Daily Devotional for April 10, 2024 – Walking in the bright light of Christ…and sharing His love and truth with others

Matthew 24:4-8
Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.

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.

After the eclipse, one of my favorite online comedians posted a video about the people who waited for the “rapture” during this event – and of course, they are still here! He joked that perhaps they were left…and the true believers were taken – and wouldn’t that be something?! In all his comic relief, there was a stark truth. Too many people have molded and massaged scripture to suit their own whims, attitudes and ideas…and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to what Jesus taught and when He will return. Too many people are so focused on “the end of the story” that they are missing the presence of Jesus here – and now!
 
I’ve said before that I don’t dwell on “end times.” Quite frankly, I don’t believe I need to waste my time on this – because I don’t plan to be here! Furthermore, I don’t think it does a lick of good to threaten and frighten others into believing in Jesus out of fear of being “left behind” – or rotting in hell. I will tell you – I grew up “in fear of the LORD” – and I mean actual fear – not in a context of reverence and awe. Only when I learned to live in Christ’s love – and to trust that He always wanted the very best for me in everything did my faith truly flourish.
 
The total solar eclipse was an awe-inspiring event and experience for me on many levels. But as I have noted, nothing was more incredible to me than how we all dropped our attitudes and biases for a few brief minutes and came together to share in this God-given phenomenon. My suggestion is that we all start looking for “God moments” – and dwell in those rather than scare tactics, hatred, and divisiveness. 
 
Rather than encourage others to go down a rabbit hole with us and live in the land of fear over every person who is different and every situation that isn’t to our liking, let’s look for the things that we can agree on…the positive ways that God is blessing each of us every day. Let’s find God’s presence and power in the beauty of nature, the wonder of a sunrise or sunset, the intricacies of babies and children and how they grow and learn, and the incredible talents and artistry of so many adults. 
 
In a way, God plunged us into momentary darkness on April 8th, and we all looked up at the tiny corona of light that surrounded the moon. Then just as quickly, He shocked us back into the brightness of daylight! My prayer is that those brief few minutes were life-changing – a “recharge” – for many of us. I pray that we take this experience and apply it to our everyday living… that we are cognizant this is just how quickly God can work in us and change us. 
 
It’s time for us to walk in the bright light of Christ…to be positive and powerful because He lives within us…to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus and be so focused on His love and blessings that everyone we encounter wants in on this for themselves. It is time to recognize and serve the real Christ Jesus, who dwells in the hearts and minds of those who love and follow Him – not a mere mortal who claims to have power and authority! It is time to be the earthly hands and feet of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ…and to invite others to share in His full supremacy and glory for themselves. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2022 – Counting for Christ…which “Pilate” will you be?

John 19:20-22
The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the signboard was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people read it.

Then the chief priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.”

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

If you read the devotional I wrote yesterday, you know that I spoke of Pontius Pilate and how he handed Jesus over to the Jews for crucifixion. I noted that scripture indicates that Pilate did this reluctantly. But in the end, he bowed to pressure from the crowd. And now, we see where Pilate apparently had a “moment of clarity” – even bravery. As the chief priests insisted that Pilate designate that Jesus said He was King of the Jews – indicating this was His self-appointed title and not one readily agreed upon and endorsed – Pilate stood steadfast and said, “What I have written…stays exactly as it is.”
 
Poor Pilate…his “faith” was surely a mixed bag! And yet, this could be readily said of many of us. We are brave and steady in our convictions when it is convenient or popular…but at the first sign of trouble, we cower – or go silent. Better not to say anything than to risk ridicule, exile – or worse!
 
I have shared a glimpse at two “Pilates” – the one who was ready to do what was prudent and “safe” as he literally washed his hands of Jesus – and the one who boldly said, “I stand by my declaration that Jesus is the King of the Jews.” You and I often find ourselves facing similar decisions in life. We can stand up for what we know God is telling us and showing us and live with confidence as witnesses to the love and teachings of Jesus. Or we can decide to quietly blend into the crowd and go about our lives in the relative “safety in numbers.” The choice is totally ours alone. 
 
