1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us practice loving
each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind
show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to
know him better.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
For months now, I
have been writing devotionals based on the question, “Are we making a
point – or making a difference?” I’ve used scriptures about various
topics related to this question…and for the next few days, the focus
will be on Jesus’ command to “feed my sheep.” In light of the “theme”
of these devotionals, we must ask ourselves, “Do we love others because
we are getting to know God better and this is a natural progression? Or
do we tolerate others, because we think this is what God wants of us?”
Our answer matters greatly…because if we are treating others in
a certain manner to make a point – in one way or another – we have
totally missed the mark. If we love others out of a desire to be like
Jesus…to serve God with our whole heart and soul…we are demonstrating
one of the greatest gifts and blessings bestowed on those who belong to
His kingdom.
We need look no further than our current political
arena for examples of people who claim to love and serve Jesus…then
speak ill of those with whom they disagree. And I don’t mean that they
merely say, “I disagree with Bob.” I am talking about name-calling,
nasty innuendo - and horrible, disrespectful insults. Some have gone so
far as to say, “I would NEVER call So-and-So an XYZ.” They hide behind
the less-than-subtle suggestion that “those were someone else’s words,
not mine.” But ultimately, the unloving words were their own.
We
can pretend that what we see and hear in the media does not influence
us…but we would be wrong. Even “children’s movies” are peppered with
“adult” references that we THINK kids won’t get…until they spout
something derogatory or off-color that they heard in these films. So it
is no stretch to say that people of all ages mimic what they see and
hear. And when this includes unloving words and actions, we have missed
the mark as Disciples of Christ.
Let’s make this the day that we
truly begin to make a difference…that we draw closer to God and ask Him
to help us operate in love – in all that we say and do. Let’s show
others that it really means to be a child of God…an heir to His
kingdom. Let’s claim the name of Jesus…and then act and speak as He
would want…not as others expect or as suits our personal agendas. In
fact, let’s make sure that if we have a personal agenda…it is to
demonstrate the love of Christ.
I offer this reminder to ALL of
us today (myself included)…let everything that we say and do be pleasing
to Jesus – a reflection of His teachings. Let’s quit trying to make a
point and truly make a difference for God’s Kingdom by demonstrating His
love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. And let’s begin today…here…NOW!
Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label operating in compassion love behaving like God's children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operating in compassion love behaving like God's children. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2014
Matthew 18:1-5
About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. Then he said:
I promise you this. If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Author Beth Moore talks about her daughters in Feathers from My Nest…how one had a reputation for procrastination – particularly when it came to studying. From time to time, this daughter would “turn over a new leaf” – and make a visit to a local store to purchase another binder and clean notebook paper that signified the next “fresh start” was in action. Moore notes that there is nothing like a clean start… that adults must release children from the burden of past mistakes and allow them to learn and grow from their experiences so that they don’t carry them along as cumulative baggage. She acknowledges that children have to deal with their mistakes…but they must also be allowed to release them. And she notes that we are God’s children…and this is His way with all of us.
Stick with me here. Moore talks about how some adults want to shame children for their mistakes…how this shamed child sometimes seeks God out of a sense of guilt more than a profound desire to be in a relationship with Him. She reminds us that God sent Jesus to take our shame…and that He still does this for us, even today. Moore says of God…”Shame is never His game.”*
Does this describe you? Are you a “shamed child” (both literally and figuratively)? Do you serve God more from a place of guilt and obligation than one of yearning for His presence and care? Have you behaved toward others like a “shaming parent”? Have you judged them and remembered their mistakes? Have you shown the compassion, hope, and encouragement of a “fresh start” with God to those whom you encounter?
Given the opportunity, children seem to have an innate ability to move forward…to leave the past behind and start over each day – if not each hour or minute! But it doesn’t take long for adults to pollute this…to load the child with guilt and shame and a sense of cumulative mistakes and failures. We must be careful to allow children room to make blunders – and to grow and learn from them before they toss them to the curb.
