Showing posts with label
operating in compassion love understanding.
Show all posts
Showing posts with label
operating in compassion love understanding.
Show all posts
John 12:23-28
Jesus said: The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my all-time favorite hymns is “All Glory Laud and Honor”. When our congregation sang this as our “first hymn” on Palm Sunday, I was filled with joy. The little children of our church paraded up and down the aisles waving palm fronds as we sang,
“All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King!
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.”
This was a moment filled with reverence, jubilation, and mixed emotions. We all know how the “Holy Week story” ends…but we also know what had to happen to get to Easter Sunday. We celebrate Jesus as our Redeemer King… we sing sweet hosannas…but we know what’s coming. They don’t call it “The Sunday of Passion” for nothing!
As our pastor reminded us that the same people who heralded Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday - and celebrated Him as their King - were the same ones who just a few days later cried out for His crucifixion. He also noted that you cannot get from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.
So we will consider the cross for a few days. We will look at Jesus…God’s Son in human form who knew every single lash of the whip that would befall Him. He knew every person who would betray or deny Him…every agonizing thrust of the hammer as steel spikes were driven into His hands and feet. He knew each second of agony that lay ahead of Him…and He openly admitted that He was “deeply troubled”. Who wouldn’t be? Who among us could bear this? If someone described this suffering to you today and told you that this was in store for you this week, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to prevent it? Wouldn’t you beg, plead and bargain with God…promise ANYTHING to avoid such torture?
Now let me ask you this…suppose you could save your child by sacrificing your life in this manner. What if it boiled down to you…or that child? What if your agony and brutalization could save countless generations and offer them Eternal Life? Many of us would say, “Sure…for this reason, we would do it!” But if we are honest, I bet when the beatings started…when our backs were torn open and our heads were pierced with a crown of thorns…when we were handed an incredibly heavy wooden cross and told to carry it up a steep hill after our body had been mutilated…we would say, “Hold on…I can’t do this.” A few of us might even make it to Calvary. But when the spikes were placed on our wrists…when someone pulled our feet together, held a metal spear above them and raised the hammer, we would surely say, “Wait! Stop!”
If we possessed the supernatural powers of Jesus, surely we would command these people to halt such atrocities…to loosen the ropes, put away the whips and spears, remove our naked body from the cross and cover us in soft robes. But we’re not Jesus. We do not have His capacity for love and perseverance. We want to spend Eternity with Him…but few among us would be willing to suffer even a small portion of what He endured - regardless of the purpose. We want the happy, joy-filled, palm-frond-saluted Jesus who rode into Jerusalem to the applause and cheers of an adoring crowd. We do not want to consider the mutilated Savior who hung from a cross. But we must.
Somewhere in between the palm fronds and the Easter bunny, chocolate eggs and new outfits, we must stop to remember what happened in the days from that joy-filled Sunday to Resurrection Day. If we focus only on the “pretty” parts…we miss the message. Jesus came into the world to suffer…for you, for me – for all who would believe in Him. Don’t rush this Holy week! Study every facet…the good, bad and the ugly. Before we can celebrate the resurrection, we must consider the cross.
Father, today we thank You for Jesus. We thank You for loving us in our sinful, unlovable state…loving us enough to be willing to suffer at the hands of mere mortals who did not know You – did not understand Your love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. They did not understand about Eternal Life…and most certainly they could not comprehend the love of one Man for all mankind. Help us to focus on the cross this week…to remind ourselves just how profoundly Jesus loves each one of us. Make us uncomfortable as we ponder His suffering on our behalf. Humble us as we reflect on His passion and steadfast devotion. Forgive us for our weaknesses…and our ungratefulness. Make this a week when we renew our commitment…a time when we consider the cross and fully embrace Christ’s amazing love for each of us. Amen.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Psalm 35:11-14; 19-25
Liars accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay evil for good, and I feel all alone. When they were sick, I wore sackcloth and went without food. I truly prayed for them, as I would for a friend or a relative. I was in sorrow and mourned, as I would for my mother.
You see everything, Lord! Please don’t keep silent or stay so far away. Fight to defend me, Lord God, and prove that I am right by your standards. Don’t let them laugh at me or say to each other, “Now we’ve got what we want! We’ll gobble him down!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
At some point in your life, you have probably felt mistreated. Someone has most likely lied to you and taken advantage of your kindness. You may have felt like standing in the middle of the floor - hands raised upward - and asking, “What did I ever do to this person to deserve such treatment?” You might have even asked God to step in…to vindicate you and “make this person pay” in some manner. From reading this Psalm, I would say that David was right there with you…and honestly, I can’t say that I would blame you, either.
Nobody likes to be duped or mistreated. No one wants to give of themselves to someone who repays with lies, deceit, and abuse. None of us likes to be the recipient of another person’s ridicule or exploitation. This is not what you expect from someone for whom you have shown utmost love and care…someone for whom you have truly prayed for, cared for in their times of need, and blessed in ways great and small. We don’t expect people to lie to us – or about us - much less repay good with evil. Neither did Jesus.
Let that soak in for a minute. Do you think that Jesus hung from the cross and asked, “What did I ever do to So-and-So to make him/her hate me this much?” Do you think that He looked to the heavens and asked God to make each and every one of us pay for the terrible things we have done to Him…each sin we have committed?” The truth is that Jesus did just the opposite. He asked God to forgive those who did not understand what they had done…Who they had maimed and killed. He forgave a thief on the cross next to His. He gave His very life to PAY for each and every one of my sins…and yours…and the sins of all who will ever choose to give Him their heart and follow Him.
