Romans 8:1-4
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t
be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ
Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. The Law of Moses cannot
do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you
free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a
sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. He did
this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit
instead of our own desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I
heard some talk show hosts debating the pros and cons of “cheat
days”…days when people who are working hard to lose weight and get fit
are allowed to “cheat” and eat whatever they want for just that one
day. Usually, this is only permitted once a week…and some fitness
“experts” say it helps people stay on track and feel like they are not
missing out on the foods they love. Others say it makes no sense – that
people are not “wired” to stop with just a small sampling of these
“forbidden” foods and will often consume so many calories in this day of
cheating that they negate all of their efforts throughout the rest of
the week. Either way, this “cheat day” represents the human inability of
most of us to maintain a rigid regimen of some sort for an extended
period of time…much less forever!
I share this to illustrate
that a lot of us have the best of intentions. We are determined to lose
weight, stop smoking or some other addictive habit, keep our
house/car/yard/workspace neater, spend more time in Bible study, visit
friends and loved ones more often, read 100 books or more a year, watch
less TV, and achieve countless other goals and aspirations. And we
start out great…for a day – or maybe even a few weeks. Then we start to
falter. One slip here…another there…one missed workout this week,
followed by two next week…a television show or two…you know the drill!
Pretty soon, we have an arsenal of excuses for why we failed - and an
equal number of vows to do better – until we often give up and decide to
just “be who we are” and suffer the consequences...even at the risk of
death and personal danger to our health and well-being.
As
serious as this can be (depending on what we are talking about ) it
cannot compare to the severity of our attitude in this regard when it
comes to sin. In these verses from Romans 8, the Apostle Paul points
out why we cannot be trusted to handle our own atonement for sin. He
clearly illustrates that our selfish desires – and our tons of excuses –
make it impossible for God to merely set down His Law and expect us to
follow it! So God sent Jesus to stand in the gap…to do what we could
not…to pay for our sins once and for all.
Understand that this is
not a license to live as we please. We cannot ask Jesus to die for our
sins and then make every day a “cheat day.” But because of Jesus, we
do not have to worry that God will renege on His promise to write our
name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and give us a seat at His table for all
Eternity when we make a misstep.
If we confess our sins and ask
forgiveness, Jesus will wash us clean with His own blood. He took our
punishment on the cross. We do not have to live in fear or the constant
dread that we are going to fail in some way. We are freed to live in
His abundance…to do our very best every day because we want to
honor and please Him – not because we are afraid to do otherwise. I
don’t know about you, but this seems like a far superior plan to trying
to follow God’s Law on my own – or even a “cheat day.” I may not have
any willpower when it comes to diet and a consistent exercise routine,
keeping clutter at bay, and other habits and behaviors I would like to
change. But when it comes to Jesus, He has my heart – and my back – and
it doesn’t get any better! Can you say the same for yourself?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label serving God out of obligation rather than a heart for Him. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serving God out of obligation rather than a heart for Him. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 14, 2015
Hebrews 11:7
Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world—which refused to obey—and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The other day, Timothy asked me why God allows sin. “Why doesn’t He just take away everybody’s sin for good?” he asked me. My response was that God wants us to have “free will” – He wants us to choose NOT to sin and to ASK for His forgiveness. This tells God that we love Him and serve Him because we want to…not because we’re afraid of Him. Timothy also wanted to know why God lets people suffer. Again, I explained that God does not allow this because He is mean. I told Timothy that I believe that God uses our suffering for something good…but we may never know why this is for sure until we get to heaven. He seemed okay with these answers.
I told Timothy that someday soon, he will probably ask God to forgive all of his sins and make Jesus his “Forever Friend.” He said, “Oh, I’ve already done that!” “You have?” I asked. “That’s great! When did you do this?” Timothy replied matter-of-factly…”When I was two!” I smiled and told him that was wonderful - and he changed the subject, as six-year-olds do!
In this precious little boy’s heart, He and God are “square.” I have a feeling that Timothy will continue to grow in his faith and understanding of God, and that he will have many more questions. Like most of us, his faith will waver from time to time…but in total, I believe that Jesus will always be his “Forever Friend”…and he will serve Him faithfully. Hopefully Timothy will grow in his discipleship to a point where he would actually build an ark and gather the animals if God told him to do so!
