Matthew 12:11-13
Jesus answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, I visited with my grandmother. I can never stay long enough with her… she always asks in one way or another, “What’s your hurry?” Last week, I explained (in terms I felt such a hard worker as she would understand) that… “I have to go home and get our laundry done and clean our house. I’m way behind on such things.” Even though a stroke has left her unable to say more than a word or two, she managed to convey… “still there.” In other words, the chores would keep! And she was right. This is the same woman who frequently commented that she didn’t feel well as she hurried out the door to do something – often for someone else – and added, “I won’t feel a bit worse there than I would sitting at home.”
What’s my point? To me, this passage is about much more than keeping the Sabbath. In actuality, Jesus is “schooling” us on priorities. We have choices to make every day. Yes, our rooms and homes have to get cleaned. Yes, we have jobs, school work, laundry, meals to prepare, yards to mow and vehicles to wash – and our own families to see after and care about. Yes, we have to take care of certain things first… we must prioritize. But we also have to look at the “fringe” activities and choose whether to minister to others in Jesus’ name or satisfy our own selfish interests.
Do you really have to watch that program on television? Could you record it for later viewing… or skip it altogether? Is it more important that you spend the next few weeks in a frenzy over Christmas shopping and attending parties… or finding ways to help those less fortunate for whom Christmas is anything but a joyful occasion? Is there someone who needs to hear from you today? Should you spend a little time sending a note or e-mail – or making a phone call – or is it more important that you have that second cup of coffee while reading the morning newspaper? Will the world come to an end if you let a few things go in the next month or two while you help a senior citizen downsize and prepare for a move to a smaller residence… or tutor a child or young person who is studying for major exams or trying to improve test scores?
What if you gave up the next several Saturdays to help a young person earn a scouting badge… or forfeited an afternoon of decorating your own home for Christmas in order to decorate your church facilities… or put a few wreaths and baubles up at the home of an elderly shut-in… or visit someone in a nursing home or hospital for whom Christmas will pretty well come and go without fanfare?
Exactly where do your priorities lie? Just as Jesus demonstrated that doing the LORD’s work on the Sabbath was more important than observing the date on the calendar… He is calling on each of us to set aside our own agendas when He presents us with an opportunity to serve. I managed to get my house clean and the laundry done… but I’m still working on the ironing. And I’ll get there. I have discovered that laying aside my own agenda to serve in the LORD’s army often gives me renewed energy for completing the tasks on my own list. Somehow, He shows us where/how to get everything done that is necessary. Are you willing to discover this for yourself?
I don’t know what your “sheep in the ditch” moments will be… but I know God will present them to you. The question is… how will you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label recognizing the needs of others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recognizing the needs of others. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 25, 2012
Romans 12:9-11
Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God’s needy people and welcome strangers into your home.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I read an article in a recent issue of Good Housekeeping magazine about “other mothers” – women who “mothered” children of friends and neighbors – and how significant their roles were to the author. With all due respect to my own mother, I have one or two “other mothers” myself… women who love me with patience and prayer and offer me guidance and encouragement, even though they have their own children and families - and challenges aplenty to keep them busy! While I think this is more prevalent among women, I am sure there are “other fathers” and “other children,” too. In fact, I know that my grandmother has something of a mother/son relationship with her deacon. His mother is in heaven, as is my dad)… so they have bonded and shared many things that you would think of as “mother-son” experiences.
In this manner, “other mothers/fathers/children” are taking care of “needy” people and welcoming strangers into their home. They are inviting others into their lives and treating them like family. And this is what Paul is calling us to do in this passage. We are to look beyond ourselves and find those who need our time and attention. These people may not be “needy” in the sense we would normally consider… their needs may be more emotional or spiritual. Nonetheless, we are called to embrace others and welcome them into our circle.
“But when is it MY turn?” you may ask. Hear me well… it may feel like you never get a “turn” - and that’s okay! If you are doing what God has called you to do as His servant, it won’t matter. You will not even think about what is being done for you – or to you. You will be too busy sharing the love of God with others. And I think you will find that in doing this, you get more “turns” (in the form of blessings) than you may recognize!
We all find it so easy to turn inward… to ask “what is in it for me?”… and focus on our “bucket list,” our plans, our desires. But this is not God’s plan for us. He wants us to be busy looking for ways to serve in His name… people to “mother” or support as necessary…prayers to offer on the behalf of others. Take a look at your own life today. Find the areas where you may have acted selfishly, and ask God to help you do to better.
NEVER GIVE UP on yourself or others… keep striving to be sincere in your love and concern for others – and to always have an open-door policy. And if you have an “other mother” or significant person in your life who is always there for you, take a few minutes today to let them know how grateful you are for their love and care. Thank God for sending these people to nurture you… and ask Him to show you how to pay it forward in His name to the “needy” people in your own life.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God’s needy people and welcome strangers into your home.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I read an article in a recent issue of Good Housekeeping magazine about “other mothers” – women who “mothered” children of friends and neighbors – and how significant their roles were to the author. With all due respect to my own mother, I have one or two “other mothers” myself… women who love me with patience and prayer and offer me guidance and encouragement, even though they have their own children and families - and challenges aplenty to keep them busy! While I think this is more prevalent among women, I am sure there are “other fathers” and “other children,” too. In fact, I know that my grandmother has something of a mother/son relationship with her deacon. His mother is in heaven, as is my dad)… so they have bonded and shared many things that you would think of as “mother-son” experiences.
In this manner, “other mothers/fathers/children” are taking care of “needy” people and welcoming strangers into their home. They are inviting others into their lives and treating them like family. And this is what Paul is calling us to do in this passage. We are to look beyond ourselves and find those who need our time and attention. These people may not be “needy” in the sense we would normally consider… their needs may be more emotional or spiritual. Nonetheless, we are called to embrace others and welcome them into our circle.
“But when is it MY turn?” you may ask. Hear me well… it may feel like you never get a “turn” - and that’s okay! If you are doing what God has called you to do as His servant, it won’t matter. You will not even think about what is being done for you – or to you. You will be too busy sharing the love of God with others. And I think you will find that in doing this, you get more “turns” (in the form of blessings) than you may recognize!
We all find it so easy to turn inward… to ask “what is in it for me?”… and focus on our “bucket list,” our plans, our desires. But this is not God’s plan for us. He wants us to be busy looking for ways to serve in His name… people to “mother” or support as necessary…prayers to offer on the behalf of others. Take a look at your own life today. Find the areas where you may have acted selfishly, and ask God to help you do to better.
NEVER GIVE UP on yourself or others… keep striving to be sincere in your love and concern for others – and to always have an open-door policy. And if you have an “other mother” or significant person in your life who is always there for you, take a few minutes today to let them know how grateful you are for their love and care. Thank God for sending these people to nurture you… and ask Him to show you how to pay it forward in His name to the “needy” people in your own life.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 1, 2012
John 21:15-16
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."
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.
If you are like most people, you have spent at least a few minutes thinking about the coming year… and what you will do with it. Many vow to get organized, lose weight and get in shape, take up a new hobby, or mark a few things off their “bucket list.” Probably very few of us vowed to do more to serve others in Jesus’ name… but this might be the most important resolution we could ever make.
It’s easy to get sidetracked… to become self-absorbed. After all, many of us have all we can handle just to keep our own heads above water… challenges like study, work, family, and paying the bills. Some of us have major health issues or physical challenges, while others struggle to meet the needs of family members and continue to keep their own lives in check. Let’s face it… most of us are already plenty busy!
But you notice that Jesus doesn’t ask us, “Do you have a minute?” He doesn’t say, “Can you pencil me in on the third week of the fourth month for an hour?” He says, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” In other words, if you love Jesus and truly want to be His disciple (and not just claim to be), you have to do whatever needs to be done. This means keeping your eyes and ears open and staying attuned to the needs of others. You can’t wait for someone to call you and say, “Jim needs a ride to class” – you have to notice that Jim is walking a lot and doesn’t appear to have transportation, then ask him, “Can I give you a ride?”
