Devotions By Jan

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Transplanted?

Scripture for Today: Colossians 2:6-7 “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”

I thought it odd to see this huge palm tree being trucked to a different home. The new owners must have gone to quite a bit of trouble and cost to transplant such a huge tree. The driver told us that the price tag to move and transplant it was $10,000! How awful if this majestic tree were to fail to take root in its new home!

Today’s verse describes how as believers we are rooted in a different soil. No longer are we in the soil of the world, but we have been transplanted. Those who place their faith in Christ as Lord and Master live their lives for Him. Being rooted and built up in Him means that faith is continually strengthened as we learn and grow. Being transplanted from the world into Him is made evident by our thankful spirit.

The Lord has gone to enormous lengths to transplant me. He has sacrificed Himself and bought me at a great price (I Cor. 6:20).  He has taken me out of the darkness and transplanted me in the light (Eph. 5:8). He has given me everything needed to live a godly life in Him (II Peter 1:3). I want my roots to go deeper and avoid the deceptive toxic soil of the world. In Him I am built up and my faith grows stronger, especially as I overflow with gratitude for all He has done for me!

Thank you Lord, for transplanting me in You! 

(Look familiar? This post is based on one from 2017)


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The Velvet Glove

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

After my Mother-in-law’s passing, I discovered a whole pile of her old gloves. Her tiny hands had enjoyed over the years the feel of leather, wool, and velvet. I would love for gloves to be back in fashion as they cover age spots, callouses and prominent veins! But the “velvet glove” hides something else entirely. This term refers to covering a strong and unyielding will or determination. The velvet represents a superficial gentleness masking what is underneath.

Today’s verse reminds believers to be clothed in what would signal to the world our identity as God’s own. The soft velvety characteristics are sincere. They appear when we bear with one another’s faults (verse 13). We are compassionate, kind, humble. gentle and patient with others when we are able to forgive. And that forgiveness is only possible when we realize what Christ had to do to forgive us! (verse 13)

My own will can be very strong. But I can easily mask it with an insincere show of gentleness and studied courtesy. However, the Lord sees my heart. Having the right spirit is something only His Spirit can accomplish in me. I need to allow His fingers to fill that glove and move me in the direction He wants. His way is so much better than my own and the submission He asks of me allows my love for others to be sincere.

Clothe me Lord, with Your love and forgiveness.


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Morning Star

Scripture for Today: Psalm 8:1 “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.”

That “Morning Star” is the last to disappear before the sun rises. Venus is also called the “Evening Star” as it is the first star to appear after the sun sets. Of course Venus as a planet is not a star, shining the brightest and outshining the four other planets doing roughly the same thing. Regardless of which planets deserve this distinction, the rising and setting of our sun is the main event, far out shining anything else!

Today’s verse reminds us that we see the glory of the Lord, our Lord, when we gaze up into the heavens. The heavens declare His glory without using any words. (Psalm 19:1-4) The God of the Bible is even described as being like the sun (Psalm 84:11) as He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5) Jesus is called the Morning Star (II Peter 1:19. Rev. 22:16) and as His followers we ourselves are called “children of light.” (I Thes. 5:5)

Like the planets, I cannot produce any light of my own. Any light I generate is a reflection of His glory! And just as the light of the planets disappear when the superior light of the sun arrives, so I am to give Him the glory He so deserves. And when the darkness seems to be winning, I can still shine with the light of the Gospel and point others to Him. I want today to be about my Light. He is the source of every gift, talent or success. He is my Lord and Creator and deserves all the glory!

Lord, keep my light shining for You.


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Drifting

Scripture for Today:  Philippians 3:12  “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

There is no mystery at all as to why driftwood is called driftwood. It is simply wood that has drifted. The wood comes to be in the water through flooding or storms breaking off tree branches. Or it could be there as a result of logging. In any case, the wood drifts aimlessly at the whim of the waves. When and where it washes up on to shore seems completely arbitrary. Just like for some people, circumstances push and prod to move a body from here to there with no clear goal in mind.

In today’s verse, Paul lives his life with a specific goal in mind. He wants to gain Christ (verse 8) be found in Christ (verse 9) and to know Christ (verse 10). Paul not only wanted to know Jesus and His power, he was ready to suffer for His sake. He was willing to completely deny himself and take up his cross to follow Him (Luke 9:23). His goals would last a lifetime and make his life significant. There would be no aimless drifting through life for him!

As I face a New Year, it seems as good a time as any to stop and think about my goals. Making resolutions that are forgotten by the Spring are not helpful. But to live a life that is intentional will mean that I do not drift aimlessly. I find that with passing time, the years seem to fly by quicker than they used to. What is my purpose? I can think of no loftier one than to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him. Like Paul, I want to press on with goals that are eternally significant!

Lord, keep me from drifting today or this year!


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What a Drip!

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 27:15-16 “A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.”

Last night at my desk, I kept hearing a constant drip. I looked up. Nothing. It took me a moment to realize that rain was leaking into the fireplace. After verifying on hands and knees with a strong flashlight, I saw that I was right. I didn’t want to be right! After extensive work on our roof we were confident that this recent rainstorm would pose no problem! There is probably nothing more maddening than continual repair addressing the same issue!

Today’s verse describes a quarrelsome wife like a constant drip. Each complaint from her lips and each nagging session can be as annoying as those continual drips of water. Because the verse is speaking of a wife, the description may very well come from the husband. In contrast to the Proverbs 31 wife who speaks with wisdom (Prov. 31:26), this wife provokes argument with what comes out of her mouth. She speaks her mind without any self-restraint or filters. Any attempt at correcting her is as futile as restraining wind. Those attempts to calm her down are like trying to grasp slippery oil.

It can seem quite reasonable and even expected to be quarrelsome after a hard day. When I am surprised by very negative circumstances beyond my control, a bit of nasty temper seems just the thing to blow off steam. But when pressure builds, it is often on those closest to me that I get ugly. The danger for me is that being contentious can too easily become a habit. I would much rather be characterized by a quiet gentle spirit than being a big drip!

Lord, keep me sweet and peaceable despite my circumstances.