Devotions By Jan

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We Shall Be Like Him

Scripture for Today:  I John 3:2  “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

I remember these old fashioned polaroid pictures.  It was fun to be able to see the picture right away without waiting for the film to be developed.  Of course, with digital photography, one sees the image instantly.  But back in the day, there was a certain anticipation seeing the picture slowly come to life before one’s eyes.

In the spiritual realm, our lives are like that slowly developing photograph.  Those who belong to Jesus are God’s children.  We know we are His by the assurance of His Spirit.  He is our Photographer and He is slowly developing a certain image in us, the image of His Son.  One day, the photograph of our lives will be completed and the clear image of Jesus will be seen.

It is a long process lasting a lifetime.  The rate of development seems to change daily.  There are days where His image in me is clearer than in others.  Some days, the photograph is dark and fuzzy.  Those are the days I am not walking with Him.  He does not continue His developing work in me without my cooperation and obedience.

One day, His development in me will be complete.  He has promised this in Philippians 1:6.  When the work in me is complete, I will be like Him.  A more beautiful image will just not be possible!  What a fantastic hope this is!  When I think on this truth I am more motivated to cooperate with Him in obedience.  Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me today!


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Ask Directions

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 25:5  “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”

What is it with men and directions?  Normally, my husband does not have a problem stopping the car and asking for some guidance.  But he recently had a meeting to attend in Paris.  He spent some time beforehand studying this metro map at the house.  He confided that he did not want to look like an ignorant tourist and have to ask others for help.  I understand it can be stressful trying to figure out the system while being jostled by impatient commuters.

When it comes to decision making for the believer, there are times when we do not want to admit we need guidance.  To ask counsel somehow denotes weakness and ineptitude.  We want to always appear competent and in control.

Our verse today talks about the need for guidance when it comes to His truth.  We are not going to find it on our own.  We need to be guided by Him.  What’s more, we need to ASK Him for that guidance.  There’s the challenge: to remember to ask!   I would like to think I already have it figured out.  I have been a believer for many years.  I can delude myself into thinking I have a handle on His truth.  That is like failing to consult the map and deciding to just “wing it.”  Before I know it, I am going the wrong way on a one- way street!

It takes humility to ask for directions, but when it comes to God’s truth it is the only way to get there!  God’s Word and His Spirit give us that direction.  Guide me today, Lord.  My hope is in You.


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Fruit

Scripture for Today:  John 15:5  “I am the Vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

In the vineyards behind our house some varieties of grapes have already been harvested.  But there are others still there even while the leaves are turning golden.  These varieties produce a “vendage tardive” and are much sweeter for having been on the vine longer.  Our landlords share them with us and they are so juicy and sweet.

Of course, these grapes would not be at the point of maturity if they had somehow been separated from the vine.  But imagine one variety of grape looking at another that is harvested first and wondering when their day will come!  These grapes have to wait a bit longer for their fruit to be sweeter.  In the meantime they have to REMAIN connected to the vine.

There are times in the life of every believer when one wonders when fruit will come.  It is easy to look at other Christians and their fruit.  But theirs is a different variety.  Their spiritual gifting is different.  Maybe the number of years they have been connected to the Vine is longer.  In any case, we are to STAY connected and await God’s timing for the harvesting of His fruit.

The Father is the Vinedresser.  He is the One responsible for fruit production, whatever variety, whatever  the timing of the harvest.  My responsibility is to stay connected to Jesus, my Vine.  Without Him there is no fruit of any kind.  I need to resist the temptation of looking around at the other branches and wondering about why their fruit is bigger or sweeter.  Lord, please produce fruit in me in Your way and in Your time.


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Standing on the Heights


Scripture for Today:  Psalm 18:32-33  “It is God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and sets me upon high places.”

My husband and I ran across these two while hiking in the Swiss Alps.  I think they were as surprised to see us as we were to see them!  We cheated.  We had taken the funicular up the mountainside.  We were not out of breath and our shoes were not even dirty.  These beautiful mountain goats did not need to cheat.  Their feet were created for the rough terrain and slippery slopes.  When they ran from us it was beautiful to see how sure-footed they were.  They were never in danger of falling down from these great heights.

The verse for today uses this image to describe what God does for us.  His strength makes us sure footed, just like these two.  We are not ever in danger of falling because His way is perfect.  He sets us on high places.  For me these high places are all the exploits and adventures  with which He wants to spoil us.  When God is leading and we are careful to follow, than life is never boring!  He did not just give us life, but life that is abundant!  That does not mean that the path is easy and rock-free.  There are some places where the path is narrow and dizzying.

The Lord has my back.  He is not going to let me fall.  He has made me to climb those heights of trust and obedience.  The views enjoyed on these heights are views of His faithfulness over the years.  My prayer today echos that of an old hymn, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!”


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Agenda

Scripture for Today:  James 4:13-14a  “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money.  Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow…”

I use this daily planner everyday and coordinate it with that of my husband.  Life can become so busy that if something does not get noted here in my agenda, chances are it will be forgotten!  But no matter how organized I try to be, there are times when the eraser has to comes out.  Dates, times and places are changed.  Things get moved around to make way for that last minute addition.  If I did not use the pencil, these pages would be a mess of scribbles.

The verse for today talks about planning our days.  It is important to have the day mapped out ahead of time.  It is only good stewardship to make the most of our days.  But there is a warning here that the future is uncertain.  There will always be those unforeseen events and even emergencies where the day’s planning goes out the window!

There is Someone who oversees my agenda and has the last word.  He does not use a pencil.  He uses a pen.  He does not even need an eraser as He knows the end from the beginning.  The pages are not scribbled.  There is a master plan that makes sense to Him.

I do not know what tomorrow will bring.  I think that I do.  But as His child, I have given the Lord the use of that pen.  His plans are never frustrated.  He is the Author of my day’s agenda.