Daily Devotional for March 6, 2024 – It’s time to remove the scales from our eyes and please God instead of the crowd

March 6 ~ Exodus 23:1-3
“Don’t pass on malicious gossip.

“Don’t link up with a wicked person and give corrupt testimony. Don’t go along with the crowd in doing evil and don’t mess up your testimony in a case just to please the crowd. And just because someone is poor, don’t show favoritism in a dispute.”

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

Yesterday, sixteen states – including Arkansas – held election primaries. I wish I could say that all candidates had noble, humble motives…that every campaign promise was sincere, God-ordained, and offered in the best interest of the citizens these people hoped to represent. Notice I did not say they hoped to serve said citizens, because sadly, I believe many candidates ran with the intention to line their pockets or satisfy a specific agenda. And even more upsetting…many of these folks succeeded in receiving a majority of the votes!
 
In my heart, I know there will be a day of reckoning for all who link up with a wicked person and “give corrupt testimony.” I know that God will deal with those who go along with evil just to fit in and please others. I trust completely that God will mete out justice on those who favor certain people and groups, even when they do so with selfish intentions. Meanwhile, I am somewhat disheartened as I accept the fact that many are participating in such behaviors – and hiding behind their “faith” in the process. Surely this must grieve our God mightily.
 
Still, I have hope!  I am reminded of Acts 9:18, where Ananias laid hands on Paul and “it was as though scales fell from his eyes” as his sight was restored and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Many of us need this “healing touch” in our own lives…and the good news is that this is readily available to us! All we have to do is genuinely ask God to show us where we have followed the crowd instead of Him…and where we have selfishly gone along to get along, rather than risk being criticized – or even mistreated in some manner.
 
Do not misunderstand…God has given us the gift of common sense if we will exercise it. We don’t have to say and do things that will place us in harm’s way. But we do need to realize that God is calling us to speak and act in a manner that reflects His great blessings on each of our lives – and the teachings of His Only Son, Jesus Christ. God is calling us to love others and always demonstrate grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, truth, and hope. He grants us the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and guard us…we have every tool at our disposal to do God’s work and bring Him glory and honor.
 
Let’s remember the words of Paul in Galatians 6:9 to “not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”  Let’s ask God to remove the scales from our eyes and show us where we might have wavered and become complacent – or behaved in a manner that honored our peers and selfish desires rather than His commands. Let’s use our words, actions – and our VOTE – to further God’s Kingdom and bring Him glory. And above all, let’s keep the faith as we move forward – confident in the love and care of our Most High God, even when we are momentarily weary. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 30, 2023 – Lessons from a little boy and a widow…giving everything we have to the One who gives us everything…

Luke 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw some rich people tossing their gifts into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow putting in a few cents. And he said, “I tell you that this poor woman has put in more than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had.”<

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

I know it’s only October 30th, but I just saw a darling Christmas commercial for Macy’s where a little boy wanders the aisles of the department store, clearly in search of the perfect gift. Amusingly, as he passes the toy section, he shields his eyes so that he won’t become distracted. Ultimately, the child approaches a Santa Claus, and he presents St. Nick with a pair of slippers, saying, “These are for after work.”
 
This really is a sweet ad, and the “subtext” is that this child truly “sees” Santa Claus. He understands what a hard job the jolly old man has and how hard he works. Rather than ask for something, the child thinks of his beloved benefactor and gives him a gift. Let’s just leave this here…don’t try to read other things into it or suggest the child has ulterior motives. Let’s enjoy this tender moment and consider it in light of today’s scripture passage.
 
Our Heavenly Father is not Santa Claus, and I do not mean to draw that parallel. At the same time, too many of us are only attuned to God for what He can give us or what He can do for us. If we must write a check and give Him a little lip service, so be it. But don’t ask us to do the heavy lifting! We seldom if ever ask God what we can do for Him in return! After all, we’re talking about GOD! What could we possibly give to Him? The answer is…everything!
 
Let’s be clear…God doesn’t want or need our money. He truly does not love us and bless us so to receive payback. God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and abundance are not conditional. But when we do give to God, He is like a proud Poppa – pleased…delighted…and glorified. And when we give with humility, dedication, thoughtfulness and/or sacrifice, God is exalted.
 
