Daily Devotional for April 23, 2024 – Seeking sensible instruction and using sound judgment…are you sure you can trust your “messenger?”

Proverbs 13:14-17
Sensible instruction
    is a life-giving fountain
that helps you escape
    all deadly traps.
Sound judgment is praised,
but people without good sense
    are on the way to disaster.
If you have good sense,
you will act sensibly,
    but fools act like fools.
Whoever delivers your message
can make things better
    or worse for you.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

It happened to me again last week…for a hot minute, I believed the information of a trusted “friend” on Facebook, only to discover his “news” was not true. A local meteorologist I follow showed photos of a giant water moccasin said to be swimming in Lake Ouachita in south Arkansas. Several people noted that they have seen some really big snakes there…but then one person said, “I saw this same post somewhere else last year!” Sure enough…more people began to say this was an old post – purportedly to be from another state on another waterway. 
 
I have no doubt that the meteorologist thought these photos and the accompanying data were valid…he is not given to false reporting. But it just goes to show how easily you and I can be duped. And nowhere do we have to be more careful these days than media of all kinds. Just because we see something on the Internet – or read it in the newspaper – doesn’t make it so. And this brings me to the last verse of this passage…“Whoever delivers your message can make things better or worse for you.”
 
My example shows that even trusted “messengers” can sometimes provide misleading or false information. I would have been embarrassed if I had shared the post about the snake. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world. However, if I share claims that run counter to scripture, intend to disparage or demean a certain person or group, or misinterpret God’s word and commands, I can do great harm. We need look no further than the wild claims and rumors that swirled during the COVID pandemic – or the declarations of certain “people of faith” that God’s blessings are only offered to those from this religious belief or that group or lifestyle – to see the damage that can be done.
 
Yes, it is often tedious work to get to the truth. God never promised us “easy.” But He did give us everything we need to know…every command, proverb, and lesson to guide and guard us. God gave us His word – and the privilege of direct communication with Him 24/7 – so that we can dig deeply and find His truth over the din and dishonesty of the world. The rest is up to us. It seems to me that Solomon is telling us that we have a choice…we can assume that what others tell us is right and true. We can go along to get along and simply accept the words and actions of the crowd – or the claims and tenets of the people and groups to whom we wish to belong. Or we can do the hard work of getting to know God for ourselves – and strive to always speak and act as He commands.
 
As Solomon tells us…“Sensible instruction is a life-giving fountain that helps you escape all deadly traps. Sound judgment is praised, but people without good sense are on the way to disaster. Whoever delivers your message can make things better or worse for you.” My prayer is that we would dig deeply, seek God’s sensible instruction, use good sense, and only trust and serve one Messenger. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 13 – God’s word is always His bond…follow the Light and the Truth!

Psalm 119:105-112
By your words I can see where I’m going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
I always have and always will.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I am old enough to remember when someone’s word was his/her bond. Today, I want everything in writing…signed, sealed, and delivered…and with good reason. We have come to a point in this world where a man’s word means nothing much of the time – and quite frankly, even a written contract often serves as no guarantee, either. Just yesterday, Greg and I were told that work on a fence we thought would finally be erected in our yard this week will not even be started until after the first of the year. Never mind that the contract we signed in August said the fence would be erected by the first of November!

Yes, things happen, and work gets pushed back. And we have listened to one “excuse” after another for the delays. But this is the tip of the iceberg for how “life” goes these days. Celebrity endorsers try to sell us everything from vitamins and copper bands to walk-in showers and reverse mortgages. Elected leaders look straight into the camera and lie without even blinking.  Pastors keep devastating information from their congregations and/or mislead parishioners into believing everything from Biblical edicts that are nowhere to be found in scripture – to claims that they need to “give until it hurts” so a new whatever can be purchased “to further God’s Kingdom.”
 
I find it sad and scary how much people have handed over their trust and confidence to so many who are only out to serve themselves – no matter the cost. But this will never be the case with God. God’s word is true – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We can always trust Him to guide and guard us…to keep us on track and teach us His holy rules. God’s word is one hundred percent a beam of light on a dark path…and we would do well to follow this Light!  
 
Use God’s illumination to see the liars and cheats in your path – and give them a wide berth. With God’s help, learn to discern when you are being sold a bill of goods – and when you can take His message to the bank! Ask God to keep you on course – even when others try to persuade you differently. Follow the Light of God’s path in all things and thank Him for this amazing gift. Live in the confidence that you are trusting the One who will never fail you – and He is pleased with your faithfulness. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 5, 2017 – Who do you believe?

May 5 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

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.

Last Sunday, the 2nd-3rd graders and I talked about the return of Jesus and how we don’t know when this will happen. The Bible tells us that it will be a complete surprise.  We also read several scriptures that described this “Second Coming”…and I noted that ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, people have been talking about His return as if it could happen any day!

We agreed that yes, Jesus could come back today…or tomorrow…or 2000 years from now. And the most important thing for us to remember is to be ready either way.  Should we be afraid?  Not if we have surrendered our hearts to Jesus and asked Him to forgive our sins and fill us with His Holy Spirit. Should we worry and fret and live anxiously as we anticipate His return? Absolutely not! Should we carefully – and prayerfully – go about our lives…paying close attention to God’s will and doing our best to serve Him as He requires?  Most definitely!

It seems like now, more than ever, there are too many people who are running around claiming that the sky is falling. They are so busy telling us what God wants us to believe…and too many of us are neglecting to check the facts for ourselves.  Don’t allow others to dictate your relationship with God. Do not rely on their “word” and take it for “gospel”.

Get to know God for yourself…spend time talking with Him each and every day – and LISTEN for His responses.  Ask yourself what Jesus would do in all situations and circumstances.  Better yet…ask Him!  You can talk to Jesus any minute of the night or day…and He will answer!  Don’t make decisions based on thoughts like…“It’s been done this way forever,” or “That’s what my grandma always told me.”

Let God guide your thoughts and behaviors, rather than letting church and government leaders – and others – dictate your opinions and actions. If something seems amiss or unsettling, spend some time talking to God and figure out whether He wants you to go another direction. At the end of the day, be confident that you are speaking and acting as God mandates…not others.  This may not always be comfortable or feel “safe”…but if God shows you a different side of things, it’s best to listen.

God will use other people to help us determine His will and the course of action that we should pursue. But so will the devil! Our job is to know for sure from whom we are hearing…and follow His lead. As I reminded the children last Sunday, if we are doing what God wants us to do and living as He has commanded, we will be ready for heaven when Jesus returns for His church – or calls us Home.  I know I want to be ready…don’t you?

©2017 Debbie Robus