Daily Devotional for April 12, 2024 – Seeking God’s wisdom – and acting on it…maybe it’s time to take a walk!

Proverbs 2:6-9
All wisdom comes from the Lord,
and so do common sense
    and understanding.

God gives helpful advice
    to everyone who obeys him
and protects those
    who live as they should.

God sees that justice is done,
and he watches over everyone
    who is faithful to him.

With wisdom you will learn
what is right
    and honest and fair.

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

In case you haven’t heard, the University of Arkansas has a new men’s head basketball coach. His name is John Calipari – and he was formally introduced to the state at a pep rally and press conference on April 10th. Just a week ago, Calipari was the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats…an “enemy” of our state’s beloved Razorbacks, if you will. And now, he is our new head coach!
 
I know little to nothing about John Calipari…but he attempted to introduce himself at the event this week, and I discovered a couple of things. Calipari said repeatedly that he is “all about the players.” He insisted over and again that the players come first – their well-being, their education, and their future. While Calipari acknowledged that he was hired to win games and cultivate championship teams, he also noted that he is concerned with helping young men realize their full potential in every aspect of life. Over time, we will learn whether this is the truth – or if he was trying to “win friends and influence people” – and make a good first impression.
 
The other thing I learned about John Calipari is that he is apparently a devout Catholic. The coach mentioned his church and faith several times. He told the story of how he was approached at the NCAA tournament by the University of Arkansas’ Athletic Director about considering this new position. Calipari was unsure of how to proceed. He said he spoke with a priest who suggested that he take an hour-long walk. “On the way out,” consider all the reasons to go to Arkansas, the priest told him, “And on the way back, consider all the reasons to stay at Kentucky.” By the time Calipari returned from his walk, he said he knew he wanted to pursue the Arkansas job.
 
It is too early for me to formulate an opinion about the newest men’s basketball coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. I’ve seen several come and go in the last 50 years! But I do like hearing this man say that he seeks God’s wisdom about things. I like hearing him talk about his players in a manner that suggests he strives to love others with the love of Christ. I also know that like you, me, and everyone else, he is a human being – and therefore imperfect. I feel certain he will make mistakes…and the “wrath” of “Razorback Nation” will rain down upon him at some point!
 
Still, I find it refreshing and encouraging to hear someone in a position of leadership and the public eye profess to seek God’s wisdom – and to publicly claim to care about the well-being of others. John Calipari knows full well that the eyes of an entire state and beyond are on him…and he will be held to account. Likewise, the eyes of our Heavenly Father are on you and me. We have claimed to know and love Jesus. We’ve declared that we are His redeemed followers. Now it is time for us to show it! 
 
Whatever anyone else thinks, it is solely up to you and me to answer to Jesus for our words and actions. God’s wisdom is ready and waiting for us…we just have to avail ourselves of these gifts and act accordingly. Perhaps it is time for you and me to “take a long walk” and see what God will show us! At the very least, we will get some exercise. But we might also get some clarity and renewed purpose and direction. Seek God’s wisdom this day. Ask God to show you where and how to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth. Give God control, surrender to His will, and see where He leads you. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2024 – Stand up and step out for Jesus Christ…it’s time to be bold and courageous as we demonstrate our faith!

John 19:38-42
After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.

Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

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.

Let me start by saying that I really do not follow England’s “Royal family.” I know plenty of people who are fascinated with these folks. And yes, I videotaped the “Royal wedding” of Diana to Charles in the 1980s. But the daily lives and “backstories” of these folks truly do not concern me. I was far more interested in the life and history of my own mother-in-law, who was four years younger than Queen Elizabeth II. Her experiences as a child, teen, and young wife during WWII were far more enthralling and “regal” to me than those of a woman who lived  “across the Pond” in a castle with dozens of servants at the ready for her every need.
 
Still, in recent weeks as speculation centered on Princess Katherine, many all but lost their minds as “the plot thickened” about her secretive actions. I won’t offer some of the suggestions made about this poor woman, but they were sinister and despicable. Whoopi Goldberg warned the other ladies of The View to be careful about making judgments. She knows firsthand how it feels to be slandered and misrepresented…and she assured these women that what they were suggesting was unfair at best – and downright harmful at worst. Then “Kate” announced that she is battling a form of cancer…and a lot of people had to sit down to a hefty dish of “crow” as they apologized and backpedaled over their own suppositions.

