Romans 8:9-11
But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms.
It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!
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 am still in the process of reading/studying Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts**. Voskamp maintains that the core of our relationship with God begins with a heart of gratitude. In fact, she cites another author, Brennan Manning, who wrote Ruthless Truth: The Ragamuffin's Path to God**. Manning says that “The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness.”
So when we think of God living and breathing in us and delivering us from a dead life of sin and all of its burdens and destructiveness, how can we be anything BUT grateful? The greatest gift we will ever receive is Salvation through the blood of Jesus. The best friend and companion we will ever have is the Holy Spirit. The most wonderful, generous, gracious, merciful, loving and forgiving Father we could ever ask for is God Almighty. We are blessed beyond measure! We are loved beyond description! We are rich beyond our wildest dreams! But are we grateful?
Do we fully embrace this tremendous blessing and gift? Are we filled with gratitude for all that God has done for us? Do we really live in a way that demonstrates that God lives and breathes in us and delivered us from a dead life? Are we truly thankful…and does it show? God’s abundant gift of New Life in Christ…His deliverance from the death of sin…His residence in our lives…is available to any and all who welcome Him. But here’s the thing…are we living in a way that makes others want this for themselves?
Do we demonstrate the life of a trusting disciple? Are we filled with gratitude and “life” so abundantly that others say, “I’ll have what he/she has!” in their own lives? Isn’t it time we did? What are you waiting for? What must happen in order for you to fully experience a heart of gratefulness and fully embrace all that God has for you? Will this be the day you begin to find out? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
**Ruthless Truth: The Ragamuffin's Path to God ~ ©2000 Brennan Manning ~ HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., New York, NY.
March 17 ~ 2 Corinthians 2:5-9
I don’t want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one who has been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones. Most of you have already pointed out the wrong that person did, and that is punishment enough for what was done.
When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair. You should make them sure of your love for them.
I also wrote because I wanted to test you and find out if you would follow my instructions.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Actor George Takei is known by many for his role as Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Starship Enterprise in the long-running television series, “Star Trek”. In recent years, Takei has made cameo appearances on several sitcoms and acted in a few movies. He is better known today for his activist roles promoting gay rights and Japanese-American relations. In 1942, Takei and his family were sent to the Rowher War Relocation Camp in Rowher, Arkansas, for internment. They were later transferred to an internment camp in California, where they remained until the end of World War II. Takei’s family then returned to Los Angeles, where he ultimately graduated from UCLA and received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in theater.
Today, many younger people know George Takei for his front-and-center presence on social media. He makes frequent posts of funny pictures, humorous quotes, and inspirational thoughts. And today was no exception. Many of you may be familiar with the church group in Kansas that frequently shows up to conduct anti-gay protests at military funerals…often bearing signs that say “God Hates F**s" and “Thank God for 9/11”. The church’s leader, Fred Phelps, is on Hospice and apparently doesn’t have long to live.
George Takei is exactly the kind of person who could become a target of this group’s hatred. It would seem plausible that Takei would have plenty of reasons to harbor un-forgiveness in his heart toward this man and his church. But here’s what Takei had to say today on Facebook:
"I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.
He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end."
This is exactly what Paul is talking about in his message to the Corinthians. We need look no further than Jesus Christ as He was tortured and hung on a cross to see how true forgiveness looks. It’s not about what was done to us…it’s about what we do in return. People like George Takei would almost seem justified in harboring ill feelings. To be taken from your home and placed in an internment camp just because of your family heritage would be reason enough…but to be part of a group who is the target of such incredible hatred and disgust because of your sexual orientation would only add fuel to the fire for many.
To be imprisoned – sometimes standing in human excrement up to your waist - for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and claiming that He is the Messiah would be justification for holding a grudge. To be beaten, spit upon, and nailed to a cross for speaking the Truth and offering all who will follow You eternal life seems like justification for saying, “That’s it… forget it…you can all go to hell!” But not for George Takei… not the Apostle Paul…and certainly not for Jesus Christ!
So what’s our excuse? I will be the first to admit that forgiveness is not easy. I’ll also tell you that the devil is going to make sure that you don’t forgive readily! It takes work…sometimes hard, repetitive work…to truly forgive someone. But all we have to do is think of Jesus. That should make this easier. How can we NOT forgive others, when He forgives us…when He has forgiven so many for so very much?!
