1 Corinthians 10:1-5
Remember our history, friends,
and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and
taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a
baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation
life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided
daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God’s fountain for them that
stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just
experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn’t seem to mean much—most of
them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert,
and God was not pleased.
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.
Years ago, I had a
housekeeper who did an amazing job. She kept our house thoroughly clean
and pretty well did a better job than I did! When this person left to
take another job, I hired someone new. I should have known there was a
problem when the new woman could “clean” the same house in about half
the time of the first housekeeper. For a while, I marveled at how nice
and neat the house looked – and chalked it up to the additional help
from a relative who came along to share the workload.
After a
month or two, I began to notice that the house didn’t seem all that
clean. It would look nice and neat for a day or so…but I discovered
areas that had really not been scrubbed at all…like the shower. A light
rub-down and spritz of cleaner gave it a sparkly appearance…but
underneath, there was a buildup of grime and scum that soon became
disgustingly apparent. And that was the tip of the iceberg. It
ultimately took me several days to get our house back to the condition
that the other housekeeper had maintained for us. And I ended up doing
the housekeeping myself afterward. I’d had the best, and I didn’t think
I could ever replicate her level of commitment again!
How does
this relate to our spiritual life – and this scripture passage? It’s
all about going the second mile. Moses’ people listened to God speak
through him…they followed God and pledged allegiance to Him – for a
while. And then they went back to their old ways. They were “all in”
for God’s gifts, goodness and blessings…but they didn’t fully
internalize His message. They didn’t embrace His grace, mercy,
forgiveness, and healing - and allow Him to change them from the inside
out. So essentially, things looked all sparkly and shiny on the
surface…but underneath, a layer of grime and scum built up that could
not be ignored.
God has so much to offer us. And most of us are
eager to sign on and take all that He will give! But are we willing to
go the extra mile…to do the “deep cleaning” of our hearts and minds…to
do the hard work of maintaining a spotless vessel for Him? Are we
demonstrating a level of commitment to God that is beyond reproach? Or
are we giving Him justification to throw up His hands and say, “Enough!
I’m done with him/her!” Oh, how I hope it’s not the latter!
I
don’t think that any of us want to deliberately disappoint God. But we
do get caught up in the temptations of the devil and this world…and we
tend to cut corners in our walk with God – and hope that He will
overlook this. Let’s not play that game! Let’s give God our very best
efforts every single day. Let’s honor God and His blessings over us by
serving wholeheartedly and going the second mile. The Bible says that
our bodies are God’s “houses”…that we are His vessels on this earth.
What sort of “housekeeper” are you these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label what happens after salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what happens after salvation. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 20, 2016
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I asked a group of fourth graders a few thought-provoking questions…”If you were given a million dollars to spend as you pleased, what would you buy? If you could change places with any person, who would it be? If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose?” The point of this exercise was to get the kids thinking about their choices.
The answers were interesting – and even sweet. Three of the seven children said they would give some of their $1 million to the poor…and then spend the rest on fun things like cars, houses and land. Two boys said they would not trade places with anyone…they are perfectly content with who they are and the life they have. And one girl (who said she would spend her money on land and horses) said she wished to be a horse. But the best answer of the morning came when I asked the kids who among them had given his/her heart to Jesus…and every single hand in the class was raised.
We talked at length today about how Jesus was sinless…and how He chose to take OUR sins upon himself to free us of their burden. We talked about what this cost Jesus…and whether or not we could have physically endured what Christ did. We also talked about how giving our heart to Jesus is not enough…we “have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” as one student put it.
I have to say, I was humbled by how these mostly-10-year-old kids seemed to understand the story of “Good Friday” and its events…as well as the crucifixion and what this means for each of us. The theme of our lesson was choices, and I stressed to each person present how important it is for us to choose to put our Christian faith into action. And this is also the theme of this scriptural message from Paul to the Corinthians.
As I shared with the students this morning, there is a difference between giving your heart to Jesus and living for Him - and demonstrating Christian faith and the teachings of Christ afterwards. Baptism doesn’t “save” us and is not a prerequisite for getting into heaven. The thief on the cross who believed in Jesus proved that. But as Paul points out, Jesus exchanged our sin for God’s goodness…and we are expected to demonstrate this to others…every day, in every thought, word and action. Will we make mistakes? You betcha! Must we strive to continually do better? Absolutely.
Are you ready to live out your faith and salvation in this manner? I surely hope so! The start of Holy Week is the perfect time for us to renew our commitment to live for Jesus. There is NO WAY we can ever repay Him for all that he has done for us…but we can make our best effort to live in God’s goodness and share Christ’s message with others. Scriptures tell us that Jesus humbled Himself on our behalf. Isn’t it time we swallowed our pride and did whatever He asks of us? Will this be the week that you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I asked a group of fourth graders a few thought-provoking questions…”If you were given a million dollars to spend as you pleased, what would you buy? If you could change places with any person, who would it be? If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose?” The point of this exercise was to get the kids thinking about their choices.
The answers were interesting – and even sweet. Three of the seven children said they would give some of their $1 million to the poor…and then spend the rest on fun things like cars, houses and land. Two boys said they would not trade places with anyone…they are perfectly content with who they are and the life they have. And one girl (who said she would spend her money on land and horses) said she wished to be a horse. But the best answer of the morning came when I asked the kids who among them had given his/her heart to Jesus…and every single hand in the class was raised.
We talked at length today about how Jesus was sinless…and how He chose to take OUR sins upon himself to free us of their burden. We talked about what this cost Jesus…and whether or not we could have physically endured what Christ did. We also talked about how giving our heart to Jesus is not enough…we “have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” as one student put it.
I have to say, I was humbled by how these mostly-10-year-old kids seemed to understand the story of “Good Friday” and its events…as well as the crucifixion and what this means for each of us. The theme of our lesson was choices, and I stressed to each person present how important it is for us to choose to put our Christian faith into action. And this is also the theme of this scriptural message from Paul to the Corinthians.
As I shared with the students this morning, there is a difference between giving your heart to Jesus and living for Him - and demonstrating Christian faith and the teachings of Christ afterwards. Baptism doesn’t “save” us and is not a prerequisite for getting into heaven. The thief on the cross who believed in Jesus proved that. But as Paul points out, Jesus exchanged our sin for God’s goodness…and we are expected to demonstrate this to others…every day, in every thought, word and action. Will we make mistakes? You betcha! Must we strive to continually do better? Absolutely.
Are you ready to live out your faith and salvation in this manner? I surely hope so! The start of Holy Week is the perfect time for us to renew our commitment to live for Jesus. There is NO WAY we can ever repay Him for all that he has done for us…but we can make our best effort to live in God’s goodness and share Christ’s message with others. Scriptures tell us that Jesus humbled Himself on our behalf. Isn’t it time we swallowed our pride and did whatever He asks of us? Will this be the week that you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2016
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
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.
When I was a child, the local Young Business Men’s Association (YBMC for short) held an annual Easter egg hunt in our city park. There were several prize eggs hidden amongst the “real” ones…and these could garner the person who found them a live baby chick or a bunny rabbit to take home. My sister, brother and I never got either one!
A year or so ago, my best friend (and former neighbor) and I were discussing this, and she was talking about how she always got a prize egg. She said, “I can’t believe that my daddy didn’t make sure that at least one of you three went home with a prize egg. He was a member of the YBMC…he would surely have made that happen!” I told her I felt quite sure that my mother made sure that this didn’t happen…and when I asked her, she readily confirmed my suspicion! Mother must have threatened our neighbor within an inch of his life if it even looked like one of us might pick up a prize egg and bring home a chick or bunny!
Another friend, J.R., related to me last year that because his family ran the local feed store, the chicks came to them prior to the egg hunt. And somehow, one year, several ended up at his house. It was cold, and J.R.’s grandmother took pity on the chicks, so she let them come inside…which was a royal disaster. The chicks that survived were ultimately relocated to a farm on the outskirts of town, and J.R. and his brother, Larry, visited them there.
Here’s where I’m headed…it was one thing to win the prize egg and be awarded a chick or bunny…but there was work to be done afterward! It didn’t end with the glory of the found treasure! And the same can be said for our salvation and Eternal life in Christ!
