Daily Devotional for January 19, 2023 – Learning to follow God’s map – “Lord, don’t let me make a mess of things!”

Psalm 119:17-34
Bless me with life so that I can continue to obey you. Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map—and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell.

You rebuke those cursed proud ones who refuse your commands— don’t let them scorn me for obeying you. For even princes sit and talk against me, but I will continue in your plans. Your laws are both my light and my counselors.

I am completely discouraged—I lie in the dust. Revive me by your Word. I told you my plans and you replied. Now give me your instructions. Make me understand what you want; for then I shall see your miracles.

I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words. Keep me far from every wrong; help me, undeserving as I am, to obey your laws, for I have chosen to do right. I cling to your commands and follow them as closely as I can. Lord, don’t let me make a mess of things. If you will only help me to want your will, then I will follow your laws even more closely.

Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey. Make me walk along the right paths, for I know how delightful they really are.

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

When we traveled to our great-niece’s wedding in Missouri last weekend, we used Google Maps to guide us. For the record, Greg had already studied the maps and did not need this assistance. But I am trying to learn to use such devices to aid me, should I need to travel somewhere alone – and my astute “guide” is not with me to tell me where and when to turn or which exit to take! Greg reads maps as easily as some people read the comics. I am “map challenged!” I have a hard time transferring what I see on paper to what is physically ahead of my car.

There was one point in our drive where Google Maps suggested a “shorter” route. The voice said, “If you don’t want to take this route, say ‘no thanks!’ or something to that effect.” Greg did not hear this command, and when he looked at his online route, Google had changed to the “shorter” – but curvier path. Greg knew this was not correct – or a path we wished to travel. So, at our next stop, he re-entered the original coordinates and changed back to the original route.

When it comes to reading God’s map, I believe a lot of us are challenged. For whatever reason, some of us don’t fully understand what God is telling us – or we don’t hear His voice. For too many, we do not like His “route” and want to go our own way. Sometimes, we listen to the suggestions of others and find ourselves on a path that is wrong six ways to Sunday! Still others have tried and failed so many times – or “life” has been so difficult and disheartening that they have fallen into despair and all but given up on God. And let’s be honest…there are plenty of “bad news” stories these days to send us spiraling downward if we don’t make every effort to remain positive and hopeful.

Wherever you find yourself on this spectrum, God is waiting to help you. He will show you how and where to make necessary adjustments to get back on course. God will guide you and guard you – and give you reasons every day to be hopeful and helpful to someone and/or further His Kingdom. You just have to follow His map, charts and guides by listening for His voice and following His word. There will be others who will tell you that God’s word says something else…or that their way is the right way. As this Psalmist notes, they may even scorn you or judge you for your stance. Do not be deterred. God will deal with those who do this…and He will honor your commitment to Him and His will for your life.

I love how this passage says, “Lord, don’t let me make a mess of things.” Just like correcting course on Google Maps, you and I can “re-set our coordinates” and get back in full communion with God and His will. We can follow His lead and find ways every day to be joyful and productive…to bless others and be a blessing…and to forge ahead toward our Heavenly destination with hope and peace. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 21, 2022 – Follow the LEADER…always and in all ways!

1 Peter 5:4-5
When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.

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 scripture passage, I heard my mother asking my siblings and me, “If someone told you to jump off a cliff, would you?” I also heard certain people asking, “Do you know who I am?” as if they were superior in some manner – or somehow above the law. And then I heard the voices of those who say, “But So-and-So said to do this…and he/she is my leader/boss/in charge!” Again, “If someone told you to jump off a cliff…!”

Yes, we are to respect our elders – and our bosses/leaders. But so often, egos and selfishness get in the way of sound decision making. We need to carefully – and prayerfully – consider every word and action…both those of others, and our own. Is GOD behind this? Or is a mere mortal telling us to serve on this committee or go to that event – or to support XYZ issue or agenda?

Sometimes, I think “plain people” are too timid. They hear God leading them in one direction or another. But the world – or their boss/pastor/legislator/governmental leader says, “Do this! Think and act THIS way!” And these folks say, “Well, he/she said it, so I must do it!” If you are a leader reading this, consider your decisions and what you ask of others. Be certain that God has led you to this end…that He is guiding your thoughts and directives – and that you are considering what is best for those in your charge. Always operate in the love of Christ.

For the “followers,” I again remind you to listen to God. Yes, scripture tells us to follow our leaders…but not off the cliff! Before you “follow the leader,” speak to the LEADER and make sure He has authorized this stance or action. Trust God to guide and guard you. If He shows you that this is not the path He wants you to take – or the choice He wants you to make – be willing to follow His directives. God gave us leaders for a reason…but none of us is above His law – or the law of the land.

Every one of us has been given direct access to the wisdom of the LORD…make sure you use it as you navigate the challenges of daily living and discipleship.

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 12, 2021 – Serving Christ instead of our ego and selfish desires…lessons from a mother to a king

Proverbs 31:8-9
But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.

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

You have probably heard about Proverbs 31 in terms of a “Proverbs 31 woman,” but there is much more to this chapter. These verses were actually a collection of wise advice given to King Lemuel of Massa by his mother. First, she admonishes Lemuel not to waste time chasing women and drinking. Instead, she tells him to focus on defending the helpless, those who don’t “fit in”, and those who are poor or homeless. Her recommendation is that he pay more attention to taking care of others – and less on satisfying his own whims and desires.

This is sound advice for all of us – man or woman. I did not choose these two verses in order to create my own context…but I didn’t want to make this gender specific. God is calling on all of us to set aside our egos and our selfish desires and thoughts – and concentrate on what He wants. God is calling on us to serve as Jesus demonstrated and commanded…to love all others…and to be ever aware of the needs of those around us.

There are countless ways that we can faithfully serve Jesus every day, and many don’t require anything more than a shift in attitude. When we start looking at every other person as someone of great worth to Jesus, we realize that how we consider others matters. When we judge, disparage, or discriminate against another person, we are saying to God, “He/she is inferior.” Essentially, we tell Him that, “You must have made a mistake!” In truth, God never makes mistakes…it is you and I who are responsible for this error!

We have been commanded to love one another…to treat others as we wish to be treated…to love others with the love of Christ – and as Christ loves us. When we go off on our own, chasing after people and things that satisfy our own selfishness – or we treat others with disdain, discrimination, cruelty, or downright hatred – we have failed as Christ’s disciples.

The words of a mother to her son, the king, are words that you and I need to hear this day…“Defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless.” The words and commands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ are words we need to take to heart – and put into action. And we don’t have a minute to waste!

©2021 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 3, 2021 – Getting from the cross to the empty tomb – are you willing to do the work?

Luke 23:50-56
There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God’s kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided.

Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used. It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and watched how Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb. Then they went to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial. But on the Sabbath they rested, as the Law of Moses commands.

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

The minutes and hours after a loved one dies are a whirlwind of emotions. Even as we grieve, our minds race as we consider everything from the emptiness we feel after death to what needs to be done next. People swoop in to handle the necessary “business” of death, and this is a good thing. Those who are caught up in the grief and shock of the moment generally cannot think clearly, so it is well that others come to the rescue. And this is what Joseph of Arimathea and the women who had come to Jerusalem with Jesus did. They tended to His body and the burial. They handled the details so that Mary, her extended family, and the disciples could be about the business of absorbing all that had taken place.

We tend to jump straight from the darkness of Good Friday and Jesus’ body hanging on the cross to the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. In doing this, we miss out on a critical part of the story! We need to stop and consider the “humanness” of Jesus Christ in this moment. His flesh and blood – what was left of it – must be addressed. What happened – and who came to the rescue – must be noted. This is a lesson for all of us. In order to get to the beauty of the empty tomb, we must deal with the ugliness and unpleasantness of the situation.

We cannot pretend that life is never messy. We cannot neglect “the bad and the ugly” and only concentrate on the “good.”  If we are going to really serve Jesus, we have to serve Him all the time…even when that means cleaning up the “dirt, blood and gore.” We have to be willing to offer our very best – just as Joseph offered his clean, never-used tomb for housing the body of Jesus Christ. We must be ready to say, “Whatever You need, Lord – even if it makes me uncomfortable – I will do it.”

What does this look like in your life? I don’t know. Perhaps it is stepping in to help a family member or friend, even though it’s going to take a lot of your time. Maybe it means becoming a foster parent – to a child or a pet. God might be calling you to become involved in a project that is totally outside your wheelhouse and comfort zone. He might be tugging at you to speak out against social injustices – and discrimination of all kinds. God might even be asking you to step away from your current circle of friends and acquaintances in favor of a new group. He may even be moving you to a new job, church family, or city.

If we want to get from the cross to the tomb, we must do the hard work in the middle. We must embrace forgiveness and redemption by the blood of Christ Jesus – and honor this incomprehensible gift by “tending to His body.”  We must do the work – even when it is difficult or disgusting. We must love others with the love of Christ – and as He loves us, in whatever form this takes.

This is the day to decide whether we are truly “all in” with Jesus. Are we willing to be like Joseph of Arimathea and the faithful women who followed Jesus from Galilee? Are we ready to “tend to the body” and do the hard work of serving as Christ’s disciple? Search your heart and determine if you have truly committed to a life of Christian discipleship. We’ve all got a lot to think about!

©2021 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 14, 2021 – And the winner is…all who are “good friends” of Jesus Christ…and love one another

Romans 12:9-10
Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

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.

Tonight, CBS will air the 2021 Grammy Awards Show. For the 63rd time, the Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – NARAS) will present awards to artists who have made achievements in the recording industry. As each recipient is announced, that person or group will make an “acceptance speech”. A lot of them will include words like, “I would like to thank the Academy,” or “I want to thank my parents…my spouse…my music teacher…my agent…my producer” – you fill in the blanks. Some will thank God for their talent – and for getting them to this point.

The bottom line is that no person receives a Grammy – or any other accolade – because of his/her own efforts. There is always someone else behind the scenes, starting with God Almighty. None of us gets anywhere in life without some sort of motivation. The words “it takes a village” are 100% accurate. Even those who appropriately credit God for their perseverance or success were likely encouraged to seek His help in some manner by another person who served as an agent and disciple of Christ. And in this passage, the Apostle Paul is calling on you and me to be “that person” in someone’s life.

You and I are commissioned to encourage and uplift others…to say the prayers, share the scriptures or an inspiring book or poem. We are called to bake the dish and deliver the meal, visit the sick and the shut-ins, care for the poor and oppressed, mourn with the grieving and hurting, and love one another in whatever manner God presents to us. Just as Grammy recipients will stand up and thank others for helping them achieve this recognition, you and I must recognize that a true disciple of Christ – and good friend to His children – does not work alone!

The words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans are profound – and rich…“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Our “award” is Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and the promise of Eternal Life in His presence. We also receive the joy and blessings of serving as Christ’s disciples on this earth. The question becomes…are we living and serving in a way that even merits “nomination”? It’s time to find out.

Search your heart and ask God to show you where you are lacking in humility and generosity of spirit. Ask Him to show you how to love all others with the love of Christ Jesus…and to do this at all times – not just when it suits your purposes or whims. Make this the day that you begin to step up and serve Jesus in all things…and give Him full credit for every blessing and opportunity. And the “winner” is…all who serve Jesus with love, grace, mercy and humility. Congratulations!

©2021 Debbie Robus