Notice, too, that Paul points out that a failure to forgive others never hurts them as much as it hurts us. It eats at our heart…un-forgiveness tears at our soul…and it contaminates our relationship with God. Takei is exactly right – hate never wins out in the end…and neither does a spirit of un-forgiveness. If we want to experience a genuine relationship with God…one in which we wholeheartedly trust Him for everything – and He uses us fully as Christian disciples…we must learn to forgive – completely and with a compassionate heart. I know I have work to do in this area…what about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
May 8 ~ Romans 2:28-29
For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
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.
In the early 1980s, my husband’s father was mayor of our community. My maternal grandfather was mayor in the early 1950s. With two surname changes and over 50 years over and done, few people associate me with my grandfather’s term in office. But people still comment to my husband, “Oh, you’re the mayor’s son!” The thing is…people say this as if this somehow gives him special privilege. We didn’t even live in this community during my father-in-law’s term as mayor… and even if we had, we would have been no different than any other local citizens. Just because my father-in-law and grandfather were mayors doesn’t imply that we should have enjoyed any special advantages.
By the same token, this didn’t mean we were more loyal to our community… or that our community was more special to us. Each person who lives here should love and respect their city and its neighborhoods - and live in a manner that shows honor and value for this area and its residents. I have heard more than one newcomer to our town say, “We’ve grown to love it here.” And if you look closely, you will notice that these people embraced the community and its residents… got involved in activities and organizations… and truly got to know the history and heart of the surrounding area.
There are people who live in a community and never truly “get it.” They gripe and complain about “what’s wrong with this town”… all the while claiming residency. And indeed, they are legal residents. They live here and benefit from city services and more… but they don’t embrace the spirit of the community. They have no heart for the town and its citizenry.
Do you see what I am saying? Christians are all part of a “community” of believers. If we are saved by the blood of Jesus, we belong to God. But this does not mean we are engaged with Him… or truly serving as a Disciple of Christ. What I desperately want you to understand is that giving your heart to Jesus is important… and doing so ensures that you are His child and will live with Him for all eternity. But this is not enough! It’s like moving into a town and drawing all the blinds, locking your doors and never going outside. You’re a resident of the community… but you are not an active and involved citizen. Your heart has not changed.
I realize there can be mitigating circumstances whereby someone moves into a community and does not become involved. Perhaps there are physical or economical limitations. But you can still love and support your town. You can still lift it up when talking to others. You can be informed about local happenings, read area newspapers and church newsletters and other regional publications and stay up on current events. You can talk to others by telephone or social media and chat with visitors and stay connected.
These things are all true for Christians in their “faith walk” as well. We may have legitimate limitations with regard to serving. We may not be able to deliver Meals on Wheels or visit the sick – or even attend church services on a regular basis. We might not have the monetary resources to contribute to fundraisers and missions. But there is so much we can do to stay active and involved with God… to “bloom where we are planted.”
Claiming the name of Jesus and hiding behind our salvation is not acceptable. We have to do more. In a nutshell… you’re either all in, or you’re not “in” at all. And if you read this passage in some translations, Paul actually tells us that it’s worse to claim to be Disciples of Christ when we’re not than to do nothing at all. So where does this leave you? Are you “playing Christian?” Or are you “all in”…fully engaged… serving and supporting God to the best of your abilities and with all your heart.
When it comes to Christian faith, it does matter Who you know… but not in the way you might think. Stop making excuses and “dropping names” and start truly serving. Forget what others might think or say and concentrate on pleasing God. And get ready to be changed from the inside out. Get your heart truly right with God, and see how amazing life can be when you are fully involved in His community.
©2013 Debbie Robus
February 19 ~ Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
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 was listening to a segment on NBC’s The TODAY show about sticky social situations. A woman wrote in and said that she and her husband live in Vermont - where it snows a lot, of course. Every time it snows, this woman’s husband blows off the driveway of an elderly neighbor when he cleans his own driveway. The neighbor has never acknowledged that the man does this… never thanked him… nothing. And he has been doing this for years. The wife asked, “How does he stop?” The panel had several suggestions, including asking the woman if she would like for him to continue – or had she made other arrangements… the wife telling her in private that it would be nice if she spoke to the husband about this once in a while and expressed gratitude… and my favorite – keep blowing off the driveway and say nothing!
When I read this scripture passage, I was reminded of the question on this television segment. The whole purpose in clearing the elderly woman’s driveway should not be to get a “thank you” or to be a hero in any way. In life, there will be a lot of things that we do for others that are never acknowledged or don’t appear to be appreciated. But this is not the point! We should be willing to put ourselves aside… to forget about our own gratification and accolades long enough to help others.
There will be a lot of “thankless jobs” in life. If you are truly serving God in doing them, you won’t care. Stop and think about your own life. Where have you made certain things about you that should really be about God? Where are you acting out of selfishness, jealousy, or an obsession with gaining your own advantage? Have you really gotten anything out of your pursuit of a life in Christ? Is your mission truly to be more like Him and to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others… or are you more interested in what you He can do for you?
Go back and read this again… if you have really gotten anything out of your journey with Christ, you will pay it forward. If you are more concerned with what’s in it for you than what you can give, maybe it’s time to take a breather and fully examine your discipleship and your commitment. If you are waiting for the elderly lady next door to thank you for clearing her driveway, so to speak, you probably need a “discipleship makeover.” Today seems like a pretty good day to begin… doesn’t it?!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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.
“Hello, God! It’s me again. I really made a big mess of things this time! Can you please help me? I so need your forgiveness. I promise… I’ve learned my lesson. If you will please forgive me, I will do better… I truly will.”
“So… you’re ready to forgive Paul for that thing he said about you to your friends?”
“Well…um… not exactly. That was a terrible, horrible thing to say about me. What he said was not true… and it damaged my reputation. I lost a lot of friends because of him… and it nearly cost me my job!”
“Are you ready to stop posting negative, derogatory comments and images on Facebook about other people and let go of your beef with those whose views or lifestyles have offended you?”
“Well now really, LORD… I have to stand up for my beliefs, don’t I? If we don’t speak out, the ‘other guy’ will trample all over us! I just need You to forgive ME so I can get back on track here.”
“Are you at least ready to show grace, mercy and forgiveness to your family and friends for minor irritations, rather than griping and grumbling and making them pay for aggravating you… even when they don’t know what they did?”
“You know, LORD…I really just came to you today with a need to be forgiven for this thing I’ve done. It’s weighing on me, and I honestly can’t move forward until You do. These other things are not the issue.”
“Oh, but they ARE! I didn’t send my only Son to die on the cross for your sins so that you could treat others however you pleased. Because of His blood and sacrifice, your sins can be forgiven. But by acceptance of this gift of salvation, you also accepted the call to serve as Jesus’ disciple… to allow Him to operate in and through you and minister to others in His name. This means, as He forgave you… now YOU must forgive others. Before I can do anything more for you, I’m going to have to see some proof that you are truly sincere about your discipleship.”
“Does this mean that you won’t love me if I don’t forgive others?”
“I will always love you. Nothing can separate you from my love. But that doesn’t mean that I am always pleased with you. Do you see the difference? When you do your best to follow the commandments of Jesus and become more like Him… I am pleased. It’s your effort and your obedience that I seek. I know you won’t get it right every time… but if you genuinely try to follow the teachings of Jesus… if you offer forgiveness, grace, mercy and love to others in His name – even when it doesn’t feel good – I am satisfied.”
“So let me get this straight… in order to ask for your forgiveness, I must be willing to forgive others… right? You will always love me… and as long as I do my best to humbly serve You and follow Your commandments, you will be pleased with my efforts…correct? I ask You to help me forgive these who have offended me in some way… will you then forgive ME for my mistakes and sins?”
“Now you get it! I will strengthen you and give you sufficient grace – for yourself AND for those who have hurt you or offended you in some way. All you have to do is ask… I am always here. It’s good to hear from you… call on me again soon! Now get busy with your day… as you have forgiven others, so have I forgiven you!”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Matthew 6:12
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
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.
A couple of months ago, I was talking with my grandmother one day… sharing what I thought would be good news with her about something my husband and I were doing. She burst into tears. I could not figure out what was wrong. Finally, she managed to say, “Oh… I’ve told you things.” I smiled and said, “Yes, you have… and I’ve listened!” This did not console her. What I did not know until a few weeks later was that she was trying to apologize for unkind things she might have said or done. In essence, she was asking for my forgiveness. With our communication barrier, I not only acknowledged her “confession”… I validated it! I have since corrected this. I thought my grandmother and I long ago forgave each other for anything we might have said or done that was harsh or unkind… or that we perceived as such. But in her last days/weeks/months of life, her “transgressions” are weighing on her… and she is desperately seeking to “make things right” with everyone she knows.
