Daily Devotional for December 26, 2022 – No matter what you have or how you celebrate – God sent Jesus for all of us

Romans 3:28-31
So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do.

And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to him in this same manner. God treats us all the same; all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God’s laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus can we truly obey him.

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

The last few days, I’ve been looking at photos on Facebook of family Christmas celebrations. Like people in general, these festivities come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Some families are posed in their Sunday finest in front of what looks like a photo spread for Southern Living magazine or Better Homes and Gardens. Others resemble A Charlie Brown Christmas with tiny trees and families dressed in everything from pajamas to hunting gear. Still others are all dressed in t-shirts and shorts at the beach – or Mouse ears at Disney World. And the bottom line is that there is no right or wrong way to decorate for – and celebrate – Christmas, as long as we remember WHO we celebrate – and why. Jesus was born to save the world…and this means every person who will call on His name.

God did not send Jesus to save only a chosen few. God did not send Him only to save those who worship in a certain manner, decorate according to Pinterest, or celebrate the way their friends and neighbors do. God did not send Jesus to save only those who go into debt to lavish unnecessary abundance on their friends and loved ones during the holidays. He didn’t send Jesus to save those who decorate early and leave everything up until Epiphany or later – or those who say, “Forget the decorations completely!”

God sent Jesus for the widow who didn’t even hang a wreath, the elderly grandmother who lives in a nursing home, the college student isolated in his/her room with COVID or the flu, and the family stranded in an airport that couldn’t get to Grandma’s or Uncle Ed’s. God sent Jesus for the family who is grieving and doesn’t feel like “celebrating” this year. God sent Jesus for the immigrants at the border who have no idea where they are going to end up – or how they will survive another night. God sent Jesus for the gay son or daughter whose family has said, “You are not welcome here,” and the family of color who moved to an almost all-white community for Mom or Dad’s job. God sent Jesus for those with degrees and a litany of “credentials” and titles – and those with limited mental and physical capacity who need caregivers and specialized attention each day.

God sent Jesus for people of all ages, races, ethnic origins, economic levels, mental capacities, and personal interests. He sent Jesus for the kid posing in his Sunday best in front of the tree, the one with spiked purple hair and shredded clothes, and the one whose family can’t even afford food – much less a tree to pose beside. He sent Jesus to save those who drive the latest luxury vehicle with all the bells and whistles – and the family in an old clunker that rattles and rumbles them from Point A to Point B. I could list dozens and dozens of descriptions and scenarios for people God sent Jesus to save. But the bottom line is this…you and I do not have a corner on this market…not by a long shot.

There is not a single person on this earth who is more worthy of Salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ than another. And God sent His Only Son to save ALL OF US if we will only surrender and believe. It is past time for us to stop looking at others and judging them in any manner – and seeing what and who God sees. If you want to truly call yourself a redeemed believer in Jesus, you’ve got to show it. Spend some time today in prayer and contemplation and ask God to show you where and how to start representing His precious Son – and showing others His love and grace with every word and action. Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 18, 2022 – Live with intention, pray diligently, be gracious in your speech and actions…and never miss a trick!

Colossians 4:2-6
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

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.

Yesterday, I got the cutest text from my 11-year-old great niece. She wanted to know if she could send me information on “small things I might want in my [Christmas] stocking.” Of course, I told her she could. We are in the “pre-teen phase” with this one. On any given day, we may or may not know what she is thinking and/or what interests her. So the fact that she shared with me and gave me a little insight into what interests or excites her was huge. We exchanged several messages, and I was thrilled to communicate with her.

Greg and I have agreed for decades that “communication is key.” A good rule of thumb is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Too many people are assuming far too much about others…often with life-altering consequences. When we decide that we know what another person is thinking or feeling without truly doing due diligence to get to the truth, we can make mistakes…judge others unfairly…and speak with disdain or disconnection. One of the worst ways many people do this is to decide that someone is not a redeemed believer in Jesus Christ…or that this person is a “sinner” – or their thoughts, words and actions are “wrong” in some way.

Paul is reminding us to be intentional and thoughtful in how we interact with others. He is calling on us to pray continually – and to truly listen to God’s answers. Our prayers and communication with God should determine how we speak and act. We should call on God to fill us with His grace – and guide and guard our speech and behavior. In other words, our goal as disciples of Jesus Christ should be to leave people better than we found them…loved, encouraged, included, and filled with hope and courage.

Every person is on some sort of journey. When we approach them with God-given grace and mercy, amazing things can happen. Spend some time this day in prayer and contemplation. Ask God to show you who, where and how to be gracious in your speech and actions – and bring out the best in others, for His glory. Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 9, 2022 – It’s not about “the part.”

Romans 14:13-14
Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate 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.

Each day, I try to remember to read the comics in our state newspaper. They give me a giggle – and a lift. Sometimes, they give me a new perspective, as well. Today’s cartoon – “Strange Brew” by John Deering, Chief Political Cartoonist and Illustrator for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, features Moses. He is parting the Red Sea, and a woman is standing with him. With arms crossed over her chest, she quips, “Well, I think it would look nicer if you tried parting it to the side.”