Every believer must decide who to serve and how to speak and act as a redeemed follower of Jesus Christ. The ripple effect of our witness in every aspect of life is immeasurable. So choose wisely. Pray fervently, and ask God to guide and guard your every word and action. Your witness matters…it’s time to count for Christ! Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 18, 2024 – Setting your heart on what is in heaven…who are you trying to please?

Colossians 2:20-3:4
You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don’t have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, “Don’t handle this. Don’t taste that. Don’t touch this.”? After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don’t really have any power over our desires.

You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory.

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

I saw a sign advertising a local church, and the ad made a point to note that the King James Version (KJV) of scripture is used in worship. Hymns, which were a huge part of my childhood worship experiences, are something today’s children rarely hear – much less readily recognize and can sing. If my maternal grandmother could see what many people wear to church today, she would be mortified. She was of the “matching hat and gloves” era.

I used to scoff at people who said, “Nature is my church,” or “I can worship God better while sitting in my fishing boat – or walking across the golf course.” Now I find some of the holiest moments of my life occur while I am taking a walk – or while sitting on our back porch and deck watching and listening to the songbirds or looking out across the river valley.

As a young girl, I would have been mortified if a non-member of my church had dared to participate in Holy Communion. I wonder what some of those older members would think if they attended a multi-denominational Walk to Emmaus retreat today, where Holy Communion is served daily to everyone. And even today, the rituals and requirements of many denominations dictate everything from how congregants worship to who is allowed to lead, serve – or even attend…while Jesus commands us to “love one another.”

It is time to realize that our relationship with Jesus – and our demonstration of His teachings and commands – is not subject to the whims and biases of humans or dependent on rituals, buildings, clothing, music, food, or “membership.”  At every turn, we must ask ourselves, “What does Jesus want? What would He have us say and do?” This must inform every decision we make – every word and action that we demonstrate. And it may come at a cost…others may not like how we serve as Christ’s disciples. They may even disparage or exclude us.  The question is…what does God think? This is all that matters.

Please don’t misunderstand me…I am not bashing organized worship, friend groups, or clubs and other organizations. I am merely cautioning you to remember that so much of any gathering of human beings brings about a sense of “belonging” – and even exclusivity. Peer pressure is very real…and the devil loves to persuade us to conform to “norms” of a certain group or situation.

Truly, the only thing that should concern you and me is belonging to Jesus. When we are genuinely and wholly His – and speak and act as He commands by loving others in all things, God is glorified, and we are truly blessed. The price was too high…the sacrifice of Jesus was too great for us to give even an ounce of attention to what anyone else thinks.

Talk to God. Ask Him to show you where you might be leaning too much on human approval or inclusion and need to make an adjustment. Focus solely on pleasing Jesus, and He will fill your life with meaning and joy. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 21, 2023 – God is with us…don’t ever be afraid or discouraged!

Joshua 1:9
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

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

This scripture passage caused me to ask myself, “Who is the bravest person you know?” Rather than name a single person, I thought about several familiar examples of bravery…Martin Luther King…the Freedom Riders…the parents and family members victimized by mass shootings – from Columbine and Parkland to Sandy Hook and Uvalde, to name a few…the survivors of 9-11…thousands of soldiers in hundreds of wars…the disciples of Christ who have been persecuted and martyred for their faith…and “heroes” who acted with courage and strength in countless situations throughout the history of the world.

I also thought about other acts of bravery…the person who suffers from addiction and vows to do whatever it takes to recover – and does…the mother who gets in her car with her children and drives away from an abusive situation – unsure of where she will go or how they will survive…the child who is bullied or ridiculed in some manner – and rises above this to become a successful, productive adult…the millions of people who are battling a terminal illness with grace, dignity, and hope…the activists that stand up and say, “This situation is wrong,” and fight to make things better in schools, communities, churches, and nations around the world. I thought of those who have used their own difficulties and heartaches to offer empathy and care to others, regardless of the personal toll or embarrassment.

In every situation I have described and more, God is there to help. Some of us seem to have forgotten this. We operate in fear and trepidation because we don’t really trust God to help us do the hard work. We cave to peer pressure, addiction, abuse, poor health, complacency or laziness, and more, because we don’t seem to fully trust that with Christ, all things are possible.