One of the hardest things for any of us to do is to forgive others. We seem to enjoy hanging onto our grudges. “But you have no idea what he/she did to me,” you may say. “I can’t just let people walk all over me.” Or, “I am so deeply hurt by what was said or done that I just don’t think I could ever forgive him/her.” Hello! Have you read the New Testament? Do you know what people did to Jesus? Have you taken a look in the mirror? Do you know the things you say and do to others every single day?
If you have asked Jesus to forgive you, then you must forgive others. We read this over and again in the New Testament. Jesus has reminded us many times that we must “take up the cross” if we wish to follow Him and be His disciple. Too many people are more than willing to accept the forgiveness of Jesus and salvation through His blood and sacrifice on the cross… but totally unwilling to offer forgiveness and mercy to others. You can’t have it both ways and claim to be a true disciple of Christ.
Where do you stand on this? Are you a “taker” and not a “giver?” Do you call yourself a Christian, yet continue to hold grudges? Do you strive to be a true disciple of Christ… to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness to others, whether they deserve it or not? Do you realize that this is what Jesus does for you every single minute of the day? Stop and ask God to help you with this. Pray for a spirit of kindness, love, mercy, and forgiveness. Operate fully in the blessings of Jesus… pay forward His forgiveness to others. If you can’t do it from your heart, do it in His name! Ask God to keep you forgiven… and to strengthen you to forgive others in kind. Now, who do you need to forgive today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you.”
Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
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.
We all knew it would be this way… or we should have known. Oh, we hoped things would be different, but I think we all pretty well understood that after the election on November 6th, the bickering and fighting wouldn’t end. I continue to be amazed and disheartened by the number of people who claim the name of Jesus and treat their “brothers and sisters in Christ” so hatefully. When I was teaching junior/high Sunday school students, I had to continually remind them that anyone who truly repents and believes in Jesus is just as much a child of the Most High God as any of us… and entitled to His grace, mercy, forgiveness, love and blessings.
“But Ms. Debbie,” some would protest… “surely you are not including Saddam Hussein or Adolph Hitler in that group?” “If they were to repent and ask Jesus to forgive their sins… then, YES, I am!” I would reply. Now, I am not saying that either of these men became born-again Christians before their deaths. I have no idea what was in their hearts. But my point to the students – and to you if you have asked Jesus to be LORD of your life – is that anyone who is a born-again disciple of Christ… obedient to His will… is your equal in God’s eyes.
So when we consider others in this light, we have to stop and ask ourselves about how we treat others. As I watched my niece admonish Timothy not to hit his sister, Zola, I was reminded that we are often like the three-year-old who doesn’t want to share with his younger sibling. In both cases, we know that this is wrong behavior… but if we think we can get by with it, we forge ahead. So we are critical and cruel. We lie, cheat and steal… and hope that God doesn’t notice. Instead of standing up for our brothers and sisters in Christ… and lifting them with love, optimism and encouragement… we berate them, make life difficult for them, and treat them like they are less important – or downright outcasts!
The time has come for us to grow up! We aren’t three any longer… and even a toddler of this age knows that mistreating your siblings is unacceptable. You don’t have to like all of your brothers and sisters in Christ. You don’t have to agree with them on every issue… and you won’t! You don’t even have to go out of your way to spend time with them. But you do have to love them and treat them with respect and dignity. You do have to show them the love of Christ and get along with them as a part of your heavenly family.
Look closely… recognize that those in your midst may very well be your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus… equal and entitled to the same blessings and mercy as you. The last thing you want God to say to you is “Don’t hit your sister!” How well are you getting along with your family these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
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.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NBC news reporter Anne Curry interviewed a woman on Staten Island who looked into the camera and said, “…you need to come here and help us. We need assistance…PLEASE!” Even though thousands of people were either helping already… or headed to the East Coast to give a hand… more were needed. The President and many on his staff were on-site, doing their job… but “harvest hands” were needed to carry out the directives and provide necessary aid and “ground support.”
Truly, the people who live on America’s East Coast are bruised and hurting. Many are indeed aimless… like sheep with no shepherd. But help has arrived…and amazingly in many cases, life is returning to normalcy. Lights are coming on, water is receding or being pumped out, debris is being shoveled up and hauled away, and helping hands are on scene to see that everything is repaired, restored, and renewed.