This is not a call for us to “give until it hurts,” as some pastors like to say. This is truly not about money. I am suggesting that we need to step back and look at God and ask ourselves, “How can I show God how much I love Him and appreciate all He does for me?” Where are you receiving opportunities to love and serve in the name of Jesus – and turning a blind eye? Where has someone needed a kind word or smile, a hug or handshake, or just a listening ear…and you ignored them? Where have you had opportunities to physically help someone, and at best, you wrote a check or tossed a few dollars in his/her direction?
 
Unlike the boy in the commercial who shielded his face as he passed the toy section, where have you been distracted and enticed by selfish desires? Where have you chosen to “bless” yourself over someone else in need? Have you really demonstrated to God in word and deed that you are “all in” with Him?
 
We can learn a lot from the Macy’s commercial – and even more from this scripture passage about the “widow’s mite.” This is the day to examine how much we are willing to “give” to God…and make all necessary adjustments. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 29, 2023 – People are watching…so be careful what you say and do!

Luke 17:1-4 
Jesus said to his disciples: There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do.

Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, “I am sorry,” you should still forgive that person.

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

I read a joke online about a little boy who told his dad, “I’m going to marry Grandma.” The dad told him this was not possible, and the child said, “But I love her, and she loves me. She’s a great cook, and she takes good care of me.” The father protested, “But you cannot marry my mother!” The little boy replied, “Why not?  You married mine!”  
 
People are watching! Right or wrong, observations and assumptions are being made. And Jesus tells us in these verses to be careful what we say and do, lest we cause another to sin. Can I be “real” with you for a minute? This morning, my thoughts and emotions are all over the place. I am so blessed…I have a wonderful life and abundance in every aspect of it. Most importantly, I know that I am a redeemed, anointed, precious child of the Most High God – and He guides and guards every step of my life.
 
I have no room to complain. There is nothing I cannot handle with God’s help and care. At the same time, I am unable to understand what is happening all around me. I turn on the television, and there are dozens of accounts of selfishness and hatred. There are people committing crimes and indignities against their fellow man because of mental illness or addiction…or someone told them to do this. Some observed the words and actions of a person or group who claimed some sort of “authority” or “wisdom,” and they thought, “I must act on this.” Often, it appears that many people have decided that what truly matters is pleasing themselves and fitting in with their chosen group.
 
For decades, I went along to get along. I looked the other way as people I lived alongside every day became more polarized – and more vocal about their biases and ideologies. I grew up in an all-white community in the 1960s-70s. I heard the talk of those who described people of color as “less than” in some way – and I remember cutting people of color a wide berth when shopping in Little Rock. We ignored or excused the derogatory names for people from other countries and ethnic backgrounds. We readily accepted that people who belonged to other denominations were not as “Christian” as we were – and maybe weren’t truly Christians at all. And we did all of this while attending worship services several times a week, reading the Bible, praying, and singing hymns of praise to God for His all-encompassing love, care, and redemption!
 
Let’s just say I have evolved in recent years. I now see how hypocritical I was…how judgmental much of my behavior was – and what a poor example of the love of Christ Jesus I offered to others. And I realize that I must be more cognizant of how I speak, act, and represent my Heavenly Father. I must take the words of Jesus to heart in my own life…to make sure that I do not speak and act in a way that would cause someone else to sin. I must strive every day to demonstrate the love and inclusion of Jesus to others…to show all who I encounter that I see them…I accept them as equally precious to Jesus…I hear them and recognize that they are human beings, and God loves them unconditionally.
 
In my world, all are welcome at God’s table…in His houses of worship…and in my “circle.” We are not little children who don’t understand that we can’t marry our grandparents. In the (paraphrased) words of the late poet and author, Maya Angelou…“We know better, so we must do better!” Christ is counting on us to love others as He did…to accept, forgive, and welcome them. We may be the only glimpse of Jesus another person ever sees. Make it count…and be careful what you say and do! People are watching…make sure you truly show them Jesus!  Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 28, 2023 – It’s a matter of trust…

Luke 16:10-13  
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

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’ve been filling treat bags for Halloween in anticipation of about a dozen-plus special trick-or-treaters who have visited us every year for more than a decade. These include our own niece and nephews, cousins, and a handful of other friends we love like family. Last year, one mother told me that her now-high-school-senior said, “It’s not Halloween until we go to Mr. Greg & Mrs. Debbie’s house!” We love seeing the kiddos…but I know they love the treats we provide – a sack with “Harvest Hash,” candy, Halloween H2O (bottled water), and some sort of “prize.” Over the years, we’ve given the kids flashlights, goofy glasses, monogrammed bags, neck “gators,” and more.
 