I marvel at the depth of understanding that this little boy has…and how many people several decades older than he seem to have little to no grasp of what it really means to trust God. I am thankful that our children are already discovering how important it is to fully rely on God and obey Him…and I pray that they continue to grow in wisdom and dedication to serving Him completely.
I don’t know that my answers to Timothy about why God allows sin and suffering were all that substantial. I silently whispered a prayer before I spoke and trusted God to give me the words that this little boy needed at the moment. But what I really wanted to convey - and what I want you to understand - is that a lot of the “whys and wherefores” of our relationship with God cannot be fully explained. This doesn’t negate them in any way. Much of our relationship with God is based in complete, unabashed faith…in things we cannot see and understand, and in God’s ability to “make a way where we see none.” This is a hard thing to explain – to someone who is six or 96!
The best way to understand God’s plans and to strengthen our faith is to exercise it. When things happen…when suffering comes or challenges arise…we must trust God. When we feel Him telling us to “go this way” or “choose XYZ,” we have to obediently follow His lead. The more we do these things, the more we will choose God’s ways over our own sinful ones…and the more we will grow in confidence that He is guiding our steps.
My prayer is that we will each take the first steps today to begin to strengthen our faith. Listen to God’s voice…trust Him even in the hard things that come your way. Let go of your fears and embrace God completely. Rest in the rhythms and grace of your “Forever Friend,” and discover the great things that He has in store for you. God will probably never call on any of us to build an ark…but if He should, we will be ready!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world—which refused to obey—and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The other day, Timothy asked me why God allows sin. “Why doesn’t He just take away everybody’s sin for good?” he asked me. My response was that God wants us to have “free will” – He wants us to choose NOT to sin and to ASK for His forgiveness. This tells God that we love Him and serve Him because we want to…not because we’re afraid of Him. Timothy also wanted to know why God lets people suffer. Again, I explained that God does not allow this because He is mean. I told Timothy that I believe that God uses our suffering for something good…but we may never know why this is for sure until we get to heaven. He seemed okay with these answers.
I told Timothy that someday soon, he will probably ask God to forgive all of his sins and make Jesus his “Forever Friend.” He said, “Oh, I’ve already done that!” “You have?” I asked. “That’s great! When did you do this?” Timothy replied matter-of-factly…”When I was two!” I smiled and told him that was wonderful - and he changed the subject, as six-year-olds do!
In this precious little boy’s heart, He and God are “square.” I have a feeling that Timothy will continue to grow in his faith and understanding of God, and that he will have many more questions. Like most of us, his faith will waver from time to time…but in total, I believe that Jesus will always be his “Forever Friend”…and he will serve Him faithfully. Hopefully Timothy will grow in his discipleship to a point where he would actually build an ark and gather the animals if God told him to do so!
I marvel at the depth of understanding that this little boy has…and how many people several decades older than he seem to have little to no grasp of what it really means to trust God. I am thankful that our children are already discovering how important it is to fully rely on God and obey Him…and I pray that they continue to grow in wisdom and dedication to serving Him completely.
I don’t know that my answers to Timothy about why God allows sin and suffering were all that substantial. I silently whispered a prayer before I spoke and trusted God to give me the words that this little boy needed at the moment. But what I really wanted to convey - and what I want you to understand - is that a lot of the “whys and wherefores” of our relationship with God cannot be fully explained. This doesn’t negate them in any way. Much of our relationship with God is based in complete, unabashed faith…in things we cannot see and understand, and in God’s ability to “make a way where we see none.” This is a hard thing to explain – to someone who is six or 96!
The best way to understand God’s plans and to strengthen our faith is to exercise it. When things happen…when suffering comes or challenges arise…we must trust God. When we feel Him telling us to “go this way” or “choose XYZ,” we have to obediently follow His lead. The more we do these things, the more we will choose God’s ways over our own sinful ones…and the more we will grow in confidence that He is guiding our steps.
My prayer is that we will each take the first steps today to begin to strengthen our faith. Listen to God’s voice…trust Him even in the hard things that come your way. Let go of your fears and embrace God completely. Rest in the rhythms and grace of your “Forever Friend,” and discover the great things that He has in store for you. God will probably never call on any of us to build an ark…but if He should, we will be ready!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 9, 2015
Deuteronomy 8:1 and 6
Israel, do you want to go into the land the Lord promised your ancestors? Do you want to capture it, live there, and become a powerful nation? Then be sure to obey every command I am giving you.
Obey the commands the Lord your God has given you and worship him with fear and trembling.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children have this little “board book” called The Story of the Ten Commandments*. This book tells the story of Moses going to Mt. Sinai and receiving the stone tablets containing rules from God – written in language that young children can understand. As I read this version of the Commandments, I decided they were pretty good for us “big kids,” too. Sometimes we need to see things in a simpler perspective.
Before you go getting all uppity because this is “not what the Bible says,” read this list and see if it doesn’t encompass everything in Deuteronomy 5…just in a simpler language.
Look over this simple list as it is interpreted for children. See where you fall in line with these commands…and where you come up short. I’m thinking commandments #2, #7, and #10 in particular are probably a stretch for some of us! Examine your heart and your daily living and see where you have failed to worship God “with fear and trembling” – a.k.a. reverence, respect…and your whole heart.
Make this the day that you recommit to complete service, so that you, too, can go “to the land of your ancestors” – or in our case, so that you can be assured of a seat in Heaven at God’s table. More importantly, do this because you love God…the God who has loved us far beyond what we could ever deserve. Obey His commands because it makes life better in every way – for all of us. And give God praise and adoration for His amazing generosity and incomparable love and grace – to Moses’ people AND for generations to come!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*The Story of the Ten Commandments – Patricia Pingry/Stacy Venturi-Pickett
©1999 Ideals Publications, a division of Guideposts.
Israel, do you want to go into the land the Lord promised your ancestors? Do you want to capture it, live there, and become a powerful nation? Then be sure to obey every command I am giving you.
Obey the commands the Lord your God has given you and worship him with fear and trembling.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children have this little “board book” called The Story of the Ten Commandments*. This book tells the story of Moses going to Mt. Sinai and receiving the stone tablets containing rules from God – written in language that young children can understand. As I read this version of the Commandments, I decided they were pretty good for us “big kids,” too. Sometimes we need to see things in a simpler perspective.
Before you go getting all uppity because this is “not what the Bible says,” read this list and see if it doesn’t encompass everything in Deuteronomy 5…just in a simpler language.
- There is only one God.
- Bow down to no one but God.
- Speak God’s name with respect.
- Give one day each week to God.
- Respect your parents.
- Do not kill.
- Be faithful to your family.
- Do not steal.
- Do not lie.
- Do not want what others have.
Look over this simple list as it is interpreted for children. See where you fall in line with these commands…and where you come up short. I’m thinking commandments #2, #7, and #10 in particular are probably a stretch for some of us! Examine your heart and your daily living and see where you have failed to worship God “with fear and trembling” – a.k.a. reverence, respect…and your whole heart.
Make this the day that you recommit to complete service, so that you, too, can go “to the land of your ancestors” – or in our case, so that you can be assured of a seat in Heaven at God’s table. More importantly, do this because you love God…the God who has loved us far beyond what we could ever deserve. Obey His commands because it makes life better in every way – for all of us. And give God praise and adoration for His amazing generosity and incomparable love and grace – to Moses’ people AND for generations to come!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*The Story of the Ten Commandments – Patricia Pingry/Stacy Venturi-Pickett
©1999 Ideals Publications, a division of Guideposts.
Daily Devotional for September 20, 2014
Deuteronomy 7:12-15
And this is what will happen: When you, on your part, will obey these directives, keeping and following them, God, on his part, will keep the covenant of loyal love that he made with your ancestors:
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.