Now, I’m not saying that we can trust Jesus, and He will rescue us from terminal illness, make us skinny and fit, or even take away our desire for whatever addiction calls our name and continually tempts us. I’m not saying that if we just trust Jesus enough, there won’t be school shootings and natural disasters or abuse and terroristic acts. I firmly believe that evil will always be with us on this earth because the devil is not going away. But I also believe that Jesus can equip us to face whatever is thrown at us. With His power and strength, we can overcome many of these challenges – and get a handle on the others.

Jesus will show us how to accomplish His desires – and equip us to do so. He will give us the courage to stand up for the convictions that line up with His commands. He will enable us to endure illness and injury with dignity and a demonstration that we are not defined by our limitations. Jesus can give us faith to live in the hope that healing sometimes comes in death…and assurance that those who have passed ahead of us still have a place in our hearts and minds – and we will see them again someday. Jesus can stand in the gap with our Heavenly Father and equip us to face our fears and challenges with courage and the assurance that He has our back!

When push comes to shove, some are simply better than others at living in the hope, strength, and bravery of Christ Jesus. But we are equally offered this gift of His presence and power. We can all do better at “walking the walk” and genuinely trusting Him to guide and guard our words and actions. I don’t know if you caught that today’s scripture comes from the prophecy of Joshua…written before Jesus came to earth. God, our Heavenly Father, was with the faithful then. He has always been with us…and Jesus reminded us of this by His own demonstrations of incredible faith and courage. We are never alone. Our God is with us! Be courageous, brave, and hopeful. By the grace and power of Christ Jesus, we can do this!  Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 16, 2022 – No more looking in the window…it’s time to be fully “in” with Jesus…and welcome others to join us!

Colossians 2:11-15
Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It’s not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you’re already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ.

When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.

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

A few weeks ago, a solid black kitten appeared in our yard. He seemed skittish at first, but Greg knelt on the driveway and was soon petting the head of this little guy. We decided this kitten belonged to someone – he was too friendly and loveable to be feral. We asked around, and no one claimed him. Neighbors began to say, “I saw him in my yard,” or “I think he was next door.” Ultimately, we learned that a neighbor a few houses away has been caring for the cat and plans to keep him.

We are not at a stage in our lives where we want another inside cat, and “Inky” seems so happy outside that he really ought to get to romp and play there much of the time. But our neighbor is afraid a coyote or other animal will harm him, so once she takes him to the veterinarian for neutering and a complete physical, we figure “Inky” will become an indoor cat fulltime. For now, “Inky” comes to our yard almost daily and gets a snack, fresh water, and lots of hugs, snuggles, and even belly rubs from us. Often, we will raise a window shade in the morning – or look out the window – and there is “Inky,” peering back at us. It is as if he suspects that something wonderful lies just beyond the glass…more frequent snacks and snuggles, perhaps…or maybe great chases and adventures beyond what he experiences outdoors.

For a myriad of reasons, many spend their lives looking in the window…longing to be an insider. They want to fit in with their peers…to feel like they truly belong to this group or that one. They want to be part of the “successful” crowd – in business and in life. Some long to be married, while others long to be parents and have a family of their own. Others wish to win the lottery – or simply have a good-paying job and a little extra money in their pockets. Some yearn to feel like they truly are seen and heard in their community…that they are not ostracized or ridiculed because of their age, skin color, socio-economic or educational level, sexual orientation, or any other factor that “society” uses to put people in their place.

The GOOD NEWS is that with Christ, we are all “in.” When we surrender to Jesus Christ, the one commonality we share with all others – sin – is eradicated. We belong to God’s Only Son. We are in – forever and ever. You and I would do well to look at all others through this “lens” – to see who and what Jesus sees. Additionally, we need to remind ourselves how privileged we are to belong to the group that matters above and beyond all others – the body of believers in Jesus Christ. We don’t have to look through the window and yearn to be included…Jesus has already made every sacrifice necessary for this to happen.