As I mixed the M&Ms®, pretzels, cereal, and Bugles™ chips yesterday for “Harvest Hash,” I thought about what would happen if the kids got here, and we just put a few snack-sized pieces of candy in their bags and waved “good-bye” to them! I could picture the shock and disappointment on their faces. Their parents would likely prompt the children to be polite and accept the offering…but I would know how truly betrayed they felt. The kids trust us to “deliver” on Halloween…and for a few more years, we will probably be making the treat bags and extending an invitation for these kiddos and their families to visit us for a few minutes every October 31st.
 
A few weeks ago, our 14-year-old nephew lamented over dinner that it was difficult to know who to trust. We agreed with him that at this stage in his life, friends can sometimes be fickle, and it is hard sometimes to know who is genuine, and who is “playing the game.” Peer pressure – and teenage angst in general – are no joke! Greg assured our guy that he can always trust us…that we are here for him, always and forever. Greg also reminded our boy that God is always with him…that the Holy Spirit is always available to him, and he can call on his “Forever Friend” anytime. The Holy Spirit will never betray us or fail to answer.
 
I offer these two examples with relation to the scripture passage today to say that the issue of trust begins with God and His Holy Spirit. We never have to question the validity or steadfastness of God’s love and care for us. The Holy Spirit is always with us, and we can call on Him anytime – for anything. But there is a component of our relationship with God that many either underestimate or overlook completely…and this is our trustworthiness as a servant. We must be trustworthy in all things…even down to “being there” for family trick-or-treaters and teenage nephews.
 
We must be faithful, obedient, genuine representatives to others of Christ’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, and steadfastness. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we pulled the blinds and skipped Halloween. But there are plenty of areas where people think, “This one thing won’t hurt…” or “I’m pretty good in most areas, but I just can’t get past my bias against XYZ”…or even “I love Jesus, but it’s my turn for a change!” And none of these attitudes and actions represent true service to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. None of these opinions honor the sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross so that you and I could call on our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit – anytime for anything!
 
Search your heart and mind today. Ask some hard questions, starting with, “Am I trustworthy as God’s servant?” Ask yourself if you are truly representing the love and steadfastness of Jesus. If you are at all fearful of the “consequences” and ramifications of wholeheartedly serving God as He commands, how genuine is your trust in Him to care for you in all circumstances? We need to get to the heart of our relationship with God. We need to determine how selflessly and unequivocally we are serving as Christ commands. We need to examine just how trustworthy we are – Who and what we reflect to others in the name of Jesus.
 
We need to reassure teens and “children” of all ages just how much God loves them – and how readily available He is each and every minute. And maybe we need to demonstrate to someone that we are consistently faithful and steadfast – even when it comes to packing a Halloween treat bag and mixing “Harvest Hash.” Ask God to show you where and how to be trustworthy – and to demonstrate to others which Master you truly serve. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 26, 2023 – God has made us adequate to do His work…are you ready to serve Him?

1 Timothy 1:12-14
I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.

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 r

On Saturdays, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette includes a “Religion” section. This morning, there were two articles that caught my attention. The first was the story of Gabe Buchholtz, a retired missionary who went to visit a friend in the Florida Keys last January. While there, Buchholtz contracted RSV and other viruses and all but died. He was flown to Miami, where doctors literally had to restart his heart and get other vital body organs functioning properly again. Sepsis caused Buckholtz to ultimately lose his left arm, a toe on his left foot, and his right pinky finger.
 
The story of Gabe Buchholtz’s journey was compelling merely on a “physical” level. But the account of his wife and children flying from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Miami, Florida to be with him was equally gripping. Nancy Buchholtz prayed the 23rd Psalm all the way to Miami. The family posted reports about Gabe Buchholtz’s progress on CaringBridge.org, a website I have accessed many times to keep up with the journey of friends and loved ones who were ill. Prayers and words of encouragement can be posted there…and Gabe Buchholtz’s Caring Bridge page garnered over 27,500 visits.
 
