God’s Love | Devotions By Jan

October 30, 2015
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Buzz Lightyear

Scripture for Today: Psalm 108:4 “For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

What little boy does not enjoy dressing up? My grandson sure does and he just loves his Buzz Lightyear outfit! Wearing it he almost flies as he jumps on the bed, even without the wings that light up! This Toy Story character is best known for the catch phrase, “To infinity and beyond,” as he strikes the pose, ready to fly. After defeating the evil Emperor Zurg, this space ranger now cares more about keeping his toy family together.

There are not too many things that can be said to truly be “to infinity and beyond.” But today’s verse describes God’s love and faithfulness in much the same way. His love is so great it goes beyond the heavens. God’s faithfulness is so immense it reaches to the skies! A faithful love like that is beyond our limited comprehension. It surpasses anything that man can stir up in his own heart. But this is not fiction. His love and faithfulness have been proven over and over. This incredible love compelled the Son of God to lay down His life in our place.

What other love will never never let go? What other love is completely unconditional? There is no other love that even comes close. His love is eternal and the world cannot even contain it. His love surpasses the far reaches of the skies. Our God IS love (I John 4:8). God’s love upholds me, guides me, instructs and disciplines me. His love rescues me from a meaningless life and a hopeless future. He crowns me with His love and compassion (Psalm 103:4). “Amazing love, how can it be?”

Lord, I am so undeserving of such a love. I am eternally grateful.

October 16, 2015
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Thin Ice

Scripture for Today: Psalm 89:2 “I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in Heaven itself.”

This kitty is trying to walk on thin ice. I have yet to meet a cat who enjoys getting wet. This one is walking oh so gingerly to avoid falling through the ice and getting an unintended freezing bath! So many factors are against him. The ice could be thinner in spots or the air temperature could change. A sideways slip could move him off the ice and into the surrounding cold water. How much more reassuring to walk and stand on firm ground!

Today’s verse is about standing on something that is firm forever. There is no chance of it failing to take our weight. It will hold us up when every other kind of love lets us down. There are no outside factors or circumstances that will change it. God’s love is completely dependable and faithful. When God establishes something, nothing under Heaven can change it as His decrees are firm (Psalm 19:9).

He has not only declared that He loves me but He has proved it with the ultimate sacrifice; His death on the cross. What other evidence do I need? And yet, there are times when I do doubt it. Knowing my dark heart I wonder how He could possibly love me. It is a true miracle that He does. Thankfully, He does not love me because I am lovable. If that were the case, it would be thin ice indeed! It is out of His grace that He has committed Himself to love me and not because I deserve it.

“O, the wonder of it all….just to think that God loves me!” Help me to stand firmly in Your love today.

September 24, 2015
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Keeping Score

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:10 “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

One little mistake on the part of the scorekeeper could change the game. I have done score keeping for my husband’s French basketball team and it was stressful. I could not look away or be distracted. Every call and change had to be correctly noted with careful attention. I would much rather sit back and enjoy the match, especially one as close as this. The score keeping equipment was dated and there was plenty of potential for error. Thankfully, a mistake I made was quickly caught and corrected.

The love described in I Corinthians 13 points out that it “keeps no record of wrongs” (verse 5). Today’s verse shows what love in action looks like on God’s part. He does not keep a record of wrongs when sin is confessed and forgiven. Because of His love and grace, He does not treat us as our sins deserve. We are not repaid as we should be for our wrongdoing. We do not deserve His wonderful forgiveness! What we deserve is judgement. But Christ took that just punishment on Himself in our stead.

If the Lord gave me what I deserve, I would be in big trouble! I am so grateful for His complete forgiveness. There is no record of my wrongs. He does not bring up my past. Rather, He has removed my sins “as far as the east is from the west” (verse 12).

The Lord asks me to extend that same grace I enjoy from Him to others. The past is the past and I do not want to bring it up. A loving healthy relationship does not keep score.

Thank you Lord, that You do not keep score. Help me not to either.

September 23, 2015
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Misnomer

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

In Southern California we are a bit mixed up. The seasons are not so readily identifiable. Our weather is so warm and summer-like that we continue to enjoy the summer fruits, including watermelon, even in the early days of autumn. But the display of pumpkins is a reminder of what the calendar says. However, calling pumpkins, “watermelons,” is a good example of a misnomer. They may both be round and heavy but there the resemblance ends. It is obviously the wrong label.

There are a million misnomers in our world but one that stands out is the use of the word, “love.” We name many different emotions as love when they are not. The description in today’s verse makes that obvious. It might look like love. It might feel like love, but many times it falls short of what true love is all about. Of course, there are different kinds of love, whether they be brotherly or romantic. But whatever we name “love” needs to resemble the qualities listed in I Corinthians 13. This passage goes on to list many others, including the very important aspect of love never failing.

It is easy to be swayed into thinking that love means good feelings. It is such a lovely experience when it does. But the essence of love involves a committed decision to faithfully seek the best for the other person. For me, that decision takes work and determination. Oh, but the benefits are worth it!

Thank you Lord, for showing me how to love and giving me the power to do it!

September 17, 2015
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Withered Leaves

Scripture for Today: Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

One of my favorite activities as a child was to jump in a big pile of raked leaves! I can still remember doing so with my neighbor friends, exasperating their Dad for destroying his hard work! Fall is beautiful when seeing all those brightly colored leaves. But when they turn brown and dry and fall from the branches, the bare limbs make me a bit sad. The green is gone. The colors are finished, and one is left with something forlorn and withered.

Today’s verse describes a seasonal cycle unknown in our experience. There is no Autumn as leaves do not wither, die and fall from the branches. This unique season enjoys continual growth and greenery. There is seasonal fruit and a steady supply of water for this tree planted by streams of water. What a beautiful image of the one who delights in the law of the Lord! (verse 2)

The wicked are pictured as chaff that dries up and blows away (verse 4). What a contrast! Rather than being vibrant and living, the chaff is simply the dry husks of grains and grasses. It is utterly useless and is carried away with the slightest breeze. But the Lord does not allow His own to be dried up and useless. There may be differing seasons of fruitfulness, but the leaves never wither. His life continues within and He never stops working in me! Because of being planted in Him, I will stay green and vibrant and beautiful. Because of Him my shade is inviting and my limbs provide protection.

Thank you Lord, that You can and do use me in spite of myself!