You have to start looking around and asking yourself, “Who have I not seen at church in a few weeks? Is everything okay?” and then call and ask. You have to send a note of encouragement, pick up the phone and check on someone who is sick – or the caregiver who is sitting with him/her, or drop off a casserole for someone you know is struggling to put food on the table. You have to offer to keep small children some afternoon so a frazzled mom can grocery shop – or take a nap – for a peaceful hour or two. You have to spend time with old people and reassure them that they are still important and not forgotten.
This may mean we have to give up watching a favorite TV show or surfing the web for an hour. We may have to step out of our comfort zone and speak to others, even though being an extrovert is not our nature. We may have to do something somewhat unpleasant – but necessary – to better the life of someone else, like carry out their garbage, help them clean up in the aftermath of a disaster, or sit and listen while they drone on about their ailments or troubles.
Whatever we are called to do in Jesus’ name, we must do. And we must do this without fanfare, complaint, the need for recognition, or even gratitude. We must do this because we love Jesus… and His sheep, who He has called us to feed.
As you make your New Year’s resolutions, consider putting Jesus at the top of the list. Ask Him to show you how and where to serve... and who to feed. Believe it or not, Jesus is calling on others to feed you in His name, as well. Resolve to give as good as you get… or better! Make serving others your number one resolution, and watch what happens in 2012!
©2011 Debbie Robus
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."
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.
If you are like most people, you have spent at least a few minutes thinking about the coming year… and what you will do with it. Many vow to get organized, lose weight and get in shape, take up a new hobby, or mark a few things off their “bucket list.” Probably very few of us vowed to do more to serve others in Jesus’ name… but this might be the most important resolution we could ever make.
It’s easy to get sidetracked… to become self-absorbed. After all, many of us have all we can handle just to keep our own heads above water… challenges like study, work, family, and paying the bills. Some of us have major health issues or physical challenges, while others struggle to meet the needs of family members and continue to keep their own lives in check. Let’s face it… most of us are already plenty busy!
But you notice that Jesus doesn’t ask us, “Do you have a minute?” He doesn’t say, “Can you pencil me in on the third week of the fourth month for an hour?” He says, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” In other words, if you love Jesus and truly want to be His disciple (and not just claim to be), you have to do whatever needs to be done. This means keeping your eyes and ears open and staying attuned to the needs of others. You can’t wait for someone to call you and say, “Jim needs a ride to class” – you have to notice that Jim is walking a lot and doesn’t appear to have transportation, then ask him, “Can I give you a ride?”
You have to start looking around and asking yourself, “Who have I not seen at church in a few weeks? Is everything okay?” and then call and ask. You have to send a note of encouragement, pick up the phone and check on someone who is sick – or the caregiver who is sitting with him/her, or drop off a casserole for someone you know is struggling to put food on the table. You have to offer to keep small children some afternoon so a frazzled mom can grocery shop – or take a nap – for a peaceful hour or two. You have to spend time with old people and reassure them that they are still important and not forgotten.
This may mean we have to give up watching a favorite TV show or surfing the web for an hour. We may have to step out of our comfort zone and speak to others, even though being an extrovert is not our nature. We may have to do something somewhat unpleasant – but necessary – to better the life of someone else, like carry out their garbage, help them clean up in the aftermath of a disaster, or sit and listen while they drone on about their ailments or troubles.
Whatever we are called to do in Jesus’ name, we must do. And we must do this without fanfare, complaint, the need for recognition, or even gratitude. We must do this because we love Jesus… and His sheep, who He has called us to feed.
As you make your New Year’s resolutions, consider putting Jesus at the top of the list. Ask Him to show you how and where to serve... and who to feed. Believe it or not, Jesus is calling on others to feed you in His name, as well. Resolve to give as good as you get… or better! Make serving others your number one resolution, and watch what happens in 2012!
©2011 Debbie Robus
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