This cartoon speaks volumes to me…and it directly relates to our scripture passage today. Too many of us disagree about the “position of the part” and have made this the focus of our faith. Rather than see what (and who) Jesus sees, we decide that everyone who worships with us must believe exactly as we believe – about everything. They must interpret scripture exactly as we do. All must look, speak, act, and love the same.

Paul reminds us in this passage that deciding what is right for another is not our job. In fact, we must be careful as Christ’s disciples that we do not hinder another person in his/her faith journey by imposing our own attitudes and approaches. If we are speaking or acting in a manner that gives someone the impression that they are inferior – or not loved by Jesus as much as we are – we have obliterated our Christian witness. And this a discipleship failure!

Let’s be honest…none of us will ever agree on everything. My husband would rather watch the replay of an old Arkansas Razorbacks football game than view a house remodel show on HGTV. And I would rather watch a cooking show than most any SciFi show. I have no desire to eat sardines or anchovies. Yet I once knew someone who brought a can of sardines in mustard to work for her lunch – and she thought they were delicious! As our children enter the teenage years, their tastes in everything from clothing to movies to what constitutes a fun activity are not aligning with ours. We have dear friends, relatives, and neighbors whose political ideologies are polar opposites of ours.

None of this makes any of us wrong – or bad people. We all love God. We all desire a relationship with him. And God loves each of us. We can work together to accomplish great things for His Kingdom. We can set aside our differences and serve others in the name of Jesus. We can keep “The Main Thing” the main thing and focus on Christ and our faithful obedience to Him. And we can make a concerted effort not to push our agenda – or preferences – on others. We can certainly endeavor to never derail or discourage another person in his/her faith. And we must never make their life more difficult because of our personal biases.

It’s time for us to acknowledge that the position of the “part” does not matter. What is important is the power and love of Jesus Christ…and these are offered freely to all of us. Where are you getting in His way? Make this the day that you search your heart, mind, and attitudes – and make whatever adjustments are necessary to ensure that you never hinder another person in his/her relationship with Christ Jesus. Just keep telling yourself…“This is not about the ‘part’!”

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 6, 2022 – It’s time to grow up and live what we preach…and always share the love and truth of Jesus

August 6 ~ Ephesians 4:14-16
We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

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

“There is nothing to be against…just keep concentrating on the BIG THING you are for!” – Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar, ecumenical teacher, and author often cites the writings of St. Francis of Assisi. Like many others, he attributes a quote to St. Francis that says, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” This is a lovely sentiment; however, some fact checking indicates that the closest St. Francis got to saying this was…“No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister …All the Friars … should preach by their deeds.”

I read about these Friars and the quotes today in an editorial opinion on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette “Religion” pages. The writer, Paul Prather, pastor of Bethesda Church in Sterling, KY, cites Rohr and his work as he talks about how we are to be continually striving to demonstrate the love and truths of Christ Jesus in our daily living. He points out that St. Francis of Assisi did not get bogged down in the dogma and “laws” of certain churches or religious leaders. He simply tried to emulate Jesus. And so should we.

One of the most poignant thoughts of Prather’s essay was the suggestion that Christians should not be obsessed with all the things they are against. Isn’t that where we seem to be these days? Those who are against certain people or groups are raising their hands to the sky (or their fists) and declaring they will create a “church” that is “pure.” Those who wish to discriminate, disparage, and declare themselves to be more devout and dutiful than the next guy clearly demonstrate otherwise.

In Galatians 3:28-29, Paul tells us that…“Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham’s family, and you will be given what God has promised.” I’m honestly not sure what part of this passage so many “Christians” missed! The love and fellowship of Jesus Christ is offered equally to everyone!

Regardless of who said it – or how it was said, I really like the admonition to “Preach the Gospel at all times, and use words when necessary.” I am also drawn to the idea that we start living in a way that shows others all the things that Jesus is for, rather than rail about what we are against. As the old hymn says, “They will know us by our Love.” What – and WHO are you showing the world these days? It is time for us to grow up – and shift our attitudes and actions. It is time to be about the Big Thing we are for and share the love and truth of Jesus to all people – in all things. Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

*  Live What You Preach So You Don’t Have to Preach

Daily Devotional for April 20, 2022 – Belonging to the family of God…it’s time to make sure people know Whose we are!

1 John 3:1-2
See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children—think of it—and we really are! But since most people don’t know God, naturally they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, right now, and we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is.

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 saw a “life hack” on television yesterday where a mother of triplet boys painted the big toenail of each baby a different color to tell them apart. She said it kept her from getting them mixed up…feeding the same child twice, or giving the wrong medication to the wrong child, and so much more. If you had seen these baby boys, you would understand. They truly do look one and the same. There is no mistaking that they belong to the same family. The mother added that she had even begun to color code their clothing – the green-toed baby wears mostly green, the red-toed child wears mostly red, and the blue-toed boy primarily is dressed in blue. She is at the point where she would do anything to make them more readily recognizable!