“Inky” will visit the vet and get his surgery – and any other necessary treatments to make him completely well and fit. And I imagine he will receive a new “home” after that – inside forever at our neighbor’s, where he will be pampered and given a cozy life. It is likely that we will visit him there from time to time…and our neighbor will welcome us, because she knows how much we love this little guy.  I ask you…“How welcoming are you to other believers? Is your door open to them, or are you still making exceptions and exclusions?” As an “insider” in the Kingdom of Heaven, are you truly demonstrating this inclusiveness to others – and giving those who have not yet made a commitment Christ every motivation to do so?

The time is now to come together as redeemed followers of Jesus – to open the door and welcome inside all who will join us in this surrender and faithful discipleship. It is also time to live in a way that all others will feel welcome and included. No more standing at the window…it’s time to throw open the door!  Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 14, 2022 – Holding tightly to the commands of Jesus…we’re not playing “Cousin Fear Factor!”

Hebrews 3:12-14
My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end.

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

My cousins recently hosted all seven of their grandchildren for a week of “Cousin Camp.” The children enjoyed swimming in their grandparents’ pool – and I’m sure plenty of great food. “Grammie” also planned daily contests and games to occupy and interest the children. One day, it was an egg yolk relay – where the children had to carefully carry a raw egg yolk in their hands from one point to another without bursting the yolk.

Another day, the children used their toes to “fish” in a bucket of ice water for little toys. And then came “Fear Factor” day. The cousins were given a bowl with two dried crickets – yes, real crickets! (“Grammie” said she ordered a bag of “edible” bugs from Amazon!) The children were timed as they ate the two bugs, then stuck out their tongue to prove that said bugs were indeed swallowed. A four-year-old grand-daughter was disqualified, because she absolutely refused to even try to eat the bugs. One of the grandsons can be seen on the video gagging his way through eating the two bugs…and I have got to admit, I almost gagged along with him!

The children were also challenged to stick their hand in a bucket filled with shredded paper, wrapped candy, and live crickets – and pull out as much candy as they could. Let me tell you, when candy is involved, all bets are off! Most kids will set aside fear, apprehension – and maybe even common sense – if they know that something many children value greatly is the “prize.” So six of the children (again, the 4-year-old refused) took the plunge and pulled out as much candy as they could grab in the allotted time.

In some ways, you and I have behaved like kids at “Cousin Camp.” The “prize” may not be candy or a trophy. But we often say and do things we know are not pleasing to God. Sometimes, this is out of a selfish desire to do as we like – or to make ourselves feel good or comfortable in some manner. But often, peer pressure is the culprit. Let’s face it…going along to get along would sure be easier in many situations. Wouldn’t it have been easier to take off your mask when people were staring at you during the pandemic (or even now, if you still wear a mask in certain settings)? Wouldn’t it have been simpler to throw caution to the wind and go back to close contacts, attending worship in person, going to movies, shopping, attending concerts and sporting events and more – and taking your chances with the coronavirus?

Wouldn’t it be easier to agree with your neighbor about political and social issues…to laugh at his/her off-color jokes…to nod and commiserate when certain people or persons are belittled, degraded, or devalued? Wouldn’t it be easier to “stick your hand in the jar of crickets” if the “prize” were social acceptance and a sense of belonging?

The simple truth is that our lives are not a game of “Cousin Fear Factor.” We have to make a choice. We can either belong to the world or belong to Jesus. I cannot tell you exactly what this looks like in your life. What I can tell you is that we are called to love God, love one another as Christ loves us…and to treat others as we wish to be treated. If you measure every word and action by these commands, you will always be true to the commitment you made to follow and serve Jesus.

Don’t be fooled or get derailed. Seek the will of Jesus Christ in everything you say and do. Make sure if you “eat the crickets” or “dig for candy,” it’s because He told you to do so! Hold tightly to your faith – and to the will of Jesus Christ…and always know His voice above all others. Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 4, 2022 – Being “rich” in the things that matter…are you living for God’s Kingdom?

Mark 10:23-25
Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”

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.

