Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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Love Locks

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:17 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children.”

There is something about Paris that inspires grand gestures of love.  Couples have been putting locks on the Pont de L’Archeveche to commemorate their love.  What a wonderful way to symbolize the permanence of a relationship!  However, a section of this old bridge built in 1828 has buckled and fallen under the weight of these locks.  The city is now ordering that all the locks come down for safety reasons.

Our verse for today is a promise of a love that never ends.  Unlike the best-intentioned human love, God’s love for His own does not fail or falter.  His love is everlasting because He chose us in love to be His before the creation of the world! (Eph. 1:4)  He proved His love by dying for us while we were still rebellious sinners (Rom. 5:8)  He did not wait for our response.  He loved us first and to the utmost!

The symbol of His love is more than a lock on a bridge.  The symbol of His love is that infamous cross.  It reminds me of what He went through to establish a relationship with me!  It locked up securely and forever the love we can now share!  There is no way to tear down or nullify what He has done to establish this love.  It will continue into eternity!

I feel God’s love most keenly when I am considering His power and greatness.  The fear, awe and respect that His holy character inspires makes me even more appreciative of this incredible love.  I am humbled and grateful that He, being so vast and powerful, could love someone like me!

“Amazing love, how can it be?”

 


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Money Grows on Trees!

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

My parents always told me that money does not grow on trees!  Imagine my surprise to learn that there have been found particles of gold on the leaves of some eucalyptus trees!  The incredibly long roots of this tree, up to 8.2 feet, delve up to 130 feet.  In Australia, some of these eucalyptus trees have pilfered gold from ore deposits underground and have transported them to their leaves!  The concentration of gold is only 46 parts per billion.  Still, it is amazing that some trees have rooted themselves in something so precious!

Our verse for today encourages the believer to be rooted and established in something even more precious; the love of Christ.  Just as the leaves of the eucalyptus tree reveal secrets hidden underground, so the “leaves” of the life of a believer reveal where he is planted.  The love of Christ is so vast and nourishing that our lives reflect Him as He develops His fruit in us.

Being rooted and established in His love is essential to my well-being.  His love is what allows me to grow and thrive.  Without it, I would shrivel up.  Being grounded in His love makes loving others possible.  This immeasurable love is my reason to be.  To be honest, there are times I am not feeling it.  In those moments I delve deeper into His Word.  I take more time to listen to Him.  I watch for those sweet affirmations through prayer in my spirit.  I so often need those reassurances and He never disappoints!

Lord, keep me rooted in Your love today!


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The Shadow of His Hand

Scripture for Today:  Isaiah 51:16 “I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.'”

On a burning hot day I am looking to walk in the shadow of buildings or trees.  I will go out of my way to avoid direct sunlight and I look for those shadows.  They give relief and make the walk so much more pleasant.

The shadow of a person can evoke a variety of emotions.  When one thinks of a shadow, it can sometimes be in a context of fear!  If the presence is menacing than it follows that the shadow of that presence is as well.  But a shadow can be reassuring and even comforting when it comes from a loving presence.

Our verse for today uses the image of the shadow of God’s hand.  It is a powerful hand that has established the heavens and the earth.  The context of this verse describes how His hand is able to loose chains and set captives free.  Because He covers us with the shadow of His hand, there is no reason to be fearful of man (verse 12).  What can man do?  God’s power and presence gives comfort rather than fear to those who belong to Him.

The shadow of His hand reassures me of His love and protection.  His shadow reminds me that I belong to Him.  I am His and He is mine!  His shadow is evidence that He is at work in my life.  He has set me free!  His care and blessing are shadows of His loving presence!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me sense even the shadow of Your hand!


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“To the Moon and Back”

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 3:18 (that you) …”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.”

I am seeing the quote everywhere as a home decoration; “To the Moon and Back.”  The original quote begins with, “I Love You…”  This quote is found in the children’s book, “Guess How Much I Love You.”  It is a sweet story by British author, Sam McBratney relating a conversation between two hares.  Each exchange uses larger and larger measures to describe their love for each other.  The story ends with this superlative.

Our verse for today describes a love that cannot be quantified!  There is no limit to God’s love.  It is wider than one can ever imagine.  It is deeper than anyone can ever plunge.  The distance to the moon and back is not long or high enough to describe God’s love!  There is no limit because He Himself is Love (I John 4:8).

Paul prays for power to grasp the unmeasurable nature of God’s love.  The Holy Spirit gives that power to grasp something so limitless (verse 16).  It is through His Spirit that we can know a love that surpasses knowledge.  He whispers His love to me.  He quiets me with His love (Zeph. 3:17).  His love is like no other.  He loved me when I was His enemy and estranged from Him.  He loves me in spite of and not because of who I am.  His love is not only unconditional but limitless.  Earthly love often can not hold it together for a simple lifetime.  God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting.  I will be enjoying that love for eternity!

To the moon and back is much too short.  Thank you Lord, for Your immeasurable love for me!


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Wedding Jewelry

bride-wearing-chinese-green-jade-necklaceScripture for Today: Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

This radiant bride reminded me of my own wedding day.  There were a few surprises marrying into a Chinese family.  An unexpected gift of jade was given me by my new Chinese Grandmother-in-law just after the ceremony.  She saw that I wore it right away with my wedding dress.  Jade is traditionally thought to ward off evil spirits and keep the couple safe on the wedding day.  This stone is historically thought to be royal, representing virtue, purity and righteousness.

Our verse for today brings all kinds of images to mind.  As believers we are clothed in the Lord’s righteousness.  The material is pure dazzling white because of the forgiveness we receive by faith.  As the Church, we are the Bride of Christ.  We are purified and presented to Him without spot or wrinkle.  We are glorious, set apart in a love relationship with Him (Eph. 5:27).  As if that were not enough, we are adorned with jewelry on that beautiful day that begins our eternity with Him!

My own efforts at righteousness are regarded as filthy rags (Is. 64:6).  They are as ineffectual as jade in truly making me virtuous or pure.  But the jewels I wear on that day will, like righteousness, be a gift of grace from His hand.  Jade will not make me royal either, but being a child of the King does!

What a day that will be!  Today I can “delight greatly” in just the thought of what is to come!  His salvation and righteousness make me beautiful!