Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all
out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your
life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if
you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each
other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to
the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside,
and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own
advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
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.
Greg
and I have two cats...litter mates we rescued 15 years ago from the
local Humane Society animal shelter. Mabel is a calico – mostly white
with splotches of black and orange, and even a spot of orange and white
stripes! Lucy is a “tuxedo”, which means that her long black and white
fur make her look like she is wearing a formal evening suit. “The girls”
- as we lovingly refer to them - were both our office mates when they
were kittens. Over time, they have each somewhat “chosen sides”. Mabel
is never very far from Greg...Lucy is almost always within at least
earshot of me and spends much of her day in my office sleeping in a
chair. In recent months, both of our cats have begun to slow down and
show their age somewhat...especially Lucy. But she still wants to sit
in my lap from time to time...especially in the morning right after
breakfast.
Lucy will lead me to my office and stand by my desk
and cry. That is my cue to sit down and pick her up...and RUB HER! She
doesn’t like for me to look at e-mail – or worse yet, type on my
keyboard. She wants ALL of my attention...and my hands are to be busy
about her face, rubbing and scratching as I softly coo to her and tell
her what a good girl she is. This can last anywhere from a minute to
almost a half an hour, depending on her mood.
There are days when
I truly am too busy for “lap time”...times when I have something
pressing that MUST be attended to – an appointment, a house guest, or
some household chore. This doesn’t happen often...and usually I find
time at some point every day to hold Lucy and “love on her” in this
manner. Here’s the thing I’ve learned...we won’t have these precious
four-legged companions forever. All too soon, there will come a day when
I would give anything for just 30 more minutes to hold my beloved pet
and scratch her face and ears. The time to share my attention and
affection with her is NOW!
I know some of you are thinking,
“She’s just a CAT, for goodness sake!” And I would say to you...this
same thing applies to others. The little children who demand so much of
your time and attention will be teenagers and/or adults tomorrow. The
friend or neighbor...or even your family member or elderly loved one who
seems so needy at times...might not always be around. Often,
opportunities that present themselves over and again - and go untended -
cease to exist. The person you meant to visit...the card you intended
to send...the care you thought you should show to another but never got
around to doing so has an expiration date in many cases...both
figuratively and quite literally.
Everyone is busy. We all “have
a life”...and many of us have an inordinate amount of things to do and
places to be – often all at the same time! But more than a few of us
have made life all about ourselves and our own agendas...and others
strictly get the leftovers. I know, because I’ve done it. I’ve looked at
my little “tuxedoed” Lucy at the end of a busy day and realized that we
never had our “quiet time” together...that I barely looked in her
direction other than to plunk some food into her bowl or brush hurriedly
past her. And I know I have essentially done this in countless other
situations with people who truly are important to me – but I did not act
in the least as if that were the case.
I am so thankful that God
doesn’t do this! He always has time for us...always has our best
interest at heart, even though HE is truly superior in every way – and
far more important than we could ever hope to be. God always has a lap
for us...an ear to bend...time to hear our every word...and the right
support and answers for our every need. In Him, we find comfort AND the
model of perfect grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion
toward others. The question is...are we paying attention? Are we
honoring Jesus by serving others in His name...and in a like manner?
Has
his love has made any difference in your life? Does being in a
community of the Spirit mean anything to you? Do you have a heart...and
do you really care? What kind of Christian disciple are you...or are
you truly His disciple in the first place? Your answers to these
questions matter...to others, and more importantly – to GOD! How are you
representing the love, grace and mercy of Jesus in your own life? Is it
time for a change of heart, attitude and actions? Wouldn’t today be a
great day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label putting others first. Show all posts
Showing posts with label putting others first. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 5, 2014
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
“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
Daily Devotional for January 28, 2014
Ephesians 5:21
Honor Christ and put others first.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my favorite television sitcoms is “The Big Bang Theory”. It showcases four nerdy geeks who are geniuses in the scientific world…but almost literally cannot get in out of the rain in everyday life. One of the nerdiest is a character named Sheldon Cooper. According to a fan website… http://the-big-bang-theory.com - “Sheldon is the uber geek, he possesses a Master's degree and 2 PhDs, and conducts string theory research at Caltech.” Sheldon is also an egomaniac, and when he’s particularly proud of something he has said or done, he shouts, “Bazinga!” Here are a few examples of “Sheldon quotes” from various episodes…
You get the picture…it’s all about Sheldon – all the time. And for the record, this character’s background includes a devoutly Christian mother from Texas - and Sheldon often makes references to his church upbringing. While he sometimes cites moral dilemmas…such as claiming not to drink coffee because his mother admonished him “not to do drugs”, his focus does not appear to be on honoring Christ – and he most certainly would not choose to put others first!
“Sheldon Cooper” is an extreme example…but don’t we all know some version of him? Maybe you are even one of these people. When someone is sick, you have to tell them about YOUR ailments rather than offer empathy for theirs. It’s one thing to say, “I had that once, and it is miserable”… or “I remember how sad I felt when MY mother died…and I am so very sorry”…or “Losing my job was the catalyst for me to go back to school and start a new career...I am praying that you will find a new beginning, as well.” It’s quite another to launch into a dissertation about your litany of illnesses and/or injuries, or to go on and on about how you are mired in your own grief…or to be flippant about a job loss, disappointment, or challenge. It’s even worse to turn these into opportunities to toot your own horn – or to appeal to others for sympathy or commiseration on your own behalf.
I’ve quoted my pastor several times, but “there is a heartache on every pew”. I am pretty sure for everything you and I think we are enduring in the course of a day…someone else has it worse! Yes, we are important…our feelings matter – especially to God. But the way we glorify God and demonstrate His love to others is to step outside of ourselves…and into the shoes of the other guy…and to focus on his/her needs.
Use the experiences of your life to minister to others. If you’ve had the same illness, you know best how to encourage someone as he/she convalesces. If you have lost a parent, grandparent, sibling or other loved one – or even a beloved pet – you can offer first-hand understanding and condolence to someone else enduring the same loss. Whether it’s a happy occurrence or a tragic one, you have actual, personal familiarity with a variety of situations that equips you to minister to others in the same boat. And in doing so, you honor Christ.
There are an awful lot of “Sheldon Coopers” among us…people who have the intellect and capacity for showing compassion to others – and sharing the love of Christ in the bargain…but choose instead to place the focus of pretty much everything on themselves. Don’t be one of these people. Open your eyes and ears – and your heart – and see who needs you today. Then get busy blessing them in Jesus’ name…and give God a reason to shout, “Bazinga!”
©2014 Debbie Robus
Honor Christ and put others first.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my favorite television sitcoms is “The Big Bang Theory”. It showcases four nerdy geeks who are geniuses in the scientific world…but almost literally cannot get in out of the rain in everyday life. One of the nerdiest is a character named Sheldon Cooper. According to a fan website… http://the-big-bang-theory.com - “Sheldon is the uber geek, he possesses a Master's degree and 2 PhDs, and conducts string theory research at Caltech.” Sheldon is also an egomaniac, and when he’s particularly proud of something he has said or done, he shouts, “Bazinga!” Here are a few examples of “Sheldon quotes” from various episodes…
- Sheldon: Why are you crying?
Penny: Because I'm stupid!
Sheldon: That's no reason to cry. One cries because one is sad. For example, I cry because others are stupid, and that makes me sad. - Sheldon: I assure you, you'll be sorry that you wasted your money on an iPod when Microsoft comes out with theirs.
Rajesh: Do you have an opinion about everything?
Sheldon: Yes.
Howard: And you just assume you're right?
Sheldon: It's not an assumption. - Sheldon: Howard, you know me to be a very smart man. Don't you think that if I were wrong, I'd know it?
You get the picture…it’s all about Sheldon – all the time. And for the record, this character’s background includes a devoutly Christian mother from Texas - and Sheldon often makes references to his church upbringing. While he sometimes cites moral dilemmas…such as claiming not to drink coffee because his mother admonished him “not to do drugs”, his focus does not appear to be on honoring Christ – and he most certainly would not choose to put others first!