I sometimes worry that people might think twice about following Jesus if they really understood just what true Christian discipleship entails! And I don’t say this lightly or to imply that people should NOT give their hearts to Jesus. But we really do a poor job of nurturing new believers…and even some of those who have grown “long in the tooth” since their initial commitment to follow Christ. We cannot claim the victory and “prize” and then fail to take care of the “reward,” which no doubt accounts for countless mothers and fathers scrambling to make sure that their children did not “win” a chick or bunny at the annual Easter egg hunt!
My point is this…NOTHING compares with becoming a true child of God by committing your heart to Jesus. The most liberating and wonderful thing anyone can do is to confess his/her sins to Jesus and feel Him wash them all away with His own blood. The promise of spending Eternity in Jesus’ presence is the greatest gift we will ever receive. But in exchange for all of this, God wants us to nurture His “Gift”…to grow in our faith and share the Good News with others. He wants us to “feed the sheep” and tend to those in need…to share in the joys and triumphs, trials and sorrows of everyone we encounter.
Jesus could not have been plainer when He told us to go and make disciples of all nations. And we have to start in our own back yards. Like winning the prize at an Easter egg hunt, too many of us want to claim the victory in Jesus - and then “leave the prize at the park.” We cannot do this! We must do whatever God tells us to do…go wherever He sends us…and minister in whatever way He instructs – to everyone He puts in our path. Nurturing a baby chick or bunny may have been too much for some parents and children…but feeding God’s sheep is a small price to pay for the glory of the LORD and promise of Eternity with Him in Heaven.
When it comes to Christian discipleship, we don’t get to pick and choose – or to “rig the game.” And aren’t we glad?! Where is God calling you to disciple and minister in Jesus’ name today? Are you listening? Are you ready to take His hand and step up and out – to feed His sheep and further His kingdom? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
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.
When I was a child, the local Young Business Men’s Association (YBMC for short) held an annual Easter egg hunt in our city park. There were several prize eggs hidden amongst the “real” ones…and these could garner the person who found them a live baby chick or a bunny rabbit to take home. My sister, brother and I never got either one!
A year or so ago, my best friend (and former neighbor) and I were discussing this, and she was talking about how she always got a prize egg. She said, “I can’t believe that my daddy didn’t make sure that at least one of you three went home with a prize egg. He was a member of the YBMC…he would surely have made that happen!” I told her I felt quite sure that my mother made sure that this didn’t happen…and when I asked her, she readily confirmed my suspicion! Mother must have threatened our neighbor within an inch of his life if it even looked like one of us might pick up a prize egg and bring home a chick or bunny!
Another friend, J.R., related to me last year that because his family ran the local feed store, the chicks came to them prior to the egg hunt. And somehow, one year, several ended up at his house. It was cold, and J.R.’s grandmother took pity on the chicks, so she let them come inside…which was a royal disaster. The chicks that survived were ultimately relocated to a farm on the outskirts of town, and J.R. and his brother, Larry, visited them there.
Here’s where I’m headed…it was one thing to win the prize egg and be awarded a chick or bunny…but there was work to be done afterward! It didn’t end with the glory of the found treasure! And the same can be said for our salvation and Eternal life in Christ!
I sometimes worry that people might think twice about following Jesus if they really understood just what true Christian discipleship entails! And I don’t say this lightly or to imply that people should NOT give their hearts to Jesus. But we really do a poor job of nurturing new believers…and even some of those who have grown “long in the tooth” since their initial commitment to follow Christ. We cannot claim the victory and “prize” and then fail to take care of the “reward,” which no doubt accounts for countless mothers and fathers scrambling to make sure that their children did not “win” a chick or bunny at the annual Easter egg hunt!
My point is this…NOTHING compares with becoming a true child of God by committing your heart to Jesus. The most liberating and wonderful thing anyone can do is to confess his/her sins to Jesus and feel Him wash them all away with His own blood. The promise of spending Eternity in Jesus’ presence is the greatest gift we will ever receive. But in exchange for all of this, God wants us to nurture His “Gift”…to grow in our faith and share the Good News with others. He wants us to “feed the sheep” and tend to those in need…to share in the joys and triumphs, trials and sorrows of everyone we encounter.
Jesus could not have been plainer when He told us to go and make disciples of all nations. And we have to start in our own back yards. Like winning the prize at an Easter egg hunt, too many of us want to claim the victory in Jesus - and then “leave the prize at the park.” We cannot do this! We must do whatever God tells us to do…go wherever He sends us…and minister in whatever way He instructs – to everyone He puts in our path. Nurturing a baby chick or bunny may have been too much for some parents and children…but feeding God’s sheep is a small price to pay for the glory of the LORD and promise of Eternity with Him in Heaven.
When it comes to Christian discipleship, we don’t get to pick and choose – or to “rig the game.” And aren’t we glad?! Where is God calling you to disciple and minister in Jesus’ name today? Are you listening? Are you ready to take His hand and step up and out – to feed His sheep and further His kingdom? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2015
Jude 1:3-4
Dearly loved friends, I had been planning to write you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly defend the truth that God gave once for all to his people to keep without change through the years. I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often hear some form of this question …”If God loves me, and I am now saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, why on earth would He ever let anything ‘bad’ happen to me?” The query is understandable, and the short answer is that God does love us…and we Christians are His forever – ultimately “safe from all harm.” But God is still our Heavenly Father – and as such, He corrects us when we get in the weeds. He reins us in…and sometimes, to protect us from ourselves – or from the snares of the devil and any harm that we might cause others – God takes us out…maybe even LITERALLY! Often, those seemingly “bad” things that God allows to happen may minister to others…possibly in a way that we will never see for ourselves. But God uses us - and these events - to serve His purpose, all the same.
I don’t say this to scare anyone – or to turn you away from God. Too many folks claim they cannot serve a God who “lets bad things happen to good people.” And maybe you don’t want to be a “martyr” for Jesus. (Do you see the irony here?!) But I tell you this to explain that we cannot give our hearts to Jesus and then expect to go on our merry way - doing as we please – and counting on God to pat us on the head, smile and say…“It’s all good!”
I know this is a hard concept to grasp, but when we accept Salvation through Jesus – freely given, freely received – God promises to care, protect and bless us according to His will…for all Eternity. This is binding…God will not renege on this promise! Salvation does not come with conditions, per se…but it should come with a willing obligation on our part to please God. We should desire to love Him, serve Him in all things, and represent the love and teachings of Jesus at every turn. This should not be done out of fear of retaliation…but out of a tremendous love and respect for The One who gave EVERYTHING – and then some – for us and our sins.
As this scripture passage indicates, there will be plenty of people who think giving their heart to Jesus is the “Golden Ticket”…to heaven - and to do as they please in the meantime. You and I know better…don’t we? When you get to a point where you truly know God and walk in His will and ways, you better understand His purposes. I don’t know about you, but the more I see His perfect orchestration of all events…good AND bad…and how He weaves everything together so beautifully, the more I want to be a part of His endeavors (and the less I care about the “old me!”).
I’m reminded once again of the little boy at Timothy’s kindergarten “Water Day” who was standing in line for the water slides…wearing his swimsuit…and dry as a bone. He declared that “water is really not my thing” as he continually moved to the back of the line. He had a “ticket to ride”…but he never cashed it. What about you? Where do you land in relationship to God and Salvation through Jesus? Are you “all in”…or have you “purchased the ticket” and stepped to the back of the line? Isn’t it time you “got wet” and enjoyed all that God has to offer by accepting His commission on your life? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Dearly loved friends, I had been planning to write you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly defend the truth that God gave once for all to his people to keep without change through the years. I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often hear some form of this question …”If God loves me, and I am now saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, why on earth would He ever let anything ‘bad’ happen to me?” The query is understandable, and the short answer is that God does love us…and we Christians are His forever – ultimately “safe from all harm.” But God is still our Heavenly Father – and as such, He corrects us when we get in the weeds. He reins us in…and sometimes, to protect us from ourselves – or from the snares of the devil and any harm that we might cause others – God takes us out…maybe even LITERALLY! Often, those seemingly “bad” things that God allows to happen may minister to others…possibly in a way that we will never see for ourselves. But God uses us - and these events - to serve His purpose, all the same.
I don’t say this to scare anyone – or to turn you away from God. Too many folks claim they cannot serve a God who “lets bad things happen to good people.” And maybe you don’t want to be a “martyr” for Jesus. (Do you see the irony here?!) But I tell you this to explain that we cannot give our hearts to Jesus and then expect to go on our merry way - doing as we please – and counting on God to pat us on the head, smile and say…“It’s all good!”
