Daily Devotional for November 19, 2016

Romans 13:1-7
Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. After all, they are God’s servants, and it is their duty to help you.

If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God’s servants who punish criminals to show how angry God is. But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God’s anger.

You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God’s servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters. Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I hope you will give me the courtesy of reading this entire message.  I did not want to write about this scripture passage.  It showed up in my outline, and frankly, I skipped it yesterday.  I read the words and said, “I hear You, LORD…but I just can’t do it.”  I understand that you may feel differently, and that is the beauty of a democratic republic…we are free to make our own choices.

I will tell you…this president-elect and the people he is tapping to assist him in leading our country scare me half to death!  It is my right to say this…although I will never resort to name calling or disrespectful words and actions.  Many did not afford President Obama respect and kindness. People who are supposed to be “Christian” friends…people I’ve known and loved all of my life…have called our current president every name in the book – and then some – and spoken terribly about him for the last eight years.  While I do not dare to judge, I feel that their words and actions have not been those of a person who would cause me want to follow Jesus, if this is how His disciples behave. But I do not believe that Jesus truly condones such behavior…and He must hang His head in disappointment quite often!

I’ve thought a lot about the election in the last two weeks…and I pondered these verses in Romans, as well.  I asked God NOT to make me write on them…and then I asked, “But why did you place them before me?”  Here’s what I feel that God is saying to me.  I believe this is a test of my faith. I feel that God is saying, “You know that I have told you to respect your government and its leaders.  I know that you are not comfortable with the incoming administration.  But do you trust Me?  Do you have enough faith to follow Me and do this hard thing…and believe that I will handle your worries and fears?”

There have been plenty of elected officials for whom I did not vote.  I have been disappointed more than once politically, and I bet you have, too.  I have always tried to be respectful and take the high road…even when others were not as kind in turn.  But I have to tell you, this one is really hard, because I have seen behavior and talk from this man and his “team” that I cannot help but believe troubles God terribly.  So I have to conclude that God is testing us…and when the day comes (and it will) when YOUR candidates are not elected, He will be watching to see if YOU listen to Him and show respect, obey the laws, pay your taxes, and behave as a good citizen.  I also am praying that the president-elect and his administration will take Paul’s words to the Romans to heart and take their roles as God’s servants (and ours) seriously.

Meanwhile…we have all got to figure out how to get along, regardless of who we support and/or endorse politically.  And I think this begins with all of us getting quiet and ceasing the hand-wringing for a while. I feel God calling for us to be still and listen for His voice…to allow Him room to work, and to trust His plans - even if we don’t see how they will possibly be good for any of us.

My mother had two sayings that are etched into my memory…”Two wrongs don’t make a right,” and “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.”  Perhaps it’s time we brought these back and put them in to some heavy-duty practice, as we trust God to make a way where we cannot see one!  I’ll go first…will you join me?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 8, 2016

Matthew 7:12
Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Well, here we are!  For months, we have said we were anxious for Election Day to arrive…and now it’s upon us!  People have been saying, “I’m so ready for this to be over.”  And that’s a reasonable statement.  But let’s be honest…for a lot of Americans, this day will not bring the results they desired or anticipated.  Even those who are happy about the election of one candidate or another are sure to have disappointments in the outcomes of other races.

It’s a pretty safe assumption that there are people serving in office today who did not receive your vote - or mine.  Yet somehow, the world continues to spin on its axis. This was my eleventh presidential election in which to vote.  Like all of us, I’ve seen my candidates win…and lose.  I’ve been disappointed, worried about our country – and the world at large - and downright mad at times.  But I have never resorted to disrespect or name calling.

As a teacher, aunt, and friend to dozens of young children, I have never spoken disdainfully to them about another candidate.  I’ve never criticized the adults who voted for the opposition…or told a child that his/her parents and adult relatives were wrong for supporting a certain candidate. I may have explained why I supported the people who got my vote…but I have never attacked the choices of another.

