Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faith and Trust


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Saint Nicolas

st nic unnamedScripture for Today: Matthew 19:14  “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”

Today is a special day for French children in Alsace; Saint Nicolas Day!  If they have been good, their shoe, placed the previous night outside their door, will be filled with small presents and goodies!  I was unaware of this custom before living in this region of France.  Saint Nicolas is the patron saint of this department.  Our neighbors; the Germans and the Belgians, also celebrate this day.

I saw him wandering around the mall the other day.  He is dressed much like a Bishop and children are drawn to his pockets full of candy.  Our own Santa Claus and Britain’s Father Christmas are derived from legends surrounding this saint.  The children here learn songs and poems about his protection and generosity to little ones.

In our verse for today, Jesus is explaining to the disciples that children are important to Him.  I love the depictions of Jesus seated with children climbing all over Him.  He was not some distant adult that could not be bothered.  He loved and welcomed them!  The kingdom of heaven belongs to those with child-like faith.

Jesus went on to say in Luke 18:17 that we are to receive the kingdom of God like a child.  We are to let go of our pretensions and pride.  We are to humble ourselves before Him in complete humility and dependence.  There is with children a trusting and open heart that somehow we lose as an adult.  Pride invades the soul and keeps us from admitting our need.

Lord, keep me from vain human philosophies that set themselves up against You!  Keep me humble with the wide-eyed belief You reward!


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Living Faith

Scripture for Today:  James 2:17  “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

Living in Europe gives daily opportunities to see some beautifully crafted statues.  There are military ones all over the place commemorating great battles in times past.  We used to live in the home town of Joan of Arc; Orleans.  You could not turn  around there without bumping into her!  Then there are the religious statues.  They are not found only in churches.  Some are placed prominently on the roadside or more discreetly in little stone alcoves.  There is one just a hundred meters from our house of Jesus on the cross surrounded by weeping women.

Statues, regardless of their beauty are dead.  They may be placed in an awe inspiring cathedral.  They may have a pious look on their  face.  They can be in a position of humble prayer.  But they are dead.

Our verse for today talks about the nature of authentic living faith.  Saving faith is a faith that expresses itself in action.  Faith without works is much like that cold dead statue.  It can look very religious and pious, but it is not real.  True faith is not a noun.  It is a verb.  It is active and visible to others.  Our lives of obedience authenticate our faith to those around us.

James reminds us that faith if not accompanied by works, is not true saving faith.  It can also be said that good works without faith does not save either (Matt. 7:22-23).  Our salvation is totally unmerited as Ephesians 2:8-9 makes clear.  But genuine faith will always express itself.  It is its nature to act and breathe and do for others.

Thank you, Lord, that Your gift of salvation makes possible a living working faith!


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News

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 112:7  “He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Almost the first thing I do upon waking is check for news on the computer, personal and otherwise.  Being nine hours ahead of the States, I sometimes feel that I am the last to know about whatever happened the day before.  (Of course, I am among the first to know what is happening on my side of the ocean.)  I am quick to check my phone too, in case any news came during the night.

It is not that I am expecting bad news.  But there is a small sigh of relief to know that nothing catastrophic happened while I was sleeping!  However, there is always the potential of hearing bad news concerning family members or friends.

Our verse for today describes the heart of the righteous.  It is a trusting heart that remains steadfast, regardless of the news.  There is no fear of evil tidings.  Worry and fear of what the news might bring has no place for the one who is confident in the Lord.

There will be times when the news is bad.  But it can have no power to shake my trust in Him.  Why?  Because He is the source of Good News.  The Gospel of salvation gives me hope.  Regardless of what I may be asked to endure, it is called a “light momentary affliction when compared to the eternal weight of glory to come” (II Corinthians 4:17).

Like David, my heart can be firmly fixed and established in the assurance of His love and care.  I will not be moved, regardless of tidings good or evil.  I am so grateful that my life is in His gracious and capable hands.  Thank you, Lord, for a life without fear.


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Controls

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 37:5  “Commit your way to the Lord.  Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

This array of remote controls is impressive!  I cannot imagine trying to keep them all straight.  Seriously, I would probably mix them up to the point of inadvertently turning on or off the wrong thing.  As it is,  I pointed our phone at the television the other day and wondered why nothing happened!  Maybe that is better than trying to make a phone call from the television remote!

All these controls must give one a sense of command.  I imagine that homes in the future may become more and more automated.  With voice recognition we can tell lights to come on or heating to turn off.  It must be a powerful feeling to have one’s environment obey one’s every command!

Our verse for today teaches believers to give up control of our lives to the Lord.  There are plenty of things over which we have no control.  But for those things we do, we are to entrust even those to Him.  This is not a natural reaction to a problem.  In fact, in facing a difficulty beyond one’s control, the first inclination is to somehow find a sense of control.  But committing one’s way to the Lord is yielding it all to Him.  It is an intentional decision to allow the Lord His perfect way and to relinquish control.

My basic problem in relinquishing those controls is a lack of trust.  Why ever do I think I can do a better job of it than He can?  Trusting in myself and my own limited understanding may keep control in my feeble hands but His way is always better.  Thank you, Lord, that You are trustworthy and Your control is always loving.


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Waiting Room

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 27:14 “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.  Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”

Who is it that designs waiting rooms?  The colors are subdued, the walls are mostly bare, and often the magazines are out of date.  It does not help that the chairs are sometimes hard and the lighting fluorescent.  Waiting rooms are not easy places to wait.  Why not have color and noise and distractions to keep our minds occupied?  Focusing on what we are awaiting only makes the time drag.

Our verse for today is all about waiting.  David is waiting to see God’s goodness.  He is seeking His face for mercy and help.  David knows that there can be no courage or bravery on his part without that wait.  He waits with expectation that God will come through for him.  His hope is based on God’s character and God’s promises to him.

When I wait to see God’s goodness I want to wait the way David did.  He did not seek color, noise or distractions to get him through the wait.  Nor did he focus on the problem of his enemies.  Instead, he thought about who God is; his Light, his Salvation, his Refuge.  He remembered God’s promises to him (verse 8).  David was able to move through the wait with a strong heart, full of confidence.  That is what I want to do.

Some waits are particularly difficult.  Concentrating on that looming problem with no apparent solution only makes the wait seem longer.  I want my waiting room to be wallpapered with His promises and reassurances of His character.  Keep my heart strong, Lord, while I wait for You.