I know this is a hard concept to grasp, but when we accept Salvation through Jesus – freely given, freely received – God promises to care, protect and bless us according to His will…for all Eternity. This is binding…God will not renege on this promise! Salvation does not come with conditions, per se…but it should come with a willing obligation on our part to please God. We should desire to love Him, serve Him in all things, and represent the love and teachings of Jesus at every turn. This should not be done out of fear of retaliation…but out of a tremendous love and respect for The One who gave EVERYTHING – and then some – for us and our sins.
As this scripture passage indicates, there will be plenty of people who think giving their heart to Jesus is the “Golden Ticket”…to heaven - and to do as they please in the meantime. You and I know better…don’t we? When you get to a point where you truly know God and walk in His will and ways, you better understand His purposes. I don’t know about you, but the more I see His perfect orchestration of all events…good AND bad…and how He weaves everything together so beautifully, the more I want to be a part of His endeavors (and the less I care about the “old me!”).
I’m reminded once again of the little boy at Timothy’s kindergarten “Water Day” who was standing in line for the water slides…wearing his swimsuit…and dry as a bone. He declared that “water is really not my thing” as he continually moved to the back of the line. He had a “ticket to ride”…but he never cashed it. What about you? Where do you land in relationship to God and Salvation through Jesus? Are you “all in”…or have you “purchased the ticket” and stepped to the back of the line? Isn’t it time you “got wet” and enjoyed all that God has to offer by accepting His commission on your life? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2015
James 2:19-20
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your 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.
When Timothy was in pre-K, his class presented a Christmas program for parents, family members and friends in the sanctuary of the church campus where his “school” was held. We were not sure what Timothy would do – or if he would even perform. But as his class took its turn on the stage, he sang sweetly, did all of the choreography, and beamed with pride. And when his group finished their numbers, he bowed to the audience’s applause. He gave us the “thumbs up” and grinned from ear to ear…obviously proud of how he had performed.
After this performance, everyone had two choices…1) to celebrate the children’s performance and encourage them to continue learning new “material” and sharing it with others; or 2) to say, “Good job!” and go on our merry way and forget about what happened…and leave those children to their own devices. We have these same choices with new Christians, and I’m afraid that the latter is what happens quite often.
As James points out in this passage, it is one thing to decide to accept Jesus Christ…and totally another to truly live for Him. A lot of us seem to be playing a “numbers game” in our churches. Let’s add new members, put them to work and encourage them to “give of their time, talents and money.” We’re all about bringing someone to know Jesus and/or join our church body. But what happens then? Do we nurture these people in their faith? Do we check up on them to see how they are doing…encourage them to get to know God through scriptures and time spent in prayer and fellowship with other believers…offer them support and uplift them in their newfound faith or church home? Or do we record their name on a membership roll and move on to the next “target”?
What about your own Christian relationship? Have you invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior…accepted His gift of salvation and the promise of Eternal Life in Paradise…then gone right back to your old way of living? As I have asked before, are you “in it” for the “get-out-of-hell ticket”…or do you really want a relationship with Jesus? Do you truly want to live in the light of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love…or did you accept Him out of a sense of guilt, desperation, fear - or even peer pressure?
Are you really ready to study, learn and grow in your faith…and to become all that Jesus is calling you to be as His disciple? Or are you just one more mark in the Lamb’s Book of Life who took a bow, gave the thumbs up, and then went on your merry way? Are you making a point as a Christian…or is Jesus really making a difference in your life? ANYONE can say that they love Jesus and accept His gift of salvation…but this is only the beginning – or at least it should be!
What will your next move be? Will you move forward with Jesus…or remain stuck in the mud and muck of your old, sinful life? Will this be the day that you start to figure out where to go from here? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
On a "housekeeping" note...I should have included these "homemade cleaner" recipes yesterday...so here goes...
Basic Cleaner...2 parts hydrogen peroxide to 1 part Dawn® dishwashing liquid. Great for pre-soaking clothing! If you are cleaning something like a rug stain and need less suds, use less Dawn®!
Heavy Cleaner (tile grout, etc.)...add 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda to the peroxide and Dawn® mixture. Do this in smaller quantities to get the full benefit of the "fizz" that the soda creates...similar to Oxy-clean.
Hardwood Floor Cleaner - 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup alcohol, 2-3 drops Dawn® dish soap. This works GREAT, cleans the floors AND smells wonderful!
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your 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.
When Timothy was in pre-K, his class presented a Christmas program for parents, family members and friends in the sanctuary of the church campus where his “school” was held. We were not sure what Timothy would do – or if he would even perform. But as his class took its turn on the stage, he sang sweetly, did all of the choreography, and beamed with pride. And when his group finished their numbers, he bowed to the audience’s applause. He gave us the “thumbs up” and grinned from ear to ear…obviously proud of how he had performed.
After this performance, everyone had two choices…1) to celebrate the children’s performance and encourage them to continue learning new “material” and sharing it with others; or 2) to say, “Good job!” and go on our merry way and forget about what happened…and leave those children to their own devices. We have these same choices with new Christians, and I’m afraid that the latter is what happens quite often.
As James points out in this passage, it is one thing to decide to accept Jesus Christ…and totally another to truly live for Him. A lot of us seem to be playing a “numbers game” in our churches. Let’s add new members, put them to work and encourage them to “give of their time, talents and money.” We’re all about bringing someone to know Jesus and/or join our church body. But what happens then? Do we nurture these people in their faith? Do we check up on them to see how they are doing…encourage them to get to know God through scriptures and time spent in prayer and fellowship with other believers…offer them support and uplift them in their newfound faith or church home? Or do we record their name on a membership roll and move on to the next “target”?
What about your own Christian relationship? Have you invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior…accepted His gift of salvation and the promise of Eternal Life in Paradise…then gone right back to your old way of living? As I have asked before, are you “in it” for the “get-out-of-hell ticket”…or do you really want a relationship with Jesus? Do you truly want to live in the light of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love…or did you accept Him out of a sense of guilt, desperation, fear - or even peer pressure?
Are you really ready to study, learn and grow in your faith…and to become all that Jesus is calling you to be as His disciple? Or are you just one more mark in the Lamb’s Book of Life who took a bow, gave the thumbs up, and then went on your merry way? Are you making a point as a Christian…or is Jesus really making a difference in your life? ANYONE can say that they love Jesus and accept His gift of salvation…but this is only the beginning – or at least it should be!
What will your next move be? Will you move forward with Jesus…or remain stuck in the mud and muck of your old, sinful life? Will this be the day that you start to figure out where to go from here? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
On a "housekeeping" note...I should have included these "homemade cleaner" recipes yesterday...so here goes...
Basic Cleaner...2 parts hydrogen peroxide to 1 part Dawn® dishwashing liquid. Great for pre-soaking clothing! If you are cleaning something like a rug stain and need less suds, use less Dawn®!
Heavy Cleaner (tile grout, etc.)...add 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda to the peroxide and Dawn® mixture. Do this in smaller quantities to get the full benefit of the "fizz" that the soda creates...similar to Oxy-clean.
Hardwood Floor Cleaner - 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup alcohol, 2-3 drops Dawn® dish soap. This works GREAT, cleans the floors AND smells wonderful!
Daily Devotional for May 4, 2015
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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.
Sometime this week, I predict
that Timothy will lose his first tooth. He has two bottom teeth that
are loose…but one is particularly wobbly. We asked him to “show us your
loose tooth” yesterday, and he eagerly wiggled it back and forth for
us. According to Timothy’s mother, the permanent tooth is already
pushing through and nudging this old tooth out of the wayN
I’ll be honest…I love little kids’ smiles with their sweet “baby teeth”.
Often what comes in afterward is relatively large and “gawky” for
awhile. In my own case, I had a wide “David Letterman-style” gap between
my two front teeth that was corrected when I was about twelve with some
oral surgery - and braces. The pretty smiles that many adults sport
don’t “just happen”…they often take a lot of work!
When we surrender to Jesus and invite Him to dwell in our hearts and guide our lives, it’s somewhat like losing our baby teeth. Over time, we get the new “permanent” ones, but there are struggles along the way – and often a lot of work is required to make everything straight and pretty. And it’s that way for Christians, too. We do become new creatures in Christ Jesus…but there is still a lot of work to be done…often over a lifetime!