As I read this passage, I thought about summer activities – and Vacation Bible School. For many years, I took our three children to VBS every summer, where they learned about Jesus in a happy, crafts-and-activity-filled atmosphere, complete with the requisite Bible stories, games, “Bible School snacks” and camaraderie. At our church, an offering was collected each night – with a specific mission designated as the recipient. The boys were pitted against the girls in a competition to see who could bring the most money each evening.

I must tell you, this activity truly bothered me for several reasons. First, it threw me back to the days when I was a child, and money was quite tight in my family. It was a stretch to have a portion of my allowance to put in the “offering envelope” each Sunday – an activity that in my opinion was given far too much significance in relationship to our commitment to Jesus. Additionally, this activity upset Timothy terribly. He took the competition very seriously, and if the girls “won” by giving the most money on a set day, he would cry and declare, “We are just LOSERS…we’re LOSERS!” Clearly, our little guy did not internalize the intended message and mission of collecting this offering!

One more thing that concerned me was that while families were struggling just to make ends meet – a lot of parents were scraping together spare change so that their children appeared “rich enough” to contribute to this contest. One father of four lamented to me that by the time VBS ended, he was “in the red” for the week because of these nightly “donations.” Somehow, the lesson of giving our pennies, nickels and dimes for a specific mission or ministry of the church/community got lost in a competition to see which group of children could contribute more money – i.e., who was the richest!

This is one small example of how we have put too much emphasis on the wrong things – especially as Christians. Not only are we focused on acquiring material wealth – money and “things” – we also want to belong to the right groups, to shop at the best stores, eat at the finest restaurants, and take the best vacations. Trips to Disney World and annual visits to the beach have become status symbols for many. We are willing to compromise our values – and even overextend ourselves – to keep up appearances, fit in with our peers, and be seen as “rich” in the ways of the world. We are willing to join the more popular political party, laugh at off-color jokes, and nod in agreement when people are disparaged if it means that others will see us as part of their group.

Sadly, this is just as prevalent in the church as it is on the streets of any community. Therefore, Jesus tells us it is so hard for “the rich” to get into His Kingdom. When we focus more on what we have and whether we are acceptable to the “in crowd” rather than loving all others and serving them in the name of Jesus, we have missed the mark. Some of the “poorest” Christians in the world have done more for the Kingdom of Heaven than most billionaires will ever accomplish. Many humble, “poor” servants will be seated near the head of God’s Heavenly Table!

God has truly blessed me. I am more than comfortable and truly don’t have to worry about food, clothing, shelter and more. I am healthy and can afford medical care, which is a huge concern for many people my age. It is well within my reach to support missions and ministries as God directs. My relationship with Jesus deepens every day, and I am finding that I care more and more about what He thinks and asks of me – and far less about what the world says is important or popular. I am truly “rich” by many standards. But I don’t ever want this to be a hindrance in my pursuit of God’s Kingdom.

My prayer is that we become “rich” in the things that matter to God…that we follow the commands of Jesus Christ to “Love one another” and share the Good News of redemption by the blood of the cross. I pray that we would be more concerned with adding more entries in the Lamb’s Book of Life than making additions to our bank account or closets! I pray that serving Christ would never be a competition…that we would never pit one believer against another in any way.

Jesus is calling us to make sure that our “riches” are “Heavenly wealth” rather than earthly acquisitions. We have some work to do to get this right…and this is the perfect day to begin! Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 28, 2021 – The Lord is our light and salvation…trust Him to handle your fears with faith and courage

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?

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

Let me ask you…what do you fear? What keeps you up at night or nags at you? Is it a concern about illness or death – someone else’s or your own? Do you fear aging, dementia, or ending up in a nursing home or long-term care facility? Are you anxious about poverty, loneliness, boredom, or an inability to do the things you love to do? Do you worry that you won’t go to Heaven – or that your friends and loved ones won’t join you there?

We are all human, and we all have fears and concerns…both understandable and rational – and those that some would deem ridiculous or a waste of energy. My experience has taught me that God will lead us through every single one if/when they actually happen. God has sustained me in illness and injury. More times than I can count, He has shown me that nothing is too big for me to handle with His help.

