Devotions By Jan

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Love and Light

Scripture for Today:  I John 2:10 “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”

It can seem very dark here in Alsace.  It is not that we live in the country.  But we are in a much less populated area than southern California.  Things are spread out and there just is not as much artificial light.  Sometimes between villages, my husband will turn off the headlights to impress our visitors with how dark it can get.  When walking at night, I always use my small key chain flashlight to avoid tripping.

Today’s verse talks about staying in the light.  Jesus is our light.  He illuminates the path of obedience we are to walk.  Obeying Him allows us to remain within the beam of that light.  It is easier to talk about obedience in general terms, but here the verse is very specific about one particular commandment; loving our brother.  We are at risk of falling when we do not love our brother.  It is like turning off the headlights or forgetting my flashlight.  Loving our brother as God commands keeps us in His light and on the right path.

I never realized before how closely linked are LOVE and LIGHT.  The amount of light I live with is dependent on how much I love my brother.  Quite frankly, I get used to my way being dimly lit.  My eyes adjust to the lack of light due to my lack of love.  I do not think to do anything about it…….until I stumble.  I trip on my lack of love.  How much better it is to make the effort to love.  My walk is so much more pleasant in the light!

Lord, help me to stay in Your light by my brother.


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The Veil

                                                                      

                                                                                                            

Scripture for today:  II Corinthians 3:15-16  “Yes, down to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.  But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.”

Wedding veils are so pretty and they give an aura of mystery to the bride.  During the Elizabethan era there were plenty of arranged marriages among the nobility.  It was not unheard of for the groom to see his bride for the first time when he lifted that veil during the ceremony!

Our verse today talks about a veil that blinds people spiritually.  It was there even though these people were listening to the Word of God.  The veil was keeping them from understanding.  It was obstructing their view of the Truth.  The veil remained there until they turned to the Lord in repentance.  Once that happened, the veil was no longer an issue.  It was then stripped off and taken away.

I sometimes hear people complain that they can not understand the Bible.  This is not surprising as the natural man can not accept or understand the things of the Spirit.  They are spiritually discerned.   (ICor.2:14)  There is a veil in place over the mind and the heart of those who do not yet belong to Him.

The good news is that this veil can be removed.  We do not tear it off.  We do not have that ability.  It is done for us by the Lord when we turn to Him.  He is willing and waiting to welcome us.  He wants to reveal Himself to us through His Word.

What a wonderful moment it is when He lifts that veil and we see Him face to face, our loving Groom.


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This Means War!

Scripture for Today:

Ephesians 6: 12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

I thought it strange to see this menacing figure staring at me as I waited for my sushi take-out.  I am not sure why he was there or what the restaurant owners were thinking in their choice of decor!   He was quite large!  I would think they would want their establishment to be a welcoming place!

I snapped his picture because he made me think about the fact that I am a warrior too.  I do not think I look quite so threatening, but then it is not about looks.  In fact, the verse for today talks about our war not having anything to do with flesh and blood.  Our war takes place in the unseen spiritual realm.

God’s choice of me as one of His warriors is ludicrous!  My courage is so nonexistent that I need to enlist my husband in combat with a spider!  There is nothing in me to inspire fear.  However, the devil will flee from me according to James 4:7.  When I am subject to my Commander-in-Chief, He gives me the ability to resist the temptations of the enemy.

I am well-equipped in this battle so I have no reason to fear!  God has outfitted me with all the armor I need.  I can be strong in Him and the power of His might.  Not only that, I already know the outcome of this war.  I am on the winning side!  “If God be for us who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31  The answer is, no one.

Unlikely warrior that I am, I can be confident because of the One who goes before me.  Victory is mine!


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Recipes

Scripture for Today :                  

Deuteronomy 10: 12-13  “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”

It felt really good to be asked for a recipe the other day.  It is more often the case that I am asking my French friends for their recipes!  It is not easy to convert all my American measures into the metric system, however.  And of course, the cooking vocabulary is very precise.  But I felt flattered enough to stick with the translation.

I did not worry about all the verbs being in the command form.  It is a recipe after all.  I did not bother writing, “please beat the eggs.”  Or “would you mind chopping the nuts.”  But no one is offended.  We are directive because we know that it is for a good result.  We follow the commands to obtain that positive result.

Our verse today is full of commands.  There is no softening of what God requires of us.  But His commands are always with a good goal.  They are always for our good and for our protection.  We know that because HE is good.  It follows that His commandments are too.

The attitude that King David had towards God’s commandments was one of delight in keeping them!  He understood that His directives were an expression of His love and care.  If God’s commandments are really for my good, then why am I always trying to change the recipe?

(Thanks to Catherine Koning for this recipe idea!)


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Pass the Salt

Scripture for Today:  Matthew 5:13                               

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

It may seem like I have a lot of salt shakers but in fact, compared to the collection my sister used to have, this is nothing!  I do not always put them on the table though.  I like to think that the food I have prepared for my guests is already perfectly seasoned.  In fact, one of my pet peeves is when guests salt their food before even tasting it.

Before refrigeration salt was necessary for preserving food.  But there are so many other uses for salt.  It can set colors or brighten them.  It can prevent fruit from browning.  Salt keeps the ants away; they do not like to walk on it.  Salt can “de-ice” the roads.  It keeps flowers fresh.  Salt even calms down a BBQ fire, reducing the flames and smoke.  And salt has numerous cleaning properties.

As believers we are called the salt of the earth.  We are to have an influence in our world.  But we can lose our saltiness by conforming to our world.  When we adopt the values of those around us, we lose our influence.

For me to be salt and an influence for Christ, I need to be out there in the world.   Salt does no good sitting on the shelf with all the other salt shakers.  But there is always the risk of losing my saltiness.  The pull of this world’s system is strong.  I am faced everyday with the temptation to compromise my standards.  My prayer today is that my testimony stays strong and yes, salty!