Here’s another thing about “permanent teeth”…in general, they are stronger than “baby teeth” – and will last us the rest of our natural lives if we take care of them. Likewise, our “New Life in Christ” will be stronger than the old one…but it will also require nurture, care – and “regular maintenance!” Sometimes, despite our best efforts – or because of a lack thereof – we lose our teeth. Thankfully, God often “fills in the gaps” quite literally for us with dentures and provides a way for us to keep going!
Just as a child’s “baby-teeth smile” may be all pretty and neat, our old lives may seem fairly comfortable and orderly. But I assure you, the “permanent-tooth-smile” of a New Life in Christ will be so much better. You will have highs and lows…and plenty of work to do…but the benefits will far surpass all of this. God will bless and strengthen you in ways you cannot imagine…and He will reward you with a seat at His table in heaven for all eternity when your earthly life is over.
I don’t know where you are in your journey. I don’t know if you “still have all of your baby teeth”…are smack in the middle of “losing the bigger molars” and are experiencing some real struggles…or you’ve come to the place where you “have a set of dentures” and God’s strength, grace and mercy carry you through every minute of the day and make all the difference. Whatever your “stage,” I pray that you have started the process…that you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and dwell in your heart. I pray that this day, Jesus is helping you to build the “new smile” that only He can create. Now, let me see those “loose teeth!”
©2015 Debbie Robus
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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.
 |
| Timothy with all of his baby teeth... this might be the last picture before he loses one! |
 |
| My four-year-old gap-toothed, "David Letterman-style" smile! |
When we surrender to Jesus and invite Him to dwell in our hearts and guide our lives, it’s somewhat like losing our baby teeth. Over time, we get the new “permanent” ones, but there are struggles along the way – and often a lot of work is required to make everything straight and pretty. And it’s that way for Christians, too. We do become new creatures in Christ Jesus…but there is still a lot of work to be done…often over a lifetime!
Here’s another thing about “permanent teeth”…in general, they are stronger than “baby teeth” – and will last us the rest of our natural lives if we take care of them. Likewise, our “New Life in Christ” will be stronger than the old one…but it will also require nurture, care – and “regular maintenance!” Sometimes, despite our best efforts – or because of a lack thereof – we lose our teeth. Thankfully, God often “fills in the gaps” quite literally for us with dentures and provides a way for us to keep going!
Just as a child’s “baby-teeth smile” may be all pretty and neat, our old lives may seem fairly comfortable and orderly. But I assure you, the “permanent-tooth-smile” of a New Life in Christ will be so much better. You will have highs and lows…and plenty of work to do…but the benefits will far surpass all of this. God will bless and strengthen you in ways you cannot imagine…and He will reward you with a seat at His table in heaven for all eternity when your earthly life is over.
I don’t know where you are in your journey. I don’t know if you “still have all of your baby teeth”…are smack in the middle of “losing the bigger molars” and are experiencing some real struggles…or you’ve come to the place where you “have a set of dentures” and God’s strength, grace and mercy carry you through every minute of the day and make all the difference. Whatever your “stage,” I pray that you have started the process…that you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and dwell in your heart. I pray that this day, Jesus is helping you to build the “new smile” that only He can create. Now, let me see those “loose teeth!”
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 9, 2014
John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
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.
This time of year makes me think of strawberries. They are now in season in our neck of the woods…and stands with fresh Arkansas strawberries for sale are starting to pop up in our area. Nearly 40 years ago, the mother of one of my kindergarten students showed up one Friday afternoon and presented me with a homemade fresh strawberry pie. It happened to be Mother’s Day weekend, and she said, “You are momma to our kids all week…I thought you needed a Mother’s Day present.” Every time I think of strawberries – and Mother’s Day – I think of her and that delicious pie.
This morning, my cousin Natalie sent me an e-mail with the subject line: Surprise. The message said, “Olivia and Owen left you a surprise on your bench. Happy Mother's Day! We love you!!!” I looked out the window, and there on my front porch bench sat a glass vase holding a dozen beautiful, deep red roses. This was indeed a surprise…the best kind! I could almost hear the children giggle and see their faces as their mother drove her vehicle into our driveway early this morning. I could picture them as they stealthily placed the vase on our porch bench and quietly crept back out of our neighborhood and headed for school. And the love in that gesture was palpable.
This afternoon, I read the post of an acquaintance on Facebook who said that his mother has been celebrating Mother’s Day in heaven for 28 years now. He noted how much he misses her…but he also thanked the “divinely-inspired mothers” who have been there for him over the years – and still are to this day.
I like the verse that reminds us that God didn’t send Jesus to point his finger and accuse us of being evil. Yes, we’ve all sinned…and Jesus died to absolve us. But His dying words were not, “Do you see how despicable you are and what I’ve had to endure for you?” Jesus NEVER EVER pointed a finger at us. He never said, “This is all your fault!” This scripture passage tells us that God could have found another way to show us how much He loved us. But He sent Jesus to walk among us…to quietly teach us…to show us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness…and obedience.
God is using ordinary people in our lives today to show us how much we are loved. He is recognizing “mothers” who never birthed a baby. He is providing us with teachers, guardians, caregivers, and friends who continually nurture us, encourage us, and show us kindnesses out of love and care. They do not do this with an accusatory demeanor or a scolding…but with a quiet demonstration of God’s abiding care and affection. We have two choices…we can recognize His presence in this form and accept this love – or we can ignore it.
When we pay attention and find God in the people, places and things that constitute our life as a whole, we are richly blessed in ways both tangible and indefinable. When we recognize and accept His love and care…and take it at face value without attaching “strings” or our own interpretations and conditions…we are assured a place in His presence for all eternity. But if we wander through life in our own little world…skeptical of everything and everyone who reaches out to us…cynical about most everything – and fail to recognize God’s presence in our lives, we miss out on His amazing blessings. And we pretty well ruin everything – in this life and beyond.
I find God in some amazing places these days. Just this morning, He shared His love with me through the surprise gift from three of my favorite people! Every time I look at those roses, I think of my precious cousins…and of Him. I hope that I never miss a visit from God…that I am never too busy…too preoccupied…too suspicious of others’ motives or too distrustful to truly recognize His presence. When we come to a place where we can find God in the small details…where we see His love instead of reprimands and indictments…we have truly begun to grasp the depths of His passion and tender heart for us.
Are you truly seeing God today – even in something as obscure as a strawberry pie or a vase of flowers? Is He using you to reveal Himself to others? Do you know God in a way that has secured your place in heaven someday? Aren’t these questions that need to be settled in your life? Wouldn’t today be the perfect time to do exactly that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
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.
This time of year makes me think of strawberries. They are now in season in our neck of the woods…and stands with fresh Arkansas strawberries for sale are starting to pop up in our area. Nearly 40 years ago, the mother of one of my kindergarten students showed up one Friday afternoon and presented me with a homemade fresh strawberry pie. It happened to be Mother’s Day weekend, and she said, “You are momma to our kids all week…I thought you needed a Mother’s Day present.” Every time I think of strawberries – and Mother’s Day – I think of her and that delicious pie.
This morning, my cousin Natalie sent me an e-mail with the subject line: Surprise. The message said, “Olivia and Owen left you a surprise on your bench. Happy Mother's Day! We love you!!!” I looked out the window, and there on my front porch bench sat a glass vase holding a dozen beautiful, deep red roses. This was indeed a surprise…the best kind! I could almost hear the children giggle and see their faces as their mother drove her vehicle into our driveway early this morning. I could picture them as they stealthily placed the vase on our porch bench and quietly crept back out of our neighborhood and headed for school. And the love in that gesture was palpable.
This afternoon, I read the post of an acquaintance on Facebook who said that his mother has been celebrating Mother’s Day in heaven for 28 years now. He noted how much he misses her…but he also thanked the “divinely-inspired mothers” who have been there for him over the years – and still are to this day.
I like the verse that reminds us that God didn’t send Jesus to point his finger and accuse us of being evil. Yes, we’ve all sinned…and Jesus died to absolve us. But His dying words were not, “Do you see how despicable you are and what I’ve had to endure for you?” Jesus NEVER EVER pointed a finger at us. He never said, “This is all your fault!” This scripture passage tells us that God could have found another way to show us how much He loved us. But He sent Jesus to walk among us…to quietly teach us…to show us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness…and obedience.
