Daily Devotional for May 31, 2024 – A meme, Scripture, and a National Spelling Bee… “How-to” lessons for the kid in all of us…

1 Peter 3:8-12
And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it! For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

This morning, a friend shared a meme with a list titled “40 Old-fashioned Skills That Kids Need to Know.” I copied the list (which actually has 51 items), and here are a few that I thought were particularly good…

How to write a letter

How to make a phone call

How to take a message

How to converse with an elder

How to play with a baby

How to sew on a button

How to genuinely apologize

How to introduce yourself

How to notice the needs of others

How to make scrambled eggs

How to balance a checkbook

How to write a thank you note

How to do laundry

How to wash dishes

How to budget

How to wait and save for something

How to ask questions to get to know someone better

How to read a map

How to find a book in the library

How to seek counsel from someone more experienced

How to care for a pet

How to select a thoughtful gift

How to admit a mistake

How to iron a shirt

How to give someone the benefit of the doubt

How to weigh pros and cons

How to have good table manners

How to use a fire extinguisher

How to address and stamp an envelope

How to write a check

How to refill a stapler

How to put air in a bike tire

How to pump gas

How to change a flat tire

I was particularly struck by the ones that spoke of relationships…how to give someone the benefit of the doubt; how to weigh pros and cons; how to admit a mistake; and how to genuinely apologize. This scripture would suggest that we add…“How to be gracious and refrain from gloating” and “How to guard our tongue and avoid snapping back.” I would also add, “How to pray for those who are evil, unkind, deceitful and dishonest.” And while the Bible is filled with guidance on the “mechanics” of these…the bottom line is that we simply need to begin.
 
Pray for those who snap back and are unkind – or downright mean. Pray for those who gloat, the liars, cheats, and deceitful ones who are always looking for a scapegoat or an excuse. When things go well for you, humbly praise God for the blessing and/or victory…but don’t lord over those who disagree or find themselves on the other side of an issue or situation. 
 
I watched a news report about two 12-year-olds who squared off in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. In the second-only “spell-off” ever, winner Bruhat Soma spelled 29 words correctly to the 20 words of Faizan Zaki. According to information at APNews.com, “Scripps said Bruhat’s winning word was ‘abseil,’ defined as ‘descent in mountaineering by means of a rope looped over a projection above.’” After his defeat, young Zaki walked over and politely shook the hand of Soma and congratulated him. I read where Zaki had shown encouragement to other students in the earlier rounds of the spell-off. He was humble in his own victory – and congratulated their efforts to make it as far as they did. 
 
We could learn a lot from these seventh graders. We could simply begin to be better people…to be kinder, more loving and gracious, and merciful. We don’t have to give anyone a “pass” for bad behavior – and there is nothing wrong with celebrating our triumphs and accomplishments. But we can be more like Christ in the way we approach and relate to others. We can love one another with tender hearts and humble minds. With God’s help, we can do this – and we must! So, let’s get started! Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 28, 2020 – Are you operating in God’s energy?

Philippians 2:12-13
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

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 back to childhood…wasn’t it relatively easy? Someone told you when to get up, when to go to bed, when to eat, where to go – even what to wear. Much of your life was regimented by the guidance of our parents or other adults in our lives…and we faithfully complied with their directives. We didn’t even have to think about much of it…we just did what we were told.

As we grew and became more independent, the “lessons” of our youth guided many of us. We continued to honor the guidance of our parents as we internalized their instructions – and hopefully the morals and values that they instilled in us. While we can’t say it is always a good thing to be told, “You’re just like your mother/father”…in many instances, this is high praise. It means that we learned their lessons well and carry their “energy” into the next phase of our lives.

This is what Paul is telling the Philippians – and us. Even though Jesus is not with us in the flesh, we can internalize His teachings and directives to operate in God’s energy. Through Salvation in Jesus Christ, we can continue to live in responsive obedience. The end goal is to be like Him…for others to see Jesus in our words and actions and think to themselves, “He/she is like our Heavenly Father!”

This morning, I heard news reports about a respected and beloved Emergency Room physician in New York who took her own life. She was despondent over her experiences treating COVID-19 patients. We hear daily news reports of how “the natives are growing restless” with social distancing and the weariness of dealing with this virus. It would be easy for us to throw up our hands, cry out to God and say, “Enough! I have no energy left for this!”

I get it…I’m as worn out with this as anyone. This is one of those times when horrific things are happening and I don’t have good answers when others ask, “WHY?” I don’t know why God is allowing these things. And I am praying daily that He sends answers and solutions. Meanwhile, I am asking God to fill me with His energy…to give me hope, courage and faith to continue to operate in the teachings of Jesus and honor His incomparable gift of Salvation. There are moments when I falter…I don’t get it right all of the time. I know that I must stay diligent in my efforts to connect with God and receive His instructions and keep my “hope tank” filled. I need His constant encouragement to stay courageous and positive…and so do you.

WE.CAN.DO.THIS! Stay safe, stay well, and keep washing your hands! God is still with us…do you feel His energy? Are you striving every day to be more like Him? Don’t you think you should be?

©2020 Debbie Robus