When the time came to move Gabe Buchholtz from Miami to Little Rock, the bill was nearly $24,000. Another website was accessed – GoFundMe – and 103 donors contributed $29,775 to get Gabe “home.” Gabe Buchholtz is recovering – even riding his bicycle recently while sporting a prosthetic left arm/hand – and he is reading all the comments left on CaringBridge.org while he was near death. He noted that God is good and answers prayers, and “He has a purpose for us in our lives.”
 
By contrast, the other story reported on a meeting of “Conservative Christians” that recently convened in Little Rock for two days of a “Foundations in Truth Summit.” There, Joseph Kohm, director of public policy at Family Policy Alliance (founded by James Dobson’s Focus on the family), told attendees to “Be nice.”  He explained that (paraphrasing) this is the perfect time for Christians to follow God’s commands and live their faith.
 
I found this particularly interesting when coupled with another article I read about a handful of up-and-coming musical artists who are quite literally using their voices to make a political statement. While this is nothing new – musical artists have expressed political views via their songs for decades – the lyrics in a few recent offerings have stirred the spirit of divisiveness, racism and hatred among many. While appealing to God to rectify the plight of people that one writer refers to as being like himself…and another declares we need to “keep God first,” these songs and others like them openly disparage certain people and groups and make it clear that only select folks are welcome in their circles and communities.
 
In these verses, Paul reminds Timothy that for a long time, he was not a nice person. Yet Jesus “went out on a limb” and made him “adequate to do this work. In the examples I have provided you today, I have shown how God used the experiences of one person to rally thousands in the spirit of love, grace, help and healing…and how others are channeling their efforts in a negative way. We shouldn’t have to be told at a “Christian rally” to “Be nice!” This principle is “Christianity 101!”
 
We are told in Deuteronomy – and again in the Gospels – to love God, love others, and treat all people like we want to be treated! So, the only explanation I can fathom for the disconnect is that too many “Christians” have switched allegiance – and have decided to listen to the devil and his encouragement to indulge their own biases and selfish desires. But Paul offers us a clear example of how to turn this around and serve God as He commands and desires.
 
The message I am receiving from today’s scripture lesson is to serve God, seek His purpose for your life, and do whatever He commands – even when you don’t like what He asks of you. In other words, “Be nice!” Set aside selfish desires in favor of service to the One who treats us mercifully – the One who mixed faith with love and poured over and into us. People are watching and listening to determine Who and how we serve. How do your words and actions answer this question? Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 20, 2021 – Focus on God, not self – a call to service for ALL Christians on Inauguration Day

Romans 8:5-8
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.

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 friend told me this morning about mutual friends who are sick with COVID…and another friend who has died. She made the comment that wearing a mask…”is such a simple thing to do to possibly save a life.” We exchanged amazement that some people – even in church settings – refuse to do this “simple thing”. Yesterday, then-President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris officiated at a memorial service on the National Mall for the 400,000 people who have lost their lives to date to this horrific virus. This was the first national public recognition of these souls, and the ceremony was personal for many of us. While my family has not directly lost a loved one to COVID-19, many of our loved ones and friends have suffered from the disease – and thankfully survived. Because of the virus, we had to forego a traditional funeral for my sister – and attend the service for another family member via Facebook livestream. And honestly…we’ve gotten off pretty easy, compared to a lot of other families.

This is a new day in our country. We are swearing in new leadership in our nation, and the focus is already shifting. I suggest that we make this a day of personal reflection, as well. Let’s spend some time in prayer and contemplation and ask God to show us where we might be speaking and acting selfishly. Where are we more concerned with our own personal comfort…or our pocketbook? Where do we need to take a step back and ask how we can focus on the bigger picture, rather than our own desires and happiness? Where do we need to say and do the things that demonstrate our love for Christ by considering the needs of all others above what suits our fancy?

This is a day to take a hard look at what we’ve been doing – and where we need to make big changes. This is the day to begin the healing process…to look beyond our own little corner and consider the world at large. This is the day to put on our masks, hunker down, and love others with the love of Christ – in whatever manner God directs. This is the day to make pleasing God our highest calling…to do the hard things that He requires…to say, “Here I am, LORD…send me” – and mean it.

I am filled with hope and optimism. This is a new day…a day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it…and be busy thinking about how to serve God at every turn…to please Him above all others – including ourselves. May we set aside our selfish desires and serve with a glad heart, to the glory of God Almighty. This is the day to put Him back in the forefront – and on the throne, forever and ever. Amen!

©2021 Debbie Robus