John 15:5
I am the vine, and you are the branches.
If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will
produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last
week, Timothy attended a “Day Camp” at our local Aquatic Center. On the
last day, he received a tote bag filled with his arts and crafts,
candy, and some toys. One was this squishy deep blue “creature” –
similar to a beetle. It felt pretty gross to the touch, and it was all
sticky. At first, Timothy was unsure about this toy, but over the span
of an hour or so, he grew to like it…until one of its legs came off…and
then another. Then Timothy began to pull on the legs – and soon there
were six little “blobs of blue goo” and a 3-sectioned “body.”
Yesterday, one of the kids pulled off a “body” section…and I’ll be
honest - last night, we deemed the pieces of “creature” to be a safety
hazard, and the pile of goop went in the trash!
Intact, this
“creature” was interesting to look at…and somewhat fun for the kids to
hold in their hands. The appendages by themselves were just little blue
blobs of goo…icky and worthless. It’s similar to a toy doll or robot
that requires batteries to walk and talk. Without the batteries, the
toy can still be fun for awhile, if the children use their
imagination…but the real “magic” happens when batteries are inserted!
Without
seeming irreverent, I offer that Jesus is our “batteries” or “body.”
Without His power, we are pretty ineffective. I wouldn’t go so far as
to say that we are worthless, because we all know people who
occasionally manage to do some fairly productive things with no apparent
Spiritual support. But if you “get down to brass tacks,” you will
probably see that they were covered in the grace and mercy of Jesus –
even if they didn’t acknowledge His presence. If you trim a fruit-laden branch from the vine, the fruit will still be “good” for a little
while…but ultimately, it will shrivel and become inedible – and destined
for the trash heap!
What we can accomplish on our own – who and
what we are – is pretty limited without the power of Jesus. Like the
“little blue blobs of goo” that once were the legs of an icky toy
creature, we may hold the attention of others and “entertain” or “serve”
for a brief moment. But without attachment to the body…without the
VINE – we will never be productive and complete for very long.
Where
does this leave you? Are you attached to the Body? Is your “branch”
firmly attached to the “vine” of Jesus? Don’t end up in the “trash
heap” of life. Stay connected to Jesus! Let Him power your life – in
every way…and enable you to produce His “good fruits” - today…and
always!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label sacrificing our own desires to follow Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacrificing our own desires to follow Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 12, 2014
1 John 3:16-17
This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
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 confess. I have watched a few episodes of the reality cable TV show “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills”. I don’t think any television show in recent memory has disgusted me more than this one. The lives of young adults who literally have more money than sense are glorified for their spending sprees, drunken escapades, and incredible selfishness. Their foremost thought is how to spend money…and how to make themselves look and feel better (if only in their own over-inflated opinions) in the process!
If you read information from organizations like Compassion International (http://compassion.com) and the World Food Programme (http://wfp.org), you will learn that helping others really costs very little in the scheme of things. On the World Food Programme website, a statement reads…”It takes only $0.25 for the World Food Programme to give a hungry schoolchild a cup of nutritious food. $50 will feed a child at school for an entire year.” Many of us spend $50 on a single meal… or in less than 2 weeks’ worth of morning coffee on the way to work! But this issue goes deeper than just feeding the hungry or buying clothing and school supplies for a sponsored child in a foreign country. There are opportunities all around us to give to others…to share out of our abundance. And we are either ignoring them – or missing them completely.
When was the last time you passed up an opportunity to do something “fun” – or at least more self-satisfying - in order to spend some time with a person who was lonely, sick or injured? How often do you take time to hold a door open for someone else…allow the guy ahead of you to have the prime parking space…or invite someone to go ahead of you in the check-out line at the grocery store? Have you ever said, “I can buy myself XYZ…or I can make an anonymous donation to the elementary school to help children who don’t have adequate school supplies, a warm coat, or decent shoes. I can make a contribution to a reputable charity…or even the pastor’s emergency fund at my church. I can send a check to an organization like Hospice, to ensure that someone who is in the last stages of life has companionship and comfort. I can forego my morning cup of coffee for a month and buy food for the local animal shelter instead.
In truth, most of us might not have to “give up” anything in order to help. If we did have to skip a purchase or two, we would scarcely miss it. But still, this is not just about money. None of us can put a monetary value on what Jesus did for us. His sacrifice was far bigger than a measure in dollars and cents. And yet, in many ways, He demonstrated simple, everyday ways that we can help a brother in need. One of the greatest gifts we can give to others is our time…quite literally a second set of hands…an ear to listen to someone else’s burdens for a few minutes…or a hug. We can say to the stressed-out parents, “Let me sit with your kids while you take in a movie – or buy groceries in peace.” We can offer to run errands for an elderly person or someone who is sick or injured. We can leave a casserole on the doorstep of a busy working mother, a grieving widow or widower, or the kids who live down the street whose parents never seem to be around. We can invite someone to church – and offer to give them a ride (and maybe even feed them lunch afterward). We could knock on the door of a classmate and invite him/her to study with us. We could smile more and complain less!
Every day…in ways great and small…we have opportunities to live sacrificially for others. Sadly, many of us “turn a cold shoulder and do nothing”. And this scripture passage reminds us that doing this essentially makes God’s love disappear – at least in the minds and hearts of those in need. This is not who we are…or who we should be. We have been given the greatest gift of all in salvation through Jesus Christ. We are covered in His love, grace, mercy, and abundant blessings. Our responsibility is to “pay it forward” to others…to multiply the love of God through Jesus Christ as we meet the needs of His creatures.
How well are you doing? Are you offering compassion to others in Jesus’ name? Do you live generously – even sacrificially? Or are you a “When-is-it-my-turn-what’s-in-it-for-me?” kind of Christian? Your answer matters. How will you respond?
©2014 Debbie Robus
This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
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 confess. I have watched a few episodes of the reality cable TV show “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills”. I don’t think any television show in recent memory has disgusted me more than this one. The lives of young adults who literally have more money than sense are glorified for their spending sprees, drunken escapades, and incredible selfishness. Their foremost thought is how to spend money…and how to make themselves look and feel better (if only in their own over-inflated opinions) in the process!
If you read information from organizations like Compassion International (http://compassion.com) and the World Food Programme (http://wfp.org), you will learn that helping others really costs very little in the scheme of things. On the World Food Programme website, a statement reads…”It takes only $0.25 for the World Food Programme to give a hungry schoolchild a cup of nutritious food. $50 will feed a child at school for an entire year.” Many of us spend $50 on a single meal… or in less than 2 weeks’ worth of morning coffee on the way to work! But this issue goes deeper than just feeding the hungry or buying clothing and school supplies for a sponsored child in a foreign country. There are opportunities all around us to give to others…to share out of our abundance. And we are either ignoring them – or missing them completely.
When was the last time you passed up an opportunity to do something “fun” – or at least more self-satisfying - in order to spend some time with a person who was lonely, sick or injured? How often do you take time to hold a door open for someone else…allow the guy ahead of you to have the prime parking space…or invite someone to go ahead of you in the check-out line at the grocery store? Have you ever said, “I can buy myself XYZ…or I can make an anonymous donation to the elementary school to help children who don’t have adequate school supplies, a warm coat, or decent shoes. I can make a contribution to a reputable charity…or even the pastor’s emergency fund at my church. I can send a check to an organization like Hospice, to ensure that someone who is in the last stages of life has companionship and comfort. I can forego my morning cup of coffee for a month and buy food for the local animal shelter instead.
In truth, most of us might not have to “give up” anything in order to help. If we did have to skip a purchase or two, we would scarcely miss it. But still, this is not just about money. None of us can put a monetary value on what Jesus did for us. His sacrifice was far bigger than a measure in dollars and cents. And yet, in many ways, He demonstrated simple, everyday ways that we can help a brother in need. One of the greatest gifts we can give to others is our time…quite literally a second set of hands…an ear to listen to someone else’s burdens for a few minutes…or a hug. We can say to the stressed-out parents, “Let me sit with your kids while you take in a movie – or buy groceries in peace.” We can offer to run errands for an elderly person or someone who is sick or injured. We can leave a casserole on the doorstep of a busy working mother, a grieving widow or widower, or the kids who live down the street whose parents never seem to be around. We can invite someone to church – and offer to give them a ride (and maybe even feed them lunch afterward). We could knock on the door of a classmate and invite him/her to study with us. We could smile more and complain less!
Every day…in ways great and small…we have opportunities to live sacrificially for others. Sadly, many of us “turn a cold shoulder and do nothing”. And this scripture passage reminds us that doing this essentially makes God’s love disappear – at least in the minds and hearts of those in need. This is not who we are…or who we should be. We have been given the greatest gift of all in salvation through Jesus Christ. We are covered in His love, grace, mercy, and abundant blessings. Our responsibility is to “pay it forward” to others…to multiply the love of God through Jesus Christ as we meet the needs of His creatures.
How well are you doing? Are you offering compassion to others in Jesus’ name? Do you live generously – even sacrificially? Or are you a “When-is-it-my-turn-what’s-in-it-for-me?” kind of Christian? Your answer matters. How will you respond?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2013
Hebrews 3:1-6
My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest! Jesus was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in serving all of God’s people. But Jesus deserves more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves more honor than the house. Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.
Moses was a faithful servant and told God’s people what would be said in the future. But Christ is the Son in charge of God’s people. And we are those people, if we keep on being brave and don’t lose hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 39+ years of marriage, Greg and I have moved more than ten times. Two of those moves were into new houses that were constructed for us by the same builder… and another was a house he remodeled for us. It would be safe to say that we are partial to Willie Stone Construction Co. This father/son duo and crew have built a reputation in our area for creating beautiful homes and doing quality work.
We’ve added our “touch” to every house in which we have lived. Some were created by reputable builders who put quality work into every board and nail. Others were less than they appeared and required constant upkeep and repairs. So while we always made them look nice, the understructure was not always top notch! We learned through experience and careful observation that who you choose as your builder matters! We also learned that it matters who is in charge of the crew. Some sub-contractors worked very hard day in and out… while others worked far harder and faster when the boss was on the scene! In the end, the house will only be as good as its designer and builder… only as sound as those who actually did the work and the person(s) who supervised them and checked the work.
So what does this have to do with our spiritual life and living with hope? Why was this analogy even used in scripture to present this message? Here’s how I see it. God is the builder… Jesus is the supervising contractor… and we are the house. We were designed and created by God. Jesus came to earth to show us how to live in the house God built for us… to “supervise” our growth and development as His disciples and to actually give us life through His death on the cross… and our lives as Christians are the end result. If we pay attention, listen well, and live with hope and confidence in Jesus, our “structure” will be sound – and last into Eternity. If we play fast and loose and allow shoddy workmanship in the form of sin and the devil’s tricks to factor into our lives, we’ll always need upkeep and repairs… our lives might very well crumble and fall into disrepair… and they might even become “uninhabitable.”
We must stay strong. We must make wise choices. We must seek the best “Builder” for our life (God) and put our faith in a “Supervisor” (Jesus Christ) who will create in us a quality product. We must be on the lookout and guard our hearts against shoddy workmanship and shortcuts. We must truly stay strong and selective and say, “I will only be a house built by God Almighty!” We must claim that “on Christ the solid rock I stand,” as the old hymn says…and have hope and confidence that He will build nothing but the best in us.
Who have you chosen as your Ultimate Builder? How firm is your foundation? Are YOU built to last into Eternity? Don’t you want to be? Isn’t it time you chose Jesus as your “supervisor” and placed your hope in Him? Will this be the day you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest! Jesus was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in serving all of God’s people. But Jesus deserves more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves more honor than the house. Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.
Moses was a faithful servant and told God’s people what would be said in the future. But Christ is the Son in charge of God’s people. And we are those people, if we keep on being brave and don’t lose hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 39+ years of marriage, Greg and I have moved more than ten times. Two of those moves were into new houses that were constructed for us by the same builder… and another was a house he remodeled for us. It would be safe to say that we are partial to Willie Stone Construction Co. This father/son duo and crew have built a reputation in our area for creating beautiful homes and doing quality work.
We’ve added our “touch” to every house in which we have lived. Some were created by reputable builders who put quality work into every board and nail. Others were less than they appeared and required constant upkeep and repairs. So while we always made them look nice, the understructure was not always top notch! We learned through experience and careful observation that who you choose as your builder matters! We also learned that it matters who is in charge of the crew. Some sub-contractors worked very hard day in and out… while others worked far harder and faster when the boss was on the scene! In the end, the house will only be as good as its designer and builder… only as sound as those who actually did the work and the person(s) who supervised them and checked the work.
So what does this have to do with our spiritual life and living with hope? Why was this analogy even used in scripture to present this message? Here’s how I see it. God is the builder… Jesus is the supervising contractor… and we are the house. We were designed and created by God. Jesus came to earth to show us how to live in the house God built for us… to “supervise” our growth and development as His disciples and to actually give us life through His death on the cross… and our lives as Christians are the end result. If we pay attention, listen well, and live with hope and confidence in Jesus, our “structure” will be sound – and last into Eternity. If we play fast and loose and allow shoddy workmanship in the form of sin and the devil’s tricks to factor into our lives, we’ll always need upkeep and repairs… our lives might very well crumble and fall into disrepair… and they might even become “uninhabitable.”
We must stay strong. We must make wise choices. We must seek the best “Builder” for our life (God) and put our faith in a “Supervisor” (Jesus Christ) who will create in us a quality product. We must be on the lookout and guard our hearts against shoddy workmanship and shortcuts. We must truly stay strong and selective and say, “I will only be a house built by God Almighty!” We must claim that “on Christ the solid rock I stand,” as the old hymn says…and have hope and confidence that He will build nothing but the best in us.
Who have you chosen as your Ultimate Builder? How firm is your foundation? Are YOU built to last into Eternity? Don’t you want to be? Isn’t it time you chose Jesus as your “supervisor” and placed your hope in Him? Will this be the day you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 4, 2013
May 4 ~ Romans 11:17-22
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
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.
This scripture passage makes a great analogy with the root plant (God) and the cuttings that were removed (non-believers) so that new cuttings (believers in Jesus) could be grafted onto the plant. But let’s take this one step further…suppose you got a job because your boss let someone go who was not performing well. You were added to the team, and everything was great for a while… and then you began to miss work, slack off, and give shoddy results. Pretty soon, it was “Hasta la vista, baby… don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” - and you were unemployed.
When you asked your employer why you were being let go, he/she explained that it was not about your past… your family… your appearance… or even your off-hours activities… it was because of your performance on the job - and your attitude. Try as you might to come up with excuses, your employer was adamant. You were not a good fit… and you had to go. In other words, your “graft” was not “taking” on the root plant. You might have told your family and friends how much your fellow workers liked you… how you loved your job and your bosses were impressed. But in truth, you were only as good as your work…and you were receiving low marks for attitude and performance.
Do you see that it’s much that way for us as Christians? Far too many of us have decided that once we’re in - we’re in! So we can now go and do as we please. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins… and I believe that any of us who have truly invited Him to live in our hearts are guaranteed a place in His presence for all Eternity. But our Salvation came with a price – Jesus’ very body and blood. He freely gave Himself for us. But when we commit our hearts to Him, we are expected to also give our mind, body, soul… energy and enthusiasm…devotion and demeanor, in return. And this is where so many of us miss the mark.
Becoming a Christian is somewhat like enrolling in college. Once you are accepted, you have an obligation to fulfill certain duties and expectations. You can skip class and neglect your studies… and for a while, the college will keep taking your money and allow you to stay on campus. But there will come a point where you either have to step up to the plate and complete the work… or you will be sent packing! You can still say you attended XYZ University… you can still claim to have been a student there…but you are no longer headed toward graduation and a degree… you will not reap the full rewards. And so it is with our faith. We can “play Christian” for a while, but someday – maybe even on Judgment Day – we have to answer for how we conducted our lives. We will be asked how well we served… how devoted we were to Jesus… and whether we modeled His teachings for others. And this will not be a time for excuses!
I realize that every Christian is at a different point in his/her journey. I am so overwhelmed by what God has done for me that I cannot help but serve Him. I no longer operate out of a sense of fear of retribution if I fail to do this… I truly want and need to serve Him with every fiber of my being! And I do not mean to frighten or threaten anyone with this message for today. God is loving, kind and fair… but He is also jealous and expectant… and unwavering in all things. He will not accept excuses… God will not tolerate shoddy work!
So where does this leave you? Are you a Christian who has been “grafted onto the root” and hopes to coast along there on good looks, the kindness of others, and the mercy of Almighty God? Or are you firmly attached… doing all you can to nurture and give back to the Root Plant… making every effort to bloom and grow? The choice is totally ours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
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.
This scripture passage makes a great analogy with the root plant (God) and the cuttings that were removed (non-believers) so that new cuttings (believers in Jesus) could be grafted onto the plant. But let’s take this one step further…suppose you got a job because your boss let someone go who was not performing well. You were added to the team, and everything was great for a while… and then you began to miss work, slack off, and give shoddy results. Pretty soon, it was “Hasta la vista, baby… don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” - and you were unemployed.
When you asked your employer why you were being let go, he/she explained that it was not about your past… your family… your appearance… or even your off-hours activities… it was because of your performance on the job - and your attitude. Try as you might to come up with excuses, your employer was adamant. You were not a good fit… and you had to go. In other words, your “graft” was not “taking” on the root plant. You might have told your family and friends how much your fellow workers liked you… how you loved your job and your bosses were impressed. But in truth, you were only as good as your work…and you were receiving low marks for attitude and performance.
Do you see that it’s much that way for us as Christians? Far too many of us have decided that once we’re in - we’re in! So we can now go and do as we please. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins… and I believe that any of us who have truly invited Him to live in our hearts are guaranteed a place in His presence for all Eternity. But our Salvation came with a price – Jesus’ very body and blood. He freely gave Himself for us. But when we commit our hearts to Him, we are expected to also give our mind, body, soul… energy and enthusiasm…devotion and demeanor, in return. And this is where so many of us miss the mark.
