Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call Heaven and Earth to
witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing
and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love
God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh
yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your
God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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.
Timothy’s
kindergarten class is learning about choices. His teacher has a color
system, with some colors equaling poor choices, while others indicate
excellent options. The ultimate color is blue...and as Timothy’s mother
described it, “I think you have to be close to perfect to get that
one!” One day last week, Timothy got “blue”! Of course, two days
later, he got “yellow” – which equals a warning. I asked him what
happened, and he said, “I was too loud.”
I love that these
children are learning to take responsibility for their choices at such
an early age – and in such a positive manner. They realize that a lot
of what happens to them is of their own doing...that they have options
that bring rewards – and some that result in consequences. They are
experiencing the glory of the “highs” and the accompanying returns...and
the disappointment of the lows – and their penalties.
Some of us
need to go back to kindergarten! If we ever learned about how much God
wants to shower us with His love and blessings – and the correlation
between these and our choices – many of us seem to have forgotten. Too
often, we see God as Someone who stands over us with a whip and a
chair...ready to strike us down for the smallest infraction. We have
such a distorted image of how God operates!
A lot of us fail to
see God as the loving, caring, healing Father that He is...Someone who
wants to give us only good things – but Who also wants us to have the
freedom to make our own choices. Therein lies the problem! I can
almost picture Timothy stomping his foot and furrowing his brow when he
got that "yellow” warning last week. He was probably so frustrated with
himself, because he doesn’t mean to be too loud – he just gets carried
away. Like all children, he often gets caught up in the moment, which
is why there is a “warning” color in between the really good ones and
those that signify a serious problem.
The GOOD NEWS for us is
that God offers us the warmth and safety of His loving arms...via the
blood of Jesus Christ for all of our sins. When we give our hearts to
Jesus, we know that “excellent choices” will bring us immeasurable
blessings from God. There may be a few “warning” colors mixed in...
every day will not be “blue” perfect! But we can dwell in the land of
the “good colors” and experience the healing balm of God’s love, grace,
mercy and forgiveness.
Just like the “color chart” in Timothy’s
kindergarten class represents choices – and associated results, God has
set options and outcomes before each of us. The next step is ours to
take. So how will you choose?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label operating in God's best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operating in God's best. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 25, 2014
Matthew 5:43-47
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
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.
A friend recently shared with me that someone was spreading untruths about her. These were intended to smear her character and sully her reputation. And I am sure that people who don’t truly know this person might actually be taken in by such lies. My friend related how she was so angry...how her “gut reaction” was to conjure up thoughts of retaliation. I get that...I really do. I told her that I have a tendency to launch right into name calling – if only in the secrecy of my own home!
In her book, The Best Yes*, author Lysa TerKeurst shares an incident where she was so angry with her husband that “...I may or may not have called him a name, one that you can actually find in the Bible that starts with an A and ends in an S. Three letters. Only I didn’t mean it in the biblical sense. If you know what I mean.”
Haven’t we all been there? And honestly, didn’t this feeling drain you of a lot of energy? My friend said that when she opened her e-mail messages, she found one of my devotionals that spoke of forgiveness and mercy, and she was challenged to channel her “angry energy” in a different direction. That’s a big challenge! And I’ll admit...there are moments when I am right there with you - and Lysa TerKeurst - and a whole lot of other people!
Here’s the thing. Satan is the only winner in this. Your efforts to operate in forgiveness and mercy do not breed more lies and abuses or mistreatment from others...although it may seem that this is the case. You are not giving these people license to run unchecked over you and others. Instead, you are saying, “With God, all things are possible...including this.” You are declaring (if only to yourself) that God has instilled in you the power and courage to be your best self...to reflect Him at all times and in all ways. You are demonstrating your faith and honoring your Christian discipleship.
Is this easy? No way...especially not at first. There will be times when we are so beaten down by a circumstance or another human being that we feel like there is no love left in us. There have even been a couple of times in my life where I was so completely drained and devastated that I couldn’t even pray for a while...I didn’t know what to say or how to even begin. So you know what I did? I just sat and opened my heart to God and let Him fill me. And that is exactly what He did!
When you are at a point where you don’t know what to do...where to turn...how to even begin to call on God for help...stop and simply say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Let Him handle the details. Allow the balm of His healing touch to wash over you and fill the nooks and crannies...and remove all traces of animosity, anger, hatred, and frustration. When you begin to get your bearings again, start to pray for the person(s) or situation that has you so unsettled. It is very hard to operate in anything but love for something or someone for whom you are praying!
Today, my challenge for each of us is to pick out one “enemy”...one person or situation toward which we have animosity, unsettled feelings, anger, and/or a desire for revenge or retaliation – or maybe just a tiny bit of ill will. Maybe you have at least had the thought that “I’d like for him/her to suffer just a little for this.” Now...start to pray. Ask God to fill you with love and mercy...compassion, kindness and forgiveness. Call on God to channel your energy in a positive direction and to enable you to rise above these feelings...to make you the honorable representative of Jesus that He has called you to be.
We in no way excuse others’ sins...or condone their abusive and dishonest behaviors or their mistreatment of us – or anyone else. But let’s take ourselves out of the equation. Let’s “let go and let God” when we begin to pray over these circumstances and to allow Him to handle things. And in doing this, we will open ourselves to God’s best...for all parties. Won’t you whisper, “Come, Lord Jesus”? How – and where – will you allow Him to give you His best today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*The Best Yes - ©2014 by TerKeurst Foundation – published by Nelson Books. Available at Walmart and other major retailers. www.thebestyes.com #TheBestYes
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
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.
A friend recently shared with me that someone was spreading untruths about her. These were intended to smear her character and sully her reputation. And I am sure that people who don’t truly know this person might actually be taken in by such lies. My friend related how she was so angry...how her “gut reaction” was to conjure up thoughts of retaliation. I get that...I really do. I told her that I have a tendency to launch right into name calling – if only in the secrecy of my own home!
In her book, The Best Yes*, author Lysa TerKeurst shares an incident where she was so angry with her husband that “...I may or may not have called him a name, one that you can actually find in the Bible that starts with an A and ends in an S. Three letters. Only I didn’t mean it in the biblical sense. If you know what I mean.”
Haven’t we all been there? And honestly, didn’t this feeling drain you of a lot of energy? My friend said that when she opened her e-mail messages, she found one of my devotionals that spoke of forgiveness and mercy, and she was challenged to channel her “angry energy” in a different direction. That’s a big challenge! And I’ll admit...there are moments when I am right there with you - and Lysa TerKeurst - and a whole lot of other people!
Here’s the thing. Satan is the only winner in this. Your efforts to operate in forgiveness and mercy do not breed more lies and abuses or mistreatment from others...although it may seem that this is the case. You are not giving these people license to run unchecked over you and others. Instead, you are saying, “With God, all things are possible...including this.” You are declaring (if only to yourself) that God has instilled in you the power and courage to be your best self...to reflect Him at all times and in all ways. You are demonstrating your faith and honoring your Christian discipleship.
Is this easy? No way...especially not at first. There will be times when we are so beaten down by a circumstance or another human being that we feel like there is no love left in us. There have even been a couple of times in my life where I was so completely drained and devastated that I couldn’t even pray for a while...I didn’t know what to say or how to even begin. So you know what I did? I just sat and opened my heart to God and let Him fill me. And that is exactly what He did!
When you are at a point where you don’t know what to do...where to turn...how to even begin to call on God for help...stop and simply say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Let Him handle the details. Allow the balm of His healing touch to wash over you and fill the nooks and crannies...and remove all traces of animosity, anger, hatred, and frustration. When you begin to get your bearings again, start to pray for the person(s) or situation that has you so unsettled. It is very hard to operate in anything but love for something or someone for whom you are praying!
Today, my challenge for each of us is to pick out one “enemy”...one person or situation toward which we have animosity, unsettled feelings, anger, and/or a desire for revenge or retaliation – or maybe just a tiny bit of ill will. Maybe you have at least had the thought that “I’d like for him/her to suffer just a little for this.” Now...start to pray. Ask God to fill you with love and mercy...compassion, kindness and forgiveness. Call on God to channel your energy in a positive direction and to enable you to rise above these feelings...to make you the honorable representative of Jesus that He has called you to be.
We in no way excuse others’ sins...or condone their abusive and dishonest behaviors or their mistreatment of us – or anyone else. But let’s take ourselves out of the equation. Let’s “let go and let God” when we begin to pray over these circumstances and to allow Him to handle things. And in doing this, we will open ourselves to God’s best...for all parties. Won’t you whisper, “Come, Lord Jesus”? How – and where – will you allow Him to give you His best today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*The Best Yes - ©2014 by TerKeurst Foundation – published by Nelson Books. Available at Walmart and other major retailers. www.thebestyes.com #TheBestYes
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