When my candidates have lost, I’ve done my best to be kind and respectful of those who were elected.  I might not sing their praises, but I don’t belittle them or treat them unkindly – even with words. I have been greatly dismayed by the judgment of others…and I’ve mentally questioned their thinking in supporting certain candidates.  But I still love them. I will still be kind to them when we meet…I will still smile and treat them with respect.  I will honor their right and privilege to support whoever they choose…and I will hope that they afford me the same respect.

In the words of First Lady, Michelle Obama, God is calling us to “go high.”  Jesus has commanded us to treat others as we wish to be treated…and that includes those who did not get our vote.  So tomorrow, when the ballots have been tallied, I will hold my head high and move ahead with my efforts to serve God to the best of my ability…even if that means keeping my mouth shut about people I did not elect!  This election IS important…but honoring God and serving Him in faithful obedience is so much more critical.

When you wake up tomorrow, how will you behave?  Who will you serve and honor?  Will your words and actions show others a faith-filled disciple of Christ…or a sore loser who doesn’t really demonstrate that “with God, ALL things are possible?”  Take some time today to prayerfully seek God’s strength and resolve. Let Him fill you with His power and confidence – even when you are feeling defeated.  Always “go high” with God and show others His amazing grace and mercy.  Pull the lever, then walk away with confidence that God in still in control - today and always - and let others always see this in your daily living.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 28, 2015

1 Peter 2:13-17     
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugeterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
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Earlier this week, I listened to a press conference held by our President, Barack Obama, when the French president, François Hollande, visited the United States.  President Obama talked about the terroristic acts committed in Paris a few weeks ago…and the upcoming summit of world leaders in this city where they will discuss climate change.  My gut instinct was to think, “Oh, NO!  They cannot all assemble there at once!”  And I admit…I have had this same reaction a few other times when I heard of a public appearance by our President and/or other world leaders - including when President Hollande recently walked the streets of Paris shortly after the heinous acts that were committed there.

But then I heard God say to me, “What do you fear?”  And surely, our own President and other leaders have noted that the greatest power these terrorists have is to make us fearful.  I began to think about fear…and how we as Christians so often operate in this mode.  We talk a good game…we say we trust God and believe in Him…and then we act in a way that demonstrates complete and utter fear and trepidation.

We are afraid of people who are different from us – in any way…color, creed, ethnic background, sexual orientation, socioeconomic level, or even just physical appearance.  We fear those who practice other religious beliefs.  We get a bad diagnosis, and we wring our hands and worry and stew over what will happen to us.

We are scared to death that someone will make us take down our nativity scene on public property or say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” – and we act like the whole world will end if this happens!  This is not a message about the commercialization of our holiday seasons…because I’m right there with you that this has gotten out of hand.

But I have to ask…what are we demonstrating to others – especially those who do not believe in Jesus?  When we treat people with disrespect and set ourselves up on pedestals, what are we saying about the love of Jesus for all people?  When we claim salvation through Jesus Christ and declare that God can do ALL things…then we run and hide under the covers at the first sign of danger or difficulty, how does that reflect a faith and trust in God to heal, rescue and redeem us?

The words of this passage are so beautiful and true…”Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.” If we would only start to walk in these tenets and kick fear to the curb…imagine what might happen.  I’m more than willing to find out…are you?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 7, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
That’s why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.
 
My friends, we ask you to be thoughtful of your leaders who work hard and tell you how to live for the Lord.  Show them great respect and love because of their work. Try to get along with each other.  My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Less than a week ago, Greg and I helplessly watched out our living room windows as a house located on the ridge across the river from us burned to the ground.  I’m told that a family got out unscathed…but they lost everything.  I believe it!  The flames leapt above the treetops, and the fire seemed massive in size.  Later that same morning, our community – and virtually the entire state – was crippled by a winter storm. We were blanketed with about 4 inches of sleet and ice that still remains evident in grassy and shady areas – and covered most roadways for days…leaving many unable to travel anywhere.  Throughout this ordeal, our law enforcement officials…city, county and state road crews...power company linemen…and countless other emergency service and rescue personnel and government leaders worked around the clock to clear the mess, restore power and order…and reach those in dire need of aid and services.
 
On the heels of these challenges, there was a house fire in our community that left one person hospitalized with serious burns.  Then this morning, as area schools began to re-open after the winter storm, a 54-year-old woman rear-ended a school bus when it stopped to pick up the fourth passenger of the day.  The woman was killed…the infant riding in her mini-van and the driver and students on the bus were uninjured.  Witnesses say it was truly a tragic scene.
 
To say that our law enforcement, fire department and emergency service and rescue personnel have been through the wringer in the last week would be an understatement.  Some of these folks are friends of mine…others I don’t know at all.  I hear positive talk about some…and not-so-good things about others.  But at the end of the day, they have all been working hard for the people of my county and state…they have been risking their own lives, leaving their own families, withstanding sub-freezing temperatures and facing human suffering and tragedy that no one would wish on his/her own worst enemy.  And for this, they deserve our respect and compassion…as well as our gratitude and prayers.  More importantly, we are instructed in scripture to do this!
 
If we are going to call ourselves Christians, we simply must think about other people.  We must encourage those who struggle or feel left out…we must help the weak and be patient with everyone.  I reminded myself of the latter as I sat at my niece’s basketball game and listened to the roar of the fans for the opposing team when they took the lead.  Those parents, family members and friends loved their kids and wanted the win just as badly as we did.  It might be hard to stomach, but we were all truly in the same boat.  I thought of this as a lady whizzed down a grocery aisle at Wal-Mart and almost “t-boned” me when I turned the corner.  She was talking on her cell phone and not paying one bit of attention to where she was going.  There was a time when I would probably have at least wanted to give her a piece of my mind – and a lecture on the dangers of “talking and driving”!  Instead, I took a deep breath and smiled at her.
 
It really takes very little time and energy to stop and let someone know you care.  You can drop them a private message on Facebook and tell them… or send them a text or e-mail.  Here’s a novel idea… pick up the phone and actually talk to someone to tell them how much you are thinking of them or what they mean to you!  When you walk into a restaurant and see a table filled with law enforcement officers or emergency services personnel – or a power company crew who is working in your area to get your electricity working again, walk over and thank them for their service.  Tell them you appreciate how hard they work.  It doesn’t matter whether you know this to be true of each one of them individually.  The fact that you took time to thank them might be the incentive for those who are slacking off a bit to do better!  People will generally rise to expectations!
 
Finally, it costs you virtually nothing to smile at others.  Oh, you might use an extra facial muscle or two…but the results are so worth it!  Give it a whirl and see what happens!  Watch people respond in kind.  Thank the clerk at the grocery store as he/she hands your receipt to you…and offer a “Have a good day!”  Say this with a kind tone that indicates you are sincere, and watch their whole body language change.  We are often so busy looking for the BIG acts of kindness and compassion we can perform that we forget about the simplest of actions…such as a smile, a compliment, or a heartfelt “Thanks so much!”
 
If I had included verse 10 from 1 Thessalonians 5, you would hear the Apostle Paul reminding us how Christ died for our sins…so that we could all live with Him someday.   He didn’t do this just for you and me…he didn’t exclude law enforcement, government leaders, or the sanitation worker who never puts the lid back on your trash can when he collects your garbage.  His love, grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness – and salvation – is freely offered to everyone.  We cannot directly save anyone, but we can offer them salvation in Jesus Christ…and we can demonstrate His qualities and character traits to others in His name.
 
If we really want to live for Jesus and carry His message to others…we must eagerly offer these things to everyone…not just a chosen few.  Just how serious are you about serving Jesus and sharing His message?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus