Daily Devotional for March 28, 2024 – Love is a feeling 𝒂𝒏𝒅 an action – it’s time to feed some sheep!

John 21:15-19
After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?”

“Yes,” Peter replied, “you know I am your friend.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon, son of John, do you really love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I am your friend.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

Once more he asked him, “Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?”

Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time. “Lord, you know my heart; you know I am,” he said.

Jesus said, “Then feed my little sheep. When you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will direct you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

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

I did not grow up in a “touchy-feely” family. We rarely said “I love you” to each other. My mother declared repeatedly, “Love is an action, not a feeling.” And while later in life, she did become more of a “hugger” and verbally expressed her love more often, she would defend the position that “I show my love every day in countless gestures.” (She would also have probably said, “I don’t have time to stop and give hugs…I have things to do!”) My dad was a shade more affectionate than my mother, but it almost as if the words “I love you” stuck in his throat and could not be released. 
 
We knew our parents and grandparents loved us because they showed us in countless ways. But I have to say, as they aged and became more verbal in their expressions of affection, I was not mad about it! I believe that it is important for us to both show and speak of our love for others. But this must always be genuine – and generally done in tandem. You can tell your spouse you love him/her, but if you consistently put your own needs ahead of his/hers, the actions tell the tale. You can tell your children every day that you “love them to the moon and back,” but if you never have time to so much as sit and share a conversation and a candy bar with them, they probably won’t believe you.
 
You can declare until you are blue in the face that you love “all people,” but if you laugh at racist jokes, share gossip, glare at the person in the checkout line with purple hair and multiple piercings, or indicate in any way that members of the LGBTQ community – or members of another ethnic group or religious faith – are not fully equal and welcome in your homes, churches and communities, your words are just that – hollow speech that is virtually meaningless. 
 
Just this week, I read about government officials who showed up to a homeless camp in Little Rock, Arkansas, wearing dress clothes. The person posting this account noted…“When you show up in cufflinks trying to spend hours and days means-testing the destitute, of course they won’t respond to you in the weird kiss-your-feet manner you desire.” If you claim to love Jesus, but then you speak and act in a manner that belies His commands, you just as well save your breath.
 
Jesus was incredibly clear…“Feed my sheep.” This is why He asked this question, “Do you love me?” of Peter so many times. Jesus didn’t want to simply hear Peter say he loved Him – Jesus wanted to see this love in action. (And Jesus knew that Peter had publicly denied even knowing Him three times to save his own hide!) A lot of people know who we truly are because of what we have shown them already. So, when we say, “I love you,” or “I love XYZ,” they are not convinced. Our words and actions must match! Jesus calls us to love one another. He also calls us to “Feed My sheep!”  It’s time for us to do both! Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 19, 2021 – Be a “deacon” to a “widow” – it’s time to tend to our “family”!

1 Timothy 5:3-8
Take care of widows who are destitute. If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her. Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.

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 grandmother’s church had a program for widows. I assume they still do. Each deacon was assigned widows in the church to “see after.” My grandmother’s deacon, Hal Caid, was a prince. He treated her like his own mother. Understand, my grandmother had plenty of family members – and friends – who “saw after” her, as well. But there was a special bond between her and “my deacon,” as she often referred to Hal. I wish every widow could have a “Hal Caid” in their lives.

For as long as I can remember, there have been people to tend…great-grandparents, grandparents, ailing parents and other relatives, widowed mothers and more. I cannot imagine neglecting these people – or sitting idly by while others “saw after” them. At the same time, we have gladly extended our circle of care to include neighbors, friends, and church members whose family might live elsewhere – or simply be neglectful. This is our mission…and what God has called us to do.

I saw a link on Facebook this morning to an article about people who seek a church that meets their needs. The premise was that church is not about meeting your needs, and those who are seeking such a place of worship will never be satisfied. I guess I get what the writer was trying to say. But I believe that many of us have become so self-absorbed, so “busy,” and so “numbers driven” that we have stopped being true disciples – and/or meeting the needs of “the church” as Jesus intended.

There are too many instances when widows are ignored or neglected. Too many elderly people sit at home and wait to die, while those around them move on with their lives and don’t give them a second thought. Too many people stop attending a church – and no one even looks up to ask, “Where did he/she go?” Meanwhile, the “campaign” continues to bring new members into the fold. Too often, we all miss opportunities to reach out to someone who is lonely, grieving, or in need of a friendly ear.

This goes far beyond widows…there are single mothers who could use a hand – or someone to ask, “How are you?” or “How can I help?” There are young adults who are struggling to find their place in the world who would enjoy a hot meal – or a message that says, “I see you and all that you are accomplishing.” There are grieving people who could use someone to say, “How are you doing?” But the world says, “Your 15 minutes is up!” – and most of us have moved on to the next thing. There are plenty of people in our daily circles who could use just a few minutes of our time and attention – and the “ripple effect” could be amazing.

As Christian disciples, we are called to love one another. Jesus told us to “feed My sheep.” Jesus told us to share the Good News and make disciples of others, but He also told us to heal the sick, nurture children, look after widows, and pray for one another. Jesus told us to treat others as we wish to be treated. He demonstrated this in His earthly lifetime. Even when Jesus was exhausted, He found time for “tending to” others.

Jesus offered no excuses and never qualified discipleship in terms of time and resources…and neither should we. There is always something we can do…a phone call we can make…an e-mail message or note we can send. At the height of the pandemic, Greg and I found ways to visit with our family members – especially Grandma E. We had countless porch visits. We even bundled up and ate lunch on her back porch with the sliding door open as she sat at her kitchen table “sharing a meal” with us. We had driveway and porch visits with our nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. We sent cards and notes, shared phone calls and FaceTime visits, and more…and we’re still at it!

There is always something we can do to reach out to another person. We just have to choose to do this! So my question to you today is this…“Who needs to hear from you?” Where is Jesus providing you with opportunities to serve others in His name…to be the “deacon” to a “widow?” The time to figure this out is here…now…today. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get busy tending to our “family!” Alleluia!

©2021 Debbie Robus