I didn’t really understand this scripture passage until I thought of the triplets. As they grow, surely they will develop their own characteristics and traits and change in appearance. It may be subtle – and some may always have difficulty discerning which triplet is which. But all three children will always belong to one family…just as we all belong to God’s family. As these babies grow and develop, they will cultivate their own interests and personalities, and it will be easier for people to discern who they are. They may cultivate different ideas and opinions on many subjects. But many of their characteristics will remain similar, and I suspect they will always share a particularly tight bond with one another.

We have been forever changed by the blood of Jesus, and hopefully, we have grown in our faith and discipleship. We have cultivated our own characteristics and traits, and some of us have chosen to detour away from Jesus’ teachings as we go about our daily living. Sadly, there are days when we speak and act in a way that makes it hard, at best, for others to see Whose we are. Do we truly belong to Jesus? Are we really children of the Most High God? These are fair questions…and as I have said before, people are watching – and asking them!

When Jesus returns for His church, all who believe in Him and serve as His disciples will be readily discernable. But here’s the thing…we shouldn’t wait on Jesus’ return! We shouldn’t need red, green, or blue clothing or big toenails – or any other “signage” to tell the world at large who we are. We should be recognizable to all in this moment as Christ’s redeemed beloved…His disciples and faithful followers. We should love one another and treat everyone as we wish to be treated, just as Jesus commanded.

We should offer outward demonstrations of our inner transformation. When Jesus returns, we should already be clearly serving faithfully and obediently. All should be able to readily see that we belong to His beloved body – and our example should encourage them to become part of the family of redeemed believers, as well. Our words, actions, and unconditional demonstrations of the love of Christ should be all the introduction to God’s love that they need.

My prayer is that in our daily living, all can easily recognize God, our Heavenly Father. More importantly, I pray that others will recognize us as redeemed disciples of Jesus Christ. Yes, dear friend, people are watching to see what we represent – and Whose we are! It’s time we introduced them to Christ Jesus! Alleluia!

©2022 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 1, 2021 – Choose to listen to God’s words and wisdom – and have the courage to speak and act on them!

Colossians 2:4-10
I am saying this because I am afraid that someone may fool you with smooth talk. For though I am far away from you my heart is with you, happy because you are getting along so well, happy because of your strong faith in Christ. And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.

Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men’s thoughts and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.

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

One of my mother’s former kindergarten students, Richard Eccles, is a Med-Peds Sports Medicine Physician near Houston, Texas. Richard specializes in pediatrics and the treatment of youth and adolescents. He posted a graphic on Facebook last night to illustrate how children with COVID-19 are treated with an “oxygenator” that is inserted via an incision in the femoral artery of the groin. He commented, “Covid does affect kids! Covid does kill kids!!”

Richard also posted a photo of his 15-year-old son receiving the Covid vaccine. In his comments, he noted…“I get a lot of questions about the COVID vaccine. I talk science and try my best to answer every question fairly and respectfully. However, seeing this picture helped me realize this is the best testament I can give to the importance and relative safety of this vaccine. As a dad I would jump in front of a train, fight a bear, duel aliens to keep my kids safe, and I would never purposely put them in harm’s way. I choose to get my family vaccines. Get your vaccine, please.”

I trust the word of this trained practicing physician over those who have “watched a lot of news” and “read things on the Internet.” I know this man to be a faithful Christian, and I believe the words he shared were God-ordained. It seems to me that we should believe the testimony of healthcare workers who are on the front lines, witnessing devastation and death from this virus every day over the words of political pundits and citizens without medical credentials who have decided this is a hoax. I believe my Christian friends who DID get vaccinated and still got the virus when they say, “I know it would have been SO much worse if I hadn’t gotten the shots.” I believe the doctors who have shared that their unvaccinated patients ask for the vaccine right before being placed on a ventilator, and they have to be told, “I’m sorry, but it’s too late.”

You and I must choose who we will believe. And the Apostle Paul has reminded us in this passage that we must discern what answers are built on men’s thoughts and ideas instead of the divine wisdom of Jesus Christ. We have to stay so close to Him in thought and prayer that we are 100% certain that every decision we make is God-driven and ordained by His authority and power. Whether we decide one way or the other, we must be completely sure that God is directing all of our words and actions. For some of us, I believe this is going to require a bit of a “re-set.” And there is no better day for this than today.

Spend some time with God in humble contemplation. Ask Him to show you where you are listening to man’s ideas. Ask God to show you His choices and to put people with real knowledge of the facts – about everything – in your path. This is about so much more than Covid, but the virus is front and center on our “radar” these days. Ask God to fill you with His wisdom in all matters…and to give you courage to speak and act accordingly, for the glory of His Kingdom. And thank God for His amazing love, care and wisdom. We give Him all glory and praise. Amen!

©2021 Debbie Robus