Clearly we are not Jesus. We are not God in human form…we do not have Supernatural powers and abilities and truly have no business comparing our “sufferings” to His. But they do serve to illustrate the point that for everything we endure…Jesus has endured more. For every hurt and indignation we will ever suffer…Jesus agonized exponentially. We serve a God who fully understands our thoughts and feelings…and truly cares about each of us. It may seem at times like He has walked away and left us to wallow in whatever we are enduring…but I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.
God never leaves us. While we might not be able to feel His presence as we desire, He is always working behind the scenes and meeting our needs. It may not be as we would wish… we may not “feel” as good as we would like in any given moment. But God is still with us. We must remember that the God who cared enough for us to send His only Son to earth and allowed Him to be brutalized for OUR sins is a God of profound love and care – for each of us!
So the next time you are mistreated, deceived, ridiculed, ignored and/or lonely, remember Jesus and the cross. You may be momentarily stung or disappointed by others, which is understandable. But don’t linger in those feelings…do not wallow in your hurts. Get busy loving others in Jesus’ name…sharing in THEIR suffering and reminding them of all that He did for us on the cross. Remember the cross…and what Jesus did for us there. Thank Him for the gift of amazing, incredible, unconditional love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Feel His presence and trust that He is making a way where you can see none.
God is always fighting for you. The cross is proof if this. How will you serve Him in return?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Psalm 112:4-9
Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Recently, a good friend of ours underwent surgery to remove his kidney. Pat was diagnosed with a form of Renal Cell Carcinoma…kidney cancer. Preliminary scans determined that the brain and bones were cancer-free, and the surgery revealed that the lymph nodes are clear as well. The message we received was “They got it all out.” This is great news for this 40-something father of three small children…as well as for all of us who love this family.
In a message Pat sent me following the surgery, he said, “We both know God has - and will - see us through this. He was never caught off guard by this.” His wife Kerri added, “We are feeling the overwhelming love from everyone…and feeling the prayers. God is giving us strength and comfort. We feel His hand in all of this.” Friends and fellow church members gathered at our church during the surgery to lift Pat in prayer…to ask for wisdom and expertise from the medical team…and to call on God to offer compassion and comfort to Pat’s family and friends. Clearly, God heard the prayers!
The husband of another friend - also a 40-something father to boys ages 6 and 8, and five-month-old twins - is battling Glioblastoma…a deadly (and so far, incurable) form of brain cancer…or as his wife calls it, “The Beast”. Adam’s cancer seems to be growing faster than chemo can kill it. And as we pray for Pat, we are also praying for Adam and his family.
Two Godly fathers…two very different prognoses. And some would say, “What did one do that the other did not? Why is God showing more mercy to one than the other? Doesn’t He see that both families need these dads? Doesn’t He understand the long-term impact of these situations? Why doesn’t God intervene for both of them? Does he care more for one family than the other?"
The simple answer is that God does not play favorites. Yes, God is fully aware of every single aspect of these situations…and He truly IS showing compassion for all concerned. As Pat said in his message, “God was never caught off guard by this.” So while it may seem that this scripture passage is telling us that God rewards our “good deeds” with His love and care…this is not the “whole enchilada”. Clearly we have an example of two men who have served their LORD well…but the path He designed for each of them is radically different. The pervading message is that God loves both of them…and He has tremendous love and compassion for their lives and the events that are unfolding.
So what do we do with this? How do we square such distressing ordeals with a loving, compassionate, merciful God? How do we witness to others about a God who allows human suffering and loss? The answer is simple… we look to the cross. We gaze upon the beaten and mutilated body of Jesus Christ, our SAVIOR…and we see that God understands how we feel. His anguish over Jesus’ suffering was so profound that it caused Him to momentarily look away. God feels our trepidation…He fully comprehends our questions – and why we ask them. But He knows so much more than we do about the “big picture”. We cannot fully see what God sees or know what He knows. But God is never caught off guard by these events.
Surely God calls on us to be faithful in our service to Him…fair in business…generous and kind…benevolent and compassionate to the needy…and fearless in the face of trials and tribulations. But He doesn’t play favorites. He does not say, “I will punish this person with a horrific accident or illness”…or “I will take him/her out of this world for such misdeeds or lack of faith.” He doesn’t arbitrarily decide that one young father should get a good diagnosis while another’s is grim. We simply do not see God’s big picture…so there is no way to fully understand His purposes.
We must cling to the promise that God’s plans are always perfect. We must trust Him and recognize that He loves us more than we can ever, EVER begin to comprehend…and His mercy and compassion are unending. And we must love others and show them the face of God, no matter what our circumstances. I have been so moved by the models of courage and fortitude that both of these young fathers and their families have demonstrated. I have witnessed God’s love and care through their examples of unwavering faith and hope. I have observed the outpouring of love, kindness, compassion and mercy from others for these families. And I have seen God’s handiwork in both situations.
None of us knows what tomorrow holds…or if we are promised another day. If you are young, you may think you have the rest of a very long life to start living for Jesus…plenty of time to be fair, honest, faithful and benevolent. But truly, you don’t know that. So don’t waste one minute! Pick up your Bible and read Psalm 112 in its entirety. Move over to the New Testament and read about the events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection. Then spend some time with God and ask Him to strengthen you in your discipleship…to truly enable you to be His face to others…to fortify your ability to be generous, compassionate, and righteous.
And pray for Pat and Adam and their families…and others who are facing tremendous tests and challenges. Ask God to reveal Himself to them in such a way that leaves no doubt that they belong to Him…that He is never caught off guard. Call on God to remind us in ways great and small that He’s got this – and them…and all will be well. To God be the glory…forever and ever. Amen!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
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.
Someone recently shared a version of this story with me…the author is unknown…
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.
The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie®. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy? "He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate Twinkies® in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!