Okay. Trivia time! Who remembers dialing 0 for Operator? If you were born any time after 1980, this could possibly be a foreign concept for you...and for sure if you were born after 1990! The button still existed on phones at that time, but the function had changed. When I was growing up, you could dial 0 and speak to an operator and get all sorts of assistance...the Operator would locate a phone number for you, help you make “collect calls”, summon emergency personnel, and more. When my parents were growing up, the Operator actually connected calls from one home to another. You would dial 0 and tell a real person on the other end of the line that you wanted to talk to “So-and-So”, and she would ring them for you. Think “Sarah” on the Andy Griffith show!
A few decades ago, we really needed the Operator to help us. Today, technology has virtually obliterated the need for any human intermediary when contacting others. We telephone, text, e-mail, Skype or Face-time, and more...all at the push of a button. In the days of Moses, people had to “jump through hoops” to please God – and to assure that He would love them, bless them, heal them, and increase them. They had to “do their part”, as Moses directs in this passage. When they made mistakes, they had to offer sacrifices to atone for them.
When Jesus died on the cross, He changed everything. The very act of asking Him to forgive us...to wash us clean and fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit...is the equivalent of pushing a button to connect a call to God – for the rest of our lives. Does this mean that we no longer have to “do our part”...that we can live as we please and guarantee that God will keep us healthy, prosperous, and safe? Absolutely not! But stop and think about this...there is no need to live in continual fear and stress – to obsess over whether or not every single breath you take is potentially bringing you to the brink of disaster and condemnation!
By the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be healed...forever and ever! We can bask in the glory of Moses’ promises for his people...God will love us. He will bless us. He will increase us! For me, this changes the motivation to serve God from that of fear and obligation to an expression of my devotion and gratitude. Because of Jesus and the cleansing healing He offers each of us, we should want to serve Him and live in a way that pleases Him and honors His commitment to us. And one of the coolest things is that we no longer need an “Operator” to “connect our calls” to God. We can “dial Him up” directly any time we want or need!
Change can be good. There are times when it would be handy to dial 0 and ask for a telephone number or an instant connection...but now we have such a wealth of methods for reaching others in a heartbeat that it wouldn’t really be worth it to return to “the good ole days”. As for our relationship with God, I wouldn’t trade Jesus and what He has given me for anything...surely not for the antiquated rituals and expectations of Moses’ time!
Take a little time today and think about Jesus. Consider how easy He has made it for you to live in health, wealth and hope. I can hear you now, and I get it! Yes, we may have challenges – and even heartaches...our definition of these blessings – particularly health, wealth and prosperity – may not match what God intends for us. His timing may not be the same as ours. But when we trust God, we always have hope and a future...and when we give our hearts to Jesus and commit our lives to Him, we have a “direct line” to His love and care. Are you fully “connected”...or are you still trying to “dial 0 for Operator”? Isn’t it time you accepted Jesus’ direct connection? Is today the day?
©2014 Debbie Robus
And this is what will happen: When you, on your part, will obey these directives, keeping and following them, God, on his part, will keep the covenant of loyal love that he made with your ancestors:
- He will love you,
he will bless you,
he will increase you.
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.
Okay. Trivia time! Who remembers dialing 0 for Operator? If you were born any time after 1980, this could possibly be a foreign concept for you...and for sure if you were born after 1990! The button still existed on phones at that time, but the function had changed. When I was growing up, you could dial 0 and speak to an operator and get all sorts of assistance...the Operator would locate a phone number for you, help you make “collect calls”, summon emergency personnel, and more. When my parents were growing up, the Operator actually connected calls from one home to another. You would dial 0 and tell a real person on the other end of the line that you wanted to talk to “So-and-So”, and she would ring them for you. Think “Sarah” on the Andy Griffith show!
A few decades ago, we really needed the Operator to help us. Today, technology has virtually obliterated the need for any human intermediary when contacting others. We telephone, text, e-mail, Skype or Face-time, and more...all at the push of a button. In the days of Moses, people had to “jump through hoops” to please God – and to assure that He would love them, bless them, heal them, and increase them. They had to “do their part”, as Moses directs in this passage. When they made mistakes, they had to offer sacrifices to atone for them.
