Matthew 7:21-23
“Knowing the correct
password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you
anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my
Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting
up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the
demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you
know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use
me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re
out of here.’”
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.
Think of how many times has
someone mentioned a name to you, and you said, “Oh, I know that
person…he/she goes to my church!” Because you attend worship services
with this person, many conclusions are immediately drawn. Often,
assumptions are made about someone based on whether he/she attends
church – or based on which church is attended! Sadly, we often
categorize and/or judge people based on their church affiliation. This
one is surely very spiritual because he goes to ABC church. That one
must be headed down the wrong path, because she practices XYZ religion!
And
let’s be honest…on some level, we claim some “street cred” because of
our religious and denominational affiliation. We like to think that
people look at us and say, “Oh, he/she is a good Christian. I see them
at the church all the time. They come to my Bible study…and they have a
cross or church sign in their yard!”
Let’s get real. There are
some pretty awful people hiding behind crosses, church memberships, and
cheap talk about the LORD and how He has blessed their lives. And when
they stand before God, He is very likely to tell them, “You missed the
boat.”
Thankfully, there are people who are genuine
disciples for Christ. They walk the walk and talk the talk…and God
takes notice. Generally, these people are not concerned with making
themselves seem important or impressing anyone – even God. They do not
attend church to make business connections or improve traffic to their
workplace. They do not associate only with those who share their
denomination – or a pew. They are too busy seeking God’s will and
listening for His voice…doing what He has commissioned them to do…and
serving Him with humility, modesty and gratitude.
I am not
criticizing yard signs, crosses, or other outward expressions of our
faith…and I would never suggest that you remove them or stop sharing
scripture verses or quotes from fellow Christians with others in venues
such as social media or via greeting cards. But I suggest that we all
take a good hard look at our intentions…and how we serve and represent
God. Are our motives pure and sincere – and completely focused on
Jesus? Or do we have even a smidgen of a hidden agenda?
When we
stand before God and account for how we represented Him, what will He
have to say? Will we hear, “Well done!”…or will He say, “You don’t
impress me one bit!”? None of us wants to miss the boat on this. This
is the day to start getting it right…to examine our hearts and make sure
that we are serving humbly and honorably. How do you think you are
doing?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 5, 2016
Matthew 7:15-20
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In recent weeks, political pundits have noted that quite a few candidates for major public offices sign on to run with a fair amount of confidence that they will not be able to get elected. But they go ahead and engage in a campaign that keeps their names and faces in the public eye…and bolsters the amount that can be charged for speaking engagements. More than a few pen at least one book and use the campaign trail as an opportunity to raise a copy in the air and suggest that people purchase it.
If we stop and think about this, it’s pretty upsetting to realize that people play on our emotions…and ask for our contributions – in order to line their own pocketbooks and/or boost their own egos. But it happens more than we think in all walks of life. And if you believe that this doesn’t also go on in Christian circles at all levels, you are sadly mistaken. From the musicians who get more caught up in their Sunday morning performance than engaging churchgoers in corporate worship and praise…to the televangelists who stand behind the pulpit and urge supporters to give generously toward the purchase of a 70-million-dollar jet that is deemed “necessary in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry”…to the pastor who feels the pressure from his/her deacons, elders and church body to add to the membership roll by any and all means necessary…the devil is busy creating opportunities for insincerity and disingenuousness - if not downright Spiritual fraud.
How do we know who is the “real deal”…in any area of life? Jesus is telling us to stay awake and alert…to guard our hearts and minds against misplaced loyalties and hidden agendas. If we stay focused on Jesus and carefully examine every person and situation through the lens of prayer and Godly wisdom, we have a far better shot at avoiding some of these pitfalls. There will still be people who abuse their position…or misrepresent their faith. But God will reveal them to us for who they really are…and we can pray for them and offer them His grace and mercy – while we avoid getting caught up in their deceptions.
Jesus wants us to be smart and safe (mentally, physically, and Spiritually)…to know who we are dealing with and how to handle these situations. If we stay close to God by studying His word and communicating with Him through prayer, we can operate with confidence that we are serving in His will and not serving a hidden agenda – the other guy’s, or our own. This is our goal – or it should be. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In recent weeks, political pundits have noted that quite a few candidates for major public offices sign on to run with a fair amount of confidence that they will not be able to get elected. But they go ahead and engage in a campaign that keeps their names and faces in the public eye…and bolsters the amount that can be charged for speaking engagements. More than a few pen at least one book and use the campaign trail as an opportunity to raise a copy in the air and suggest that people purchase it.
If we stop and think about this, it’s pretty upsetting to realize that people play on our emotions…and ask for our contributions – in order to line their own pocketbooks and/or boost their own egos. But it happens more than we think in all walks of life. And if you believe that this doesn’t also go on in Christian circles at all levels, you are sadly mistaken. From the musicians who get more caught up in their Sunday morning performance than engaging churchgoers in corporate worship and praise…to the televangelists who stand behind the pulpit and urge supporters to give generously toward the purchase of a 70-million-dollar jet that is deemed “necessary in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry”…to the pastor who feels the pressure from his/her deacons, elders and church body to add to the membership roll by any and all means necessary…the devil is busy creating opportunities for insincerity and disingenuousness - if not downright Spiritual fraud.
How do we know who is the “real deal”…in any area of life? Jesus is telling us to stay awake and alert…to guard our hearts and minds against misplaced loyalties and hidden agendas. If we stay focused on Jesus and carefully examine every person and situation through the lens of prayer and Godly wisdom, we have a far better shot at avoiding some of these pitfalls. There will still be people who abuse their position…or misrepresent their faith. But God will reveal them to us for who they really are…and we can pray for them and offer them His grace and mercy – while we avoid getting caught up in their deceptions.
Jesus wants us to be smart and safe (mentally, physically, and Spiritually)…to know who we are dealing with and how to handle these situations. If we stay close to God by studying His word and communicating with Him through prayer, we can operate with confidence that we are serving in His will and not serving a hidden agenda – the other guy’s, or our own. This is our goal – or it should be. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 4, 2016
Matthew 7:13-14
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’re all about a good shortcut! From combinations of characters on our keypad that let us make fancy symbols or print with the touch of a button…to diet supplements that promise to burn fat while we sleep…to the lottery tickets that bring the hope of making us instant millionaires…we welcome any and all opportunities to do things quickly and easily. So why would we be any different when it comes to our spiritual life?
Today is my 59th birthday. I woke up with the same white hair…the same extra pounds…and the same age spots and wrinkles that confirm that I’ve been on this planet for nearly six decades! There is no magic pill to “turn back the clock”…and that’s okay. Because today, I woke up! I was able to stand, walk, and talk…greet my husband who has loved me for almost 45 years (and shared his last name for nearly 42 of them)…and enjoy a cooling thundershower that moved through our area.
My Facebook wall and e-mail account are flooded with well wishes from people who love me. A dear friend sent me an e-card from an artist that my mother loved. In fact, Mother sent me one of this artist’s cards nearly every birthday in recent years…and today, my friend felt the urge to send me TWO of them. So I feel as though I have received a “nod” from my parents in heaven on this day. Greg has planned a special pizza dinner for me and invited our immediate family to join us this evening.
God is blessing me every minute…and I am working hard to pay attention! That means that even on this day, I am studying His word…seeking His will…spending time with Him in prayer and thanksgiving. I know that my eternal future is secured in Heaven…but I also know that God expects big things out of me every minute that I am alive on this earth. And He has the same expectations for you! The promise of Heaven may be the ultimate “winning lottery ticket”…but there won’t be any luck involved in cashing it!
So as we celebrate the birth of our country today (and the birthday of a few friends!), let’s remember that there are no shortcuts with God. We can’t cut corners or use gimmicks and tricks to get where we are going with Him and fulfill His purposes along the way. We have to embrace life and share His abundance with others…love them fully…forgive wrongdoings and operate in encouragement…offer a kind word and a glimmer of hope…and demonstrate just how amazingly good God is to each of us.
None of us are promised another day…so we must make the most of this one! We must give God our total attention and effort…even on a national holiday! We seem to find lots of ways to honor our nation on the Fourth of July…but what are you doing to honor your new life in Christ? Are you doing the hard work to serve God today…or are you taking a few shortcuts? Isn’t it time to get this right?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’re all about a good shortcut! From combinations of characters on our keypad that let us make fancy symbols or print with the touch of a button…to diet supplements that promise to burn fat while we sleep…to the lottery tickets that bring the hope of making us instant millionaires…we welcome any and all opportunities to do things quickly and easily. So why would we be any different when it comes to our spiritual life?
Today is my 59th birthday. I woke up with the same white hair…the same extra pounds…and the same age spots and wrinkles that confirm that I’ve been on this planet for nearly six decades! There is no magic pill to “turn back the clock”…and that’s okay. Because today, I woke up! I was able to stand, walk, and talk…greet my husband who has loved me for almost 45 years (and shared his last name for nearly 42 of them)…and enjoy a cooling thundershower that moved through our area.
My Facebook wall and e-mail account are flooded with well wishes from people who love me. A dear friend sent me an e-card from an artist that my mother loved. In fact, Mother sent me one of this artist’s cards nearly every birthday in recent years…and today, my friend felt the urge to send me TWO of them. So I feel as though I have received a “nod” from my parents in heaven on this day. Greg has planned a special pizza dinner for me and invited our immediate family to join us this evening.
God is blessing me every minute…and I am working hard to pay attention! That means that even on this day, I am studying His word…seeking His will…spending time with Him in prayer and thanksgiving. I know that my eternal future is secured in Heaven…but I also know that God expects big things out of me every minute that I am alive on this earth. And He has the same expectations for you! The promise of Heaven may be the ultimate “winning lottery ticket”…but there won’t be any luck involved in cashing it!
So as we celebrate the birth of our country today (and the birthday of a few friends!), let’s remember that there are no shortcuts with God. We can’t cut corners or use gimmicks and tricks to get where we are going with Him and fulfill His purposes along the way. We have to embrace life and share His abundance with others…love them fully…forgive wrongdoings and operate in encouragement…offer a kind word and a glimmer of hope…and demonstrate just how amazingly good God is to each of us.