How does this line up with Psalm 51:1? Too often, we are quick to ask God to provide US with compassion, mercy, love, and forgiveness…but we cannot – or will not – seek the same for others. We don’t acknowledge their importance to Him…or the impact of our gestures of love and compassion toward them in His name.
We must be grateful for God’s compassion and mercy in our own lives…but we must also remember to always seek this for others. We must do our part to represent God to them…even in the simple form of a shared Twinkie®. How will you share the mercy, love and compassion of God with someone today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Deuteronomy 31:6
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
All over the country, various forms of a “24-hour Cold-water Challenge” are taking place. Here’s how it works…someone is “called out” to plunge in to cold water…like a lake, river, or swimming pool – and this act is recorded on video. This person has 24 hours to complete this challenge…and he/she “calls out” up to three other people who are supposed to then complete the challenge and “call out” others. My Facebook wall has been full of such videos for a couple of weeks now, ever since this event began with some of our high school athletes over Spring Break. Somewhere along the line, our community’s Cold-water Challenge developed a “purpose” – you are supposed to take the plunge to show your love for Jesus.
Some have made a pretty good case for the fact that Jesus knows they love him without jumping into the lake or a pool of icy-cold water. But many have been good sports and accepted the challenge. My little cousin, Owen, was one of these…well, sort of. He donned his “surfboard” swim trunks and matching t-shirt that had surfboard appliques, along with his goggles, and made his video on the shoreline of our local Sandy Beach. I should tell you… Owen is only four. He announced who had “called him out”…and he issued a challenge for two others. And then he stood there. You can hear his mom off-camera saying, “Okay, take off!” And Owen stands and says, “YOU go! Go with me!” Mom and Owen’s sister, Olivia, say, “No! YOU go… be fast!” He replies, “You come with me!” Finally…reluctantly…Owen runs into the water - up to his shins – then he stops, turns and runs back out, declaring, “It’s COLD!!!”
How many times have we been all ready to do what God calls us to do…even “run into the water” for a few feet…and then frozen in fear or retreated? How often has the mere thought of stepping out and taking a chance – even when you know that this is what God wants – caused you to panic and tremble in fear? How often do we fail to remember – or to recognize – that God is always right beside us…that nothing is too big for Him to handle…and that He will never leave us?
With coaxing and encouragement, Owen ran into the water…and retreated. But after his sister dogged him a while, he did finally go back and get in – most of the way. I’m not sure if he ever got his face wet, but he made a valiant effort for a 4-year-old in cold lake water on a 55-degree day. We were all pretty proud of him. Kudos go to his mom and sister for giving him the support that he needed…for showing compassion when he hesitated…and for never leaving his side!
This is what God does for us every day. He stands on the shore and says, “I’m right here…I’m not leaving…now take off! GO! Run into the water and take the plunge! I’ll be right beside you…I’ll have a towel handy and open arms to snuggle you afterward.” And we are called to do this for others, as well.
God wants us to reassure those in our midst that He is with them…and that they have friends “waiting on the shore with a warm towel and a hug”. He wants us to lift each other through burdens, challenges, fears and apprehensions…and to stick with them for the long haul. He calls on us to offer compassion for those who hesitate…and to extend grace, mercy and forgiveness to those who simply cannot muster up the bravery and courage to fully “take the plunge” into the “icy waters” of any given situation.
I don’t know where you are in this picture. You may be the reluctant 4-year-old on the shore… or the mom and sister who lovingly encourage him to “Take off! Go for it!” But God is with you, either way. He will never leave you or abandon you. Take comfort in this message! Know that with God, all things are possible. As long as He is on our side, we truly have nothing to fear. So what are you waiting for? “Go! Take off!” God is with you…it’ll be okay!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 18:21-25
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”
Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
“The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
“The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
“The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’
“The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
“The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”
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.
My mom was telling me about attending a performance of “Jonah” at the Sight & Sound Theater in Branson, Missouri. This larger-than-life theatrical presentation of the story of Jonah is receiving rave reviews from all who see it. Mother described the special effects and the over-the-top scenery. And then she said “At the end when Jonah is so angry because God has forgiven the people of Nineveh - and the fact that his shade tree withered - Jesus appears and tells Jonah that He went to the cross and forgave with love. I loved Jonah’s line: ‘But love is messy! There’s putting up with the failings of others and forgiving and forgiving over and over…’.”
Love IS messy. And forgiveness often requires patience and restraint…and a huge dose of compassion. And all we have to do is look to the cross to see the perfect example of how we should operate. “But if you only knew what he/she did to me!” you may protest. And I do understand. We’ve all been mistreated at one point or another. Granted, some abuses are much worse than others. Evil people do heinous things to one another. But at the end of the day…none of us has been abused like Jesus. Not a single one of us has as much to forgive as He did. And yet, some of His last words on this earth were, “Father, forgive them…” Not only did JESUS forgive those who attacked Him… He asked God to forgive them, also.
Putting up with the failings of others and forgiving – over and over – is hard. It requires not only endurance and tolerance…but also a huge dose of faith and obedience to God. Often, we have to bite our tongue, swallow hard, and say, “LORD, help me…because I cannot do this under my own strength.” God will give you all that you need to show compassion and forgiveness to others. I can’t tell you exactly how or when…but I know that He will.
If God can forgive those who persecuted Jesus… if JESUS can forgive them…can’t we forgive those who come against us? Who do you need to reach out to with the love and compassion of Christ? Isn’t today a good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 18:19-20
I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that her almost-five-year-old son asked, "Can you make my dream come true and get me light (up) shoes?" She laughingly said that this has been his “life-long dream” – for at least the last five minutes! Knowing this family, I have a feeling that this little boy felt fairly confident that his request would be honored… if not by his parents - surely by his GiGi and Pappy!