Becoming a Christian is somewhat like enrolling in college. Once you are accepted, you have an obligation to fulfill certain duties and expectations. You can skip class and neglect your studies… and for a while, the college will keep taking your money and allow you to stay on campus. But there will come a point where you either have to step up to the plate and complete the work… or you will be sent packing! You can still say you attended XYZ University… you can still claim to have been a student there…but you are no longer headed toward graduation and a degree… you will not reap the full rewards. And so it is with our faith. We can “play Christian” for a while, but someday – maybe even on Judgment Day – we have to answer for how we conducted our lives. We will be asked how well we served… how devoted we were to Jesus… and whether we modeled His teachings for others. And this will not be a time for excuses!
I realize that every Christian is at a different point in his/her journey. I am so overwhelmed by what God has done for me that I cannot help but serve Him. I no longer operate out of a sense of fear of retribution if I fail to do this… I truly want and need to serve Him with every fiber of my being! And I do not mean to frighten or threaten anyone with this message for today. God is loving, kind and fair… but He is also jealous and expectant… and unwavering in all things. He will not accept excuses… God will not tolerate shoddy work!
So where does this leave you? Are you a Christian who has been “grafted onto the root” and hopes to coast along there on good looks, the kindness of others, and the mercy of Almighty God? Or are you firmly attached… doing all you can to nurture and give back to the Root Plant… making every effort to bloom and grow? The choice is totally ours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2013
Matthew 8:21
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, a good friend kept encouraging me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. I kept making excuses. I couldn’t make the dates work with my schedule… it just wasn’t the right time in my life… I would go someday, when everything fell into place. The truth is…I thought I had a few things I needed to fix before I went. I needed to work on a few things… my attitudes… my prayer life and how I communicated with God, and more. THEN, I would go. Finally, my excuses just seemed to grow weak. My friend didn’t badger me… but he kept gently asking… “Are you ready? There’s room on this next Walk! There’s a Walk in a couple of months. I’ll sponsor you. You deserve this!” DESERVE? Really?! I couldn’t imagine that I deserved this 72-hour “retreat,” but I agreed to go. My friend and his wife drove me to the campus where the Walk was taking place. And there, I learned just how ridiculous all of my excuses had been.
On my Walk to Emmaus, I learned that we don’t need to “fix” anything on our own – we just need to follow God. And we don’t need to keep him waiting. If you are a young person reading this, I understand… I get you! I know you have things you want to do… and you think you have plenty of time to develop an intimate relationship with God later. For now, it’s enough to know that you are a Christian… that God has your back, and that you can call on Him whenever you need Him. If you are an older person, maybe you have let “life” get in the way. You are working too hard… you have family pressures...you are not happy with certain aspects of your life… you feel inadequate and unworthy. You may be complacent or comfortable with your current relationship with God… such as it is. And what I want to tell all of you is that Jesus is calling… don’t put off answering!
This is not a campaign to get you to go on a Walk to Emmaus… although there are plenty of people who would gladly sponsor you, if you chose to do so. And the Walk to Emmaus itself was not a “magic bullet” that changed me… although I do think I am a different kind of Christian as a result of what God revealed to me there. What is important is for each of us to recognize that we have no time to waste! Excuses are simply that… excuses. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves before we come to Him… He’s waiting to do this for us! He doesn’t want us to put off serving until we have the right amount of time, get our hair fixed and buy new clothes, rear our kids, or “sow a few wild oats” and get established in our career, home and relationships. God wants us to come to Him now…to be His disciples… and to go “all in” from the beginning.
We must understand that God doesn’t want perfect people who have all the time in the world. He wants people who are willing to drop everything and say, “Here I am, LORD… where do You want me to serve?” He wants servants who fully trust Him to fix the broken places… those who will serve so faithfully that they would even forego burying their own father to get in line behind Him and follow wherever He leads. Chances are good that you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice… but God needs to know you would be willing to serve Him at a moment’s notice.
I hope that you will take some time and examine your heart. Talk to God and tell Him all of your excuses. Say them out loud, and listen to how silly they probably will sound. Above all, understand that God wants you to follow Him completely, unconditionally… TODAY! He wants you to be willing to sacrifice relationships with your family and friends, your career, your material possessions, your physical safety and well-being… everything. In truth, anyone who humbly and faithfully follows God will never really give up anything. God will restore anything that is taken… He will bless and benefit all who become genuine Disciples. And none of us deserve this… but God will do it anyway.
So what about you… what do you have to do that is keeping you from the business of serving God? What are your excuses? Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Isn’t it time you dropped everything and got in line?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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