God is using ordinary people in our lives today to show us how much we are loved. He is recognizing “mothers” who never birthed a baby. He is providing us with teachers, guardians, caregivers, and friends who continually nurture us, encourage us, and show us kindnesses out of love and care. They do not do this with an accusatory demeanor or a scolding…but with a quiet demonstration of God’s abiding care and affection. We have two choices…we can recognize His presence in this form and accept this love – or we can ignore it.
When we pay attention and find God in the people, places and things that constitute our life as a whole, we are richly blessed in ways both tangible and indefinable. When we recognize and accept His love and care…and take it at face value without attaching “strings” or our own interpretations and conditions…we are assured a place in His presence for all eternity. But if we wander through life in our own little world…skeptical of everything and everyone who reaches out to us…cynical about most everything – and fail to recognize God’s presence in our lives, we miss out on His amazing blessings. And we pretty well ruin everything – in this life and beyond.
I find God in some amazing places these days. Just this morning, He shared His love with me through the surprise gift from three of my favorite people! Every time I look at those roses, I think of my precious cousins…and of Him. I hope that I never miss a visit from God…that I am never too busy…too preoccupied…too suspicious of others’ motives or too distrustful to truly recognize His presence. When we come to a place where we can find God in the small details…where we see His love instead of reprimands and indictments…we have truly begun to grasp the depths of His passion and tender heart for us.
Are you truly seeing God today – even in something as obscure as a strawberry pie or a vase of flowers? Is He using you to reveal Himself to others? Do you know God in a way that has secured your place in heaven someday? Aren’t these questions that need to be settled in your life? Wouldn’t today be the perfect time to do exactly that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2014
1 John 1:7
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
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.
My niece Jasmine, said that when Zola put on her Easter dress, she twirled around in the floor with excitement. Her older brother Timothy told her to “Stop that! You are NOT a hula girl!” Zola quickly replied, “Yes I AM! I AM a hula girl!” Trust me…this is not the first time that Big Brother has told Little Sister how to act…and it certainly won’t be the last!
The thing is…more than a few of us could use a “big brother or sister” to tell us to “Stop that!” We have claimed the name of Jesus…then gone right back to behaving like we always did. Nothing really changed. Many people made their annual “Easter appearance” at church on Sunday…and that will be about as “spiritual” as it gets for them until at least Christmas! A friend of mine calls these folks “Christmas-and-Easter-Christians”.
I still recall when one of my best friends was baptized into her husband’s church. We were both so excited for her new-found faith, and I asked her, “So what’s next?” She replied, “What do you mean?” I explained that I was wondering if there was going to be someone in her church family who would nurture her and encourage her as she studied the Bible and grew in her discipleship. She did not know of any such person. So we studied together and shared in our faith walk for the next few months/years…and I’m sure her husband and other family members encouraged her, as well.
But it did make me wonder…are we in a “numbers game” of sorts? Are we so focused on winning souls to Jesus that we fail to nurture and encourage them afterward? Where DO we go from the cross and the tomb? What really does happen after Easter? I pray that you will not put away your Bible and go back to your old ways. I pray that this will be the year that you truly find God…that you fully grasp that Jesus came to earth and taught us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…about the power of Almighty God and the lasting presence of His Holy Spirit…about the tremendous sacrifices that He made to wash away every one of our sins.
I pray that you will really internalize Jesus’ commandment to “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” It is my hope that you will know without any doubt His promise that “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.”*
Easter is a time when we think of a rebirth…new life…a fresh start. Will this Easter season mark the beginning of your intimate journey with God and a shared life in His light? Has the blood of Jesus truly transformed you…or are you twirling like a “hula girl” and “playing Christian” when it suits you? Isn’t it time you became the “real deal” for Jesus? What are you waiting for?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Matthew 28:19-20
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
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.
My niece Jasmine, said that when Zola put on her Easter dress, she twirled around in the floor with excitement. Her older brother Timothy told her to “Stop that! You are NOT a hula girl!” Zola quickly replied, “Yes I AM! I AM a hula girl!” Trust me…this is not the first time that Big Brother has told Little Sister how to act…and it certainly won’t be the last!
The thing is…more than a few of us could use a “big brother or sister” to tell us to “Stop that!” We have claimed the name of Jesus…then gone right back to behaving like we always did. Nothing really changed. Many people made their annual “Easter appearance” at church on Sunday…and that will be about as “spiritual” as it gets for them until at least Christmas! A friend of mine calls these folks “Christmas-and-Easter-Christians”.
I still recall when one of my best friends was baptized into her husband’s church. We were both so excited for her new-found faith, and I asked her, “So what’s next?” She replied, “What do you mean?” I explained that I was wondering if there was going to be someone in her church family who would nurture her and encourage her as she studied the Bible and grew in her discipleship. She did not know of any such person. So we studied together and shared in our faith walk for the next few months/years…and I’m sure her husband and other family members encouraged her, as well.
But it did make me wonder…are we in a “numbers game” of sorts? Are we so focused on winning souls to Jesus that we fail to nurture and encourage them afterward? Where DO we go from the cross and the tomb? What really does happen after Easter? I pray that you will not put away your Bible and go back to your old ways. I pray that this will be the year that you truly find God…that you fully grasp that Jesus came to earth and taught us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…about the power of Almighty God and the lasting presence of His Holy Spirit…about the tremendous sacrifices that He made to wash away every one of our sins.
I pray that you will really internalize Jesus’ commandment to “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” It is my hope that you will know without any doubt His promise that “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.”*
Easter is a time when we think of a rebirth…new life…a fresh start. Will this Easter season mark the beginning of your intimate journey with God and a shared life in His light? Has the blood of Jesus truly transformed you…or are you twirling like a “hula girl” and “playing Christian” when it suits you? Isn’t it time you became the “real deal” for Jesus? What are you waiting for?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Matthew 28:19-20
Daily Devotional for April 14, 2014
John 12:23-28
Jesus said: The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my all-time favorite hymns is “All Glory Laud and Honor”. When our congregation sang this as our “first hymn” on Palm Sunday, I was filled with joy. The little children of our church paraded up and down the aisles waving palm fronds as we sang,
As our pastor reminded us that the same people who heralded Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday - and celebrated Him as their King - were the same ones who just a few days later cried out for His crucifixion. He also noted that you cannot get from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.
So we will consider the cross for a few days. We will look at Jesus…God’s Son in human form who knew every single lash of the whip that would befall Him. He knew every person who would betray or deny Him…every agonizing thrust of the hammer as steel spikes were driven into His hands and feet. He knew each second of agony that lay ahead of Him…and He openly admitted that He was “deeply troubled”. Who wouldn’t be? Who among us could bear this? If someone described this suffering to you today and told you that this was in store for you this week, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to prevent it? Wouldn’t you beg, plead and bargain with God…promise ANYTHING to avoid such torture?
Now let me ask you this…suppose you could save your child by sacrificing your life in this manner. What if it boiled down to you…or that child? What if your agony and brutalization could save countless generations and offer them Eternal Life? Many of us would say, “Sure…for this reason, we would do it!” But if we are honest, I bet when the beatings started…when our backs were torn open and our heads were pierced with a crown of thorns…when we were handed an incredibly heavy wooden cross and told to carry it up a steep hill after our body had been mutilated…we would say, “Hold on…I can’t do this.” A few of us might even make it to Calvary. But when the spikes were placed on our wrists…when someone pulled our feet together, held a metal spear above them and raised the hammer, we would surely say, “Wait! Stop!”
If we possessed the supernatural powers of Jesus, surely we would command these people to halt such atrocities…to loosen the ropes, put away the whips and spears, remove our naked body from the cross and cover us in soft robes. But we’re not Jesus. We do not have His capacity for love and perseverance. We want to spend Eternity with Him…but few among us would be willing to suffer even a small portion of what He endured - regardless of the purpose. We want the happy, joy-filled, palm-frond-saluted Jesus who rode into Jerusalem to the applause and cheers of an adoring crowd. We do not want to consider the mutilated Savior who hung from a cross. But we must.
