Daily Devotional for June 21, 2022

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because we are having Vacation Bible School.   There’s nothing I like more than seeing all those little munchkins running around in church, singing wonderful songs, and growing closer to Jesus Christ.
 
Because I don’t have time to go home at the end of the day to change clothes for VBS, I am wearing shorts during the day.  I’m rethinking that.
 
Yesterday morning, when I walked through the front doors of Dennis Hall, Ellie was sitting at the front desk.  When she saw my bare legs, she screamed, “I’m blind.  I’ll never see again.  Lord, help me.”
 
That hurt.
 
Melissa, being warned by Ellie’s screams, knew to protect her eyes, so she put on sunglasses before she came into my office saying something about looking directly into the sun.
 
That hurt.
 
Then Sam walked in wearing a welder’s helmet.  
 
That really hurt.
 
This got me thinking.
 
No one ever said serving Jesus would somehow insulate and isolate us from ridicule and disdain.
 
Jesus was called a drunkard and glutton because he ate with people that were considered inferior and sinners.  So, if some on our church staff make fun of me for wearing shorts so I can play with the children in Vacation Bible School when the temperature is over 100 degrees, I’m good with that.
 
While you may not be suffering ridicule from members of our church staff, more than likely, there is someone who looks at you with disdain for believing in a God of love and grace.  You may be called names or made fun of.  Just remember the big picture.  
 
Your wonderful God loves you more than life itself.  And in a world that pretends your God is a figment of the imagination or wishful thinking, you know the truth.  
 
God is the One that matters.  God has rescued you from sin and death.  God gives you true life, not just in the future but this very moment.  There’s nothing better. 
 
The New Testament has three letters called the Pastoral Letters.  These are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.  The most personal of these is 2 Timothy.
 
In it, Paul, a veteran missionary who has seen it all, is encouraging his much younger colleague, Timothy, to keep the faith even though he was ridiculed for his young age (1 Timothy) and facing enemies in and outside the church.
 
Paul’s advice was, “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”  (2 Timothy 1:8-9a)
 
Even if you have legs that look like glow sticks, it doesn’t matter.  God does.
 
Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for loving and saving me.  Help me live a life that points others to you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
 
God is wonderful.  God makes life worth living.
 
Also, just for the record, I have spectacular legs.
 
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins