Devotions By Jan

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Jello

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Jello leaves me feeling ambivalent.  On the one hand it is very versatile.  Anything and everything can go in it and it can take on so many forms and shapes.  On the other hand, it is slimy and unnaturally colored.  It wobbles and slithers and is usually too sweet for me.  The French as a rule do not want to even try it, so perhaps they have influenced me over the years.  Too many times, I have unmolded a jello only to have it not be firm enough to hold the shape!

Our verse for today promises strength, firmness and steadfastness.  It is a promise directed to those who are called by God’s grace and belong to Him.  This promise is always needed but especially so after going through a time of suffering.  I am not firm and steadfast in the middle of trial.  I am like that jello, all wobbly and ready to slide off the plate.  No one stands strong when their legs feel like jello!

The suffering we go through is usually unexplainable.  The only thing I know with certainty is that it is unavoidable.  My comfort is that God uses it.  The pain is never wasted.  It is through suffering that I draw closer to the Lord and learn to love Him more.  Sometimes my suffering is used to encourage others.  In any case, it is to be counted a privilege to suffer for Him as He suffered so much for me!

What comfort to know that He personally restores me and renews my strength!  Thank you, Lord.

 


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Robbed!

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 61:8 “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbing and wrongdoing. In My faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.”

The nerve of this seagull stealing cake at my grandson’s birthday party!  He was persistent, returning every time we moved away!  The seagull is known for its scavenger habits.  These “garbage men with wings” like to hang around fishing boats, picnic grounds, and parking lots.  Most of the time they do us a service but this one had gone too far!

Today’s verse reveals God’s very character.  He hates robbery and wrongdoing and He loves justice.  Because He feels so strongly on the subject, He uses His power to right those wrongs.  He is faithful and just (I John 1:9) and will deal with all sin.  In His grace He rewards His people with promises of salvation and vengeance for wrong done against us.

I am not unique in living with injustice.  We all live with injustice at some point of our lives.  We all have stories of being robbed, defrauded or victimized.  I am grateful for courts of law that mete out some justice.  But it is never perfectly done and many times, robberies among acquaintances or family members never appear in courts.  Thank God He is just.  Thank God He is faithful to eventually punish and reward according to His perfect justice!  He has promised to avenge and repay (Rom. 12:19) and He will do it perfectly.  Rather than let anger consume me at something unfair, I can have confidence that God will take care of it.

Thank you Lord, that reminders of Your perfect justice calm me down and comfort my heart.

 


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Amazing Starfish

Scripture for Today: Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Is there anything as colorful and fascinating as a starfish?  Their name is slowly changing to “sea star” as in fact, they are not really fish.  But whatever the name, they are amazing and a little creepy all at the same time!  They can consume prey outside their bodies, and they have no brain or blood!  But what impresses me the most is their amazing ability to regenerate limbs!  When caught by the arm by a predator, they can leave it behind and grow another!

Our verse for today is all about a different kind of regeneration.  Being in Christ makes us a “new creature” (II Cor. 5:17)  The old has passed away replaced by the new!  It is due to the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit.  It is all His work in us and has nothing to do with our own good works.  He saw our predicament, desperately needing to be saved.  Rather than giving us what we rightly deserve, the Lord acted out of His infinite mercy.  He changes the heart and makes us new.

Self help and good intentions will not make me new.  Strong resolve or publicly-made resolutions will not change my heart.  I may succeed in changing my behavior but I am still the same inside.  It is only through His supernatural regeneration that I am truly made new.  His Spirit makes it possible.  There is newness of life and purpose now.  And there is completion of the process in Heaven where I will finally become like Jesus! (I John 3:2)

I am tired of the old me.  Thank you Lord, for making me new!

 


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Sticking Together

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It was not uncommon for us to stop the car in rural France and Germany and gaze at a nearby flock of sheep.  For the most part, they seemed unconcerned and just gazed right back!  Perhaps they felt that there was safety in numbers.  In fact, sheep instinctively band together in large groups for protection.  Predators will spot the one who lags behind, wanders off, or isolates himself.  Sheep need to have that visual contact with other sheep to reduce stress while being moved or handled.  They become very agitated when they are separated from the rest of the flock.

In our verse for today, believers are encouraged to continue meeting together.  Some had given up the habit, which is so easy to do.  But in meeting together we draw encouragement from one another.  Without this encouragement we become lax in showing love and doing selfless acts for others.  Just as sheep follow other sheep, we need to follow the good examples of others.  If we are not following other believers, then it stands to reason that we unwittingly follow the example of the world.

It can be dangerous for me to isolate myself.  I become vulnerable to spiritual attack.  The many stresses of life can weigh me down and discouragement can easily set in.  I never stop needing the prayers and encouragement of others.  And I need to be giving out that same encouragement.

Thank you Lord, for the encouragement that comes from being a part of Your flock.

 


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Money Grows on Trees!

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 3:17b-18 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

My parents always told me that money does not grow on trees!  Imagine my surprise to learn that there have been found particles of gold on the leaves of some eucalyptus trees!  The incredibly long roots of this tree, up to 8.2 feet, delve up to 130 feet.  In Australia, some of these eucalyptus trees have pilfered gold from ore deposits underground and have transported them to their leaves!  The concentration of gold is only 46 parts per billion.  Still, it is amazing that some trees have rooted themselves in something so precious!

Our verse for today encourages the believer to be rooted and established in something even more precious; the love of Christ.  Just as the leaves of the eucalyptus tree reveal secrets hidden underground, so the “leaves” of the life of a believer reveal where he is planted.  The love of Christ is so vast and nourishing that our lives reflect Him as He develops His fruit in us.

Being rooted and established in His love is essential to my well-being.  His love is what allows me to grow and thrive.  Without it, I would shrivel up.  Being grounded in His love makes loving others possible.  This immeasurable love is my reason to be.  To be honest, there are times I am not feeling it.  In those moments I delve deeper into His Word.  I take more time to listen to Him.  I watch for those sweet affirmations through prayer in my spirit.  I so often need those reassurances and He never disappoints!

Lord, keep me rooted in Your love today!