None of us are promised another day…so we must make the most of this one! We must give God our total attention and effort…even on a national holiday! We seem to find lots of ways to honor our nation on the Fourth of July…but what are you doing to honor your new life in Christ? Are you doing the hard work to serve God today…or are you taking a few shortcuts? Isn’t it time to get this right?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2016
Matthew 7:12
Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, we celebrated Grandma E’s 90th birthday with a “luncheon” at our house. My mother-in-law didn’t want a big fuss, so we invited my husband’s brother and sister-in-law to join us - and kept it simple. I served a dish that is a local favorite…”Chicken Eden Isle.” This dish consists of chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, sitting on top of dried beef and baked in a sauce of cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and sour cream. The chicken and sauce are served over a bed of rice. Since this dish is rich and decadent, we serve it so seldom that it is a real treat for all of us.
My mother-in-law told me that once, she baked this recipe to enter in a chicken cooking contest. Because the dish had to be “original,” she changed the ingredients to include curry powder and renamed the concoction…and her recipe won! I told her that I wasn’t sure everyone attending our lunch would like curry, so I was going to stick with the original recipe…and she agreed that this was best.
The “simple” recipe for Chicken Eden Isle over rice needs no variations – unless you are entering an “original recipe” cooking contest! It stands on its own merits and is more than complete. There is nothing wrong with adding another spice or changing the mixture a bit…although there is inherent risk that what is changed might make the dish less tasty. But truly, all we need to have a complete and delectable meal is the basic recipe for this chicken dish. And that is what Matthew 7:12 tells us about our Christian discipleship, the teachings of Jesus, and all of the laws and the prophecy.
Everything we read in the Old Testament…every Law of Moses…every proverb of King Solomon…every commandment of Jesus in the Gospels…and every admonition of the authors of the New Testament...can be summed up in this one sentence - ”Treat others as you want them to treat you.” We don’t need “add-ons”…or variations. We don’t need to try to do things another way and see if the outcome will be as good – or even better. We know already that when we treat others as we wish to be treated, there is every possibility that things will go better…that the outcome will be a more positive one…that our grace, mercy, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding will rub off on others.
Sometimes, we think that we know best. If we just do this or say that, everything will work out great! And sometimes, our ideas get us into a heap of trouble! If we will only remember the “recipe” that Jesus has given us…and treat others as we want them to treat us…God will handle any other details and make sure that the end result is perfect. Whose “Spiritual recipe” are you using these days? Is it time for you to simplify and let God have control? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, we celebrated Grandma E’s 90th birthday with a “luncheon” at our house. My mother-in-law didn’t want a big fuss, so we invited my husband’s brother and sister-in-law to join us - and kept it simple. I served a dish that is a local favorite…”Chicken Eden Isle.” This dish consists of chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, sitting on top of dried beef and baked in a sauce of cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and sour cream. The chicken and sauce are served over a bed of rice. Since this dish is rich and decadent, we serve it so seldom that it is a real treat for all of us.
My mother-in-law told me that once, she baked this recipe to enter in a chicken cooking contest. Because the dish had to be “original,” she changed the ingredients to include curry powder and renamed the concoction…and her recipe won! I told her that I wasn’t sure everyone attending our lunch would like curry, so I was going to stick with the original recipe…and she agreed that this was best.
The “simple” recipe for Chicken Eden Isle over rice needs no variations – unless you are entering an “original recipe” cooking contest! It stands on its own merits and is more than complete. There is nothing wrong with adding another spice or changing the mixture a bit…although there is inherent risk that what is changed might make the dish less tasty. But truly, all we need to have a complete and delectable meal is the basic recipe for this chicken dish. And that is what Matthew 7:12 tells us about our Christian discipleship, the teachings of Jesus, and all of the laws and the prophecy.
Everything we read in the Old Testament…every Law of Moses…every proverb of King Solomon…every commandment of Jesus in the Gospels…and every admonition of the authors of the New Testament...can be summed up in this one sentence - ”Treat others as you want them to treat you.” We don’t need “add-ons”…or variations. We don’t need to try to do things another way and see if the outcome will be as good – or even better. We know already that when we treat others as we wish to be treated, there is every possibility that things will go better…that the outcome will be a more positive one…that our grace, mercy, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding will rub off on others.
Sometimes, we think that we know best. If we just do this or say that, everything will work out great! And sometimes, our ideas get us into a heap of trouble! If we will only remember the “recipe” that Jesus has given us…and treat others as we want them to treat us…God will handle any other details and make sure that the end result is perfect. Whose “Spiritual recipe” are you using these days? Is it time for you to simplify and let God have control? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Things got a little hectic this past week, and I got behind on reading my daily devotionals from Jesus Calling*. So I caught up this morning…and the thoughts for June 29th could not have paralleled better with this scripture. In part, we were reminded to call on Jesus each morning…to whisper His name and invite Him to come into our thoughts. The writer reminds us that with Jesus on our minds, we don’t face anything alone…He is right beside us to handle anything that arises.
But here’s the thing…we have to ask! We have to knock – and expect Jesus to answer! As I have mentioned in recent days, sometimes our thoughts and feelings are so jumbled that we don’t even know what to ask…and a simple plea of “LORD, You know what I need…will you help me?” is sufficient. I would caution you not to reduce your daily prayers to this on a regular basis. God wants us to lay bare our hearts and define our needs to Him. I believe this helps us to recognize when and how He does answer each one of them.
But there will be times when we simply need to “ask” or “knock”…to invite Jesus to come and sit with us…and handle things. And He will do exactly that!
Stop for a minute today and examine your life and the issues that are on your heart…the joys and the burdens. Whisper the name of Jesus, and invite Him to come and “sit a spell.” Give Him your anxieties…revel in your blessings…talk to Him about “things” and ask Him to give you exactly what you need for this day.
Philippians 4:13 tells us that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Have you asked Him for strength today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Things got a little hectic this past week, and I got behind on reading my daily devotionals from Jesus Calling*. So I caught up this morning…and the thoughts for June 29th could not have paralleled better with this scripture. In part, we were reminded to call on Jesus each morning…to whisper His name and invite Him to come into our thoughts. The writer reminds us that with Jesus on our minds, we don’t face anything alone…He is right beside us to handle anything that arises.
But here’s the thing…we have to ask! We have to knock – and expect Jesus to answer! As I have mentioned in recent days, sometimes our thoughts and feelings are so jumbled that we don’t even know what to ask…and a simple plea of “LORD, You know what I need…will you help me?” is sufficient. I would caution you not to reduce your daily prayers to this on a regular basis. God wants us to lay bare our hearts and define our needs to Him. I believe this helps us to recognize when and how He does answer each one of them.
But there will be times when we simply need to “ask” or “knock”…to invite Jesus to come and sit with us…and handle things. And He will do exactly that!
Stop for a minute today and examine your life and the issues that are on your heart…the joys and the burdens. Whisper the name of Jesus, and invite Him to come and “sit a spell.” Give Him your anxieties…revel in your blessings…talk to Him about “things” and ask Him to give you exactly what you need for this day.
Philippians 4:13 tells us that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Have you asked Him for strength today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.JesusCalling.com
Daily Devotional for July 1, 2016
Romans 15:30-33
Will you be my prayer partners? For the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and because of your love for me—given to you by the Holy Spirit—pray much with me for my work. Pray that I will be protected in Jerusalem from those who are not Christians. Pray also that the Christians there will be willing to accept the money I am bringing them. Then I will be able to come to you with a happy heart by the will of God, and we can refresh each other.
And now may our God, who gives peace, be with you all. Amen.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, “life” has a cumulative effect…and this last few months has been no exception. We’ve been left to ask “Why?” a million times with the unexpected passing of several loved ones and friends. And now, a senseless and horrific shooting in our little community has taken yet another friend, injured his wife, and traumatized three of his five grandchildren.
There is no “good” answer for why this happened. We trust that God has a plan…but still we grieve and mourn – and scripture supports these emotions. And when we can - as we can - we pray. I will tell you that there have been countless times – sometimes for days on end – when my prayers were jumbled at best. But there’s an answer for that in scripture, too. Romans 8:26 tells us…”And in the same way—by our faith — the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.”
A lot of the time these days, I truly don’t know what to pray for…I need direction, a renewed purpose, strength, peace, comfort – and wisdom to offer encouragement and hope to others. And there doesn’t seem to be an adequate way to express all of this to God. But here’s the really cool thing…He knows anyway! God knows what we need, and when we face times like this where our words seem so inadequate – or simply will not come together in a way that makes sense – the Holy Spirit advocates for us. And God gets the message!
So will you be my prayer partner today? Will you join me in asking God to meet our needs in any and all situations, from the simplest of days to those when the whole world seems to fall apart? Will you depend on the Holy Spirit to advocate for you when words won’t come…and convey your jumbled thoughts to God in a way that they make sense and express your deepest longings, heartaches and distress?
Will you trust God to understand your grief and frustration – and to orchestrate a way to manage all of this? Will you lay it all on the line and allow God to make some sense of it all? Do you trust Him to do this? Will you pray for others who are on a similar journey and recognize that in joining with them in “corporate prayer,” we flood heaven with a clamor so loud that it must ring in God’s ears?
I know that God hears the tiniest whisper…but He can’t help but take notice of the din of our corporate petitions. This day, let’s lay bare our hearts and souls before God. If words fail you, simply say, “I’m here, LORD…and I need you.” He will know what to do. Let’s ask God to meet our needs – and the ones of those around us – according to His will. And let’s trust that the Holy Spirit will fill in the details. I am looking for Christian friends and disciples today who join in this heavenly chorus. Will YOU be my prayer partner?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Will you be my prayer partners? For the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and because of your love for me—given to you by the Holy Spirit—pray much with me for my work. Pray that I will be protected in Jerusalem from those who are not Christians. Pray also that the Christians there will be willing to accept the money I am bringing them. Then I will be able to come to you with a happy heart by the will of God, and we can refresh each other.
And now may our God, who gives peace, be with you all. Amen.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, “life” has a cumulative effect…and this last few months has been no exception. We’ve been left to ask “Why?” a million times with the unexpected passing of several loved ones and friends. And now, a senseless and horrific shooting in our little community has taken yet another friend, injured his wife, and traumatized three of his five grandchildren.
There is no “good” answer for why this happened. We trust that God has a plan…but still we grieve and mourn – and scripture supports these emotions. And when we can - as we can - we pray. I will tell you that there have been countless times – sometimes for days on end – when my prayers were jumbled at best. But there’s an answer for that in scripture, too. Romans 8:26 tells us…”And in the same way—by our faith — the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.”
A lot of the time these days, I truly don’t know what to pray for…I need direction, a renewed purpose, strength, peace, comfort – and wisdom to offer encouragement and hope to others. And there doesn’t seem to be an adequate way to express all of this to God. But here’s the really cool thing…He knows anyway! God knows what we need, and when we face times like this where our words seem so inadequate – or simply will not come together in a way that makes sense – the Holy Spirit advocates for us. And God gets the message!
So will you be my prayer partner today? Will you join me in asking God to meet our needs in any and all situations, from the simplest of days to those when the whole world seems to fall apart? Will you depend on the Holy Spirit to advocate for you when words won’t come…and convey your jumbled thoughts to God in a way that they make sense and express your deepest longings, heartaches and distress?
Will you trust God to understand your grief and frustration – and to orchestrate a way to manage all of this? Will you lay it all on the line and allow God to make some sense of it all? Do you trust Him to do this? Will you pray for others who are on a similar journey and recognize that in joining with them in “corporate prayer,” we flood heaven with a clamor so loud that it must ring in God’s ears?
I know that God hears the tiniest whisper…but He can’t help but take notice of the din of our corporate petitions. This day, let’s lay bare our hearts and souls before God. If words fail you, simply say, “I’m here, LORD…and I need you.” He will know what to do. Let’s ask God to meet our needs – and the ones of those around us – according to His will. And let’s trust that the Holy Spirit will fill in the details. I am looking for Christian friends and disciples today who join in this heavenly chorus. Will YOU be my prayer partner?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 30, 2016
Matthew 7:6
“Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.
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 brother had a little rat terrier named Frisker, who lived with my grandparents on their farm. My grandparents fed Frisker table scraps after each meal…and let me tell you, that dog ate well! Later on, my sister’s white Labrador retriever, Otis, ended up living with my parents, and my dad fed him food from the table…namely ice cream that Otis licked from a spoon. But Daddy bragged one day that Otis also liked shrimp and steak. Yes, my dad shared shrimp and steak from his own plate with the family dog!
It probably wasn’t the healthiest idea to feed Frisker the table scraps, but to my grandparents, these were literally the scraps…bits of leftover food that was of no value to anyone else, so the dog just as well eat it. This was his “dog food.” But Otis did NOT need shrimp and steak! If my parents were not going to eat all of the food that was on their plate, they could have served smaller portions and saved the rest to create another meal…or they could have invited someone to join them at their table and enjoy the delicious bounty! Yes, Otis enjoyed these treats and was “impressed” by them, but honestly, steak and shrimp were pretty well wasted on him. He was just as happy with what my mother called “crunchies” dog food!
In many ways, this is what you and I do with God’s gifts. We waste them in ways that do not truly glorify Him or further His kingdom. We place emphasis on developing catchy phrases and “mission statements”…and we neglect the actual mission. We’re often more concerned with what it says on our t-shirts than what we are actually doing for others in Jesus’ name. We’re all about the “production value” of our worship services, while we neglect the heartache that hangs out on every pew. We surely looked great as we worshipped…but did we really say anything that shared the Good News of Jesus or let anyone know how much He cares about us?
In many translations of this verse, there is a reference to throwing “pearls before swine.” Our gifts and blessings from God are the pearls…and we often waste them on those who do not see Jesus in our efforts – and/or don’t care! We “preach to the choir” and neglect those who really need to hear from God. We give the “good stuff” to the dogs, so to speak, while some who could really use it are left hungry. We spend our time and energy on “looking Godly” and trying to impress our friends and fellow believers, while those who need us to be the hands and feet of Jesus are left in the shadows - glad to get as much as a scrap of our attention or ministry.
We really need to shift our focus and start paying attention to the mission that God has given us. We need to be good stewards of His gifts and apply them where He sends us…not where it feels good or makes a big splash. We need to figure out who is hungry for God’s word or ministry…and feed this desire with all that He has given us. And we need to start today. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.
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 brother had a little rat terrier named Frisker, who lived with my grandparents on their farm. My grandparents fed Frisker table scraps after each meal…and let me tell you, that dog ate well! Later on, my sister’s white Labrador retriever, Otis, ended up living with my parents, and my dad fed him food from the table…namely ice cream that Otis licked from a spoon. But Daddy bragged one day that Otis also liked shrimp and steak. Yes, my dad shared shrimp and steak from his own plate with the family dog!
It probably wasn’t the healthiest idea to feed Frisker the table scraps, but to my grandparents, these were literally the scraps…bits of leftover food that was of no value to anyone else, so the dog just as well eat it. This was his “dog food.” But Otis did NOT need shrimp and steak! If my parents were not going to eat all of the food that was on their plate, they could have served smaller portions and saved the rest to create another meal…or they could have invited someone to join them at their table and enjoy the delicious bounty! Yes, Otis enjoyed these treats and was “impressed” by them, but honestly, steak and shrimp were pretty well wasted on him. He was just as happy with what my mother called “crunchies” dog food!
In many ways, this is what you and I do with God’s gifts. We waste them in ways that do not truly glorify Him or further His kingdom. We place emphasis on developing catchy phrases and “mission statements”…and we neglect the actual mission. We’re often more concerned with what it says on our t-shirts than what we are actually doing for others in Jesus’ name. We’re all about the “production value” of our worship services, while we neglect the heartache that hangs out on every pew. We surely looked great as we worshipped…but did we really say anything that shared the Good News of Jesus or let anyone know how much He cares about us?
In many translations of this verse, there is a reference to throwing “pearls before swine.” Our gifts and blessings from God are the pearls…and we often waste them on those who do not see Jesus in our efforts – and/or don’t care! We “preach to the choir” and neglect those who really need to hear from God. We give the “good stuff” to the dogs, so to speak, while some who could really use it are left hungry. We spend our time and energy on “looking Godly” and trying to impress our friends and fellow believers, while those who need us to be the hands and feet of Jesus are left in the shadows - glad to get as much as a scrap of our attention or ministry.
We really need to shift our focus and start paying attention to the mission that God has given us. We need to be good stewards of His gifts and apply them where He sends us…not where it feels good or makes a big splash. We need to figure out who is hungry for God’s word or ministry…and feed this desire with all that He has given us. And we need to start today. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 29, 2016
 |
| Celebrating my brother's first birthday. |
And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own? Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today, I am thinking of my brother, Tim, who was born 55 years ago on June 29, 1961. I am also thinking of a childhood friend, Aaron, who came into this world 2 years later. Both men are in heaven now…Tim left us in 1998 after a lengthy struggle with liver disease…and Aaron fought a valiant battle with cancer that resulted in his death in 2008. Tim was a Registered Nurse (RN) who specialized in cardiac care. Aaron was a well-respected general surgeon. Tim was a gay man who never got to have a spouse and children. Aaron was married – and the father of Colby and Aubrey.
Both Tim and Aaron loved God, medicine – and people. I am confident that neither of them saw others in terms of race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or even gender. They saw people who had medical needs that they could address…God’s creations…someone who had issues that they were capable of mending in some way. Both men were very good at what they did and used the gifts that God gave them well. Both men epitomized the kind of person that I would want to treat me, should I need medical care.
Sadly, as in any profession, I know that there are cases where this is not the norm. I have personally witnessed people in need of medical care who received the “third degree” because of how they looked…what they were wearing…a perceived idea of their socio-economic level or sexual orientation, and more. I saw it happen to my Tim…as if because he was a gay man, he was not worthy of the same treatment, kindness, and courtesy as others. I always found this rather odd, because I have a feeling that those same people would have been GLAD to have Tim’s expertise on their side, should they have experienced cardiac arrest! This even happened to Tim once as he filled out a medical history for two nurses – who both knew that he was an RN and “one of THEM!”
I know there are probably people who think I am something of a “drum-beater” on this issue. But once it happens to you, the perspective shifts dramatically. Once you see firsthand how hurtful, destructive, and hypocritical such criticism of others can be, surely one can’t help but behave differently – and champion the feelings of our fellow man. I feel like God has allowed me to see these things in order to sound the bell for others before similar things happen to them – or they engage in such behaviors. This is my reason for being so vocal about discrimination and mistreatment of others…for any reason. And I hope and pray that I am never guilty of these things myself…although I suspect that at times, I have indeed been critical - and even hurtful.
Not all of us are called to be surgeons and nurses. Thankfully, we won’t all have to live out our Christian witness via terminal illness. God has given each one of us a unique purpose on this earth…but each one of us also has our own “plank in the eye.” None of us is perfect. We will all have moments where we speak without thinking…and say or do things that are hurtful to others – and detrimental to our Christian witness.
God has called us to further His kingdom…not just by TELLING others about Jesus – but also by demonstrating in thought, word and deed that we embrace His teachings of grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, tolerance, kindness, and compassion. I am so glad that God allowed me to know Tim and Aaron…to see them grow into examples of men who fully accepted their mission and represented Jesus in their daily work. I hope that I am fulfilling my own Godly assignments…and doing so in a way that honors and glorifies my relationship with Jesus.
Today, I celebrate my brother, Tim, and my sweet friend, Aaron…and all who serve Jesus with unconditional love and kindness. I am striving to get rid of the “board in my eye” – and keep it at bay forever and ever. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 28, 2016
Matthew 7:1-2
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
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 caring for my Mam-ma Polly, there were plenty of people who wanted to give me advice. One night, Mam-ma got out of bed to adjust the air conditioner unit in her Assisted Living apartment, and she tripped over the bedspread and fell. The result was a broken femur near the hip socket. As she lay in bed after surgery, unable to even put a sentence together…much less stand or even sit up – we made the decision to place her on Hospice care. Mam-ma was 99 years young at the time, and the therapy in a nursing home to try to rehabilitate her seemed torturous and futile.
The orthopedic surgeon came for a follow-up visit and mentioned “rehab,” and I explained why we were not doing this. At first, he seemed surprised, but as I described the situation, he softened. We had not come to this decision lightly…the nurses and therapists had all agreed that my grandmother did not seem to be a likely candidate to walk again.
Mam-ma returned to her apartment, where she lived to the age of 100 years and 123 days. She managed to rehabilitate herself to the point that she could pedal around in a wheelchair (and occasionally walk herself to the bathroom when no one was looking!)…but for all practical purposes, she did not walk again. I still believe that this was the best decision for her…and one of many options that “outsiders” criticized as we navigated the “senior aging” journey together.
It’s easy to be critical…until it happens to you. I’ve had many people tell me, “I just had no idea what all is involved (in caring for elderly persons).” My mother wrote a book about caring for her own parents as they aged (When Heads and Hearts Collide), and everyone who reads it asks, “How did she know what I was experiencing?” It’s as if she wrote it just for them. Many of those who criticized how she handled things have had to eat their words as it happened to them!
Here’s the thing…none of us is perfect. I know I made mistakes in caring for my grandmother…and my mother said more than once that she would have done some things differently, given a “do-over.” But when we criticize or berate others, we are saying, “I am better than you” …or even “I could have done better!” We may think we are helping…but often, our comments are thinly veiled attempts to put down another person and build up ourselves. And God is not amused.
We often fail to recognize how hurtful criticism, nagging, or disparaging treatment is until someone does it to us. So before YOU get hurt – or hurt someone else - take a mental walk in the other guy’s shoes. You don’t have to try to figure out WHY someone behaves a certain way…or what they could have done differently. You just have to love them with the love of Christ…and leave the judgment to God.
Don’t be guilty of thinking more highly of yourself and your opinions than you ought. Prayerfully ask God to guide your thoughts, words and actions. Be known as someone who leaves the judging to God and loves people right where they are…and hopefully they will do the same for you.
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
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 caring for my Mam-ma Polly, there were plenty of people who wanted to give me advice. One night, Mam-ma got out of bed to adjust the air conditioner unit in her Assisted Living apartment, and she tripped over the bedspread and fell. The result was a broken femur near the hip socket. As she lay in bed after surgery, unable to even put a sentence together…much less stand or even sit up – we made the decision to place her on Hospice care. Mam-ma was 99 years young at the time, and the therapy in a nursing home to try to rehabilitate her seemed torturous and futile.
The orthopedic surgeon came for a follow-up visit and mentioned “rehab,” and I explained why we were not doing this. At first, he seemed surprised, but as I described the situation, he softened. We had not come to this decision lightly…the nurses and therapists had all agreed that my grandmother did not seem to be a likely candidate to walk again.
Mam-ma returned to her apartment, where she lived to the age of 100 years and 123 days. She managed to rehabilitate herself to the point that she could pedal around in a wheelchair (and occasionally walk herself to the bathroom when no one was looking!)…but for all practical purposes, she did not walk again. I still believe that this was the best decision for her…and one of many options that “outsiders” criticized as we navigated the “senior aging” journey together.
It’s easy to be critical…until it happens to you. I’ve had many people tell me, “I just had no idea what all is involved (in caring for elderly persons).” My mother wrote a book about caring for her own parents as they aged (When Heads and Hearts Collide), and everyone who reads it asks, “How did she know what I was experiencing?” It’s as if she wrote it just for them. Many of those who criticized how she handled things have had to eat their words as it happened to them!
Here’s the thing…none of us is perfect. I know I made mistakes in caring for my grandmother…and my mother said more than once that she would have done some things differently, given a “do-over.” But when we criticize or berate others, we are saying, “I am better than you” …or even “I could have done better!” We may think we are helping…but often, our comments are thinly veiled attempts to put down another person and build up ourselves. And God is not amused.
We often fail to recognize how hurtful criticism, nagging, or disparaging treatment is until someone does it to us. So before YOU get hurt – or hurt someone else - take a mental walk in the other guy’s shoes. You don’t have to try to figure out WHY someone behaves a certain way…or what they could have done differently. You just have to love them with the love of Christ…and leave the judgment to God.
Don’t be guilty of thinking more highly of yourself and your opinions than you ought. Prayerfully ask God to guide your thoughts, words and actions. Be known as someone who leaves the judging to God and loves people right where they are…and hopefully they will do the same for you.
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 26, 2016
Matthew 6:12-15
"...and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Amen." Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, the Sunday school lesson for my K-1st Grade class was about tattling vs. telling…and bullying. We talked about what constitutes bullying…and when it is appropriate to tell someone what is happening. We also talked about relatively harmless behaviors that we sometimes want to share with others that fall in the category of tattling. A good example would be telling an adult that someone is hitting other children on the playground vs. tattling that a child refuses to share a swing. In the first example, people could be physically hurt. In the latter…it’s just a matter of someone possibly being rude.
We also talked about revenge…which scripture tells us is not appropriate. We read Romans 12:18-19...”Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’” I asked the children if they felt happy when something bad happens to a person who had been unkind toward them. One little girl said, “That’s called ‘karma!’” I had to laugh…but we went on to discuss how this is not our responsibility. Relishing in another person’s bad fortune (or “karma”) if they have mistreated us is not God’s will…or our job!
I’m often astounded at how what I am sharing with you here dovetails with what I teach to children in Sunday school during the same time period. Part of our lesson yesterday included the three steps for confronting someone who is offending us in some manner…1) talk to them directly; 2) take someone with you if they won’t listen; and 3) walk away if the person still refuses to change.
I’m not totally “there” yet…but I am learning that harboring unforgiveness does two things to me…1) it eats a hole in my heart and makes me miserable; and 2) it dishonors God. I have tried very hard to let go of hurts and insults…to give them to God and let HIM handle what happens. Additionally, “carrying the torch” for an old insult or indignity does the same thing. Sometimes it is hard to walk away…but there are times when we must do this rather than harbor bitterness and resentments.
People who know me well might say that I have a way to go in this department…and they are probably right! But every day, I ask God to remove all animosity and unforgiveness from my heart. I know that these attitudes block God’s grace and mercy in my own life. I know that when I say or do something that displeases Him, my own attitudes affect how – and if/when – He will forgive me.
I don’t know about you, but I need all of God’s compassion and leniency that I can get! So I will keep working to banish any resentment, bitterness, callousness, and unforgiveness from my heart and mind. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
"...and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Amen." Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, the Sunday school lesson for my K-1st Grade class was about tattling vs. telling…and bullying. We talked about what constitutes bullying…and when it is appropriate to tell someone what is happening. We also talked about relatively harmless behaviors that we sometimes want to share with others that fall in the category of tattling. A good example would be telling an adult that someone is hitting other children on the playground vs. tattling that a child refuses to share a swing. In the first example, people could be physically hurt. In the latter…it’s just a matter of someone possibly being rude.
We also talked about revenge…which scripture tells us is not appropriate. We read Romans 12:18-19...”Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’” I asked the children if they felt happy when something bad happens to a person who had been unkind toward them. One little girl said, “That’s called ‘karma!’” I had to laugh…but we went on to discuss how this is not our responsibility. Relishing in another person’s bad fortune (or “karma”) if they have mistreated us is not God’s will…or our job!
I’m often astounded at how what I am sharing with you here dovetails with what I teach to children in Sunday school during the same time period. Part of our lesson yesterday included the three steps for confronting someone who is offending us in some manner…1) talk to them directly; 2) take someone with you if they won’t listen; and 3) walk away if the person still refuses to change.
I’m not totally “there” yet…but I am learning that harboring unforgiveness does two things to me…1) it eats a hole in my heart and makes me miserable; and 2) it dishonors God. I have tried very hard to let go of hurts and insults…to give them to God and let HIM handle what happens. Additionally, “carrying the torch” for an old insult or indignity does the same thing. Sometimes it is hard to walk away…but there are times when we must do this rather than harbor bitterness and resentments.
People who know me well might say that I have a way to go in this department…and they are probably right! But every day, I ask God to remove all animosity and unforgiveness from my heart. I know that these attitudes block God’s grace and mercy in my own life. I know that when I say or do something that displeases Him, my own attitudes affect how – and if/when – He will forgive me.
I don’t know about you, but I need all of God’s compassion and leniency that I can get! So I will keep working to banish any resentment, bitterness, callousness, and unforgiveness from my heart and mind. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2016
Matthew 5:7
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for."
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.
Today, I attended the funeral of my parents’ neighbor, Barbara Heathcott. Barbara and her husband, Eddie, have been my parents’ neighbors since the mid-1980s. Two weeks ago, Barbara received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Things progressed very quickly after that, and now she is in heaven. I feel certain that my own mother and daddy were thrilled to greet her there.
At the service, the pastor tearfully talked of Barbara and her spirit of “servitude.” The obituary even stated…”Barbara was generous, sometimes to a fault. She loved helping others.” And truly she did. Barbara was a great cook, and she fed my parents more than once when they were ill – and sometimes just for fun. The pastor noted that any time someone was sick or bereaved, Barbara prepared more food than she ought - just to comfort them! He also mentioned her “Christmas,” which consisted of delectable sweet treats, including chocolate covered cherries. The pastor said, “It wasn’t really Christmas until Barbara brought ‘Christmas!’”
My parents’ neighbor Barbara was incredibly “care-full.” She was also truly cared for, as evidenced by the chapel packed today with people who crowded the pews and stood along the outer walls in order to pay their last respects.
The pastor noted that he last saw Barbara two weeks ago – at church - the day before she underwent surgery that was supposed to have offered her a chance at a cure. Barbara hugged the pastor and told him, “I’m going to be fine.” The pastor commented…”I’m sure that she is.” Another neighbor told me before the service that she and her husband visited Barbara in the hospital last week, and she said, “By the time we left, Barbara had made ME feel better!”
Not everyone has the gift of caring to the level of women like my mother and her neighbor, Barbara. If nothing else, we can be kind and loving…smile and be pleasant…offer to help when and where we can. We don’t have to be extraordinary cooks in order to feed hungry people in the middle of a health crisis or when a death occurs. We don’t have to be gifted writers to send a note or e-mail message that says, “I’m thinking of you,” or “God loves you, and so do I.” We don’t have to have a lot of money or be super attractive in order to make a difference in the life of someone else. The bottom line is that people really don’t care what you know until they know that you care. And as Christian disciples, it is our job to care!
I am sure that most of the people who attended the funeral today went away inspired to care more – and to do more for others. I know I did! Clearly, God blessed Barbara’s efforts…she was truly “care-full” in her earthly living. And now she is blessed beyond measure by the reward of Eternity spent in heaven. If God gives out assignments there, I’m sure that Barbara’s hand has already shot up to offer to cook and care for others! And that is an amazing legacy for any Christian servant!
So what will be your legacy as a Christian servant? Five months ago when my mother died, her neighbor didn’t even know she was having any problems. And now both women are in heaven. Barbara made every minute of that five months – and most of her 77 years - count for Jesus by her efforts to care for others. Can you say the same? Don’t you think we should at least give it a try?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for."
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.
Today, I attended the funeral of my parents’ neighbor, Barbara Heathcott. Barbara and her husband, Eddie, have been my parents’ neighbors since the mid-1980s. Two weeks ago, Barbara received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Things progressed very quickly after that, and now she is in heaven. I feel certain that my own mother and daddy were thrilled to greet her there.
At the service, the pastor tearfully talked of Barbara and her spirit of “servitude.” The obituary even stated…”Barbara was generous, sometimes to a fault. She loved helping others.” And truly she did. Barbara was a great cook, and she fed my parents more than once when they were ill – and sometimes just for fun. The pastor noted that any time someone was sick or bereaved, Barbara prepared more food than she ought - just to comfort them! He also mentioned her “Christmas,” which consisted of delectable sweet treats, including chocolate covered cherries. The pastor said, “It wasn’t really Christmas until Barbara brought ‘Christmas!’”
My parents’ neighbor Barbara was incredibly “care-full.” She was also truly cared for, as evidenced by the chapel packed today with people who crowded the pews and stood along the outer walls in order to pay their last respects.
The pastor noted that he last saw Barbara two weeks ago – at church - the day before she underwent surgery that was supposed to have offered her a chance at a cure. Barbara hugged the pastor and told him, “I’m going to be fine.” The pastor commented…”I’m sure that she is.” Another neighbor told me before the service that she and her husband visited Barbara in the hospital last week, and she said, “By the time we left, Barbara had made ME feel better!”
Not everyone has the gift of caring to the level of women like my mother and her neighbor, Barbara. If nothing else, we can be kind and loving…smile and be pleasant…offer to help when and where we can. We don’t have to be extraordinary cooks in order to feed hungry people in the middle of a health crisis or when a death occurs. We don’t have to be gifted writers to send a note or e-mail message that says, “I’m thinking of you,” or “God loves you, and so do I.” We don’t have to have a lot of money or be super attractive in order to make a difference in the life of someone else. The bottom line is that people really don’t care what you know until they know that you care. And as Christian disciples, it is our job to care!
I am sure that most of the people who attended the funeral today went away inspired to care more – and to do more for others. I know I did! Clearly, God blessed Barbara’s efforts…she was truly “care-full” in her earthly living. And now she is blessed beyond measure by the reward of Eternity spent in heaven. If God gives out assignments there, I’m sure that Barbara’s hand has already shot up to offer to cook and care for others! And that is an amazing legacy for any Christian servant!
So what will be your legacy as a Christian servant? Five months ago when my mother died, her neighbor didn’t even know she was having any problems. And now both women are in heaven. Barbara made every minute of that five months – and most of her 77 years - count for Jesus by her efforts to care for others. Can you say the same? Don’t you think we should at least give it a try?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2016
Matthew 18:18-20
“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
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 have grown so weary of what people are saying to one another these days – particularly on social media – that I’ve almost quit reading. So if I miss an important post from one of you, please understand that it was not my intention to ignore you. I really do care about the ups and downs in my friends’ lives. But when they resort to name-calling and vicious criticisms of others, I am just not able to support this.
Let’s focus primarily on one particular line of this scripture passage today… “What you say to one another is eternal.” Jesus could not have been more clear, could He? I’ve seen some pretty nasty comments lately from people I know and love…and perhaps they were just engaging in some banter that they felt teetered close to the edge of ugliness while remaining harmless. I am here to say that it is not innocuous…because not everyone knows you. Not everyone who reads what is posted or hears what is said will have the “back story” and know that this is a teasing exchange between two acquaintances or old friends.
In the same manner, when we share off-color comments – or make them - we are demonstrating a level of acceptance of this kind of behavior…and showing our immaturity in the bargain. We have to be very careful as Christians to monitor our words and actions. What we say matters! What we do is important! Jesus has told us…these things have eternal consequences!
I think we would all pretty well concede that when we pray for someone – or when two of us agree before God about something, we trust that God will hear our answer and respond according to His will. When we gather with a friend or two and speak of God or share in His word – or even discuss how God has worked in an area of our lives – God is with us, and He blesses the discussion. What we don’t seem to recognize is that when we say and do ugly or unkind things…when we “misbehave,” God sees this, too. And He hangs His head in shame and disgust. Nothing gets by God!
Maybe you don’t care. Maybe you think that you will say and do what you please…that Jesus has forgiven your sins, and your seat at His table in heaven is secure – so the rest doesn’t matter. But I am here to tell you that it does. Maybe you believe that this person or the other truly is a jerk or an idiot, and telling the world is your job! It isn’t! God will handle this situation – and countless others like it – if only you will give the problem to HIM…then back off and allow Him room to work!
Let’s pay closer attention to our words and actions. Let’s be very careful about labels and criticisms and offering our opinion as “gospel”…because Jesus made it very clear that what we say and do has eternal consequences. In light of this consideration, don’t you want to be more careful? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
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 have grown so weary of what people are saying to one another these days – particularly on social media – that I’ve almost quit reading. So if I miss an important post from one of you, please understand that it was not my intention to ignore you. I really do care about the ups and downs in my friends’ lives. But when they resort to name-calling and vicious criticisms of others, I am just not able to support this.
Let’s focus primarily on one particular line of this scripture passage today… “What you say to one another is eternal.” Jesus could not have been more clear, could He? I’ve seen some pretty nasty comments lately from people I know and love…and perhaps they were just engaging in some banter that they felt teetered close to the edge of ugliness while remaining harmless. I am here to say that it is not innocuous…because not everyone knows you. Not everyone who reads what is posted or hears what is said will have the “back story” and know that this is a teasing exchange between two acquaintances or old friends.
In the same manner, when we share off-color comments – or make them - we are demonstrating a level of acceptance of this kind of behavior…and showing our immaturity in the bargain. We have to be very careful as Christians to monitor our words and actions. What we say matters! What we do is important! Jesus has told us…these things have eternal consequences!
I think we would all pretty well concede that when we pray for someone – or when two of us agree before God about something, we trust that God will hear our answer and respond according to His will. When we gather with a friend or two and speak of God or share in His word – or even discuss how God has worked in an area of our lives – God is with us, and He blesses the discussion. What we don’t seem to recognize is that when we say and do ugly or unkind things…when we “misbehave,” God sees this, too. And He hangs His head in shame and disgust. Nothing gets by God!
Maybe you don’t care. Maybe you think that you will say and do what you please…that Jesus has forgiven your sins, and your seat at His table in heaven is secure – so the rest doesn’t matter. But I am here to tell you that it does. Maybe you believe that this person or the other truly is a jerk or an idiot, and telling the world is your job! It isn’t! God will handle this situation – and countless others like it – if only you will give the problem to HIM…then back off and allow Him room to work!
Let’s pay closer attention to our words and actions. Let’s be very careful about labels and criticisms and offering our opinion as “gospel”…because Jesus made it very clear that what we say and do has eternal consequences. In light of this consideration, don’t you want to be more careful? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2016
June 24 ~ Matthew 18:15-17
“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.
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.
Have you ever gotten something new that required some assembly, and rather than follow the directions, you just plowed right in and tried to do it yourself? How many times did you have to “back-pedal” and read the directions? There are times when following the proper order of things makes all the difference!
In our Spiritual life, there is an “order” also…and Jesus spells it out in this scripture passage. When we have a “beef” with someone – or this person or another has hurt us or insulted us in some way - we tend to run all over the countryside telling everyone who will listen and cluck their tongue in commiseration. Or, we hope that by telling someone else, he/she will do the work for us and confront this person.
In truth, the best – and often easiest – solution is to talk to the offender directly. If that does not resolve the conflict, then we can enlist “backup.” And ultimately, if a resolution cannot be reached, you may have to “part company.” I can recall times in my own life where I followed this “plan” – and times when I did not. And I can attest that doing things as Jesus directed is the best way.
There will be times that this method does not result in the outcome for which you hoped. Sometimes, people do not want to change or admit that their way is not the only way…and sometimes, they are unwilling to apologize for hurtful words and actions. But if you offer someone an opportunity to resolve things between the two of you, at least you will be able to say, “I tried. I did things in the manner – and order – that Jesus commanded.” And this brings satisfaction – to yourself…and to Jesus.
Let’s be honest…the one place where we should be especially careful to follow the directions is where Jesus is the one giving them! He has given us a specific outline for how to handle conflict in these verses. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to pay attention?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.
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.
Have you ever gotten something new that required some assembly, and rather than follow the directions, you just plowed right in and tried to do it yourself? How many times did you have to “back-pedal” and read the directions? There are times when following the proper order of things makes all the difference!
In our Spiritual life, there is an “order” also…and Jesus spells it out in this scripture passage. When we have a “beef” with someone – or this person or another has hurt us or insulted us in some way - we tend to run all over the countryside telling everyone who will listen and cluck their tongue in commiseration. Or, we hope that by telling someone else, he/she will do the work for us and confront this person.
In truth, the best – and often easiest – solution is to talk to the offender directly. If that does not resolve the conflict, then we can enlist “backup.” And ultimately, if a resolution cannot be reached, you may have to “part company.” I can recall times in my own life where I followed this “plan” – and times when I did not. And I can attest that doing things as Jesus directed is the best way.
There will be times that this method does not result in the outcome for which you hoped. Sometimes, people do not want to change or admit that their way is not the only way…and sometimes, they are unwilling to apologize for hurtful words and actions. But if you offer someone an opportunity to resolve things between the two of you, at least you will be able to say, “I tried. I did things in the manner – and order – that Jesus commanded.” And this brings satisfaction – to yourself…and to Jesus.
Let’s be honest…the one place where we should be especially careful to follow the directions is where Jesus is the one giving them! He has given us a specific outline for how to handle conflict in these verses. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to pay attention?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2016
Mark 11:25-26
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”
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.
If you have spent any time around young children, you know that in a split second, they can have every single toy, puzzle, and game strewn across the floor. And we dare not remove a solitary item, because it will surely be missed!
I have started limiting what the kids can get out at one time. I will tell them, “Before you get out those cars, you have to pick up this box of blocks.” They don’t like it…and sometimes, they will say, “But I’m still playing with that toy!” Occasionally, they make a good case…but often, I tell them that we are not going to do anything else until they get done with the task at hand.
Now think about your life. There are times when you have so many things “strewn about”…you are clinging to this grudge or that conversation that upset you. You are angry with someone about SOMETHING…and you’re not quite done being mad! You come before God and ask Him to guide your steps…to care for you and your loved ones…to heal this situation or that. And God essentially says, “Clean up your mess first.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to help us. Just as WE could pick up the toys and get everything straightened up and in order for our little ones, God could surely clean up any mess we have. He could fix our grudges…resolve our conflicts…heal the world mentally, physically and spiritually…cover every debt of every kind. But God knows that we need to have a part in this. We learn valuable lessons from actively participating in this process. God also knows that if we keep accumulating clutter in our heart and mind, we’ll just pile our hearts full complaints, resentments, bitterness, ill will toward others, and other clutter. We say to our children, “I’m not giving you another thing to play with while you have all of this.” God says, “I cannot help you with ABC until you resolve XYZ.”
God is not being mean, just as we are not being unkind to our little ones. He is saying, “Assume responsibility. Don’t ask Me to do something you are not willing to do yourself. Get your house in order a little before you start asking Me to step in and save the day.”
If there is an area of your life where you feel that God isn’t answering – no matter how large or small – I suggest you take a long hard look at your own heart. See if there is a possibility that you are harboring a little clutter…a grudge, some bitterness, a hateful opinion of someone, or even a minor irritation. Let go…and let God have room to work! Once you clean up some of the mess, you may be astounded at how quickly God goes into action!
God can – and will – do anything we ask, if our heart is in the right place. Isn’t it time we cleared out enough space for Him to work? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”
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.
If you have spent any time around young children, you know that in a split second, they can have every single toy, puzzle, and game strewn across the floor. And we dare not remove a solitary item, because it will surely be missed!
I have started limiting what the kids can get out at one time. I will tell them, “Before you get out those cars, you have to pick up this box of blocks.” They don’t like it…and sometimes, they will say, “But I’m still playing with that toy!” Occasionally, they make a good case…but often, I tell them that we are not going to do anything else until they get done with the task at hand.
Now think about your life. There are times when you have so many things “strewn about”…you are clinging to this grudge or that conversation that upset you. You are angry with someone about SOMETHING…and you’re not quite done being mad! You come before God and ask Him to guide your steps…to care for you and your loved ones…to heal this situation or that. And God essentially says, “Clean up your mess first.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to help us. Just as WE could pick up the toys and get everything straightened up and in order for our little ones, God could surely clean up any mess we have. He could fix our grudges…resolve our conflicts…heal the world mentally, physically and spiritually…cover every debt of every kind. But God knows that we need to have a part in this. We learn valuable lessons from actively participating in this process. God also knows that if we keep accumulating clutter in our heart and mind, we’ll just pile our hearts full complaints, resentments, bitterness, ill will toward others, and other clutter. We say to our children, “I’m not giving you another thing to play with while you have all of this.” God says, “I cannot help you with ABC until you resolve XYZ.”
God is not being mean, just as we are not being unkind to our little ones. He is saying, “Assume responsibility. Don’t ask Me to do something you are not willing to do yourself. Get your house in order a little before you start asking Me to step in and save the day.”
If there is an area of your life where you feel that God isn’t answering – no matter how large or small – I suggest you take a long hard look at your own heart. See if there is a possibility that you are harboring a little clutter…a grudge, some bitterness, a hateful opinion of someone, or even a minor irritation. Let go…and let God have room to work! Once you clean up some of the mess, you may be astounded at how quickly God goes into action!
God can – and will – do anything we ask, if our heart is in the right place. Isn’t it time we cleared out enough space for Him to work? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 22, 2016
Luke 6:37-38
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
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.
There is a “local” morning show on television that I like to watch, and each Wednesday, a psychologist is interviewed for a segment on personal relationships. This morning, she was talking about people who try to do too much and have it all – particularly women. She said that often, we look at other people and think that they have it all together…and we try to be just like them. She also pointed out that when we see people in public – or on social media – we are often seeing their best. Their life may not be all that rosy or carefree behind closed doors.
So what does this have to do with today’s scripture passage? Every person has a story. The psychologist pointed out that each one of us has “issues”…struggles, concerns, things that are not perfect in our lives. And just after this segment aired, I saw a “promo” for a story that will air later about Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade, who says as a child, he had body image issues and would not swim without wearing a shirt. The promo featured a photo of the incredibly fit and muscular Wade with the tag line that even HE has body issues. See…we all have our challenges and idiosyncracies!
You’re probably still wondering how this relates to a scripture on judgment and criticism. So here goes…everybody has issues. Nobody is perfect. As well as you think you know someone, you really have no clue what is going on in their heart and mind…or maybe in the privacy of their own home. And they don’t know you, either. So when you criticize someone or pick on their faults, you are setting yourself up for the same scrutiny. And others might just end up judging you unfairly. At the very least, it doesn’t feel good to be criticized or disparaged – about anything!
Before you call someone a “jerk”…or a “screw-up”...or cluck your tongue about this or that thing that he/she said or did…stop and look at your own life. Remember that time when you acted so foolishly? Do you recall the incident where your judgment was seriously clouded? What about the horrible or thoughtless thing you said or did in the heat of the moment? These misbehaviors do not excuse those of someone else…one person’s sins do not justify another. But we are not the judge and jury…we are not God!
We cannot have it both ways…although I sometimes wish we could – don’t you? I’m human…and an imperfect sinner, so yes, there are days when I wish I could rant and rave and rail against the world as if I know what is best! But I have to stop and remind myself that the person who is getting on my last nerve – or behaving in a manner that is unacceptable to me – has just as much right to a relationship with Jesus and the privilege of being called His precious child as I do. The same forgiveness that I am afforded is offered to him/her, also. And judging others is simply “not my circus, not my monkeys.”
I don’t have a handle on this yet…but I am surely working on it. I am asking God each day to give me a heart like His…to allow me to see others as He sees them – and treat them as Jesus demonstrated. I’m not where I want or need to be yet…but will prayerfully keep trying to do better. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
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.
There is a “local” morning show on television that I like to watch, and each Wednesday, a psychologist is interviewed for a segment on personal relationships. This morning, she was talking about people who try to do too much and have it all – particularly women. She said that often, we look at other people and think that they have it all together…and we try to be just like them. She also pointed out that when we see people in public – or on social media – we are often seeing their best. Their life may not be all that rosy or carefree behind closed doors.
So what does this have to do with today’s scripture passage? Every person has a story. The psychologist pointed out that each one of us has “issues”…struggles, concerns, things that are not perfect in our lives. And just after this segment aired, I saw a “promo” for a story that will air later about Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade, who says as a child, he had body image issues and would not swim without wearing a shirt. The promo featured a photo of the incredibly fit and muscular Wade with the tag line that even HE has body issues. See…we all have our challenges and idiosyncracies!
You’re probably still wondering how this relates to a scripture on judgment and criticism. So here goes…everybody has issues. Nobody is perfect. As well as you think you know someone, you really have no clue what is going on in their heart and mind…or maybe in the privacy of their own home. And they don’t know you, either. So when you criticize someone or pick on their faults, you are setting yourself up for the same scrutiny. And others might just end up judging you unfairly. At the very least, it doesn’t feel good to be criticized or disparaged – about anything!
Before you call someone a “jerk”…or a “screw-up”...or cluck your tongue about this or that thing that he/she said or did…stop and look at your own life. Remember that time when you acted so foolishly? Do you recall the incident where your judgment was seriously clouded? What about the horrible or thoughtless thing you said or did in the heat of the moment? These misbehaviors do not excuse those of someone else…one person’s sins do not justify another. But we are not the judge and jury…we are not God!
We cannot have it both ways…although I sometimes wish we could – don’t you? I’m human…and an imperfect sinner, so yes, there are days when I wish I could rant and rave and rail against the world as if I know what is best! But I have to stop and remind myself that the person who is getting on my last nerve – or behaving in a manner that is unacceptable to me – has just as much right to a relationship with Jesus and the privilege of being called His precious child as I do. The same forgiveness that I am afforded is offered to him/her, also. And judging others is simply “not my circus, not my monkeys.”
I don’t have a handle on this yet…but I am surely working on it. I am asking God each day to give me a heart like His…to allow me to see others as He sees them – and treat them as Jesus demonstrated. I’m not where I want or need to be yet…but will prayerfully keep trying to do better. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 21, 2016
Luke 23:34-35
Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”
While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children and I sometimes use a little “punch card” system to reward good behavior. I punch holes in a card numbered one to twenty, and when the child gets all 20 numbers punched, he/she gets to pick something out of my “prize” basket. Yesterday, I started cards with Timothy and Nathan. They didn’t get all 20 punches, but they got a few. Late in the afternoon, the boys disappeared upstairs – after I had told them, “Don’t go upstairs.” I went to get them, and I said, “If you don’t go downstairs right now, I am going to tear up your punch cards, and you will not get to count those punches toward a prize!”
Nathan stomped his feet and began to and cry. “That’s AWFUL!” he wailed! “Why would you do that? That’s a TERRIBLE thing to do to tear up our punches.” He was absolutely furious with me! And I had to turn away, so that he wouldn’t see me laugh. It’s easy to forgive an almost-four-year-old for such an outburst. In fact, it’s often easy to forgive our children for a lot of things, because they honestly do not know what they are doing. At best, they do not fully grasp the ramifications of their words and actions.
I am not sure whether the Roman soldiers truly knew what they were doing to Jesus or not. I think what Jesus means in this passage is that they don’t fully grasp the implication of their actions. They have no idea the consequences that will result. This seems to be somewhat confirmed by Matthew 27:54, where…“ The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, ‘This man really was God’s Son!’”
So what does all of this mean for us? I believe there are times when we sin and/or offend others…and we truly don’t have a full grasp of our words or actions. And that is where Jesus stands in the gap for us and says to God, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He paid the price on the for our ignorance and carelessness, even before we were born. I also believe there are times that people offend us or mistreat us, and we are called to be like Jesus…to offer them grace, mercy and forgiveness - just as He has done for us so many times.
It may be a whole lot harder to forgive a teenager or adult than it is a young child…but we still must try. We must ask Jesus to equip us with whatever we need to operate in mercy…to say, “Maybe he/she didn’t have the whole picture.” Yes, Jesus could have climbed down from the cross and settled things totally with the Roman soldiers. He could have clearly demonstrated to the satisfaction of their understanding, that He was truly the King of the Jews. But because Jesus stayed on the cross, those of us who know Him and comprehend the ramifications of this loving act understand clearly WHO He is.
Because Jesus stayed on the cross – and suffered and died for our sins – we are forgiven…forever and ever. Only the true King of Kings would do this! And as His children, we are called to demonstrate this same mercy and forgiveness to others…to be sons and daughters of the Most High King and operate in grace and understanding. There will be days when we want to stomp and scream and cry out, “Why would you do such a terrible thing?” But instead, we must say, “Father, forgive them…as You have forgiven me.” Are you ready to truly act like a child of the KING and operate in mercy and forgiveness? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”
While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children and I sometimes use a little “punch card” system to reward good behavior. I punch holes in a card numbered one to twenty, and when the child gets all 20 numbers punched, he/she gets to pick something out of my “prize” basket. Yesterday, I started cards with Timothy and Nathan. They didn’t get all 20 punches, but they got a few. Late in the afternoon, the boys disappeared upstairs – after I had told them, “Don’t go upstairs.” I went to get them, and I said, “If you don’t go downstairs right now, I am going to tear up your punch cards, and you will not get to count those punches toward a prize!”
Nathan stomped his feet and began to and cry. “That’s AWFUL!” he wailed! “Why would you do that? That’s a TERRIBLE thing to do to tear up our punches.” He was absolutely furious with me! And I had to turn away, so that he wouldn’t see me laugh. It’s easy to forgive an almost-four-year-old for such an outburst. In fact, it’s often easy to forgive our children for a lot of things, because they honestly do not know what they are doing. At best, they do not fully grasp the ramifications of their words and actions.
I am not sure whether the Roman soldiers truly knew what they were doing to Jesus or not. I think what Jesus means in this passage is that they don’t fully grasp the implication of their actions. They have no idea the consequences that will result. This seems to be somewhat confirmed by Matthew 27:54, where…“ The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, ‘This man really was God’s Son!’”
So what does all of this mean for us? I believe there are times when we sin and/or offend others…and we truly don’t have a full grasp of our words or actions. And that is where Jesus stands in the gap for us and says to God, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He paid the price on the for our ignorance and carelessness, even before we were born. I also believe there are times that people offend us or mistreat us, and we are called to be like Jesus…to offer them grace, mercy and forgiveness - just as He has done for us so many times.
It may be a whole lot harder to forgive a teenager or adult than it is a young child…but we still must try. We must ask Jesus to equip us with whatever we need to operate in mercy…to say, “Maybe he/she didn’t have the whole picture.” Yes, Jesus could have climbed down from the cross and settled things totally with the Roman soldiers. He could have clearly demonstrated to the satisfaction of their understanding, that He was truly the King of the Jews. But because Jesus stayed on the cross, those of us who know Him and comprehend the ramifications of this loving act understand clearly WHO He is.
Because Jesus stayed on the cross – and suffered and died for our sins – we are forgiven…forever and ever. Only the true King of Kings would do this! And as His children, we are called to demonstrate this same mercy and forgiveness to others…to be sons and daughters of the Most High King and operate in grace and understanding. There will be days when we want to stomp and scream and cry out, “Why would you do such a terrible thing?” But instead, we must say, “Father, forgive them…as You have forgiven me.” Are you ready to truly act like a child of the KING and operate in mercy and forgiveness? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2016
Luke 17:3-4
“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive 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.
I watched a teacher work with a child at Zola’s pre-K graduation as the students performed a little skit for the crowd. This child apparently has special needs, and he kept repeatedly getting up and running across the stage with his arms flailing in the air. The teacher would retrieve the child and speak to him, then gently place him back in line. I lost track of how many times she did this.
Clearly this child has issues and could not help his behavior. A lot of people we encounter each day don’t have a good excuse for their thoughts, words and actions. And yet, Jesus calls on us to gently nudge them back in the right direction…and to forgive them over and again – even when they mistreat us or hurt us in some way.
You may be asking yourself, “Is she saying that we should forgive someone who is abusive and let them keep on harming us or the people we love?” I am saying that we must forgive these people…but we don’t have to stick around for their mistreatment. Forgiving someone and standing up for yourself are two entirely different actions. And sometimes, the most loving and forgiving thing you can do for someone who is repeating a bad behavior is to walk away from them.
This is one of the hardest scripture passages for many of us to wrap our brains around. We are not wired to forgive repeatedly. We are not geared toward “tough love.” Yet Jesus is calling us to practice both. Who needs your forgiveness…maybe for the umpteenth time? Who needs to hear, “I love you, but I cannot be around you while you are acting this way” as you practice extending grace, mercy and “tough love?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to have to ask for a hefty dose of patience and courage – on an almost-daily basis – in order to accomplish these demonstrations of Christian love! And I must start today! Because I know that Jesus is exercising these same qualities as He deals with me and my sins. To treat others any less would basically say that what He does for me – and for you – is a waste of time and energy…that Jesus might as well give up on us! I’m not prepared to do this…so the alternative is to follow Him and treat others as He has commanded. And that means offering forgiveness over…and over…and over. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive 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.
I watched a teacher work with a child at Zola’s pre-K graduation as the students performed a little skit for the crowd. This child apparently has special needs, and he kept repeatedly getting up and running across the stage with his arms flailing in the air. The teacher would retrieve the child and speak to him, then gently place him back in line. I lost track of how many times she did this.
Clearly this child has issues and could not help his behavior. A lot of people we encounter each day don’t have a good excuse for their thoughts, words and actions. And yet, Jesus calls on us to gently nudge them back in the right direction…and to forgive them over and again – even when they mistreat us or hurt us in some way.
You may be asking yourself, “Is she saying that we should forgive someone who is abusive and let them keep on harming us or the people we love?” I am saying that we must forgive these people…but we don’t have to stick around for their mistreatment. Forgiving someone and standing up for yourself are two entirely different actions. And sometimes, the most loving and forgiving thing you can do for someone who is repeating a bad behavior is to walk away from them.
This is one of the hardest scripture passages for many of us to wrap our brains around. We are not wired to forgive repeatedly. We are not geared toward “tough love.” Yet Jesus is calling us to practice both. Who needs your forgiveness…maybe for the umpteenth time? Who needs to hear, “I love you, but I cannot be around you while you are acting this way” as you practice extending grace, mercy and “tough love?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to have to ask for a hefty dose of patience and courage – on an almost-daily basis – in order to accomplish these demonstrations of Christian love! And I must start today! Because I know that Jesus is exercising these same qualities as He deals with me and my sins. To treat others any less would basically say that what He does for me – and for you – is a waste of time and energy…that Jesus might as well give up on us! I’m not prepared to do this…so the alternative is to follow Him and treat others as He has commanded. And that means offering forgiveness over…and over…and over. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2016
John 8:6-8
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
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.
Have you ever been around two little kids who were arguing, and rather than get in the middle of things and settle the conflict, you stood back to see what they could do? There are several reasons to try this (if you can stand it!)…1) the children are allowed to grow and work through their issue; 2) the adult demonstrates how petty and insignificant the “fuss” is; and 3) the adult withholds attention and choosing sides, which is often what the kids are after in the first place.
Here’s how I believe this applies to this scripture passage from John 8...
Additionally, are we busy pleasing Jesus – and serving Him? Or are we more concerned with making ourselves look big and important… or with making sure that everyone knows how good we are, how much we give and do for others, and how pleased God must be with us? Are we busy trying to get Jesus to pick favorites? Because I can assure you that this is a huge waste of time for everyone!
This is a good day to humble ourselves before God and admit that we are nowhere near worthy to “cast the first stone.” We will always be loved unconditionally and incredibly by Jesus…but He will never have a favorite. And we just as well figure that out now and get busy serving out of gratitude rather than any effort to gain extra “points.” We need to quit wasting our time on pettiness and discrimination. We need to stop trying to figure out who is right and wrong and concentrate on sharing the Good News of Jesus and how much He loves each and every one of us…the good, the bad, and the ugly!
We need to stop making excuses, passing judgments, and disparaging/condemning others…and take a long, hard look in the mirror. And we don’t have a minute to waste. Are you ready to drop your rock and fall on your knees in the dirt beside Jesus? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
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.
Have you ever been around two little kids who were arguing, and rather than get in the middle of things and settle the conflict, you stood back to see what they could do? There are several reasons to try this (if you can stand it!)…1) the children are allowed to grow and work through their issue; 2) the adult demonstrates how petty and insignificant the “fuss” is; and 3) the adult withholds attention and choosing sides, which is often what the kids are after in the first place.