I’m not sure this is what Jesus meant in Matthew when he said that any time two of us agree about something we are praying for, God will deliver. We’re not ordering take-out pizza here! I believe that God will answer…according to His will…that He will do things for us as we have asked…but again, within His will and as is best for us. So we may sit with a friend or family member and pray for a new car to get us from Point A to Point B. Our basic motive may be “pure”. But while we visualize a nice SUV with all the bells and whistles…God may be picturing a second-hand jalopy! Both will get us where we need to go…but in a much different style! The child who asks for new shoes may not necessarily get the light-up variety…but his/her feet will be shod nonetheless.
Does this make sense? Do you see that we should go to God with expectations…and confidence that He will answer? But we must remember that He will always answer in our best interest! Should this stop us from coming together to pray? Should this dampen our faith? Absolutely not! In fact, it should strengthen us to think that God ALWAYS has our back…He is always working on the best possible outcome for us…and we should never stop taking our burdens, cares, and desires to Him.
The last point of this scripture passage is that any time we join together in the name of Jesus, He is with us. Surely we know that when we stop to talk to God, He hears our prayers. But do you fully realize that anytime you and another person join together to do anything in the name of Jesus…whether it be a mission project, singing a song in worship and praise, discussing a Bible passage, lifting a prayer, and so much more…He is right there with you?
I’m emphasizing this verse, because I believe we underestimate the power of encouraging one another…and in doing so, we miss countless “holy moments”. I do not think we fully realize that to hug someone else and tell them how much they mean to you brings Jesus into the equation. To send another person a prayer via e-mail or text – or to encourage them over the phone or in person – invites Jesus into the group…and He stands there with you both. So many moments of interaction between two people are holy, and we don’t even recognize it. We underestimate God’s power to work in and through us to meet the needs of others, according to His will…to make a difference in their lives – and in our own.
Let’s not miss out on what God has in store for us! Let’s look for opportunities to “gather together in His name” and agree for whatever is needed…and whatever God desires for each of us. Let’s be aware that God is ready, willing, and able to bless us and meet our every need…and He is waiting for us to be the vessel to convey this message to others. You may not get light-up shoes, but I assure you…God has more blessings in store for you than you can begin to count!
What are you waiting for? Have you shared a “holy moment” with someone today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 18:10-14
“Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?
“Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.
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.
In my opinion, there are few sitcoms on television today that are truly funny. Even fewer avoid tactics such as crude language and behavior, innuendo, and downright tackiness. But one of the “good guys” is ABC’s The Goldbergs. According to information about the show posted on ABC’s website*: “Before there were parenting blogs, trophies for showing up, and peanut allergies, there was a simpler time called the '80s. For geeky 11-year old Adam (Sean Giambrone) these were his wonder years and he faced them armed with a video camera to capture all the crazy. The Goldbergs are a loving family like any other, just with a lot more yelling.”
This show is based on the real life of Adam Goldberg, whose character “narrates” in a “Wonder Years” style (for those of you who remember that show!). Poor Adam has his share of woes. In a recent episode, he reminisced (not so fondly) about his days in gym class, when he was often the last person selected for team sports like kickball. In many ways, he was very much a lost, forgotten “sheep” to most everyone – except his mother, Beverly. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her baby. She was willing to put herself on the line and look foolish – or “pull strings” and raise a ruckus to get the attention of people who knew people. She put her “skills” to work to get Adam a “Presidential pardon” from taking the President’s Physical fitness test, because he feared he could not do a pull-up!
Not to be outdone…Adam’s other family members – including his dad, brother, sister, and grandpa - had their own ways of protecting this baby brother. Ultimately, Adam was greatly loved and nurtured. Quite frankly, there are undertones amidst the humor of this wacky family story that the bonds run deep among all of them. I wouldn’t say they always operate with compassion…but at the end of the day, not one “sheep” goes untended.
Here’s how I see this scripture passage from Matthew 18 in relation to The Goldbergs. There are a lot of instances where we have an opportunity to “pick sides”… or to leave someone “out of the loop”. There are times when all of us have felt like an outsider…like we didn’t fit in – and frankly, nobody seemed to notice or care. But here’s the thing… Jesus cares…always.
“So why did He let me suffer through such embarrassment, abuse, pain, exile?” you may be asking. The simple answer is that I don’t know…except to say that I am confident that God never wastes an experience or an opportunity. More to the point, what are you doing with that experience? How are you using it in a positive manner now…maybe in helping someone through a similar situation or reaching out to others and sharing how God sustained you in a dark time?
Are you looking at other people with fresh eyes and making a point to find worth and value in each of them, so that not a single one is lost? Have you noticed that some of your friends, acquaintances, and fellow church members have drifted away…and to be honest, you don’t have a clue where they went or what happened to them?
Isn’t it time we started paying attention to each other? Isn’t it time we recognized when circumstances are allowing a “sheep” to wander or be pushed aside? Will we recognize the signs and obediently go after them? Are we willing to stick our necks out with “Bev Goldberg-style enthusiasm” and risk momentary discomfort or embarrassment for the welfare of even one of God’s children? Wouldn’t we want someone to come after us in a similar situation?
Stop and recognize how important you are to Jesus. Fully acknowledge and accept that He sacrificed EVERYTHING… for YOU! How can we consider for even a moment leaving another of God’s creatures behind…or ignoring their needs. Look around you…there’s a “sheep” somewhere in your circle who needs rescuing. Will you go after him/her? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://abc.go.com/shows/the-goldbergs
Matthew 18:6-7
“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.
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.
When I was about two years old, I wandered into my grandmother’s bathroom one day, opened a bottle of rubbing alcohol she had left sitting on the back of her toilet…and apparently, I took a drink. I can still see the doctor and nurses in the ER, wrapping me tightly in a bed sheet, so that they could insert a tube into my nose and down my throat to pump out my stomach. To this day, I do not like anything tight – clothing, small spaces, or even the thought of being confined.
My grandmother did not do this to hurt me. I’m sure it never even occurred to her that I would notice that container – or be intrigued by it…certainly not enough to take a swig! But at the same time, as a toddler, I trusted her to keep me safe. Let’s face it…children get into enough on their own without us making it easy for them!
Now think about your life as a Christian. Where have YOU left something potentially damaging “out on the counter” for others? Have you inadvertently tempted someone with a “do as I say…not as I do” attitude or action? Do you qualify gossip with “I’m only telling YOU this…” or “Don’t tell anyone else” hope that this person truly won’t perpetuate your “information”? Are you hypocritical…treating others kindly in person – then criticizing them to friends and acquaintances? Do you pretend to be one person at church, at school, or in your community…then act differently when you are “among friends” out on the lake, at a party… or away at school?
Do you encourage others and strengthen them in their faith walk… or are you divisive? Do you build up relationships with your comments, actions and attitudes…or do you tear them down? Most of us would never dream of smoking in front of someone who is trying to quit… or taking an alcoholic out for drinks. But in essence, we do insensitive – and potentially harmful – things like this all the time with our words, actions, and relationships.
Quite often, we are not careful about our talk or our “walk”…we don’t stop to think about how what we are doing affects others. And the Bible is clear that to cause another person to succumb to temptation – or sin - can have serious consequences. But even more than this, to cause another person to question his/her faith…to discourage someone or “kick them when they are down” …is equally disappointing to God. We’d just as well tie a big rock around our necks and jump into the lake!
None of us would never intentionally harm a child. So we must remember to think of others as God’s children…and treat them accordingly. Let’s examine our hearts and our minds… our words and our actions… and see where we need to “clear the counter”. Let’s act with integrity, sincerity and genuine care and compassion. Let’s be the true disciples Jesus called us to be. I’m in…are you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 7:1-2
Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Someone shared a link on Facebook to an article* about a book called Where Children Sleep…written by English-born photographer James Mollison. This book features photos of children around the world – and a photo of their bedroom – along with a caption that tells the child’s “story”. If you click the link I have provided, you can see some of the photos. I hope you will find them as interesting and compelling as I did…and that it will get you thinking about how we perceive (judge) others.
If we are totally honest, I would dare say that most of us have looked at someone else and made a judgment call. We have assumed everything from how wonderful their life must be – based on their thin, muscular, model-like appearance…the nice clothes they wear…the fancy house they live in…and/or the expensive car they drive and the jewelry they wear. We have decided that their lives must be close to perfect, because they “have it all”…or can afford to get it. We don’t stop to consider that they may have problems we cannot begin to imagine…from health issues (their own or a loved one’s) to abuse - to financial woes. They may be drowning in debt…severely depressed…or lonely. How many well-known celebrities can you think of who cannot maintain personal relationships…suffer from an addiction…or seem to always be in some sort of trouble?
The person who tells you that everything is wonderful may be covering for a lifetime of heartache and misery. The man with more money than he can begin to spend in a lifetime may be one of the loneliest people on the planet. The person who is happy and upbeat all the time – the life of the party – may be harboring all sorts of sadness and secrets behind closed doors.
We look at those who are disheveled, unkempt – even dirty – and we assume they are impoverished…maybe even lacking in intelligence. Quite honestly, we’ve become so accustomed to seeing people among us who have abused drugs that we look at someone who is thin and/or has bad teeth and skin…and we assume they have “done meth” or abused some other substance. We look at those who are obese and readily assume they have “food issues”. We see a child have a “melt-down” in the grocery store or a restaurant, and we assume that his/her mother or father is a bad parent who cannot control the child. We assume that people who don’t go to church on Sunday either aren’t Christians – or they are lacking in faith and Spiritual discipline. Sometimes we make false assumptions about even our own family members…out of such emotions as jealousy or spite - or even true ignorance.
My point is that we cannot always see what is going on with another person with just a casual glance. We have to get to know them a little…to pay attention to what is happening in their lives…to ask questions and listen to the answers…to be present in the moment when we are with someone and truly care about what is happening. And always…always…we must remind ourselves that we might not have the whole story!
Think about how others perceive – and judge – you! Think about what they know about you…and what they couldn’t possibly know. When you dash into the store for something without taking time to shower and look your best, remember that others may make an errant, snap judgment based on your appearance. When your child shows out in public, some will deem you a “bad parent”. When you get caught up in the heat of an emotional situation and behave badly, some will judge your faith.
Even on your best day, someone will find fault with you – and you are likely to judge another person, as well. You have two choices…you can either choose to seek revenge and/or form opinions about others…or you can choose to let God do the judging and try to see each person as someone of value and merit – with qualities both good and poor, just like the rest of us.
The Bible tells us to operate in compassion and understanding…to love others and see them as God sees them – warts and all, yet important. Take stock of your life and see where God is calling on you to be less judgmental and more compassionate. It’s time to look at others and imagine “where – and how - they really sleep”. Let this be the day that you cut someone a little slack – and feel God’s peace in the process.
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://pulptastic.com/james-mollison-where-children-sleep/
Psalm 86:11-17
Teach me to follow you,
and I will obey your truth.
Always keep me faithful.
With all my heart I thank you.
I praise you, Lord God.
Your love for me is so great
that you protected me
from death and the grave.
Proud and violent enemies,
who don’t care about you,
have ganged up to attack
and kill me.
