Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Word


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Captive!

Scripture for Today:  Colossians 2:8  “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than according to Christ.”

It just about kills me to see dogs caged up in animal shelters.  Of course, they have sometimes been rescued off the streets from horrible conditions.  Behind those bars they are receiving food, water and shelter.  But seeing their poor little faces peeking out with a soulful look makes me want to adopt them all!  No one likes to be behind bars.

Our verse for today describes another kind of captivity that is just as real as those bars.  Our thoughts can be taken captive through deceptive philosophies.  Rather than looking at the world through God’s truth, one can be looking at the world through a grid of man-made tradition.  This is the only time in the New Testament that this word, “philosophy” is used.  Its literal meaning is “love of wisdom.”  But as true wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10) anything else is empty and hollow.  Any system of belief that does not accord with Christ’s teaching has the potential to imprison our thoughts.

God’s revelation through His Word stands in huge contrast to human thinking.  His thoughts are high above ours (Isaiah 55:8).  Jesus declares that the truth of His Word makes one free (John 8:32).  The Jews to whom Jesus was speaking did not realize that they were in bondage.  People today do not realize that they are imprisoned as well.  My heart is filled with sadness and compassion to see friends and family members behind those unseen bars.

Knowing Jesus sets me free from futile deceptive thinking.  Thank you, Lord for the freedom of Your Truth!


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Missed Rendez-Vous

front-of-rendezvousScripture for Today: Rom. 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

My husband and I were to have a rendez-vous at a particular “salon de thé”.  We arranged to meet there after doing our shopping.  As planned, I arrived at the appointed hour.  I then waited close to two hours for my husband, not knowing whether to be angry or worried!  As this was before owning cell phones, I had no choice but to wait.  Randy, on the other hand, was having much the same experience in a salon de thé across the way!  We laugh about it now, but a missed rendez-vous is no fun at all!

One of the Bible studies I lead is called, “Rendez-Vous Avec La Bible.”  Normally in French, a “rendez-vous” is a term used only with meeting people.  But in a sense, when studying God’s Word, one meets with its Author!  Unlike any other book in the world, there is a meeting or rendez-vous with the One who spoke through the writers.  No other book is “God breathed” like the Word of God.

In our verse for today we are reminded that the Scriptures are written for our learning.  Through reading His Word, we are encouraged to persevere and to have hope.  The next verse goes on to say that it is God who is the source of endurance and the One who supplies that hope.

There are many ways God encourages me to persevere and to hope.  He uses the testimonies of others.  He uses a beautiful hymn.  He uses the prayers of others.  But the biggest source of hope and encouragement is God’s Word.  That is one rendez-vous I do not want to miss!


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Plumb Line

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 26:7  “The way of the righteous is smooth.  O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.”

My husband and I have only tried wallpapering together one time.  It was just before the birth of our first daughter and we confidently tackled the nursery with a bold geometric print.  But no matter how meticulously we lined up the print, nothing came out right.  Unfortunately, we had skipped a step.  We had not used a plumb line for that all-important vertical reference.  When we finally did use it, we found that the wall itself was not constructed correctly.  It was not straight!  No wonder we could not match up the print.  Our point of reference was crooked.

We never would have known that wall was crooked had it not been for that plumb line.  The error was so slight that it was not noticeable.  But to this day, I wonder what happened with those construction workers.  I am sure it seemed right to them at the time.

Our verse for today assures the believer of a smooth way and a level path.  The one who puts their confidence in the Upright One will have paths that are straight (Prov. 3:6).  This image is in stark contrast to the guilty man whose way is crooked (Prov. 21:8).  His way is strewn with pitfalls of his own making.  Unconfessed sin erodes the path and makes the going arduous.

That wall seemed right in our eyes.  In the same way, there is a way that seems right to man (Prov. 14:12).  But our thinking is crooked.  We need a plumb line.  We need the absolute uncompromising Truth of Christ and His Word.

Without You, Lord, my life would be a crooked wandering path.  Thank you for straightening me out!


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Fox

P1020410Scripture for Today: Ezekiel 13:3-4 “…Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.  O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among the ruins.”

This Red Fox decided to pay our yard a visit!  He is not the first.  In fact, once we had a mother and her five kits having a play date outside our living room window!  As our house backs up to a hill with vineyards and forest, we are one of their first stops on their trip down!

I was relieved to learn that a fox and cat will ignore one another.  But if they do decide to fight, the fox will come off worse!  Even so, when I see these visitors, my immediate reaction is to check on our cat.  The fox has been called a “creature of opportunity,” eating virtually everything they come across.  They have even been called, “nature’s garbage collectors.”

Learning these facts helped me understand today’s verse.  It is a warning against false prophets who speak out of their own hearts (verse 2).  They are opportunists who follow their own spirits and do not speak God’s truth.  The false prophets are like foxes who forage for their own appetites.  To please their hearers, they tell the people that everything is fine.  There will always be crowds of people who are looking to have their ears tickled (II Tim. 4:3).

The Lord wants me to test the spirits to see whether they speak for Him (I John 4:1).  Those foxes still forage around today.  The only way I know to test what is said is to know and understand God’s written Word.  I can discern error by knowing the Truth.  Lord, may I be disciplined in studying Your Word!  Keep me from listening to the wrong voices.


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Buffet!

Scripture for Today:  II Timothy 3:16-17  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

I have a love/hate relationship with buffets.  I enjoy the chance to see my choice before taking it.  I love having variety and control over my portions.  But I feel that to really get my money’s worth I need to stuff myself silly!  Invariably, I leave too full!

My parents would often take my siblings and me to buffets.  I still remember their strict injunctions to stay away from the carbonated drinks!  If left to ourselves, that would be all we would take as we did not have them at home.  The other danger when young was to make straight for the desserts!

Picking and choosing can be carried over to our attitude to God’s Word.  There is a real temptation to avoid those parts that are difficult to understand.  Some sections of the Bible just do not seem to apply.  Other parts speaking of God’s judgement are just too uncomfortable.

Certainly, Thomas Jefferson took the “buffet approach” to God’s Word.  On display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, one can see his version of the New Testament.  He created it by slicing out the miracles and the texts that presented Jesus as God.

Our verse for today says that all Scripture is inspired by God.  It is not up to me to decide which passages seem credible and which do not.  Although it is less convicting to ignore some verses, all of the Bible is His inspired and powerful Word.  His Word is true and not a buffet.  It is “all or nothing” and I choose “all.”