“Sheldon Cooper” is an extreme example…but don’t we all know some version of him? Maybe you are even one of these people. When someone is sick, you have to tell them about YOUR ailments rather than offer empathy for theirs. It’s one thing to say, “I had that once, and it is miserable”… or “I remember how sad I felt when MY mother died…and I am so very sorry”…or “Losing my job was the catalyst for me to go back to school and start a new career...I am praying that you will find a new beginning, as well.” It’s quite another to launch into a dissertation about your litany of illnesses and/or injuries, or to go on and on about how you are mired in your own grief…or to be flippant about a job loss, disappointment, or challenge. It’s even worse to turn these into opportunities to toot your own horn – or to appeal to others for sympathy or commiseration on your own behalf.
I’ve quoted my pastor several times, but “there is a heartache on every pew”. I am pretty sure for everything you and I think we are enduring in the course of a day…someone else has it worse! Yes, we are important…our feelings matter – especially to God. But the way we glorify God and demonstrate His love to others is to step outside of ourselves…and into the shoes of the other guy…and to focus on his/her needs.
Use the experiences of your life to minister to others. If you’ve had the same illness, you know best how to encourage someone as he/she convalesces. If you have lost a parent, grandparent, sibling or other loved one – or even a beloved pet – you can offer first-hand understanding and condolence to someone else enduring the same loss. Whether it’s a happy occurrence or a tragic one, you have actual, personal familiarity with a variety of situations that equips you to minister to others in the same boat. And in doing so, you honor Christ.
There are an awful lot of “Sheldon Coopers” among us…people who have the intellect and capacity for showing compassion to others – and sharing the love of Christ in the bargain…but choose instead to place the focus of pretty much everything on themselves. Don’t be one of these people. Open your eyes and ears – and your heart – and see who needs you today. Then get busy blessing them in Jesus’ name…and give God a reason to shout, “Bazinga!”
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 19, 2014
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
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 a January 3, 2014, report for the DailyMail.com, correspondent Melissa Kite describes donning a “fat suit” made in the United States for the Peterborough City Hospital in England, to the tune of over $1600US. Kite, a svelte 119 pounds (8½ stone in British terms), donned a “bariatric suit” that elevated her weight to 40 stone…or 560 pounds. The hospital is using this suit to help provide nurses with empathy for the obese patients they treat in their facility. Hite points out that over a million people are classified as “morbidly obese” in Great Britain. Given the added health risks that come with obesity, it’s a sure bet that more than handful of these folks will visit the hospital for some sort of treatment. I encourage you to read this thought-provoking report for yourself.*
I chose a fairly “mainstream” example of “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”…but only because this is one we can physically imagine and envision. We can also visualize simulating homelessness for a weekend, restraining an arm or leg or wearing a blindfold and trying to imagine what it would be like to function without a limb or our eyesight. But how do we gain insight into the more “invisible” lives - and burdens - of others? Are we able to imagine what it would be like to be bullied? Can we truly understand the emotional anguish of someone who has suffered the loss of a child? Do you know what it feels like to be mistreated because of the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, something that happened to you in the past, your ethnicity, or your social status?
Can you possibly imagine what it is like to suffer from some form of mental illness? Have you considered the challenges that come to the family members of those who do? Are you able to truly understand what it is to wake up hungry every day… and go to bed wondering whether you will survive another? Can you relate to the terminally ill person who is facing his/her own mortality, and all of the worries and concerns for those left behind? Do you have any idea the mental and emotional torment that may plague an addict, adulterer, prostitute, gang member, or psychopath? Do you know firsthand the heartache of parents who are filled with worry and anguish over delinquent children or a child with mental, physical or emotional issues? Have you personally been charged with responsibilities of caring for an aging loved one…and had to make difficult “life decisions” in the process?
I do not believe that Paul is calling on us to literally become one of these people…even for a short term experience. But in essence, He is telling us to stop for just a minute and try to envision their world…to “put on their fat suit” in our minds and hearts…and to see what – and who – God sees. Then…and only then…will we have a shot at truly sharing the compassion – and Good News – of Christ with them. There is an adage that is attributed to several people that essentially says, “People don’t care what you know…until they know that you care.” This is what Paul is trying to share with us in this passage of scripture. So my question today for all of us is…do people know that we care? Isn’t it time they did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Wearing fat suits can make you sympathise with the obese...