Here’s how I believe this applies to this scripture passage from John 8...
- Jesus was drawing in the dirt and listening to the religious scholars and Pharisees argue about stoning a woman caught in adultery. By their own behavior, they were acting in an unloving manner. Jesus made no discrepancy among people…He spent time with everyone from religious leaders to murderers, adulterers, lepers and other “undesirables.” He never played favorites or talked down to anyone. By drawing in the dirt, Jesus was essentially saying, “Work it out amongst yourselves.”
- Jesus was also demonstrating how insignificant this argument was to Him…so unimportant that He didn’t even look up from doodling in the sand to give much of a response.
- Jesus did not choose sides. More importantly, He put the problem smack in the laps of those involved and challenged the one who was guiltless to cast the first stone.
Additionally, are we busy pleasing Jesus – and serving Him? Or are we more concerned with making ourselves look big and important… or with making sure that everyone knows how good we are, how much we give and do for others, and how pleased God must be with us? Are we busy trying to get Jesus to pick favorites? Because I can assure you that this is a huge waste of time for everyone!
This is a good day to humble ourselves before God and admit that we are nowhere near worthy to “cast the first stone.” We will always be loved unconditionally and incredibly by Jesus…but He will never have a favorite. And we just as well figure that out now and get busy serving out of gratitude rather than any effort to gain extra “points.” We need to quit wasting our time on pettiness and discrimination. We need to stop trying to figure out who is right and wrong and concentrate on sharing the Good News of Jesus and how much He loves each and every one of us…the good, the bad, and the ugly!
We need to stop making excuses, passing judgments, and disparaging/condemning others…and take a long, hard look in the mirror. And we don’t have a minute to waste. Are you ready to drop your rock and fall on your knees in the dirt beside Jesus? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2016
Jeremiah 31:33-34
“This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They’ll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I’ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I’ll forget they ever sinned!” God’s Decree.
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.
Yesterday, our Zola “graduated” from pre-K. Kindergarten, here she comes! I looked at the little girl who walked proudly across the stage to receive her “diploma,” and I thought about all that she has learned in two years…and what lies ahead of her. The world is truly her oyster, as the saying goes. I also thought about how the crowning achievement for my little niece – and her brothers – will be when they truly come to know Jesus firsthand…when God’s laws are written on their hearts forever and ever.
We can teach others about God. We can share Bible stories and help them memorize the Ten Commandments. We can evangelize the world and spread the Good News of Jesus. But until each and every one of us internalize the message of Christ and “write it on our hearts”…we’ll keep stumbling around in the dark for the most part…and we will be vulnerable to sin.
I am not saying that once we truly develop a relationship with Jesus, we never sin again. That is why the last lines of this passage are so important, where God says that “I’ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I’ll forget they ever sinned!” Without the blood of Jesus and His continual forgiveness, we’d all pretty well be sunk! But once we “write God’s laws” on our heart and come into a full relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we have a fighting chance against the desire to succumb to sin. When serving Jesus becomes our focus, the lure of sin is greatly diminished.
There is another component to this that must be addressed. None of us is perfect. But for God’s grace and Jesus’ blood over our sins, we would all be like the people of Israel and Judah who stumbled in the wilderness and lived in disrespect and disobedience. We are so incredibly blessed by God’s forgiveness through Jesus. And we must honor this great gift and humbly forgive others in return. That means no judging…no bickering or name calling…no gossiping…and no hating of any kind!
We often so underestimate how great forgiveness has been in our own lives…what Jesus has taken from us – and what God has forgotten. We must not dishonor this great Salvation by treating others with anything less than grace and mercy. We must offer a great example of unconditional love to the world and let others see Jesus in each of our words, thoughts, and actions. This must be our gift to our children…and our demonstration of honor and gratitude to Jesus.
I know that God’s laws will be written on the hearts of our little ones someday. My job…and yours…is to embrace Jesus and give the world a daily example of what it means to have firsthand knowledge of His amazing grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We must live in a way that makes others want to say, “I’ll take a hefty dose of what he/she has!” We must give them a reason to want to write God’s laws on their own hearts forever and ever.
Humble yourself before God today…thank Him - for forgiving and forgetting your sins. Ask Him to help you do the same toward others. Put your sinful past behind you…and help others to do this in their own lives. Check the condition of your “heart”…and get busy being the new creature in Christ whom God has called you to be! People are watching…what are you showing them?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They’ll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I’ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I’ll forget they ever sinned!” God’s Decree.
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.
Yesterday, our Zola “graduated” from pre-K. Kindergarten, here she comes! I looked at the little girl who walked proudly across the stage to receive her “diploma,” and I thought about all that she has learned in two years…and what lies ahead of her. The world is truly her oyster, as the saying goes. I also thought about how the crowning achievement for my little niece – and her brothers – will be when they truly come to know Jesus firsthand…when God’s laws are written on their hearts forever and ever.
We can teach others about God. We can share Bible stories and help them memorize the Ten Commandments. We can evangelize the world and spread the Good News of Jesus. But until each and every one of us internalize the message of Christ and “write it on our hearts”…we’ll keep stumbling around in the dark for the most part…and we will be vulnerable to sin.
I am not saying that once we truly develop a relationship with Jesus, we never sin again. That is why the last lines of this passage are so important, where God says that “I’ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I’ll forget they ever sinned!” Without the blood of Jesus and His continual forgiveness, we’d all pretty well be sunk! But once we “write God’s laws” on our heart and come into a full relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we have a fighting chance against the desire to succumb to sin. When serving Jesus becomes our focus, the lure of sin is greatly diminished.
There is another component to this that must be addressed. None of us is perfect. But for God’s grace and Jesus’ blood over our sins, we would all be like the people of Israel and Judah who stumbled in the wilderness and lived in disrespect and disobedience. We are so incredibly blessed by God’s forgiveness through Jesus. And we must honor this great gift and humbly forgive others in return. That means no judging…no bickering or name calling…no gossiping…and no hating of any kind!
We often so underestimate how great forgiveness has been in our own lives…what Jesus has taken from us – and what God has forgotten. We must not dishonor this great Salvation by treating others with anything less than grace and mercy. We must offer a great example of unconditional love to the world and let others see Jesus in each of our words, thoughts, and actions. This must be our gift to our children…and our demonstration of honor and gratitude to Jesus.
I know that God’s laws will be written on the hearts of our little ones someday. My job…and yours…is to embrace Jesus and give the world a daily example of what it means to have firsthand knowledge of His amazing grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We must live in a way that makes others want to say, “I’ll take a hefty dose of what he/she has!” We must give them a reason to want to write God’s laws on their own hearts forever and ever.
Humble yourself before God today…thank Him - for forgiving and forgetting your sins. Ask Him to help you do the same toward others. Put your sinful past behind you…and help others to do this in their own lives. Check the condition of your “heart”…and get busy being the new creature in Christ whom God has called you to be! People are watching…what are you showing them?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2016
James 5:16
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy just cracks me up sometimes. He is the world’s worst to tell on himself! He will have a little “incident” at our house, and we will work through it and say, “It’s over and done. Let’s move on.” He might even ask, “Are you going to tell my mom?” We will tell him that there is no need for anyone else to know about what happened. And the first thing Timothy will say when he sees his mother is, “I was bad,” or “I had a problem” or some form of a “confession.”
Oh, bless this child and his innocence! Someday all too soon, he will probably learn to keep his “faults” to himself. It’s what we do. We pretend to the world that everything is wonderful…that we don’t make mistakes…that we don’t have struggles with everything from addictions to relationships to physical ailments and illnesses. In the words of the old Gillette Company antiperspirant commercial, we never let them see us sweat!
We are often far too proud to ask for prayer. This is such a simple request with incredibly powerful results…but we just cannot bring ourselves to do it – not even to our closest friends and relatives. We barely admit to God that we require help! We surely don’t want anyone else to know that we are just like everyone else – weak and SINFUL and in need of corporate intercession.
You don’t have to announce your deepest, darkest secrets to the world. But find someone you love and trust, and let them in just a little. Admit to this person that you have an area where you need prayer…and allow them to share in your burden – and your petitions. You will be amazed at the results - and the blessings - as you share your faith and discipleship with another.
So let’s take a page from a 7-year-old’s book today and “tell on ourselves.” Let’s let others see us sweat, just a little…in order that we can receive the benefits of their prayers and support. Let’s pray for others and receive THEIR confessions and prayer requests without passing judgment. And together, let’s begin to heal by the power of Jesus. Are you ready?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy just cracks me up sometimes. He is the world’s worst to tell on himself! He will have a little “incident” at our house, and we will work through it and say, “It’s over and done. Let’s move on.” He might even ask, “Are you going to tell my mom?” We will tell him that there is no need for anyone else to know about what happened. And the first thing Timothy will say when he sees his mother is, “I was bad,” or “I had a problem” or some form of a “confession.”
Oh, bless this child and his innocence! Someday all too soon, he will probably learn to keep his “faults” to himself. It’s what we do. We pretend to the world that everything is wonderful…that we don’t make mistakes…that we don’t have struggles with everything from addictions to relationships to physical ailments and illnesses. In the words of the old Gillette Company antiperspirant commercial, we never let them see us sweat!
We are often far too proud to ask for prayer. This is such a simple request with incredibly powerful results…but we just cannot bring ourselves to do it – not even to our closest friends and relatives. We barely admit to God that we require help! We surely don’t want anyone else to know that we are just like everyone else – weak and SINFUL and in need of corporate intercession.
You don’t have to announce your deepest, darkest secrets to the world. But find someone you love and trust, and let them in just a little. Admit to this person that you have an area where you need prayer…and allow them to share in your burden – and your petitions. You will be amazed at the results - and the blessings - as you share your faith and discipleship with another.
So let’s take a page from a 7-year-old’s book today and “tell on ourselves.” Let’s let others see us sweat, just a little…in order that we can receive the benefits of their prayers and support. Let’s pray for others and receive THEIR confessions and prayer requests without passing judgment. And together, let’s begin to heal by the power of Jesus. Are you ready?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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