God has shown me that rather than worry about the souls of loved ones, I should do all I can to represent Him and encourage their faith. It is not up to you and me to “save” others. We are called to share Jesus with them and demonstrate the joys and blessings of a life in Christ, so that they are encouraged to invite Him into their hearts, as well. I find solace in knowing that I did all I could to be a witness for Jesus and trusted Him to do the rest.

God has shielded me when grief was more than I could humanly bear in the moment. He is showing me that even if I must face some of the situations and circumstances that trouble me or give me pause, He will be with me every step of the way. I am grateful that none of our parents had to suffer with dementia – or spend time in a long-term care facility. At the same time, I am grateful for the lessons God taught me when my grandparents were residents of nursing homes and Assisted Living facilities. I am thankful for the confidence that God sees the earthly troubles and misery of some of His children and calls them home to Heaven, where they can experience the peace and joy of His abundance every minute. I am also grateful that God sustains us on this earth as we endure difficulties, trials and tribulations.

At the end of the day, many of our “fears” are normal and understandable. But we must recognize that God is our light and salvation – and He will guide and guard us through every single situation. God never wastes an opportunity to show us His strength, providence and protection. Our job is to be courageous and trust Him – to call on the Lord to protect us with His perfect love and care. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; He protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?” Alleluia, and Amen!

©2021 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 1, 2018 – Living in Christ’s promises…even when it hurts

Matthew 5:11-12
God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.

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

This was the “verse of the day” at http://BibleGateway.com …and it truly seemed appropriate. A lot of people are standing up for truth and moral decency. They are genuinely living out the commandments of Jesus to love one another and treat others as we wish to be treated. And in many cases, they are being persecuted for this. A lot of folks are insulted or mistreated – and lies about them run rampant.

It is hard to take the high road when people mock you.  It isn’t easy to do the right thing when you know that you will be ridiculed and belittled.  It’s sometimes quite difficult to stand up for the truth when you know that others will shun you doing so. The desire to “fit in” and “belong” is huge…which is partly why politicians “toe the line” rather than stand up for the truth, and people look the other way when someone is being disparaged – or even abused.

This helps to explain why we laugh at an off-color or bigoted joke, when we know we shouldn’t…or why we pretend that a friend or co-worker isn’t stealing, cheating, and more.  This is why we sometimes fail to confront a loved one with a drinking problem or a drug addiction. We simply don’t want to risk hurt feelings – especially our own!

But here’s the thing…we can’t ever experience anything that Jesus has not already been through – and survived. And the best part of all is that when He hung on the cross, He took the heartache and embarrassment of OUR burdens and ridicule – all of it! Because of Jesus, we don’t have to worry about the “fallout” from following His commands. We can stand up to the pressure and the persecution that might result…because we know what happens at the end of the story!  We understand what lies ahead for us in Heaven – even though we can’t begin to comprehend how glorious it will be!

I will be the first to tell you that this is a tall order. We are human beings, so we are weak. And the devil will do his dead-level best every single day to bring us to our knees…to cause us to doubt…and to suggest that we’d better just leave this situation or that one alone. Regretfully, I will also tell you that I have done this at times. But hear this…Jesus is bigger than the devil or any situation we will face. He is able to equip us to do far above what we think we can manage. And He will fill us with courage and strength when we trust Him to help us do the right thing.

I don’t know about you, but I often lose sight of the bigger picture. I get “tunnel vision” and focus on things that are happening here…now…in this lifetime. And yes, our earthly discipleship is important. What we say and do – and how we represent Jesus on this earth matters greatly. But I find that I often consider my life in Christ only in terms of the brief time I will be here…and I forget what awaits me. When I turn my focus to Heaven and the incredible reward that I’ve been promised, it is easier to do what I know pleases Jesus in the meantime.  I’m not going to be here forever…I need to live in a way that prepares me for my “Forever Home” in the presence of my Savior.

So strap on your seatbelt and get ready…the “ride” may be a bit bumpy at times, but the “destination” makes it all worthwhile. Be happy and excited about your life in Christ – and serve Him honorably. The best truly is yet to come!

©2018 Debbie Robus