We must also do this with others in our midst. Will we forever remember the mistakes of our friends and neighbors? Will we continue to judge others based on their past? Will we remind them of the actions of their youth – or even adulthood – that were reckless, insensitive…or maybe even illegal? Or will we encourage and nurture a “fresh start” in others…whether these persons have initiated one or still need a gentle nudge in order to do so?
Will we look at others and see them as God sees them...”children” whom He loves with all of His heart? Will we offer them the love, grace, mercy, compassion and encouragement they need in order to respectfully seek God’s guidance and the Kingdom of Heaven? I would assume that this is the treatment we desire in our own lives. Don’t you think it’s time we reciprocated?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Feathers From My Nest ~©Beth Moore – B & H Publishing, Nashville, TN – All Rights Reserved.
About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. Then he said:
I promise you this. If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Author Beth Moore talks about her daughters in Feathers from My Nest…how one had a reputation for procrastination – particularly when it came to studying. From time to time, this daughter would “turn over a new leaf” – and make a visit to a local store to purchase another binder and clean notebook paper that signified the next “fresh start” was in action. Moore notes that there is nothing like a clean start… that adults must release children from the burden of past mistakes and allow them to learn and grow from their experiences so that they don’t carry them along as cumulative baggage. She acknowledges that children have to deal with their mistakes…but they must also be allowed to release them. And she notes that we are God’s children…and this is His way with all of us.
Stick with me here. Moore talks about how some adults want to shame children for their mistakes…how this shamed child sometimes seeks God out of a sense of guilt more than a profound desire to be in a relationship with Him. She reminds us that God sent Jesus to take our shame…and that He still does this for us, even today. Moore says of God…”Shame is never His game.”*
Does this describe you? Are you a “shamed child” (both literally and figuratively)? Do you serve God more from a place of guilt and obligation than one of yearning for His presence and care? Have you behaved toward others like a “shaming parent”? Have you judged them and remembered their mistakes? Have you shown the compassion, hope, and encouragement of a “fresh start” with God to those whom you encounter?
Given the opportunity, children seem to have an innate ability to move forward…to leave the past behind and start over each day – if not each hour or minute! But it doesn’t take long for adults to pollute this…to load the child with guilt and shame and a sense of cumulative mistakes and failures. We must be careful to allow children room to make blunders – and to grow and learn from them before they toss them to the curb.
We must also do this with others in our midst. Will we forever remember the mistakes of our friends and neighbors? Will we continue to judge others based on their past? Will we remind them of the actions of their youth – or even adulthood – that were reckless, insensitive…or maybe even illegal? Or will we encourage and nurture a “fresh start” in others…whether these persons have initiated one or still need a gentle nudge in order to do so?
Will we look at others and see them as God sees them...”children” whom He loves with all of His heart? Will we offer them the love, grace, mercy, compassion and encouragement they need in order to respectfully seek God’s guidance and the Kingdom of Heaven? I would assume that this is the treatment we desire in our own lives. Don’t you think it’s time we reciprocated?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Feathers From My Nest ~©Beth Moore – B & H Publishing, Nashville, TN – All Rights Reserved.
Daily Devotional for April 1, 2014
1 John 3:1-2
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We are so blessed to have so many people in our church who are willing to serve in the children’s ministries…people who truly love God – AND our children. Last Sunday, Timothy told his Uncle Greg… “My teachers made me sad.” Greg asked him why, and Timothy replied, “When I got there, they hugged me and told me they were so glad to see me…and when I left, they hugged me again.” We explained to Timothy that these were good hugs…happy hugs…gestures of love from his teachers. I’m not sure why he associated hugs and affection from someone other than family members as a sad thing. But apparently, he doesn’t fully understand how much he is loved by so many people…and why!
Somehow I think that this is also the case for many of us in our relationship with God. There are probably some who wonder what we are up to…what “ulterior motives” we have for showing them kindness, grace, mercy, love and compassion. They don’t trust us…don’t see us as God’s children. And truthfully, we may not fully understand our role as God’s children, either. For some of us, expressing God’s love and care for others is more of a “chore” or an act of responsive obedience than something we have internalized and taken to heart. If we have trouble with this, it should be easy to see that surely those less comfortable in their relationship with God – or those who have no relationship with Him – would find this confusing.
So what can we do? First, I believe “practice makes perfect”. Each day, we must ask God…”Where do you want me to serve today?” We must call on Him to show us who needs to experience love, comfort, empathy or encouragement through us…and make it happen. The more we do these things for others, the easier they become. As we develop our “faith muscle” and become more comfortable demonstrating Jesus’ love and compassion, others will hopefully see that this is genuine.
There will always be skeptics…or those who label us “Jesus freaks” for expressing the love of Christ in our lives – and outwardly toward them. And some days, it will be hard to do what God has called us to do…to “love the unlovely” in His name. But we must trust that God is developing us in His image…making us more like Jesus. Someday, this will all be clearly revealed to us when we meet Him face-to-face.
We have work to do! We have people to love in the name of Jesus! We have hugs to give out to “children” of all ages…whether they fully understand why we are “hugging” them or not! God has called you to be His child…this is who and what you are! Others still don’t know Him…at least not in this way. It’s our “job” to introduce them to Jesus…through our words, actions…and how we conduct our lives each and every day. The more we practice this…the easier it gets – and the better we become at it. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and start “hugging” others for Jesus? When people look at you, Who will they really see?
©2014 Debbie Robus
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We are so blessed to have so many people in our church who are willing to serve in the children’s ministries…people who truly love God – AND our children. Last Sunday, Timothy told his Uncle Greg… “My teachers made me sad.” Greg asked him why, and Timothy replied, “When I got there, they hugged me and told me they were so glad to see me…and when I left, they hugged me again.” We explained to Timothy that these were good hugs…happy hugs…gestures of love from his teachers. I’m not sure why he associated hugs and affection from someone other than family members as a sad thing. But apparently, he doesn’t fully understand how much he is loved by so many people…and why!
Somehow I think that this is also the case for many of us in our relationship with God. There are probably some who wonder what we are up to…what “ulterior motives” we have for showing them kindness, grace, mercy, love and compassion. They don’t trust us…don’t see us as God’s children. And truthfully, we may not fully understand our role as God’s children, either. For some of us, expressing God’s love and care for others is more of a “chore” or an act of responsive obedience than something we have internalized and taken to heart. If we have trouble with this, it should be easy to see that surely those less comfortable in their relationship with God – or those who have no relationship with Him – would find this confusing.
So what can we do? First, I believe “practice makes perfect”. Each day, we must ask God…”Where do you want me to serve today?” We must call on Him to show us who needs to experience love, comfort, empathy or encouragement through us…and make it happen. The more we do these things for others, the easier they become. As we develop our “faith muscle” and become more comfortable demonstrating Jesus’ love and compassion, others will hopefully see that this is genuine.
There will always be skeptics…or those who label us “Jesus freaks” for expressing the love of Christ in our lives – and outwardly toward them. And some days, it will be hard to do what God has called us to do…to “love the unlovely” in His name. But we must trust that God is developing us in His image…making us more like Jesus. Someday, this will all be clearly revealed to us when we meet Him face-to-face.
We have work to do! We have people to love in the name of Jesus! We have hugs to give out to “children” of all ages…whether they fully understand why we are “hugging” them or not! God has called you to be His child…this is who and what you are! Others still don’t know Him…at least not in this way. It’s our “job” to introduce them to Jesus…through our words, actions…and how we conduct our lives each and every day. The more we practice this…the easier it gets – and the better we become at it. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and start “hugging” others for Jesus? When people look at you, Who will they really see?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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