When Jesus died on the cross, He changed everything. The very act of asking Him to forgive us...to wash us clean and fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit...is the equivalent of pushing a button to connect a call to God – for the rest of our lives. Does this mean that we no longer have to “do our part”...that we can live as we please and guarantee that God will keep us healthy, prosperous, and safe? Absolutely not! But stop and think about this...there is no need to live in continual fear and stress – to obsess over whether or not every single breath you take is potentially bringing you to the brink of disaster and condemnation!
By the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be healed...forever and ever! We can bask in the glory of Moses’ promises for his people...God will love us. He will bless us. He will increase us! For me, this changes the motivation to serve God from that of fear and obligation to an expression of my devotion and gratitude. Because of Jesus and the cleansing healing He offers each of us, we should want to serve Him and live in a way that pleases Him and honors His commitment to us. And one of the coolest things is that we no longer need an “Operator” to “connect our calls” to God. We can “dial Him up” directly any time we want or need!
Change can be good. There are times when it would be handy to dial 0 and ask for a telephone number or an instant connection...but now we have such a wealth of methods for reaching others in a heartbeat that it wouldn’t really be worth it to return to “the good ole days”. As for our relationship with God, I wouldn’t trade Jesus and what He has given me for anything...surely not for the antiquated rituals and expectations of Moses’ time!
Take a little time today and think about Jesus. Consider how easy He has made it for you to live in health, wealth and hope. I can hear you now, and I get it! Yes, we may have challenges – and even heartaches...our definition of these blessings – particularly health, wealth and prosperity – may not match what God intends for us. His timing may not be the same as ours. But when we trust God, we always have hope and a future...and when we give our hearts to Jesus and commit our lives to Him, we have a “direct line” to His love and care. Are you fully “connected”...or are you still trying to “dial 0 for Operator”? Isn’t it time you accepted Jesus’ direct connection? Is today the day?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 1, 2014
Psalm 51:16-17
Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
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 saw a post on Facebook the other day that absolutely astounded me. Out of kindness, I will not name this person...but the wife of a well-known television evangelist stood before her congregation and told the people that... “When we obey God, we’re not doing it for God...we’re doing it for ourselves, because God wants us to be happy...that’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy.” She continued...”Just do good for yourself...and this will make God happy. When you come to church and worship Him, you’re not doing it for God, really...you’re doing it for yourself...because that’s what makes GOD happy!”
The punch line to this Facebook post was an added video of Bill Cosby as “Cliff Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show”, saying, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my LIFE!” I almost fell off my chair laughing! Can I get an “Amen!” here? I am guessing that this woman has not read Psalm 51:16-17 lately! Here’s a news flash for her and the rest of us...”It’s not about you or me!” I think I know what she might have been trying to say, because yes, God does want us to be happy. But that is not His end goal!
Here’s another way to look at it...one of my best friends has two sons., and when they were little, she was telling me about how other children in their play groups were rude and disrespectful. She said that she did not tolerate such behavior from her own children. She told me...“I don’t care if my boys like me, but they are going to respect me and do what is right!” My friend loves her sons...and she loved them then...but she wanted them to be polite and act appropriately. Of course, she wanted them to be happy! But showing kindness and respect for others...or humility and sincerity for serving God...does not equal displeasure or rob us of our joy - at least, it shouldn’t!
I hope my illustrations are making sense. God loves us and wants us to be filled with joy. He shows us tremendous grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and compassion...and often gives us far more leeway than we deserve! I know we serve a God of second, third, and fourth chances – and more! But this is not a license to run willy-nilly through life serving our own interests. And yes, there will be times when things are hard, and we really don’t necessarily like the direction in which God steers us. But we are to swallow our pride and humbly submit to His plans. THIS is what pleases God and makes Him truly happy – and what will ultimately bring us the most joy, as well.