But you, the Lord God,
are kind and merciful.
You don’t easily get angry,
and your love
can always be trusted.
I serve you, Lord,
and I am the child
of one of your servants.
Look on me with kindness.
Make me strong and save me.
Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies
will feel like fools,
because you have helped
and comforted me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
All around us, people are hurting. Even faith-filled Christians who trust God completely have a bad day now and again. A dear friend of mine who has suffered great losses in the last year – including the deaths of her husband, her brother, and her beloved cat – lost her little dog over the weekend. The father of my cousin’s wife died suddenly a few weeks ago. A few days after his burial, she had to undergo major surgery. She has experienced other “stressors” in recent weeks…and yesterday, she was overwhelmed with emotion and could not stop crying. Now she has a migraine. Both of these women are incredibly strong in their Christian faith…but “life” and the devil’s “violent enemies” have ganged up on them.
I’ve said it before, but Satan often goes after those who are securely in God’s camp even more stringently than those who are filled with sin. It’s like he figures that he has the latter group already…but he can’t stand to think he is losing a single soul to God’s Kingdom. So he hits Christians pretty hard sometimes. And that is when they need our prayers, our encouragement, and our strength to fight back and keep him on the run.
As Christians who believe what David says in this Psalm, we know that God can always be trusted…that He is kind, merciful, and working non-stop to strengthen and protect us. Still, there are days when we are discouraged…frustrated...when we have a weak moment and fall to our knees in despair. And that is when other believers must step in…with love, mercy, grace, compassion, prayers and encouragement. We must be on the lookout for those among us who are in great need of our support – whether they appear to be faith-filled believers or the worst sinner we can imagine! We must reach out to them in the name of Jesus, remembering how He became accessible to the least of those among us – and offered hope, a better way…and a new life in Him.
Look around. Who needs you today? Where is Satan’s gang of enemies bearing down on someone? How can you help? Can you offer a prayer…a helping hand…a shoulder to cry on…or a rally cry of “Beat it, Devil!”? Can you share with someone how God has helped you through a similar situation…how He met your needs even when you felt like everything was hopeless? Because if we are honest…we’ve all “been there, done that”!
So what are you waiting for? Who’s waiting on you to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their life today? Isn’t it time you got to work?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Psalms 86:1-7
Please listen, Lord,
and answer my prayer!
I am poor and helpless.
Protect me and save me
because you are my God.
I am your faithful servant,
and I trust you.
Be kind to me!
I pray to you all day.
Make my heart glad!
I serve you,
and my prayer is sincere.
You willingly forgive,
and your love is always there
for those who pray to you.
Please listen, Lord!
Answer my prayer for help.
When I am in trouble, I pray,
knowing you will listen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The “theme” of our morning worship service today centered on the woman “with the issue of blood” who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was made well. This story comes from Mark 5:25-34, which says,
“In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.
The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.’ As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well.
At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’”
Is this the Jesus you know? Do you follow the One who can make you well simply because you dared to touch the hem of His robe? Obviously I am not talking about us literally touching Jesus’ robe…clearly we cannot do this. But do we believe so deeply that Jesus cares for us…that He has unending compassion for us…that His deepest desire is to make us “healthy” and “whole” in every way…that we never hesitate to call on Him to do so? Do we operate in the confidence that…”When I am in trouble, I pray, knowing You will listen”?
Consider the courage and faith of this woman. To push through the crowd just for the chance to touch the hem of a robe - believing that this would be sufficient for Jesus to know you needed His help - seems extraordinary. And yet, what Jesus did for her…He stands ready, willing, and able to gladly do for each of us. Do we have as much faith as this woman? Do we truly believe that Jesus cares for us so deeply that simply calling on Him for help – and believing He will deliver it – is enough?
None of us contains the supernatural power of Jesus. We cannot instantly heal someone who touches our clothes and believes. But we can be there for others when they call on us. When others ask for our help, we can give it. When we see people in need, we can operate in compassion, kindness, grace and mercy toward them. Each of us can become a person who others know to be someone with integrity, honor, and reliability. We can be known as someone who shows the love of Jesus for others…someone whose love is always there for others, in His name.
So where does this leave you? Do you have faith in the love and compassion of Jesus that rivals that of the woman in Mark’s Gospel? Do you call on Jesus to meet your every need…and trust Him to do so? Are you known by others as a person who offers kindness, compassion, love, grace and mercy? Can others count on you to share the love of Jesus with them?
How you answer these questions matters greatly! If God is your GOD…and you truly are His faithful servant, you must be filled with faith and confidence in His power and ability to meet your needs. And you must be willing to demonstrate Jesus’ love to others. Have you “touched the hem of Jesus’ garment” lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Romans 12:14-21
Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone.
Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.”
The Scriptures also say, “If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads.”
Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my sister, Suzanne, and I were little, we played “Beauty Pageant” a lot. We would dress up in old gowns that belonged to Mom and our “Aunt” Martha, and we would have evening gown and talent competitions. I don’t think we ever included swimsuits…but maybe. For us, it was all about the gowns and the talent. We were both in our first pageant at age five – a local “rite-of-passage” event that virtually every five-year-old girl in the county experienced. We girls had fun…I think a lot of the moms and grandmothers were more cutthroat about the competitive side of things!
The year I entered, I was crowned the winner. Suzanne entered the following year, and she was awarded one of the runners-up. By all rights, I believe she should have won, too. She played “Up a Lazy River” on the ORGAN, for goodness sake - and she was good enough to rival Jo Ann Castle on “The Lawrence Welk Show”! (Okay, I just dated myself big time!) But just before the final evening gown parade, the mother of another contestant accidentally stepped on Suzanne’s gown backstage, and she tore a delicate netting ruffle. Mom and others desperately tried to pin the ruffle back on the gown as the parade of contestants marched out onto the stage…but Suzanne was crying her eyes out when she hit the stage. And the judges selected one of her classmates as “Queen”.