Can I tell you something? We have a bit of a “Spiritual disaster” on our hands… and it’s happening in our own back yards! Everywhere you look, people are sick, hungry, bruised and hurting. Many are confused and aimless. Others just need to know that someone cares. And the “disastrous” part of this is that few “harvest hands” are answering the call. We are all too busy with our own lives – or our own agendas – to bother with the needs of others. We have decided to let the church or community (i.e. a handful of people who seem to answer EVERY call) handle these issues. Or we have written these people off as simply unworthy of time and attention… most certainly ours!
This is really a sore spot with me. There seem to be plenty of people who are concerned with numbers… how many names are on membership rolls…how much money is in the coffers… how much we are able to afford to purchase (houses, cars, clothes, entertainment, and more)…where our team ranks in the standings…how well our children or grandchildren are doing in school, sports and more…or even how significant our latest ailment/illness was - or what he said/she said. But when it comes to helping the needy… whether the sick and infirm, the poor, the elderly or the orphans, or just the neighbor or fellow church member whose problems are weighing on them like a ton of bricks, most of us simply do not have the time, energy or inclination to do anything.
We are collectively a group who is mostly talk… and very little action. And this is NOT what Jesus expects of His disciples. This.has.to.stop! We have to start caring, at least… and praying for “harvest hands”… our own, and those of fellow Disciples. If you have ever felt neglected or needy in any way and wondered where the “hands and feet of Jesus” were, you can understand in some small way how significant this must be for others in similar situations. How are we ever to add to God’s Kingdom if we show others a body of Christ who is self-centered, disinterested and uncaring?
Jesus has called us to fall to our knees and pray for “harvest hands”… and the first sets to report for duty should be our own. Who needs to hear from you today? Where are the needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and at large? What are you doing to meet these needs? How worn are your “work gloves?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
October 31 ~ Matthew 7:13-14
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."
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.
A few months ago, I decided I wanted to “amp up” my workout routine. So I ordered a DVD I had seen advertised several places, including on the “Dr. Oz” show, which I considered a valid endorsement of this product. I even tried a “test workout” posted on Dr. Oz’s website first to see if I thought I could handle this regimen. The people who were featured seemed to be normal, ordinary folks like me who had transformed their bodies and their health with this workout. I knew it would be hard work… I just didn’t know it would verge on physically impossible for someone my age… and demand almost-super-hero strength from people of any age!
If I kept at it, I might be able to do the entire routine… in oh, maybe five to ten years! But meanwhile, I need something that is going to keep me fit and healthy each and every day – and allow me to still be able to function (and breathe!) afterward. This workout left me gasping for air on a daily basis. I determined that what works best for me is a slower, steadier approach… the routines I have been using for a few years now. While I have to stay focused to keep my interest level high and achieve maximum results, I find that their basic, no-nonsense exercises get the job done. Day in and out, this approach sustains my needs and keeps me on the right path to health and fitness.
In our Spiritual life, we sometimes look for the “quick fix.” We want God to meet our needs… and we want Him to do it NOW… on our timetable, and OUR WAY! Sometimes we decide that the latest “program” will help us get on track. I have shelves filled with books by Max Lucado, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, Rick Warren, Beth Moore, Tommy Tenney, and others. I have two CD cases filled with albums by Christian artists. I’ve bought Bible study guides and downloaded charts for reading the entire Bible in one year. And every one of these tools has merit. I have gained a lot of knowledge from Christian authors and their experiences. I wouldn’t trade my CDs and the joy and peace their music brings me for anything. I think study guides are great for Christians who desire to grow in their knowledge of scripture and Bible history. But these do not make me a stronger Christian in and of themselves.
By the same token, some people feel that the phrase… “you reap what you sow,” means that God blesses those who volunteer the most, give the most money to the church, or do the most “good deeds.” But surely we all know by now that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor. While we are called to serve others in His name – and to give back to God and support missions and ministries – this does not put us into a “fast lane” toward becoming “Super-Christians!”
