love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness… you know, all those things Jesus gives to you on a daily basis!

Understand that we are all part of God’s family… and families disagree from time to time.  But God wants us to get along… to listen to Him and figure out how to live as peacefully as possible.  His desire is that we find ways to grow together... and avoid the things that tear us apart.  Nothing makes Satan happier than to create discord of any kind among God’s people.  Will you give him that satisfaction?  Instead, won’t you concentrate your efforts on hearing from God and keeping the peace?  Have you found your peaceful place in God’s family?

©2013 Debbie Robus