My message to you this day is that being a Christian disciple is not always easy. In order to truly be “successful”...to operate in God’s blessings and truly honor His commitment to us...we must humble ourselves, set aside our pride and stubbornness, and come before Him with a “shattered heart”. We must say, “Here I am, LORD...ready to do whatever You need - wherever and whenever You need me...and to give YOU all of the glory.” I’m pretty sure that our “performance” will be anything but flawless...but that’s okay. God doesn’t care about our “motions”...He’s interested in our motives! Anyone can pretend to love and serve God and others...but GOD knows our heart and what we are really thinking and feeling. What does He know about you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
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 saw a post on Facebook the other day that absolutely astounded me. Out of kindness, I will not name this person...but the wife of a well-known television evangelist stood before her congregation and told the people that... “When we obey God, we’re not doing it for God...we’re doing it for ourselves, because God wants us to be happy...that’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy.” She continued...”Just do good for yourself...and this will make God happy. When you come to church and worship Him, you’re not doing it for God, really...you’re doing it for yourself...because that’s what makes GOD happy!”
The punch line to this Facebook post was an added video of Bill Cosby as “Cliff Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show”, saying, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my LIFE!” I almost fell off my chair laughing! Can I get an “Amen!” here? I am guessing that this woman has not read Psalm 51:16-17 lately! Here’s a news flash for her and the rest of us...”It’s not about you or me!” I think I know what she might have been trying to say, because yes, God does want us to be happy. But that is not His end goal!
Here’s another way to look at it...one of my best friends has two sons., and when they were little, she was telling me about how other children in their play groups were rude and disrespectful. She said that she did not tolerate such behavior from her own children. She told me...“I don’t care if my boys like me, but they are going to respect me and do what is right!” My friend loves her sons...and she loved them then...but she wanted them to be polite and act appropriately. Of course, she wanted them to be happy! But showing kindness and respect for others...or humility and sincerity for serving God...does not equal displeasure or rob us of our joy - at least, it shouldn’t!
I hope my illustrations are making sense. God loves us and wants us to be filled with joy. He shows us tremendous grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and compassion...and often gives us far more leeway than we deserve! I know we serve a God of second, third, and fourth chances – and more! But this is not a license to run willy-nilly through life serving our own interests. And yes, there will be times when things are hard, and we really don’t necessarily like the direction in which God steers us. But we are to swallow our pride and humbly submit to His plans. THIS is what pleases God and makes Him truly happy – and what will ultimately bring us the most joy, as well.
My message to you this day is that being a Christian disciple is not always easy. In order to truly be “successful”...to operate in God’s blessings and truly honor His commitment to us...we must humble ourselves, set aside our pride and stubbornness, and come before Him with a “shattered heart”. We must say, “Here I am, LORD...ready to do whatever You need - wherever and whenever You need me...and to give YOU all of the glory.” I’m pretty sure that our “performance” will be anything but flawless...but that’s okay. God doesn’t care about our “motions”...He’s interested in our motives! Anyone can pretend to love and serve God and others...but GOD knows our heart and what we are really thinking and feeling. What does He know about you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 6, 2014
Psalm 55:6
I wish I had wings
like a dove,
so I could fly far away
and be at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor probably won’t like this devotional, because his sermon today was about how we all tend to say, “I’m doing enough already…I can’t/won’t do anything more,” and we neglect the ministries to which God has called us. But here’s the thing… some of us are worn smack out! We’ve let the burdens and weariness of “life” get to us – to the point that we really are no longer serving God out of a heart for His ministries, but rather out of a sense of duty or obligation. We are in essence giving God lip service…and sometimes poorly, at that!
In her Bible study guide Make Over*, women’s speaker and author Jen Hatmaker asks, “Where do you need to cut yourself some slack?” She explains…”If you are searching for verses about working and pleasing God…they exist. But God and His writers assumed we were already living in grace. It’s ludicrous that we’d prefer a merit-based relationship after Jesus redeemed us from that curse. Pleasing God comes after grace, not before. Not one solitary second before. If that’s you, stop working. You’re better off doing nothing than trying to earn your grace. Every dance performed to win God over is wasted.”
Furthermore, some of us are dealing with some pretty heavy burdens…and we’ve decided that the way to manage them is to stay busy in ministry and missions. To these people, Hatmaker says,”God wants wholeness for you first and foremost. If you are injured, bench yourself and rest in the care of the Healer. Playing church while wounded not only compromises the team but also delays healing, making the injury far worse. It is lunacy to think God would ignore your brokenness and prefer your sacrifices at the risk of your spiritual health.”