In high school, I participated in “beauty pageants”…mainly because I thought they were fun – although I’ll admit, there was a competitive edge to them. I placed several times, but I never won…and that was okay with me. I would have loved to win, but I was happy with a “runner-up” position. But a fellow contestant – who actually did win once – was NOT a happy camper when she lost. She declared that the contest had been rigged. She spoke to judges afterward and questioned the scoring system. And she invited me to join her in trying to embarrass the winner the following year by outperforming her and “proving” that the girl had no talent.
I’ll be honest. This girl probably shouldn’t have won. The contest was most likely rigged. But had someone else been crowned the queen, I’m not sure it would have been this unhappy runner-up who threw such a fit. And honestly, the “winner” truly needed the win. She needed the ego boost and all of the recognition, celebrations and accolades that came with winning. So I was glad for her to have them.
Too many of us are so busy trying to even the score or “show somebody a thing or two” that we have almost forgotten what the issue was to begin with! We are so mired in our own hurt that we cannot stop to consider the other person. Did the contestant who didn’t truly “deserve” the win know that she was inadequate? Did she feel realize that someone might have finagled the scores in order for her to win…and did this embarrass her? Was she waiting for someone to come forward and say, “You cheated!”? How did she feel toward those who finished behind her and accepted their “loss” graciously? Was she grateful?
Have you ever stopped to think that the “other person” might need to be right more than you? Have you ever considered that the person who hurt you so deeply – who wounded you in ways you can’t even describe – is hurting, too? Maybe he/she feels deep remorse and doesn’t dare come to you for forgiveness because of a fear that you might withhold it…or tear into them! Maybe this person is so deeply ashamed of what transpired that he/she cannot even speak of it now. Or maybe you are letting grudges and perceived transgressions color your daily living and erode your heart…while the rest of the world moves ahead unaware of your pain and dissatisfaction.
My point is that of the Apostle Paul to the Romans. We will never experience anything that Jesus hasn’t encountered…in spades! We will never be mistreated, misunderstood, abused, ridiculed, humiliated, ignored, shamed and unloved as much as Jesus was…by countless people. And yet, He never retaliated. Jesus never looked upon a single one of them with anything but incredible love and compassion. He never sought revenge…and even on the cross, He asked God to forgive those who didn’t fully comprehend what they were doing.
Now what makes us think that we have the right to harbor grudges…to seek revenge…to operate in anything but love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, kindness and compassion? Don’t you get it? We are all WINNERS in Jesus Christ! There are no “runners-up” in His kingdom. And yes, we’ve all had our dress stepped on a few times. But let’s get over ourselves! Let’s set aside our egos…give our deepest hurts and indignations to God…and ask, “LORD, where do I go from here?” I’m betting you already have a pretty good idea how He will answer. But ask Him anyway!
Let God handle the judgment – and the justice. Trust Him to make things right. Love even when it seems like the hardest thing in the world to do. Believe me...I’m right there with you sometimes. There are some really, really unlovable people in this world! But love them anyway…in Jesus’ name. You are a winner with Jesus. He will crown you with His glory. Now that’s a “win” I’m willing to fight for… aren’t you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Philippians 4:15-20
You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.
And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.
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’m busy.”
“I’m shy.”
“I’m sick/injured/disabled in some way.”
“I’m too old/young.”
“I’m not very smart.”
“I can’t even pay my own bills.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m the wrong color/gender/ethnicity…or my political party or sexual orientation are different.”
“I’m not good with people…I can’t write/speak well.”
"There are things in my past of which I am ashamed."
“That’s none of my business!”
“What’s in it for me?”
How many of these excuses have you used to keep from getting involved with others or generously showing them that you care? If we are honest, each one of us has used some form of one or more of these throughout our lives in order to avoid full engagement in Christian service. And as a result, we have not only missed out on blessing others…we’ve blocked our own blessings!
Read the passage again. Note especially the part that says “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” So every time you offer one of these excuses – or any other – you are essentially saying, “I don’t believe that God can equip me for His ministries and purposes!” You are denying Him the opportunity to bless you as He meets the needs of others through your efforts.
Sharing compassion and care doesn’t have to cost money. It doesn’t have to take HUGE chunks of your time. You don’t have to be able-bodied – or even physically well to offer a prayer on the behalf of someone else…or to pick up the phone or your keyboard and express concern. Young children can be taught to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?” and to be polite and kind to others. Older adults can offer encouragement and mentoring to young people - to the best of their abilities. Most people don’t care what color you are, who you vote for…or who you love – as long as you are showing them how much you care about them! Your past may be the very thing that equips you to truly relate to - and encourage - someone else!
God equips each of us with special “gifts” for His ministries and service. The choice to use them for His glory is ours. But understand clearly that when you fail to show love and compassion to others in Jesus’ name, you are in many ways denying your Christian faith…and you are blocking the blessings that God wants to bring you. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take every single blessing God has for me…because I am always strengthened, encouraged, uplifted and amazed! Who wouldn’t want an abundance of these things in their life?!
Let’s all agree that the excuses stop today...here…NOW! Let’s all get in on this “blessing” thing…let’s encourage and support one another - and glorify God in the process. Let’s bask in the glow of His blessings and abundance in our own lives as a result.