What I need on a daily basis is the “meat and potatoes” of a relationship with God… prayer, digging through the Bible on my own and discovering what God is saying to me, the fellowship and encouragement of other Christians, and time spent exercising my faith through service to others. This is my “daily regimen” – the “workout” that keeps me fit and strong in my life as a Disciple of Christ. It is vigorous and demanding… but the results are steady and long-lasting. I am taxed – and occasionally breathless – but never spent to the point that I get discouraged and quit. My “daily workout” with God is never more than I can handle… and certainly keeps me invigorated and on my toes. God pushes me to my limits sometimes… but never beyond them. I know that He will always supply me with everything I need for whatever He asks.
In recent years, I’ve learned to be content with many things. I know that I won’t be model thin – or 25 again. But I can be fit and healthy. Even though I grow every day in my faith, I have largely learned to “let go and let God” – and this is HUGE! I trust Him more to handle the worries and cares of my day. I am satisfied with His choices over my own. I can always improve, but I feel that I have significantly turned a corner in many areas of life. And one of the things I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubt is that there are no true “quick fixes” in life.
Very few people get rich quick – and stay that way. Even fewer who chart a fast track to weight loss or extreme muscle tone manage to maintain it. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking for a faith that has some staying power. I’m looking for a relationship with God that is everlasting… one that will keep me fit, strong and healthy every single day. I’ll take a “steady diet and exercise routine” to build my relationship with God over a shortcut any day of the week! What about you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Matthew 4:18-22
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day a few months before my grandmother moved to the assisted living facility, I drove over to her house, and she wasn’t there. The door was unlocked, her purse was where she kept it, as was her walker… but she was nowhere to be found. After several minutes of frantically searching through her house and around the yard outside, I decided she had gone somewhere with a friend. If she had left for a walk around the block, she would have taken her walker. Sure enough, in a few more minutes a truck pulled up, and my grandmother and two feeble, elderly, and most unwell friends emerged. They had all been to buy some peaches somewhere out in the countryside. I reminded my grandmother that she had agreed not to ride with these people because they were in such poor health, and she said, “… but they wanted me to go with them.”
My grandmother was a “gad-about” in her time. We had a running joke that even on her sickest day, she would get up and go with the first person who stopped by and invited her. It didn’t matter who it was or where they were going, really… or in this case, that her “driver” had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Someone said, “Come with me!” And she did!
If only we were as eager to follow Jesus! If only we were eager and willing to get up on our worst day and do whatever He needed us to do! But we find all sorts of excuses, don’t we? “Not today, LORD. Maybe next week – or next year. I’m not able… I’m not well… I’m not dressed nicely enough… I’m having a bad hair day…I’m busy…I’m not interested.”
When we come to the point where we can drop what we are doing to follow Jesus and serve Him, who we are as a Christian disciple changes dramatically. Total obedience to God is one of the hardest things for Christians to attain. Part of our resistance lies in our human selfishness… and part lies in the devil’s ability to fill us with fear and to convince us that following Jesus will cost us – freedom, friends, ridicule, and more. And he’ll tell you that the last thing you want to do is to “give up” anything in your already great life.
In truth, the devil wants you to stay right where you are… to never go anywhere. He wants you stuck in a rut… focused on yourself, and operating in fear. If you really, truly drop everything and follow Jesus, be prepared for some tough times, because Satan will fight like mad to get you to quit and go home. But also get ready to experience true joy and blessings. When we are fully obedient to God, even when what He asks us to do makes no sense at all, we experience real abundance. I can’t explain it fully – you have to experience this for yourself. But the best description I can offer is that complete surrender to God will bring you a joy and peace you have never known before. Even on your worst day with God, you will feel better than you did sitting at home with the devil.
So get up… get going. When Jesus says, “Come with me,” be ready to roll! Don’t look back… look to Heaven! Don’t ask, “Why, LORD?” Ask, “What next?” Make this the day you turn the corner and truly surrender to Jesus. Operate fully in the will of God, with total abandon… and experience complete joy in the LORD. Are you ready to really follow Jesus? When He calls…will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
James 1:26-27
If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our community, an old Post Office building has housed our Municipal Court for the last few years. This building is located directly on Main Street, where traffic passes back and forth all day long in a fairly steady stream. In recent years, the Municipal Judges have started sentencing those who are convicted of theft to parade up and down the sidewalk in front of the court building and wear a sign that says, “I’m a thief.” The judge probably gives these folks a choice between this and going to jail. But more than a few have chosen this public shame as punishment for the crime.