So my question to you today, is “What are you doing for God…and why?” Have you been dancing like a monkey trying to be all things to all people…including God Almighty? Are you so worn out and weary or burdened that you wish you had wings like a dove and could fly away somewhere? Remember the “Calgon, take me away…” commercials? Are you in need of a spiritual “Calgon moment?”
I’ve got a word for you...it may be time for many of us to take a little “spiritual vacation”. I’m not suggesting that we quit going to church…put our Bibles on the shelf…or stop talking to God. I didn’t say you should cancel all ministries and mission projects and sit home and watch reality TV. But it may be time for us to step back and spend some quiet, “alone time” with God…to almost literally do nothing and just listen for His voice…to spend a few hours combing the scriptures and discovering what God really wants from us…to ask Him how, when and where to serve Him – and then really wait on His answer!
Everywhere you turn this time of year, people are taking “summer vacations” and “getting away from it all” to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Could it be that you need a little “vacation” of sorts to get you back on track spiritually? You don’t need the wings of a dove…or even a faraway place in which to discover God’s peace. All you need is a quiet corner, a comfortable place to sit, your Bible, and an open heart and mind. Are you ready for your spiritual “Calgon moment”? What are you waiting for? This could be the most restful “vacation” you ever take!
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
I wish I had wings
like a dove,
so I could fly far away
and be at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor probably won’t like this devotional, because his sermon today was about how we all tend to say, “I’m doing enough already…I can’t/won’t do anything more,” and we neglect the ministries to which God has called us. But here’s the thing… some of us are worn smack out! We’ve let the burdens and weariness of “life” get to us – to the point that we really are no longer serving God out of a heart for His ministries, but rather out of a sense of duty or obligation. We are in essence giving God lip service…and sometimes poorly, at that!
In her Bible study guide Make Over*, women’s speaker and author Jen Hatmaker asks, “Where do you need to cut yourself some slack?” She explains…”If you are searching for verses about working and pleasing God…they exist. But God and His writers assumed we were already living in grace. It’s ludicrous that we’d prefer a merit-based relationship after Jesus redeemed us from that curse. Pleasing God comes after grace, not before. Not one solitary second before. If that’s you, stop working. You’re better off doing nothing than trying to earn your grace. Every dance performed to win God over is wasted.”
Furthermore, some of us are dealing with some pretty heavy burdens…and we’ve decided that the way to manage them is to stay busy in ministry and missions. To these people, Hatmaker says,”God wants wholeness for you first and foremost. If you are injured, bench yourself and rest in the care of the Healer. Playing church while wounded not only compromises the team but also delays healing, making the injury far worse. It is lunacy to think God would ignore your brokenness and prefer your sacrifices at the risk of your spiritual health.”
So my question to you today, is “What are you doing for God…and why?” Have you been dancing like a monkey trying to be all things to all people…including God Almighty? Are you so worn out and weary or burdened that you wish you had wings like a dove and could fly away somewhere? Remember the “Calgon, take me away…” commercials? Are you in need of a spiritual “Calgon moment?”
I’ve got a word for you...it may be time for many of us to take a little “spiritual vacation”. I’m not suggesting that we quit going to church…put our Bibles on the shelf…or stop talking to God. I didn’t say you should cancel all ministries and mission projects and sit home and watch reality TV. But it may be time for us to step back and spend some quiet, “alone time” with God…to almost literally do nothing and just listen for His voice…to spend a few hours combing the scriptures and discovering what God really wants from us…to ask Him how, when and where to serve Him – and then really wait on His answer!
Everywhere you turn this time of year, people are taking “summer vacations” and “getting away from it all” to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Could it be that you need a little “vacation” of sorts to get you back on track spiritually? You don’t need the wings of a dove…or even a faraway place in which to discover God’s peace. All you need is a quiet corner, a comfortable place to sit, your Bible, and an open heart and mind. Are you ready for your spiritual “Calgon moment”? What are you waiting for? This could be the most restful “vacation” you ever take!
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
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