Will this be the day that you drop the justifications and get busy with the work of the LORD? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Philippians 4:8-9
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My paternal grandfather had a sister who lived on a small farm outside of our community. She was unkempt and disheveled…and frankly, she scared us kids just a little. Couple that with the fact that some of the adults did not speak very kindly of her, and we were quite convinced that she was not someone we wanted to be around for very long. When we grew up, my Mam-ma Polly began to talk about this aunt in a manner that presented a totally different story.
She told of a woman who lost a child in a tragic accident…and was never the same afterward. She described a relationship between my aunt and her husband that was troubled at best. The uncle blamed my aunt for their child’s death. And according to my grandmother…he never missed an opportunity to berate her for it or to tear down her resolve. So my aunt became bitter, downtrodden, and even at times - dishonest…all in an effort to cope and survive. My heart breaks to think of how tormented her life must have been.
It’s a sad story…but there is something of a happy result. A grand-daughter of this aunt came to visit Mam-ma as she lay dying. She mentioned something about her grandmother in the context of how fortunate I was to have such a wonderful woman as MY grandmother – and how horrible her own grandmother had been. I said to her, “I don’t think that is the case. You should really talk to my sister, because Mam-ma Polly shared more with her than with me. But I’m quite sure she painted a very different picture of your grandmother and her life.” At Mam-ma Polly's funeral visitation, my cousin asked my sister - and another cousin who was old enough to remember some facts - about all of this. And with tears in her eyes, she came to me to say “Thank you”.
My cousin had learned that things were not as she had always been told. It was bittersweet news, but she was thrilled to learn that her grandmother had aspects to her life that were true, honorable, right and pure…lovely and admirable. She now sees her grandmother with a new “lens”, so to speak. She realizes that like most of us, there can be an ugly side to our story…but God sees beyond this. He can forgive us and redeem us from our sordid past…our life of sin…and He can bring the things that are excellent and worthy of His praise to the forefront. And our job as Christian disciples is to emulate Jesus and look for the good in others… to focus on these things rather than the person’s shortcomings.
I am not meaning to excuse another person’s sins or past mistakes. But this is not for us to judge. We are to look at each and every person and see their heart…and the potential that lies therein for honor, truth, purity and goodness. We are to see others as God sees them…with all the capacity in the world to be filled with decency, righteousness, and virtue…with every possibility to give honorable testament to the grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, power and peace we receive through salvation in Jesus Christ.
One of the marks of a mature Christian who is growing in his/her faith is the ability to look at another person and see that person's heart…and their potential in Christ Jesus. When we come to a place where we can ache for the torment that others may endure because of past sins - and ask God to offer them forgiveness, healing, comfort and peace - we have reached a new level in our own faithfulness.
Are you there yet? Do you look past the sinfulness of others and see their heart? Do you care deeply about sharing the hope and promises of God with others and encouraging them toward a life that is honest, right, pure, lovely, admirable…and leaves their old, sinful life in the dust?
Are you willing to reach out to others and help them to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead…to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”*? Will this be the day that you turn the corner in your own faith walk and begin to operate in the compassion of Christ? Shouldn’t it?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
Ephesians 1:15-18
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy began to grow tired late one morning, and the litany began…”I’m thirsty! I’m hungry! I don’t want to lie down! I want this…I need that!” Greg said, “I don’t think he is any of those things…he knows he needs a nap, and these are diversions.” And he was right. As the protests grew louder and the tears came, I snuggled him with a cup of juice, and soon, he was calm…not quite asleep - but the food and other “demands” had been forgotten.
So often, we don’t really pay attention to what children are telling us. We grow impatient with them when they have outbursts instead of stopping to determine the true root of the problem. We stifle their and actions and miss the signals and messages they are trying to send us. And sadly, we devalue them by doing this. We do the same thing with “children of God” in our daily living.
In Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Aibileen Clark (played by Viola Davis in the movie version), tells her little charge, Mae Mobley… “You is kind. You is good. You is important!” She reminds the chubby little girl of her value apart from the color of her skin and her family’s “standing” in the community. She wants this child to understand that she is valued on her own merits…that what she says, does and thinks matters! And this is the message I wish to convey to you today.
Regardless of the family into which you were born…your race…skin color…appearance…sexual orientation…socio-economic position…political leaning…or even your past…you are precious to God. If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and received the Holy Spirit into your heart, you have the capacity for wisdom and the ability to understand what it means to truly know God. If you are a born-again child of God, you carry His light in your heart and are filled with His hope. In God’s eyes…“You is kind. You is good. You is important!” And as your fellow “sister in Christ,” you are all of those things to me - and I am grateful for you.
It is our privilege to pray for fellow believers…members of our “Christian family”. It is important that we let others know that they are important to us…that their joys, sorrows, triumphs and defeats matter - greatly! As Christian disciples, we must always build up other Christians…we must always encourage them and offer heartfelt compassion for their feelings. In this manner, we fortify the Kingdom of God by strengthening and boosting the spirits of one another. We must be kind and loving toward non-believers, too. But for today, I am concentrating on our Christian “family”, because so often we tend to take each other for granted…to look beyond fellow believers and concentrate only on the “unsaved”.
Today, I encourage you to stop and pay attention to your family members…those in your physical family as well as your spiritual “siblings”. Are you treating them with the same value that God gives them? Do you pay attention when they speak? Do you really “get” what they are trying to share with you? Do they know that you care for them…that your prayers on their behalf are frequent and heartfelt? Do they feel like you believe them to be kind…good…important?
In essence, it boils down to this question…”Are you a good ‘relative’ in God’s ‘family’?” Isn’t it time you made the necessary changes to become an effective supporter and encourager to others? Could your discipleship use a little “spit and polish”? You is kind. You is good. You is important...to God – and to me. Do your “family” members know that you feel this way about them? Shouldn’t they?
©2014 Debbie Robus