Somewhere in between the palm fronds and the Easter bunny, chocolate eggs and new outfits, we must stop to remember what happened in the days from that joy-filled Sunday to Resurrection Day. If we focus only on the “pretty” parts…we miss the message. Jesus came into the world to suffer…for you, for me – for all who would believe in Him. Don’t rush this Holy week! Study every facet…the good, bad and the ugly. Before we can celebrate the resurrection, we must consider the cross.
Jesus said: The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my all-time favorite hymns is “All Glory Laud and Honor”. When our congregation sang this as our “first hymn” on Palm Sunday, I was filled with joy. The little children of our church paraded up and down the aisles waving palm fronds as we sang,
“All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King!This was a moment filled with reverence, jubilation, and mixed emotions. We all know how the “Holy Week story” ends…but we also know what had to happen to get to Easter Sunday. We celebrate Jesus as our Redeemer King… we sing sweet hosannas…but we know what’s coming. They don’t call it “The Sunday of Passion” for nothing!
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.”
As our pastor reminded us that the same people who heralded Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday - and celebrated Him as their King - were the same ones who just a few days later cried out for His crucifixion. He also noted that you cannot get from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.
So we will consider the cross for a few days. We will look at Jesus…God’s Son in human form who knew every single lash of the whip that would befall Him. He knew every person who would betray or deny Him…every agonizing thrust of the hammer as steel spikes were driven into His hands and feet. He knew each second of agony that lay ahead of Him…and He openly admitted that He was “deeply troubled”. Who wouldn’t be? Who among us could bear this? If someone described this suffering to you today and told you that this was in store for you this week, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to prevent it? Wouldn’t you beg, plead and bargain with God…promise ANYTHING to avoid such torture?
Now let me ask you this…suppose you could save your child by sacrificing your life in this manner. What if it boiled down to you…or that child? What if your agony and brutalization could save countless generations and offer them Eternal Life? Many of us would say, “Sure…for this reason, we would do it!” But if we are honest, I bet when the beatings started…when our backs were torn open and our heads were pierced with a crown of thorns…when we were handed an incredibly heavy wooden cross and told to carry it up a steep hill after our body had been mutilated…we would say, “Hold on…I can’t do this.” A few of us might even make it to Calvary. But when the spikes were placed on our wrists…when someone pulled our feet together, held a metal spear above them and raised the hammer, we would surely say, “Wait! Stop!”
If we possessed the supernatural powers of Jesus, surely we would command these people to halt such atrocities…to loosen the ropes, put away the whips and spears, remove our naked body from the cross and cover us in soft robes. But we’re not Jesus. We do not have His capacity for love and perseverance. We want to spend Eternity with Him…but few among us would be willing to suffer even a small portion of what He endured - regardless of the purpose. We want the happy, joy-filled, palm-frond-saluted Jesus who rode into Jerusalem to the applause and cheers of an adoring crowd. We do not want to consider the mutilated Savior who hung from a cross. But we must.
Somewhere in between the palm fronds and the Easter bunny, chocolate eggs and new outfits, we must stop to remember what happened in the days from that joy-filled Sunday to Resurrection Day. If we focus only on the “pretty” parts…we miss the message. Jesus came into the world to suffer…for you, for me – for all who would believe in Him. Don’t rush this Holy week! Study every facet…the good, bad and the ugly. Before we can celebrate the resurrection, we must consider the cross.
Father, today we thank You for Jesus. We thank You for loving us in our sinful, unlovable state…loving us enough to be willing to suffer at the hands of mere mortals who did not know You – did not understand Your love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. They did not understand about Eternal Life…and most certainly they could not comprehend the love of one Man for all mankind. Help us to focus on the cross this week…to remind ourselves just how profoundly Jesus loves each one of us. Make us uncomfortable as we ponder His suffering on our behalf. Humble us as we reflect on His passion and steadfast devotion. Forgive us for our weaknesses…and our ungratefulness. Make this a week when we renew our commitment…a time when we consider the cross and fully embrace Christ’s amazing love for each of us. Amen.©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 12, 2014
Ephesians 5:5-7
You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
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 an interview with actor/director/screenwriter Tyler Perry (creator of the “Madea” films), and he was asked about a picture he tweeted of himself shopping at the grocery store – for the first time in 15 years. He said, “I have people who do that for me now.” He explained that he spent his time on other pursuits, and he hired someone to do things for him like shopping, cooking, and more. He also noted that there was a time when he was homeless and lived in his car, so he makes no apologies for now being able to afford to hire personal shoppers and assistants.
I happen to like Tyler Perry. From what I can see, he is a decent person who has done well – and helped a lot of other people along the way. From everything I’ve observed, Perry strives to honor God with all of his endeavors…and he appears to credit God for all of his blessings and success.
Here’s the thing…a lot of us were essentially “homeless and living in our cars”…lost without God…living in a world of sin and the devil’s tricks. Then we found Jesus…we invited Him into our hearts…and He saved us. And more than a few of us went right back to the “car”. We didn’t truly grow and learn. We are content to let others do the work of Jesus’ ministry while we claim His salvation and “ride his coat-tails” – and those of others who obediently serve Him. Oh, we’re quick to “talk the good talk”. When asked, we will say that we are Christians…we will talk about the power of prayer and how “the LORD will provide”. But we’re not eager to do the hard work…we’re too busy to reach out to others and truly share how God has worked in our lives. Our talk about the power of prayer is just that – talk! We don’t really have the time or inclination to stop and pray for others.
Sadly, a lot of Christians trot out their faith when it’s convenient, serves them well, or makes them look good. But the truly earnest work of loving others in Jesus’ name and sharing His Good News with them is not on our radar. We’re first in line to expect a blessing from God – or an accolade from others for our goodness…but it’s pretty much a mask behind which we hide. Pastor Rick Warren talks in The Purpose Driven Life about the word “worship” and how we throw that word around and misuse it. Warren says that many of us claim, “I didn’t get anything out of ‘worship’ on Sunday,” when true “worship” is not designed for us…it is designed for GOD. We’re not supposed to get something out of authentic “worship” – we are to offer worship to God!
By the same token, I believe we are not to sit back on our laurels and rest in the salvation of Jesus Christ. We are not to wait expectantly for God to bless us or “fix” things for us. We are to get busy emulating Jesus…demonstrating His teachings to others…and showing them grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and unconditional love in His name. Talk is cheap. Others will know us (and our true character) by our genuine love for Jesus Christ – and how we demonstrate it (John 13:35).
Where are you today? Are you making the most of your new life in Christ? Are you sharing His message with others in everything from your physical actions to your talk and your body language? Are you busy taking God’s blessings over your own life and multiplying them in your daily living? Or are you still stuck “living in your car”? Are you expecting your salvation to be your “ticket” into heaven…and carrying on as usual in your old ways with the same people and situations that held you captive in the past? Are you hiding behind cheap talk and pretending that you are a faithful disciple to impress others? Are you content to let other Christians do the work of the LORD for you…regardless of how viable your excuses may seem?
Isn’t it time to do a “gut check”…to see where you really stand as a Christian disciple? Are you willing to risk the discovery that your discipleship needs a little work in order to become a more genuine servant of Jesus? Will this be the day you take inventory and make necessary changes? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
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 an interview with actor/director/screenwriter Tyler Perry (creator of the “Madea” films), and he was asked about a picture he tweeted of himself shopping at the grocery store – for the first time in 15 years. He said, “I have people who do that for me now.” He explained that he spent his time on other pursuits, and he hired someone to do things for him like shopping, cooking, and more. He also noted that there was a time when he was homeless and lived in his car, so he makes no apologies for now being able to afford to hire personal shoppers and assistants.
I happen to like Tyler Perry. From what I can see, he is a decent person who has done well – and helped a lot of other people along the way. From everything I’ve observed, Perry strives to honor God with all of his endeavors…and he appears to credit God for all of his blessings and success.
Here’s the thing…a lot of us were essentially “homeless and living in our cars”…lost without God…living in a world of sin and the devil’s tricks. Then we found Jesus…we invited Him into our hearts…and He saved us. And more than a few of us went right back to the “car”. We didn’t truly grow and learn. We are content to let others do the work of Jesus’ ministry while we claim His salvation and “ride his coat-tails” – and those of others who obediently serve Him. Oh, we’re quick to “talk the good talk”. When asked, we will say that we are Christians…we will talk about the power of prayer and how “the LORD will provide”. But we’re not eager to do the hard work…we’re too busy to reach out to others and truly share how God has worked in our lives. Our talk about the power of prayer is just that – talk! We don’t really have the time or inclination to stop and pray for others.
Sadly, a lot of Christians trot out their faith when it’s convenient, serves them well, or makes them look good. But the truly earnest work of loving others in Jesus’ name and sharing His Good News with them is not on our radar. We’re first in line to expect a blessing from God – or an accolade from others for our goodness…but it’s pretty much a mask behind which we hide. Pastor Rick Warren talks in The Purpose Driven Life about the word “worship” and how we throw that word around and misuse it. Warren says that many of us claim, “I didn’t get anything out of ‘worship’ on Sunday,” when true “worship” is not designed for us…it is designed for GOD. We’re not supposed to get something out of authentic “worship” – we are to offer worship to God!
By the same token, I believe we are not to sit back on our laurels and rest in the salvation of Jesus Christ. We are not to wait expectantly for God to bless us or “fix” things for us. We are to get busy emulating Jesus…demonstrating His teachings to others…and showing them grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and unconditional love in His name. Talk is cheap. Others will know us (and our true character) by our genuine love for Jesus Christ – and how we demonstrate it (John 13:35).
Where are you today? Are you making the most of your new life in Christ? Are you sharing His message with others in everything from your physical actions to your talk and your body language? Are you busy taking God’s blessings over your own life and multiplying them in your daily living? Or are you still stuck “living in your car”? Are you expecting your salvation to be your “ticket” into heaven…and carrying on as usual in your old ways with the same people and situations that held you captive in the past? Are you hiding behind cheap talk and pretending that you are a faithful disciple to impress others? Are you content to let other Christians do the work of the LORD for you…regardless of how viable your excuses may seem?
Isn’t it time to do a “gut check”…to see where you really stand as a Christian disciple? Are you willing to risk the discovery that your discipleship needs a little work in order to become a more genuine servant of Jesus? Will this be the day you take inventory and make necessary changes? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2013
Jude 1:3-4
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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.
Over the weekend, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for disorderly conduct. Witherspoon’s husband, Jim Toth, was stopped for driving erratically, given a field sobriety test, and subsequently booked on DUI charges. Witherspoon would not stay in the car, as instructed by the police officer. She reportedly asked him, “Do you know my name? You are about to find out who I am!” Witherspoon has now apologized for her actions, saying in part… “I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many, and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police, and I'm very sorry for my behavior.”
We may not have been arrested for disorderly conduct or DUI, but we are all guilty of claiming entitlement at one time or another. Because of our accomplishments, our position, or our pedigree, we decide that our words and actions are above reproach. The other guy simply “has no idea who he/she is dealing with!” We shouldn’t have to wait in line, abide by certain rules or laws that were clearly created for “the other guy.” The concert tickets may have said “no cameras,” but this didn’t mean we couldn’t snap one picture with our phone! The city-wide alert may have said, “Everyone stay in your homes and lock your doors,” but one little peak outside won’t hurt! Curfews are for someone else... speed limits aren’t for “good drivers” like us… and it is understood that the sign on the door that said, “Don’t enter if you have flu-like symptoms” implies that “if you’re sick, but your family member is housed here, this doesn’t apply to you!”
Moreover, because you gave your heart to Jesus when you were twelve, you are “covered” forever. You are now free to do as you please without concern for repercussions. If anyone checks you on this, you can ask them, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” Of course, you realize I am being facetious! Just as claiming to be an Academy-Award-winning actress does not allow you to be disorderly and disrespectful to a police officer, being a born-again Christian does not entitle you to live as you please for the rest of your time on earth!
Jesus made an incredible sacrifice for us on the cross… one that entitles all who accept the gift of salvation to spend Eternity with Him in heaven. But too many of us forget what came after the cross! In essence, Jesus said, “I did this for you… now here’s what you need to do for Me in return.” He doesn’t ask much… just that we love Him with all our hearts, love others as we love ourselves, and spread His Good News with the world. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say, “I bought and paid for you on the cross… now go do as you please!”
I know you may be thinking that the Bible also doesn’t specifically say “Don’t drink and drive or exceed the speed limit… you are not entitled to special treatment… and the rules always apply to everyone.” But actually, it does. Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” He tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Jesus commands us to love Him with all our heart, mind, body and soul. If you “drill it down,” you would have to agree that being a born-again disciple of Christ entitles you to the Kingdom of heaven… but this does not put you above the rules and order of this earth!
I firmly believe that we who claim salvation through Jesus Christ are entitled… just not in the way you think! I believe that we have been freely given a Gift we cannot even comprehend, much less ever deserve. But with this endowment comes incredible responsibility. We must check our words and actions at all times and make sure they are 100% respectful to God. We must live in such a way that we truly can ask, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” – not to excuse our behavior… but rather, because we are glorifying His name.
How are you doing these days? Are you claiming the name of Jesus as your “excuse” – or as your heritage? Do others know who – and Whose – you are… for all the right reasons?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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.
Over the weekend, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for disorderly conduct. Witherspoon’s husband, Jim Toth, was stopped for driving erratically, given a field sobriety test, and subsequently booked on DUI charges. Witherspoon would not stay in the car, as instructed by the police officer. She reportedly asked him, “Do you know my name? You are about to find out who I am!” Witherspoon has now apologized for her actions, saying in part… “I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many, and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police, and I'm very sorry for my behavior.”
We may not have been arrested for disorderly conduct or DUI, but we are all guilty of claiming entitlement at one time or another. Because of our accomplishments, our position, or our pedigree, we decide that our words and actions are above reproach. The other guy simply “has no idea who he/she is dealing with!” We shouldn’t have to wait in line, abide by certain rules or laws that were clearly created for “the other guy.” The concert tickets may have said “no cameras,” but this didn’t mean we couldn’t snap one picture with our phone! The city-wide alert may have said, “Everyone stay in your homes and lock your doors,” but one little peak outside won’t hurt! Curfews are for someone else... speed limits aren’t for “good drivers” like us… and it is understood that the sign on the door that said, “Don’t enter if you have flu-like symptoms” implies that “if you’re sick, but your family member is housed here, this doesn’t apply to you!”
Moreover, because you gave your heart to Jesus when you were twelve, you are “covered” forever. You are now free to do as you please without concern for repercussions. If anyone checks you on this, you can ask them, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” Of course, you realize I am being facetious! Just as claiming to be an Academy-Award-winning actress does not allow you to be disorderly and disrespectful to a police officer, being a born-again Christian does not entitle you to live as you please for the rest of your time on earth!
Jesus made an incredible sacrifice for us on the cross… one that entitles all who accept the gift of salvation to spend Eternity with Him in heaven. But too many of us forget what came after the cross! In essence, Jesus said, “I did this for you… now here’s what you need to do for Me in return.” He doesn’t ask much… just that we love Him with all our hearts, love others as we love ourselves, and spread His Good News with the world. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say, “I bought and paid for you on the cross… now go do as you please!”
I know you may be thinking that the Bible also doesn’t specifically say “Don’t drink and drive or exceed the speed limit… you are not entitled to special treatment… and the rules always apply to everyone.” But actually, it does. Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” He tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Jesus commands us to love Him with all our heart, mind, body and soul. If you “drill it down,” you would have to agree that being a born-again disciple of Christ entitles you to the Kingdom of heaven… but this does not put you above the rules and order of this earth!
I firmly believe that we who claim salvation through Jesus Christ are entitled… just not in the way you think! I believe that we have been freely given a Gift we cannot even comprehend, much less ever deserve. But with this endowment comes incredible responsibility. We must check our words and actions at all times and make sure they are 100% respectful to God. We must live in such a way that we truly can ask, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” – not to excuse our behavior… but rather, because we are glorifying His name.
How are you doing these days? Are you claiming the name of Jesus as your “excuse” – or as your heritage? Do others know who – and Whose – you are… for all the right reasons?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 5, 2011
Luke 13:23-30
A bystander said, "Master, will only a few be saved?"
He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, 'Sorry, you're not on my guest list.'
"You'll protest, 'But we've known you all our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'
"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You'll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God's kingdom. You'll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God's kingdom. And all the time you'll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last."
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.
Several months ago, my husband joined the James Taylor Fan Club online. He began getting notices via e-mail about James Taylor and his music… where he was performing, and more. When he learned that James Taylor would be performing a concert in late April at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, he asked me if I would like to go with him. Would I?! As members of the fan club, we were given advanced opportunities to purchase tickets.