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
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 a January 3, 2014, report for the DailyMail.com, correspondent Melissa Kite describes donning a “fat suit” made in the United States for the Peterborough City Hospital in England, to the tune of over $1600US. Kite, a svelte 119 pounds (8½ stone in British terms), donned a “bariatric suit” that elevated her weight to 40 stone…or 560 pounds. The hospital is using this suit to help provide nurses with empathy for the obese patients they treat in their facility. Hite points out that over a million people are classified as “morbidly obese” in Great Britain. Given the added health risks that come with obesity, it’s a sure bet that more than handful of these folks will visit the hospital for some sort of treatment. I encourage you to read this thought-provoking report for yourself.*
I chose a fairly “mainstream” example of “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”…but only because this is one we can physically imagine and envision. We can also visualize simulating homelessness for a weekend, restraining an arm or leg or wearing a blindfold and trying to imagine what it would be like to function without a limb or our eyesight. But how do we gain insight into the more “invisible” lives - and burdens - of others? Are we able to imagine what it would be like to be bullied? Can we truly understand the emotional anguish of someone who has suffered the loss of a child? Do you know what it feels like to be mistreated because of the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, something that happened to you in the past, your ethnicity, or your social status?
Can you possibly imagine what it is like to suffer from some form of mental illness? Have you considered the challenges that come to the family members of those who do? Are you able to truly understand what it is to wake up hungry every day… and go to bed wondering whether you will survive another? Can you relate to the terminally ill person who is facing his/her own mortality, and all of the worries and concerns for those left behind? Do you have any idea the mental and emotional torment that may plague an addict, adulterer, prostitute, gang member, or psychopath? Do you know firsthand the heartache of parents who are filled with worry and anguish over delinquent children or a child with mental, physical or emotional issues? Have you personally been charged with responsibilities of caring for an aging loved one…and had to make difficult “life decisions” in the process?
I do not believe that Paul is calling on us to literally become one of these people…even for a short term experience. But in essence, He is telling us to stop for just a minute and try to envision their world…to “put on their fat suit” in our minds and hearts…and to see what – and who – God sees. Then…and only then…will we have a shot at truly sharing the compassion – and Good News – of Christ with them. There is an adage that is attributed to several people that essentially says, “People don’t care what you know…until they know that you care.” This is what Paul is trying to share with us in this passage of scripture. So my question today for all of us is…do people know that we care? Isn’t it time they did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Wearing fat suits can make you sympathise with the obese...
Daily Devotional for January 8, 2014
Matthew 14:13-14
As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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.
I’ve got a news flash…it’s not all about YOU! “It” is also not all about me or anyone else. I get it…we’re all busy. We all have things we would like to do with our lives – or even a spare hour or two. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a hobby…working hard at your job or something that interests you… or spending time watching your favorite programs or movies and having some “couch potato” time. God wants us to enjoy our lives. At the same time, we have been called to serve as Disciples of Christ. This means we must model His behavior and the examples that He provided for us. And the one documented in these scriptures leaves no room for doubt about what we are to do when we see a need.
Jesus had just heard about the beheading…yes, beheading…of His beloved cousin, John the Baptist. He was understandably grief-stricken…disheartened...and weary. He simply needed to be alone. Haven’t you felt that way at one time or another? All you needed was a few minutes, an hour, or a day to be alone…to pour out your heart to God…to cry, rage, kick and scream, if need be…to process all that has happened and come to terms with your feelings. Remember, Jesus came to earth as a human being…His emotions were real – even raw. He needed “alone time” with God, just like we do.
Still, when the crowds pursued Him…when He learned of a need…Jesus set aside His own agenda and went to the people. He healed the sick…He comforted those who were hurting…He ministered to each person in His midst and put their concerns ahead of His own. And He gave us an example to follow.
Trust me…I know how hard this can be. I have grumbled (even if only inwardly) as I trudged off to help someone with something that interrupted my plans. I have dragged myself to funerals, nursing home visits, events that were more important to someone else than they were to me, errands, and more. I have had to force myself to sit at the desk and write a get-well or sympathy card…or to offer to help someone out when I really wanted to keep my mouth shut and do something that was more enjoyable. We all probably secretly wish that people could get sick and die on OUR schedule…that we could pencil them in on a day when sitting at the hospital, babysitting, rescuing someone whose car broke down or they locked themselves out of the house or vehicle…even running an errand or working a funeral into our morning or afternoon…was more “convenient”. If you want to pretend you don’t feel this way… go right ahead. I’m just being real here!
