Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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A Fountain

Scripture for Today: Psalm 87:7 “As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you.’”

Photo credit: MagicOlf https://www.flickr.com/photos/magicolf/4555139652

The Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas puts on quite the show! The water dances to the music, taking on different configurations. The differently colored lights keep time to the music and it all comes together to impress and entertain. But for me, I have always enjoyed even the most basic and simple fountain as I love the musical sound of moving water.

Today’s verse has people singing and making music. They are those blessed to be born in Zion or Jerusalem. But these believers in the one and only true God come from other regions as well (verse 4). Together, regardless of their origin, they proclaim that the fountain of all their blessings has but one Source! God calls Himself the “fountain of living waters” (Jer. 2:3). And Jesus calls Himself “living water” that in the believer would become a spring or fountain of water welling up to eternal life! (John 4:10 & 14)

When I see a fountain I am reminded that ALL my blessings flow from my relationship with the Giver of life, here and eternally! And I don’t deserve even one of them. Without His goodness life would be a dried up unsatisfying affair. But because of His incredible grace, life is rich with meaning and significance. I live to love Him more and I can sing with this same refrain, “all my fountains are in You.”

Lord, today, I praise You from whom all blessings flow!


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The Hyssop Flower

Scripture for Today: Exodus 12:22 “Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.”

This field of hyssop is stunning! This flower is native to the Middle East and Southern Europe and it is in the mint family. The leaves are used in herbal medicine and in cooking. And did you know that it is one of the very few flowers mentioned in the Bible? Its twigs were used in rites of purification. This must be why today the flower has come to symbolize sacrifice, repentance, humility, purity, cleansing and health!

Today’s verse records its first mention in the Bible. Moses told the Israelites to use the twigs of the hyssop to put the blood of their sacrificed Passover lamb on the doorway of their homes. When in God’s judgement the firstborn of each family died that night, those with the blood of the lamb were passed over and spared. This was the last and most severe of the plagues on the Egyptians and the Israelites were finally allowed to go.

I am thankful that believers today are not under the former sacrificial system. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). But because Christ bled and died for me, He has become my sacrificial Lamb. And His sacrifice is once for all! (Heb. 7:27) He paid my debt. He absorbed and satisfied God’s holy wrath against my sin. I am no longer under that condemnation I deserve because of His great love!

Thank you Lord, for Your loving sacrifice for me!


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Who’s Coming to Town??

Scripture for Today: Luke 2:10-11 …“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Amid all the cutsie decorations, the glitz and the glamor of the boutique stood this unassuming sign. It made me smile. Of course, as a believer, Jesus is already here, living by His Spirit in the lives of His own. And it is His advent as a baby that we celebrate at Christmas. But it was the allusion to the song, “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” that made me smile. As fun as some of the secular Christmas songs are, they can distract us from the deeper and more significant truths of Christmas!

Today’s verse comes from the angel’s message to the shepherds. It was a message that brought astonished joy to those men, who along with countless others had waited for the coming of the Messiah. The coming of Jesus was not only to the town of Bethlehem, the city of David, but it was a coming that would bring hope to all mankind, Jewish and Gentile alike. As Simeon said, His coming brought, “a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32)

How does the birth of a baby all those centuries ago have anything to do with me? The coming of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, not only changed history but changed my eternal destination at the close of history! He came to die. (Mark 10:45) His death on the cross was to pay the awful penalty of my own sin. And because He lives, I can face tomorrow, the next day and an eternity in His loving presence! What an amazing thought!

Thank you Lord, that You came and that You came for me!


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Losing Our Roots

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 3:17b-18 “…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”

This Sitka Spruce defies the natural order of things, hanging on to life while soil erosion slowly eats away at its roots! It should be dead, but year after year it hangs on. Locals at the Olympic National Park have dubbed it, the “Tree of Life” as it stubbornly clings to survival despite the odds. But without those life-giving roots, gravity will sooner or later have its way.

Today’s verse tells believers how important it is to grasp the truth of God’s love. We are rooted and established in His unconditional love as it is foundational to our lives. There is no way to even measure or quantify that incredible love. When we come to know this love that “surpasses knowledge” (verse 19) we don’t just survive but thrive! And we do not completely understand this love by ourselves. Instead we grasp this love alongside other set-apart believers. But the minute we doubt that love, we can begin to look a bit like this tree.

God’s love for me definitely surpasses knowledge. It certainly makes no sense as He sees all the gunk inside of me. But God’s Word tells me that He loves me in spite of myself. How amazing is that! It is a love that is faithful, never wavering. And it is a love that will never let me go! His love holds me up when I am falling and makes me strong, able to endure whatever life may throw at me. One day I will see Him face to face. One day there will be no more doubting that love.

Lord, keep me grounded in Your love today.


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The Forget-Me-Not

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:2 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

This sweet blue flower was described by Henry Thoreau as “unpretending” and “modest.” Their name is said to come from an old German legend where God named all the plants. But this tiny one cried out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” So God replied, “That shall be your name.” They are small being only one centimeter or less in diameter. King Henry IV used this flower as a symbol during his exile in 1398. And ladies in medieval times wore this flower as a sign of faithful love.

Today’s verse tells us to “forget not” all His benefits. This passage goes on to list just a few including forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, compassion and satisfaction. David is reminding his soul to praise the Lord for what He has done for him and to remember. David knew of God’s ways with Moses and His miraculous deeds with the people of Israel. But he also experienced God’s grace in his own life.  And like so many of us, his soul was forgetful and needed reminding.

How could I forget these incredible benefits in my own life? It is really very easy. I forget His forgiveness when I am plagued with guilt. I forget His healing when doubt clouds my prayers. When I feel worthless I forget that He thought enough of me to redeem my soul. I forget His love when I beat myself up. When I wonder if He cares what I am going through I am forgetting His compassion. I forget that only He satisfies the deepest longings of my soul when I look for that satisfaction elsewhere.

Lord, do not let me forget today!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2019)