Understand that I am not condoning theft… not in the least. But on more than one occasion, I have driven past one of these people and had a strong urge to stop the car, walk over and put my arm around them and ask, “Do you know how much God loves you?” I know… crazy… right? And no, I have never done this… but maybe I should!
See, it’s not about how these people got where they are. Sure, they committed a crime, were convicted, and are rightly sentenced to “do the time.” But they are still God’s children. And maybe more than most of us, they need to know that somebody cares… and that God still loves them!
As I said, I have not stopped… yet! But I have started praying for this person when I pass the court building. On any given day, this could be someone we know standing there. How would you feel if that were your brother, sister, friend, mother, father, cousin, child? Wouldn’t it break your heart to think others were passing and judging… clucking their tongues and saying, “That shameful person” – or worse! Don’t you think it breaks God’s heart, too?
If we are not very careful, we give Satan an opening. We let the evil thinking of this world creep into our minds and hearts, and we begin to judge others. Our tongue gets out of control, and we become critical of those less fortunate…we start to think more highly of ourselves than others - or just more highly of ourselves than we should in general. And we stop being Godly servants. We cancel out any good we might have done, and it becomes virtually a wash.
Stop for a minute today, and examine your heart. Think about your attitudes… and what you say to others – and about others. Consider how you judge the people you see… and how you truly treat God’s children – all of them. Are you picking and choosing? Do you love unconditionally with grace and mercy? Are you willing to pray for the thief on the street who is wearing a sandwich board… to ask God to work in his/her life? Are your efforts to serve God counting for something…or is everything you do useless? Are you truly a Disciple of Christ… or are you merely “religious?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Mark 10:29
Jesus said, "Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They'll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first."
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.
Each one of us will face daunting decisions in our lives… hard choices that alter the course of our journey forever. Some that stand out for me… leaving high school after my junior year for college and marriage; quitting my job as an elementary school teacher to begin a new business with my husband – and moving back to our home town in the bargain;, and leaving my grandparents’ farm and the “dream home” we built there to move back into town to better “grow” our business. Each time, I knew in my heart the decision was right… but nagging doubts and questions abounded. Many would call this “the devil’s advocate” – and indeed, the devil did have fun messing with my mind!
Each decision was a good one… a time of growth and blessings that I know God orchestrated and sanctioned. Each time I could have buckled and listened to the misgivings and reservations voiced by others (and running through my own head). But I prayerfully considered all options and followed what I felt God was showing me. As “doors and windows” opened, I stepped through them… and my fears were dissolved as blessings multiplied.
Having said this, there were areas I still held “in reserve” for a number of years… things I didn’t fully surrender to God, for one reason or another. The biggest decision we can ever make in life is to allow God complete control over every aspect of our lives. You would think that this is automatic when one gives his/her heart to Jesus, but actually, these can be separate decisions.
I am sure that there are those who invite Jesus into their heart and surrender completely to His will from that day forward – in every single thing. But there are others among us who have an “everything but” salvation experience. “I have given my heart to Jesus and will serve Him to the best of my ability. But when my parents don’t think I should give to a charity that God has spoken to me about, I have to listen. When my boyfriend/girlfriend wants me to go to the beach for spring break instead of going on a mission trip with the church youth group, I will probably go to the beach.”
“When I’m encouraged to cover for my boss at work about something, and everyone else is in on it, I have to go along, so I don’t lose my job. When I’m with a group of people who are making bigoted, off-color references to a particular group of people, I have to snicker and agree… or else they won’t like me. When my child asks me to help him/her get out of some trouble – or to make excuses for his/her behavior – I have to do it… he/she is my kid!”
We have a ready-made Guide for making all decisions… no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. It’s not our conscience or our little “inner voice”… it’s the all-knowing, all-powerful voice of God. If we will stop and say, “LORD, no matter what you decide, I will follow. Please show me how YOU want me to handle this.” A lot of His answers won’t be popular… much less easy. But when we come to a point in our faith where we can say, “no matter what” to God and mean it, everything starts to come into focus.
When you can say to God, “If I lose everything – family, friends, job, home, freedom, EVERYTHING – but still have YOU, it won’t matter”… you have arrived as His disciple. When you can truly surrender to God in all matters – and mean it – you will be astounded at how He shows up in your life. Don’t hold back. Don’t reserve any areas for doing what YOU want to do. Give EVERYTHING to God and watch what happens in return!
©2012 Debbie Robus