But then I stopped and asked myself… “What if I went to God with a need or concern, and He was too busy to answer or help me?” What if God said to us, “I’ll get back to you…I’m in the middle of a good book this afternoon”, or “I don’t have time today…maybe tomorrow”, or even “I know you need me, but I am really just not ‘up for it’. Maybe someone else will step up and help you.” Can you imagine how hurtful this would be? Do you think you would want a relationship with God if He was only available when it was convenient for Him or piqued His interest in some manner? Who wants a relationship with anyone...much less a God…who is so selfish and unloving?
Tell me what, exactly, is so important in your own life that you cannot find time and energy to help someone else! Truly, God has a full plate. He is the only One who could genuinely say, “I don’t have time for that today” or “I’m simply ‘not in the mood’ to help.” Yet God is the very One who will never say this! We need to ask ourselves… are we really interested in serving Jesus – and serving others in His name? Or is it simply all about us? Maybe it’s time we all re-evaluated our level of Christian compassion…and made some much-needed adjustments. Isn’t today a great day to get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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.
I’ve got a news flash…it’s not all about YOU! “It” is also not all about me or anyone else. I get it…we’re all busy. We all have things we would like to do with our lives – or even a spare hour or two. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a hobby…working hard at your job or something that interests you… or spending time watching your favorite programs or movies and having some “couch potato” time. God wants us to enjoy our lives. At the same time, we have been called to serve as Disciples of Christ. This means we must model His behavior and the examples that He provided for us. And the one documented in these scriptures leaves no room for doubt about what we are to do when we see a need.
Jesus had just heard about the beheading…yes, beheading…of His beloved cousin, John the Baptist. He was understandably grief-stricken…disheartened...and weary. He simply needed to be alone. Haven’t you felt that way at one time or another? All you needed was a few minutes, an hour, or a day to be alone…to pour out your heart to God…to cry, rage, kick and scream, if need be…to process all that has happened and come to terms with your feelings. Remember, Jesus came to earth as a human being…His emotions were real – even raw. He needed “alone time” with God, just like we do.
Still, when the crowds pursued Him…when He learned of a need…Jesus set aside His own agenda and went to the people. He healed the sick…He comforted those who were hurting…He ministered to each person in His midst and put their concerns ahead of His own. And He gave us an example to follow.
Trust me…I know how hard this can be. I have grumbled (even if only inwardly) as I trudged off to help someone with something that interrupted my plans. I have dragged myself to funerals, nursing home visits, events that were more important to someone else than they were to me, errands, and more. I have had to force myself to sit at the desk and write a get-well or sympathy card…or to offer to help someone out when I really wanted to keep my mouth shut and do something that was more enjoyable. We all probably secretly wish that people could get sick and die on OUR schedule…that we could pencil them in on a day when sitting at the hospital, babysitting, rescuing someone whose car broke down or they locked themselves out of the house or vehicle…even running an errand or working a funeral into our morning or afternoon…was more “convenient”. If you want to pretend you don’t feel this way… go right ahead. I’m just being real here!
But then I stopped and asked myself… “What if I went to God with a need or concern, and He was too busy to answer or help me?” What if God said to us, “I’ll get back to you…I’m in the middle of a good book this afternoon”, or “I don’t have time today…maybe tomorrow”, or even “I know you need me, but I am really just not ‘up for it’. Maybe someone else will step up and help you.” Can you imagine how hurtful this would be? Do you think you would want a relationship with God if He was only available when it was convenient for Him or piqued His interest in some manner? Who wants a relationship with anyone...much less a God…who is so selfish and unloving?
Tell me what, exactly, is so important in your own life that you cannot find time and energy to help someone else! Truly, God has a full plate. He is the only One who could genuinely say, “I don’t have time for that today” or “I’m simply ‘not in the mood’ to help.” Yet God is the very One who will never say this! We need to ask ourselves… are we really interested in serving Jesus – and serving others in His name? Or is it simply all about us? Maybe it’s time we all re-evaluated our level of Christian compassion…and made some much-needed adjustments. Isn’t today a great day to get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 17, 2012
Romans 12:9-10
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
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.