The opening day of ticket sales, I sat at the computer… credit card in hand… and waited for the 11:00 a.m. opening. I placed my order, and later we got confirmation… two tickets… on the floor… second row! We were so excited.
The concert day arrived, and we drove to North Little Rock and got in line to enter the arena. Inside, we found our seats… probably not more than twenty feet from where the musical legend and his band would soon perform. The cherry on top would be getting to walk down to the stage at intermission and actually get an autograph from the musical legend on the yoke of my denim jacket!
The arena was packed. More than 6300 people came to hear James Taylor and his band perform hits that most of us know by heart. But just as the concert began, I noticed an usher standing near the front of the floor section, and he had a couple of concert-goers standing with him. He was speaking to people sitting across from us in the second row… and soon they were leaving. See, they had taken vacant seats that did not belong to them. They were not the ticket holders for these seats – the people standing with the usher were. And these “party-crashers” were not welcome there. They had not taken the necessary steps to bring them to that particular spot, and they were turned away.
Do you see the correlation? It’s not enough just to come to God’s concert… you have to have the right ticket! Just because your family is… or was… “church people” doesn’t guarantee you a mansion in heaven. Just because you give to your church or do good works… don’t assume you will be dining at God’s table with the saints! Being a “good person” and claiming to know Jesus without really knowing Him and living for Him will get you nowhere. The only way to guarantee that you are a part of God’s Eternal Kingdom is to invite Jesus Christ to be the LORD of your life, call on His Holy Spirit to reside in your heart and guide your every step… then truly invite Him to live and breathe in and through you each day.
You have a choice. You can be a wannabe on the fringe… something of a hanger-on… the one who tries to sneak in the back door or take a seat that isn’t truly yours. Or you can have seats on the floor at God’s ongoing concert. Where do you plan to be sitting? Have you made the commitment and received the right ticket?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A bystander said, "Master, will only a few be saved?"
He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, 'Sorry, you're not on my guest list.'
"You'll protest, 'But we've known you all our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'
"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You'll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God's kingdom. You'll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God's kingdom. And all the time you'll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last."
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.
Several months ago, my husband joined the James Taylor Fan Club online. He began getting notices via e-mail about James Taylor and his music… where he was performing, and more. When he learned that James Taylor would be performing a concert in late April at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, he asked me if I would like to go with him. Would I?! As members of the fan club, we were given advanced opportunities to purchase tickets.
The opening day of ticket sales, I sat at the computer… credit card in hand… and waited for the 11:00 a.m. opening. I placed my order, and later we got confirmation… two tickets… on the floor… second row! We were so excited.
The concert day arrived, and we drove to North Little Rock and got in line to enter the arena. Inside, we found our seats… probably not more than twenty feet from where the musical legend and his band would soon perform. The cherry on top would be getting to walk down to the stage at intermission and actually get an autograph from the musical legend on the yoke of my denim jacket!
The arena was packed. More than 6300 people came to hear James Taylor and his band perform hits that most of us know by heart. But just as the concert began, I noticed an usher standing near the front of the floor section, and he had a couple of concert-goers standing with him. He was speaking to people sitting across from us in the second row… and soon they were leaving. See, they had taken vacant seats that did not belong to them. They were not the ticket holders for these seats – the people standing with the usher were. And these “party-crashers” were not welcome there. They had not taken the necessary steps to bring them to that particular spot, and they were turned away.
Do you see the correlation? It’s not enough just to come to God’s concert… you have to have the right ticket! Just because your family is… or was… “church people” doesn’t guarantee you a mansion in heaven. Just because you give to your church or do good works… don’t assume you will be dining at God’s table with the saints! Being a “good person” and claiming to know Jesus without really knowing Him and living for Him will get you nowhere. The only way to guarantee that you are a part of God’s Eternal Kingdom is to invite Jesus Christ to be the LORD of your life, call on His Holy Spirit to reside in your heart and guide your every step… then truly invite Him to live and breathe in and through you each day.
You have a choice. You can be a wannabe on the fringe… something of a hanger-on… the one who tries to sneak in the back door or take a seat that isn’t truly yours. Or you can have seats on the floor at God’s ongoing concert. Where do you plan to be sitting? Have you made the commitment and received the right ticket?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 12, 2011
Mark 14:71-72
Now Peter got really nervous and swore, "I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about." Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." He collapsed in tears.
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’ve read this passage dozens – maybe even hundreds – of times. But when I read it again recently, I was struck by these two verses. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny knowing Him. “Nope, I won’t! Never gonna happen!” Peter had replied (paraphrased, of course!). Peter thought he was strong. He thought he had incredible faith and devotion, and that nothing – and no one – could make him waiver. But when trouble came and he feared for his own life, he caved and did the very thing he didn’t intend to ever do.
Aren’t we all so much like Peter? We have these grandiose plans and intentions for being such pious little saints and servants. But we underestimate the skill of our opponent – the devil! He can twist the knife and turn us in ways we never intended to bend… and the next thing you know, we are saying and doing things we never thought we would or could. And we, like Peter, have been warned!
If we read the first few chapters of the Book of Acts, we see that Peter became one of the strongest leaders among the disciples of Christ. He was heartsick over his denial of Jesus, but Jesus forgave him, and He picked Peter up by the bootstraps and used him mightily to spread the Gospel. And this is the lesson for us. We all make mistakes. We all fall short – and maybe even do seemingly horrible things. But Jesus has the power to wash us clean of all of that, set us on our feet, and use us in His service. And that’s exactly what we must do!
If Peter had chosen to wallow in self-pity and go over and over his mistakes, he would have been of no use to Jesus. In essence, he would have stomped all over the salvation that Christ gave to Him – and to us. We have a choice. We can wallow in our past… our sins and our mistakes… or we can ask Jesus to heal us and forgive us – set us upright again – and learn from our experiences. We can use the past to create a better future in Christ… and to build even stronger relationships with others in His name.
What will you choose? Will you build your legacy on the sins of your past? Will you stay stuck in the mud and mire of your mistakes? Or will you step up and ask Jesus to work in you and use you – not because of your purity, but in spite of your brokenness? Take a cue from Peter. Realize that God has a purpose for you – and He is waiting for you to recognize this and get on with it! What do you say?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Now Peter got really nervous and swore, "I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about." Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." He collapsed in tears.
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’ve read this passage dozens – maybe even hundreds – of times. But when I read it again recently, I was struck by these two verses. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny knowing Him. “Nope, I won’t! Never gonna happen!” Peter had replied (paraphrased, of course!). Peter thought he was strong. He thought he had incredible faith and devotion, and that nothing – and no one – could make him waiver. But when trouble came and he feared for his own life, he caved and did the very thing he didn’t intend to ever do.
Aren’t we all so much like Peter? We have these grandiose plans and intentions for being such pious little saints and servants. But we underestimate the skill of our opponent – the devil! He can twist the knife and turn us in ways we never intended to bend… and the next thing you know, we are saying and doing things we never thought we would or could. And we, like Peter, have been warned!
If we read the first few chapters of the Book of Acts, we see that Peter became one of the strongest leaders among the disciples of Christ. He was heartsick over his denial of Jesus, but Jesus forgave him, and He picked Peter up by the bootstraps and used him mightily to spread the Gospel. And this is the lesson for us. We all make mistakes. We all fall short – and maybe even do seemingly horrible things. But Jesus has the power to wash us clean of all of that, set us on our feet, and use us in His service. And that’s exactly what we must do!
If Peter had chosen to wallow in self-pity and go over and over his mistakes, he would have been of no use to Jesus. In essence, he would have stomped all over the salvation that Christ gave to Him – and to us. We have a choice. We can wallow in our past… our sins and our mistakes… or we can ask Jesus to heal us and forgive us – set us upright again – and learn from our experiences. We can use the past to create a better future in Christ… and to build even stronger relationships with others in His name.
What will you choose? Will you build your legacy on the sins of your past? Will you stay stuck in the mud and mire of your mistakes? Or will you step up and ask Jesus to work in you and use you – not because of your purity, but in spite of your brokenness? Take a cue from Peter. Realize that God has a purpose for you – and He is waiting for you to recognize this and get on with it! What do you say?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 10, 2011
Jeremiah 13:23
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)