Princess Katherine offered some reasons for initially keeping silent – as if it were any of our business, really. But I will say, I am glad she finally divulged her illness and treatment protocol. I believe she is in a public position to help a lot of people who might be battling cancer or some other illness…especially young wives and mothers. For whatever reason, Kate found her voice and spoke out about her experiences, thoughts, and feelings. And I believe others will benefit greatly from this.
 
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus found their voices, too. We know that they were intimidated and fearful of retribution by the Jews for believing in Jesus. So for a long time, they worshipped and served in silence from afar. Scripture doesn’t tell us what sort of “epiphany” these men might have had when Jesus was crucified. But both men stepped up and out in faith and asked for Jesus’ body – and properly embalmed the LORD and prepared Him for entombment. This was their act of defiance, devotion, and declaration that they believed Jesus Christ was truly the King of the Jews – and the King of Kings – and worthy of regal treatment, even in death.
 
You and I often walk a fine line between speaking out and standing up for the love and teachings of Jesus…and sitting on our hands with our lips zipped. I get it! I don’t want to be judged, ridiculed, or mistreated in some way because of my beliefs. I don’t want to risk harm to myself or family members. As I told a friend the other day, I don’t want my car “keyed” at Walmart because of a bumper sticker – or my home vandalized because I put a political sign in my front yard. And I can tell you…both of these are real and present “dangers” in our world today!
 
As faithful witnesses to the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, we must walk a fine line between demonstrating genuine obedience and allegiance to Him…and staying safe. Sometimes, that line really gets blurry! As we consider the daring acts of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, let’s ask God to show us how, when, and where to stand up for Jesus. Let’s ask Him to guide and guard our words and actions…to give us courage to hold steady in our convictions…and to never compromise or conform just to “play it safe.” 
 
Jesus risked everything for us…we should be willing to do whatever He asks in return. We have no idea who may need to witness our courage…who may need to hear our “story” or be assured that they are loved and accepted. We don’t know who may need to see us serving unconditionally…doing the “unpleasant” tasks with great love and care like Joseph and Nicodemus…or sharing our story like Princess Kate. Christ is counting on us to represent Him…to demonstrate His teachings of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, encouragement, compassion, empathy, hope, faith, kindness, and more. It’s time to be like Joseph, Nicodemus, Kate, and others. It’s time to stand up for Jesus and boldly share Him with all we encounter. Alleluia!

©2024 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 18, 2023 – Run, baby, run! Break free of the devil’s grip…and serve Christ with patience, perseverance, and bravery!

Hebrews 12:1-2
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.

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

You know that I repeatedly tell you…people.are.watching! This is no joke, and Paul says as much in this scripture passage. Therefore, you and I must ask ourselves, “What slows us down or holds us back? What sins wrap themselves so tightly around our feet that they trip us?” I cannot answer this question for you…each person is different, and his/her sins and weaknesses are equally diverse. But I want to address an area that I have given to God that may be “tripping you up” as well.

For far too long, I worried about what others thought and how they would react in certain settings – particularly social and church venues. Let me be clear…as representatives of Jesus – and citizens of our community and world at large – we have a moral obligation to speak and act in a certain way. We must follow the laws. We must be polite and take care not to step on another person’s rights, privileges – or feelings. When we join a group – or even a church body – we commit to following their “covenant” or tenets and demonstrating these to others. But here’s where this becomes incredibly tricky…in an effort to belong to these groups or “play nice,” we sometimes compromise our own values and/or what we know God is calling us to say or do.

Just last week, a dear friend texted me and told me that there would be someone taking petition signatures to get the Arkansas LEARNS Act on the ballot for a public vote. I will admit…I groaned when I first read this message. There was a part of me that did not want to get involved. But then a young teacher and mother, who was a member of the youth group at my church when she was a teen, posted a long and thoughtful explanation about why we should sign this petition. She didn’t speak for either “side” – in fact, she noted that she leans toward the Governor’s political party. But she cited several reasons why this is a bad bill for our state – and our schools. And I said, “Okay, I have to go sign this petition.”

These days, I am hesitant to say much about anything political – much less sign my name to something. The news reports are full of accounts where people were targeted for their beliefs – even harmed. Moreover, I have been careful about what I say in this space out of deference and respect for acquaintances, family members and friends who might misconstrue my intention. I will admit that sometimes I wondered how members of my church would react to what I wrote. So, I “sugar-coated” certain things, at best…and avoided other subjects altogether.

Sometimes, I heard God clearly telling me to speak out in a certain manner – or to say something that needed to be said. And I would reply, “But God, I just can’t do that.” To be truthful, I let the devil grasp my ankles and convince me that “there will be repercussions if you do this.” And I will tell you – there have been instances where certain people or groups “came after me” – not with physical harm, but certainly with hateful comments and even disassociation. But God has never left me…and as I have grown more comfortable standing up and speaking out, He has blessed me in ways I cannot adequately describe. It’s not that I don’t care what other people think…it’s just that I care more what God desires of me.

I cannot tell you how freeing it has been to “let go and let God” have complete control…to trust that when He gives me a message or steers me in a certain direction, He will guard me every step of the way and multiply my efforts. I still am not super “political” in a public arena…but I will not stop reminding others to love all people…to stop hating, discriminating, disparaging, and dividing. I will never accept that God loves some people more than others – or that He desires a worship environment where any one person is not as welcome, loved, and included as the next. I have shaken my feet and kicked the devil to the curb, and my steps are lighter and more purposeful for it!

Spend some time in serious contemplation and communication with God. Ask Him to show you every single area where you may be clinging to sin and weakness and allowing the devil to have control. People are watching! Make sure you always show them the love of Jesus Christ and treat them with the grace, mercy, compassion, and welcome that He offers. See how much more easily you “run the race” for God without the weight and encumbrance of these shackles! We have so much Kingdom work to do…let’s patiently, persistently, and bravely do the work that Christ has called us to do – all for His glory. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 1, 2023 – Operating in the “fruits of the Spirit” – in every “season” of our lives

Galatians 5:22-24
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

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.

In recent days, I have been engaged in conversations with friends and loved ones who are followers of Jesus. The heart of our discussions has been this question… “How do I want to serve as Christ’s disciple?” We have asked ourselves – and God – “What does this look like? How are we to grow in our faith and serve as You designed and desire?”

I will be honest…I am not completely certain of God’s full answer yet…and this is okay. Our missions and ministries have “seasons” – and not all of these look the same. But what I do know is that in every “season,” God wants us to use our Spiritual gifts. And while our missions and ministries may change at certain times in our lives – these Spiritual gifts should not!

We should always demonstrate love for all others. We should represent the joy and peace of a life lived every day to the best of our ability in the service of Christ Jesus. We should persevere…do our dead level best to accept and understand others (even when we disagree with them)…embody our dedication to Jesus with dignity, integrity, and grace…speak and act in a manner that demonstrates we are trustworthy…refrain from judging and/or condemning others…and always monitor our words and actions.  

It has been a while since I offered this reminder, but People.Are.Watching!  They are continually asking themselves…“Who does this person truly represent? Is he/she operating from a pure, genuine desire to share the love of Christ with others and demonstrate His teachings? Or is he/she speaking and acting out of selfish desires, hatred, bias, and bigotry – or even peer pressure to behave in a certain way?” Does every person you encounter feel the presence and power of Jesus Christ in your interaction? Does he/she feel loved, accepted, and valued? Or do your demeanor and body language tell people right away what you think of them?

Jesus didn’t give us these “gifts of the Spirit” just for the heck of it! He wants us to use them! Jesus wants us to fully immerse ourselves in the “fruits” that demonstrate to others we live His way…not our own. Jesus wants us to make love and inclusion our aim in every word and action. And He wants us to always be alert, awake, and open to accomplishing this in whatever manner He desires and presents. Spend some time in prayer and contemplation. Open your heart and mind to the possibilities.

Ask God to show you where and how to serve in the fruits of His Spirit every minute of the day…and make this your aim. I don’t know where God will lead you, but I know He will be with you all the way – and this is truly all that matters. Alleluia!

©2023 Debbie Robus