Daily Devotional for December 11, 2019 – Do your words and actions say, “I believe”?

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

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.

There is a lot of talk this time of year about “believing”. There are shirts that say “Believe!” The pervading question seems to be, “Do you still believe in Santa Claus?” But here’s a better question for all of us…”Do you believe in Jesus?”

“That’s ridiculous!” you may say. “Of COURSE I believe in Jesus! How can you even ask this?” I will tell you that many of us SAY that we believe in Jesus…but our words and actions indicate anything but this statement. And lately, this behavior seems to be running rampant in our world. We have people who claim to be Christians who are using foul language, calling others names, lying and cheating in plain view, and more. Some even profess to be chaplains or some other form of clergy!

It is appalling to me that these people can speak and act so hatefully in one breath – and claim the name of Jesus in another. I cannot imagine how God must feel about this! I do know that more than once, I have heard someone say, “If this is what it means to be a Christian and follow Jesus, I want no part of it!” I know in my heart that we grieve our Heavenly Father.

Let’s stop for a few minutes today and consider the greatest Christmas Gift we will ever receive. It’s not about the actual day when Christ was born – or how we celebrate. It is about the fact that God loved us – ugly, hateful, foul-mouthed, lying, cheating humans though we may be – and He sent His Only Son to save us. I don’t know that I will ever understand this kind of love…but I know that I want in on it. I know for certain that in Jesus, I believe! And I am forever grateful for a love that is beyond my comprehension.

So I am prepared to “clean up my act” and do whatever is expected in order to say that I am a child of the Most High God, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and destined to sit at His Heavenly table for all of eternity. My prayer is that others will wake up and do the same. Are you among them?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 26, 2019 – Thankful prayers for others are a pleasure – and a MUST!

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.

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.

We’ve all done it. We pray for someone to turn their life around – or to get well. We ask God to bless someone with a new job, a “significant other”, or some other life-changing event. And God answers…and we move on with our lives.

How many times do you still thank God for that person He healed of cancer two years ago? How often do you lift up the grieving family whose loved one passed last month – or last week? When was the last time you thanked God for the amazing changes and salvation He brought to the life of someone for whom you prayed a dozen years ago or more?

My point is that we get so caught up in the here and now that we quickly move from one person to the next. I understand that it can be daunting to recollect every single person for whom you have ever prayed. But try this…when a person’s name pops into your head – for whatever reason – thank God for them. When you see the name of someone on social media that you have not thought about in a while, stop and pray for him/her. If you know they are in need of God’s special love and care, ask for it. If you know that God has worked in their life in a special way, thank Him.

I have sometimes noticed a name on Facebook – or someone comes to mind – that I had not thought of in quite some time. Or maybe I will bump into a person at Walmart that I have not seen in many weeks – or even months. Sometimes, when I am praying, the name of some random person will pop into my brain. I have decided this is God’s nudge for me to pray for this person. It can be as simple as “Lord, please bless So-and-So,” or “Father, You know the needs of What’s-his-name.” God hears all prayers…He accepts all praises and petitions of gratitude…He answers every request.

So keep on praying for others…whether you think they need it or not! Offer thanks to God for the wonderful work He has done in so many – and for what He continues to do. As the Apostle Paul told us…this is not just a pleasure – it is a MUST! God is at work in the hearts and lives of those we know and love…how will you thank Him today?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 21, 2018 – Celebrating God’s gift of Jesus this Thanksgiving – and always

John 3:16-17
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!

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

This time of year, I am especially mindful of family…especially those who are now in Heaven.  As I read the sentence in this scripture passage about how God did not send his Son into the world to condemn us, but rather to save us, I couldn’t help but think of a few of my “elders”.  We used to laugh that my Grand-dad Arlie had “the Arlie frown”.  When he frowned, you knew that something displeased him. Like many mothers, mine was notorious for “the look” that said it all…we had done something she didn’t like – and it showed!

My grandmothers used our first AND middle names to indicate displeasure.  Whoopi Goldberg talks often about how her mother used her full name and gave her “the look”.  Stay with me here…because my point in sharing this is to say that as a child, when I thought of our “Heavenly Father”…I often thought of a stern authoritarian.  Disobey or disappoint, and he would at least give us a serious “frown”…if not downright condemnation. I’ve said before that I often pictured God with a chair in one hand and a whip in the other…ready to punish me if/when I got out of line.

I want us to recognize and remember today is that God is not out to get us!  Yes, God is all-powerful, supreme, omnipotent, and able to do exceedingly above and beyond all in our comprehension. Yes, Jesus is an extension of the Heavenly Father and has the same power and authority. But just like our parents and grandparents who loved us beyond measure, God loves us. In fact, He loves us more than any mortal ever could…even our parents!

God loves us so much that He sent His Only Son to live with us and help us get to really know Him. God loves us so much that He allowed Jesus to die on the cross and take the sin of the world on His own shoulders…to pour our His blood to spare our own.  We all disappoint God from time to time. Sometimes, I think we even disgust Him. But He never stops loving us – or wanting us to join Him in Heaven someday for all eternity.

The Thanksgiving holiday means different things to different people. We aren’t all thankful and/or celebratory for the same things, necessarily. But on this most important thing, I hope you will agree with me…we should be incredibly thankful for God’s love and His gift of Jesus. We should be thankful for the sacrifice of His Only Son on our behalf…grateful for all of the blessings that He bestows on us every single day…and incredibly humbled that He wants us to live with Him in Heaven – forever and ever!

I am not afraid of God. I respect and revere Him…but I know that even on my worst day, He loves me more than I can ever comprehend.  I may still get “the look” or a frown from Him on occasion…but I know that I can use this as a “course correction” to get me back on track. I also know that indescribable feasts and celebrations await me in Heaven someday…that every single day there will be “Thanksgiving Day”…filled with laughter, joy, feasting, fellowship, and love. God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus to make this possible.  Let us give thanks for ALL of His good gifts – this day and every day.  Amen.

©2018 Debbie Robus