Everywhere you turn, someone is promoting a particular fitness routine… Insanity Workout®, P90X®, Boot Camp, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and countless others are taking the country by storm as people seek a way to get fit – and fast! What all of these workouts have in common is a lot of focus on your body’s “core” – or “center.” In order to develop true strength and fitness, you build up your mid-section, abdominal and lower back muscles. These represent your “core” or “center.”
Once your core is strong, you have more stamina and are less prone to injury. Your workouts are more effective. You are able to lift more, exert your body for longer periods of time, and your overall health improves. But you MUST strengthen your body’s core!
Here’s the message for today… in order to be Spiritually fit and strong, you must build up your heart, which is the core of your life in Christ. I’m not talking about your physical heart… I’m referring to the center of your soul… the place where the Holy Spirit resides. In order to be a loving, faith-filled, Spiritually healthy Christian, you must maintain a strong Spiritual “core.”
What constitutes a strong Spiritual “core?” Read these verses in Romans 12 again. Love from the center of who you are - and never fake it! Be the real deal. Truly love others with the love of Christ… remembering that you are often just as unlovely as the next guy – yet Jesus always has open arms to embrace you. Look for the good in all situations… and turn away from anything that is evil. This includes gossip, backbiting, revenge and spite, hatred, bigotry, dishonesty, and deliberate mistreatment of others, to name a few. Focus on putting others first. Compliment others… build them up in good times, and support them when life brings them difficulties. Quit asking “What’s in it for me?” Instead, ask God, “Who can I bless in Your name today?”
When you start to share the love of Jesus as outlined in these verses and other passages of Scripture… when you truly operate from a strong, sound Spiritual core…amazing things can happen. Blessings flow - in all directions and in ways you can’t begin to imagine. We are all so bad to put off our workouts – to say, “I’ll start tomorrow, next week, or next year.” Don’t do this with your Spiritual core. Start exercising today. Look for ways to build up your heart… opportunities to love others as Jesus loves you. Strengthen your Spiritual core, so that you have the stamina and power to handle everything life gives you. And get ready to be blessed beyond measure in the bargain!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
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.
Everywhere you turn, someone is promoting a particular fitness routine… Insanity Workout®, P90X®, Boot Camp, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and countless others are taking the country by storm as people seek a way to get fit – and fast! What all of these workouts have in common is a lot of focus on your body’s “core” – or “center.” In order to develop true strength and fitness, you build up your mid-section, abdominal and lower back muscles. These represent your “core” or “center.”
Once your core is strong, you have more stamina and are less prone to injury. Your workouts are more effective. You are able to lift more, exert your body for longer periods of time, and your overall health improves. But you MUST strengthen your body’s core!
Here’s the message for today… in order to be Spiritually fit and strong, you must build up your heart, which is the core of your life in Christ. I’m not talking about your physical heart… I’m referring to the center of your soul… the place where the Holy Spirit resides. In order to be a loving, faith-filled, Spiritually healthy Christian, you must maintain a strong Spiritual “core.”
What constitutes a strong Spiritual “core?” Read these verses in Romans 12 again. Love from the center of who you are - and never fake it! Be the real deal. Truly love others with the love of Christ… remembering that you are often just as unlovely as the next guy – yet Jesus always has open arms to embrace you. Look for the good in all situations… and turn away from anything that is evil. This includes gossip, backbiting, revenge and spite, hatred, bigotry, dishonesty, and deliberate mistreatment of others, to name a few. Focus on putting others first. Compliment others… build them up in good times, and support them when life brings them difficulties. Quit asking “What’s in it for me?” Instead, ask God, “Who can I bless in Your name today?”
When you start to share the love of Jesus as outlined in these verses and other passages of Scripture… when you truly operate from a strong, sound Spiritual core…amazing things can happen. Blessings flow - in all directions and in ways you can’t begin to imagine. We are all so bad to put off our workouts – to say, “I’ll start tomorrow, next week, or next year.” Don’t do this with your Spiritual core. Start exercising today. Look for ways to build up your heart… opportunities to love others as Jesus loves you. Strengthen your Spiritual core, so that you have the stamina and power to handle everything life gives you. And get ready to be blessed beyond measure in the bargain!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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