Devotions By Jan

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Autopilot

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

It worries me to think of an airplane with autopilot capabilities!  They have been in use for a long time, but my imagination takes flight sometimes along with the plane.  I can think of lots of things that could go wrong!  But everything is so computerized that planes can execute some pretty precise maneuvers, even landing a plane with zero visibility.

I learned that the autopilot of an aircraft is sometimes referred to as “George!”  It is a good thing that George can be switched off in times of failure.  That manual override is important when there is a bad connection or a sensor failure, resulting in a loss of needed input data.  The presence of that pilot remains essential.

Sometimes in my Christian walk, I feel like I am on autopilot.  I have been a believer a long time.  I can go through all the motions of the Christian life without much thought.  I can pray spiritual-sounding prayers at the drop of a hat.  I know all the lyrics of all the old hymns and can quote verses with the best of them.  But I usually know when I am on autopilot, as something is missing.  My heart is not in it.

Our verse today talks about leaning on our own understanding and directing ourselves.  When I am going through the motions, doing things in my own strength, and directing myself, I am at risk of messing up.  Flight turbulence brings me to my senses!  I acknowledge Him by giving Him back the controls.  Thank you, Lord, that You are there and waiting to straighten my paths.


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Fox

P1020410Scripture for Today: Ezekiel 13:3-4 “…Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.  O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among the ruins.”

This Red Fox decided to pay our yard a visit!  He is not the first.  In fact, once we had a mother and her five kits having a play date outside our living room window!  As our house backs up to a hill with vineyards and forest, we are one of their first stops on their trip down!

I was relieved to learn that a fox and cat will ignore one another.  But if they do decide to fight, the fox will come off worse!  Even so, when I see these visitors, my immediate reaction is to check on our cat.  The fox has been called a “creature of opportunity,” eating virtually everything they come across.  They have even been called, “nature’s garbage collectors.”

Learning these facts helped me understand today’s verse.  It is a warning against false prophets who speak out of their own hearts (verse 2).  They are opportunists who follow their own spirits and do not speak God’s truth.  The false prophets are like foxes who forage for their own appetites.  To please their hearers, they tell the people that everything is fine.  There will always be crowds of people who are looking to have their ears tickled (II Tim. 4:3).

The Lord wants me to test the spirits to see whether they speak for Him (I John 4:1).  Those foxes still forage around today.  The only way I know to test what is said is to know and understand God’s written Word.  I can discern error by knowing the Truth.  Lord, may I be disciplined in studying Your Word!  Keep me from listening to the wrong voices.


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Getting at the Fruit!

IMG_20130814_112011Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

This morning I had wild blackberries on my cereal!  I had no idea that the thorny weed I had been meaning to pull out would bear fruit!  I have been annoyed brushing past it but I kept putting off doing anything about it.  Now, I am glad I procrastinated!  Those berries were a sweet surprise!  Getting at the fruit was difficult without getting stuck on the thorns, but well worth the effort.

Our verse for today speaks of fruit as well; the fruit of righteousness.  It comes as a result of thorny sorrowful discipline.  Every believer goes through it from time to time.  The Lord disciplines those He loves.  And He does it for our good so that we can share in His holiness (Heb. 12:6 &10).  It is not exacting punishment as He took that on Himself at the cross.  His discipline is proof that He loves me and that I belong to Him (Heb. 12:8).  He uses it to correct and teach.  Nevertheless, it hurts.

Probably, when He is in the process of disciplining me, I resemble that thorny weed.  I wonder if other believers look at me and think I need to be pulled out of there!  Do I sometimes look at other believers the same way?!  We are all in process of becoming like Him and becoming more fruitful.  He is patient and loving with me and I need to be the same way with others!

I am thankful that at the end of sorrow, there is joy at seeing what He has produced!  As much as it hurts, thank you, Lord, for Your loving discipline.


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Team Effort

1208_NRBB_Game_023Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 3:6-7  “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.”

I am a basketball game enthusiast.  I kind of have to be as I am married to someone passionate for the game!  But over the years I have learned to appreciate it more and more.  I even know some basketball vocabulary to throw around so I can pretend I know what I am talking about!

The shot made in this photo was amazing!  What was more amazing is what led up to that basket.  There was dribbling, there was passing and there was setting of picks.  It was a real team effort.  When a team works together the score always reflects it.  If there is ball hogging and no assists, things tend to fall apart.  The game is never about just one player.

Although the context is division, our verse for today can also refer to a team effort.  Paul and Apollos both had different but essential roles.  The important truth is that God is the One at work changing hearts and transforming lives.  Neither Paul nor Apollos could take the credit.

When it comes to building God’s Kingdom, I am not anything.  I may think I am, but I am not.  Can I change a heart or transform a life?  Of course not.  No matter how well I think I am doing, it is God’s doing.  If there is increase than the glory clearly belongs to Him!  That means I do not have to be the one making the basket.  Sometimes He asks me to throw the ball at the player who is open!


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Bridging the Gap

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 2:12-13 “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

We visited this ancient Roman aqueduct in the south of France.  It is so impressive, especially given it was built in the 1st century AD!  Pont du Gard is one of the five top tourists attractions in France.  This bridge near Nîmes is 31 miles long and has three tiers of arches standing 160 feet high.

During the height of the Roman Empire, this aqueduct brought over 200 million liters of water a day to the fountains, baths, and homes of the citizens of Nîmes.  After the empire fell, it was used as a toll bridge, bringing together communities on both sides of the Gardon River.

Without a bridge there is separation and exclusion.  But a bridge brings near what was far away.  Our verse for today uses these same words when describing our condition before Christ.  As those outside of the covenant made with Israel, we were once strangers, separated and excluded.  As such, we were without God and so without hope as well.  Christ’s coming and sacrifice changed everything!  His cleansing blood made a way to approach Him.

Jesus is that bridge bringing me near.  Not only does He bridge the gap, but He is the living water that the aqueduct provides!  He has provided the only Way.  The distance between us was too far and impossible for me to cross on my own.

If there had been no Bridge I would still be without God and without hope.  Thank you, Lord, that You have brought me near.