December 8 ~ Deuteronomy 6:20-25
Someday your children will ask, “Why did the Lord give us these laws and teachings?”
Then you will answer:
We
were slaves of the king of Egypt, but the Lord used his great power and
set us free. We saw him perform miracles and make horrible things
happen to the king, his officials, and everyone else. The Lord rescued
us from Egypt, so he could bring us into this land, as he had promised
our ancestors. That’s why the Lord our God demands that we obey his laws
and worship him with fear and trembling. And if we do, he will protect
us and help us be successful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our
three-year-old Nathan’s favorite question is “Why?” Sometimes, I have a
good answer…and often, I just have to “wing it.” But when our children
– or anyone else – asks me why God gave us rules and commands us to
obey them, I hope I have decent answers! When I am asked by anyone WHY
God covers us in grace and mercy and sent His only Son to suffer and die
for our sins, I need to have a good explanation at the ready!
Let’s
be clear…we are not going to have “all of the answers” – because we
aren’t supposed to. There are so many things about how God operates
that are mysterious and will not be revealed to us until we get to
Heaven. This is where “faith” comes into play! But we need to be so
grounded and confident in our Christian faith and discipleship that we
can explain - and demonstrate by our actions – our service and obedience
in a way that is compelling and believable to others. And telling
someone we love and serve God…“because I don’t want to go to hell” is
not a good answer!
We have some excellent starting points
outlined in this scripture passage from Deuteronomy 6. God performed
miracles and protected His people by making horrible things happen to
the king of Egypt and his cronies. He rescued the people of Israel and
delivered them to the Promised Land. And He has guaranteed protection
and success for all who follow Him. Since this is Old Testament
scripture, it doesn’t even touch on the miracles, love, grace and mercy
of Jesus Christ several centuries later. The Bible as a whole is filled
with examples and justifications for placing our hope and faith in
Jesus Christ and serving our Heavenly Father with full obedience and
trust. Our job is to look for them and commit them to heart!
The
point is that we need not fear questions about our faith. Rather, we
must be ready to answer them. We have to prepare ourselves through the
study of God’s word, prayer and communication with Him – and through
actually putting our Christian faith into action - so that we are ready
to answer that all-important “Why?” from people who are “on the fence.”
Are you fully ready to tackle these questions head-on? Do you
have good, plausible explanations for your Christian faith and
discipleship? Isn’t it time that you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label sharing faith with others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing faith with others. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 24, 2014
Philippians 4:4-7
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I’ve said it before…I come from a long line of folks who could worry as a profession! Recently, Timothy began testing the almost-5-year-old waters a bit with some antics at school and at home that displeased his parents. As his mother told me about them one day, I asked, “Would you like for me to talk to him?” She said, “Yes, PLEASE!” So we had a little chat about learning to get along with others and how important it was to cooperate…share…and be kind to our friends and siblings. I told Timothy that I would pray for him and ask God to help him learn to do these things. And I said to him, “When you say your prayers, ask God to help you be good and get along with others.”
Timothy asked, “But God will still love me…right?” I told him yes…God will love him – but God might not always approve of his behavior. Timmy can be pretty dramatic at times, and his next comment (in his saddest voice) was, “But if God leaves me…I’ll be all alone!” I assured him that God will never leave him…but God does want us to behave well and follow the rules. A few nights later, as Timothy said his prayers, he said (again, quite dramatically), “God, if I’m all alone, you’ll come and get me…right?” Dramatically spoken or not, this obviously tugged at my heartstrings. Afterward, I assured Timmy that God is ALWAYS with him, and he doesn’t need to worry about that!
One of my long-term goals with Timothy, Zola, Nathan – and other children who cross my path – is to continually assure them that God loves them…that He is ready, willing and more than able to handle their worries. I want these children to grow up full of the confidence that God’s peace will guard their hearts and minds as they strive to live for Jesus. And it all begins with me and how I demonstrate this in my own life. If I am continually worried and upset… if I appear to be stressed out over things great and small…if I fail to physically model taking all things to God in prayer – and giving them to Him to handle – I cannot possibly expect these children to do any differently.
The same could be said for others whom we encounter. What do we project to the people we meet? Do we come across as someone who operates in “the peace that passes understanding”? Or are we hand-wringers…unsettled people who call ourselves Christians and say one thing…while we act in a way that belies our words? Are we people who pray about everything and truly give it to God…with thanks and complete confidence that He will answer in a manner that best meets our needs? Are we at peace…and filled with joy in the LORD?
Isn’t it time we took stock of our lives and answered a few of these questions? Will this be the day that you begin to work on the areas where you worry too much – the unsettled, anything-but-peaceful corners of your life? Won’t you spend some time in contemplation and praise of a God who can handle EVERYTHING…even the “growing pains” of a sometimes-melodramatic pre-schooler? God is waiting for us to stop our fretting and settle in with Him. Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I’ve said it before…I come from a long line of folks who could worry as a profession! Recently, Timothy began testing the almost-5-year-old waters a bit with some antics at school and at home that displeased his parents. As his mother told me about them one day, I asked, “Would you like for me to talk to him?” She said, “Yes, PLEASE!” So we had a little chat about learning to get along with others and how important it was to cooperate…share…and be kind to our friends and siblings. I told Timothy that I would pray for him and ask God to help him learn to do these things. And I said to him, “When you say your prayers, ask God to help you be good and get along with others.”
Timothy asked, “But God will still love me…right?” I told him yes…God will love him – but God might not always approve of his behavior. Timmy can be pretty dramatic at times, and his next comment (in his saddest voice) was, “But if God leaves me…I’ll be all alone!” I assured him that God will never leave him…but God does want us to behave well and follow the rules. A few nights later, as Timothy said his prayers, he said (again, quite dramatically), “God, if I’m all alone, you’ll come and get me…right?” Dramatically spoken or not, this obviously tugged at my heartstrings. Afterward, I assured Timmy that God is ALWAYS with him, and he doesn’t need to worry about that!
One of my long-term goals with Timothy, Zola, Nathan – and other children who cross my path – is to continually assure them that God loves them…that He is ready, willing and more than able to handle their worries. I want these children to grow up full of the confidence that God’s peace will guard their hearts and minds as they strive to live for Jesus. And it all begins with me and how I demonstrate this in my own life. If I am continually worried and upset… if I appear to be stressed out over things great and small…if I fail to physically model taking all things to God in prayer – and giving them to Him to handle – I cannot possibly expect these children to do any differently.
The same could be said for others whom we encounter. What do we project to the people we meet? Do we come across as someone who operates in “the peace that passes understanding”? Or are we hand-wringers…unsettled people who call ourselves Christians and say one thing…while we act in a way that belies our words? Are we people who pray about everything and truly give it to God…with thanks and complete confidence that He will answer in a manner that best meets our needs? Are we at peace…and filled with joy in the LORD?
Isn’t it time we took stock of our lives and answered a few of these questions? Will this be the day that you begin to work on the areas where you worry too much – the unsettled, anything-but-peaceful corners of your life? Won’t you spend some time in contemplation and praise of a God who can handle EVERYTHING…even the “growing pains” of a sometimes-melodramatic pre-schooler? God is waiting for us to stop our fretting and settle in with Him. Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2014
Hebrews 11:1-3
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
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.
Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a “card person”. I enjoy making cards for others…but I also keep a stash of “store-bought” cards handy, so that I always have something available for sending a note of encouragement, expressing gratitude or condolences…or just to say, “I’m thinking of you today.” Sometimes a person is experiencing something of which I have first-hand knowledge…the loss of a parent or sibling, a particular illness or injury – or caring for a loved one who is ill or injured, or the loss of a pet, to name a few.
Other times, I have absolutely no personal background that equips me to say, “I know what you are going through… I get it.” Thankfully, I do not have a terminal illness…I have never lost a child...I’ve never had to say “Goodbye” to a loved one who was deployed overseas or put in harm’s way…I have not endured a divorce or the loss of my husband. Let’s be honest…words of “wisdom” and “understanding” can seem pretty hollow when they come from someone who has never walked in our shoes!
Does this mean that we should not offer compassion and expressions of encouragement to others when we have no first-hand knowledge of what they are experiencing? Absolutely not! But we must carefully consider our words and actions…how they are conveyed…and how they will be received. For instance, telling someone who has lost a child that “he/she is in a better place” does not truly offer them comfort in the moment. When someone is ill or injured, describing your own illnesses and injuries in detail serves no purpose. If friends divorce, suggesting that they “get over it” isn’t right, any more than coddling them and encouraging them to wallow in self-pity is appropriate.
So what are we to do? How do we show compassion and encouragement to others? In these scriptures, we are given a great model. We can share our faith. Where we have first-hand knowledge, we can say, “This is how God got me through my loss/illness/divorce/challenge.” We can tell others, “I know that right now it seems impossible that things will ever be better…but I can tell you from my own experiences that you will look back someday and see how God was orchestrating things and caring for you the whole time.”
If you do not have personal experience, you can still encourage…by lending quiet support, doing little things behind the scenes, and more. A simple hug can speak volumes. You can offer to run an errand that might seem difficult or stir an upsetting memory. You can send a note or e-mail to simply say, “I’m here if you need me… for anything.” When you do speak, you can say, “I can’t possibly understand what you are going through. I know this must be incredibly hard. But I know that God has never failed me in anything…and He isn’t about to fail you, either.”
This is “unseen faith”! We don’t know where, when or how… we just know that God is…that He is ever-present – and always working for us. When our foundation is firmly established in a relationship with God and fortified by salvation through Jesus Christ, we can endure the unthinkable…the improbable…the devastatingly difficult and impossible. Our faith in God – seen and unseen – makes life worth living. It truly is our “handle on what we can’t see.” And one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone else is to offer them compassion because of our faith…and to invite them to share in it, as well.
Sometimes it is so hard to know what to say and do for another person. But if we really, truly love Jesus and trust Him, we always have a response that is appropriate. Simply tell them that God loves them… that He is with them…that He has never failed you, and that you have confidence He isn’t going to start now. What God has done for us, He will surely do for others. Who needs to hear this from you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
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.
Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a “card person”. I enjoy making cards for others…but I also keep a stash of “store-bought” cards handy, so that I always have something available for sending a note of encouragement, expressing gratitude or condolences…or just to say, “I’m thinking of you today.” Sometimes a person is experiencing something of which I have first-hand knowledge…the loss of a parent or sibling, a particular illness or injury – or caring for a loved one who is ill or injured, or the loss of a pet, to name a few.
Other times, I have absolutely no personal background that equips me to say, “I know what you are going through… I get it.” Thankfully, I do not have a terminal illness…I have never lost a child...I’ve never had to say “Goodbye” to a loved one who was deployed overseas or put in harm’s way…I have not endured a divorce or the loss of my husband. Let’s be honest…words of “wisdom” and “understanding” can seem pretty hollow when they come from someone who has never walked in our shoes!
Does this mean that we should not offer compassion and expressions of encouragement to others when we have no first-hand knowledge of what they are experiencing? Absolutely not! But we must carefully consider our words and actions…how they are conveyed…and how they will be received. For instance, telling someone who has lost a child that “he/she is in a better place” does not truly offer them comfort in the moment. When someone is ill or injured, describing your own illnesses and injuries in detail serves no purpose. If friends divorce, suggesting that they “get over it” isn’t right, any more than coddling them and encouraging them to wallow in self-pity is appropriate.
So what are we to do? How do we show compassion and encouragement to others? In these scriptures, we are given a great model. We can share our faith. Where we have first-hand knowledge, we can say, “This is how God got me through my loss/illness/divorce/challenge.” We can tell others, “I know that right now it seems impossible that things will ever be better…but I can tell you from my own experiences that you will look back someday and see how God was orchestrating things and caring for you the whole time.”
If you do not have personal experience, you can still encourage…by lending quiet support, doing little things behind the scenes, and more. A simple hug can speak volumes. You can offer to run an errand that might seem difficult or stir an upsetting memory. You can send a note or e-mail to simply say, “I’m here if you need me… for anything.” When you do speak, you can say, “I can’t possibly understand what you are going through. I know this must be incredibly hard. But I know that God has never failed me in anything…and He isn’t about to fail you, either.”
This is “unseen faith”! We don’t know where, when or how… we just know that God is…that He is ever-present – and always working for us. When our foundation is firmly established in a relationship with God and fortified by salvation through Jesus Christ, we can endure the unthinkable…the improbable…the devastatingly difficult and impossible. Our faith in God – seen and unseen – makes life worth living. It truly is our “handle on what we can’t see.” And one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone else is to offer them compassion because of our faith…and to invite them to share in it, as well.
Sometimes it is so hard to know what to say and do for another person. But if we really, truly love Jesus and trust Him, we always have a response that is appropriate. Simply tell them that God loves them… that He is with them…that He has never failed you, and that you have confidence He isn’t going to start now. What God has done for us, He will surely do for others. Who needs to hear this from you today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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