Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Word


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Eating Vegan

Scripture for Today:  Jeremiah 15:16  “Your words were found and I ate them.  And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart.  For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of Hosts.”

I have been learning firsthand (for a time) all about eating “vegan.”  It is a bit strange for me to cut out of my meals any animal product whatsoever.  I really do not miss the meat or eggs, but the cheese?  Hey, I live in France where cheese is dessert, after all!  A bit hard to go without it!  Do I feel better as a vegan?  Well, the animals sure do!

Our verse for today likens the experience of reading God’s Word to the pleasure there is in good food.  In the realm of food there are many dishes that I consider a joy and delight to my taste buds.  Here, the Word of God can be a joy and delight to one’s heart.

Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” as his message was one of judgement for his own people.  One does not usually associate the words, “joy” and “delight” with Jeremiah.  Yet, even knowing that his people would reject his God-given message, he could still find gladness in his own relationship with the Lord.  He knew he belonged to the Lord God of Hosts.

There are precious loved ones in my life who also reject God’s message of salvation.  There is no avoiding heartbreak over that hard reality.  Yet, God does not want me to live my life in sadness.  He wants to give me joy and delight through His Word and through my relationship with Him.

Lord, may my sadness over the souls of loved ones be overshadowed by joy and delight found in You!


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Sword

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 4:12  “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”

I am not a fan of movies that show lots of hand-to-hand combat.  One such film is Braveheart, lauded for some of its deeper sweeping themes.  But I just cannot take the realistic thrusts of those swords.  I am not saying bombs or gunfire are any better.  It is just that killing with swords seems so much more barbaric to me.

In Biblical times the sword was much more a part of the culture than today.  It was a weapon to which all could relate.  The writer of Hebrews used the image of the sword to describe the piercing convicting nature of God’s Word.  His Word is like no other book as it is living and active.  God’s Spirit uses it to show us what we cannot see on our own; our secret motives and deepest desires.

Dividing soul from spirit and joints from marrow is an image that makes me shudder.  And yet, it is the kind of action needed to get through to our deceitful hearts.  Our hearts do deceive us (Jer.17:9).  The Word exposes what to us is comfortably hidden.  But His Word does not leave us bruised and bleeding.  His Word also comforts and heals.  His Word is the means to a restored relationship with the Divine Author.

I do not want to be uncomfortable reading His Word.  But so many times it is necessary to feel His conviction and be shown the truth about myself.  Create in me a clean heart, O God……even when it hurts!


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Goal

Scripture for Today:  I Timothy 6:20-21  “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.  Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards to the faith.  Grace be with you.”

Archery seems to be a more common pastime here in France than in California.  When our kids were growing up, archery was a part of physical education in the schools and part of camps in the summer.  A young man in our church is a serious competitor in a club just down the street.  Something that used to be essential in hunting and combat is now mainly recreational.

I am sure many things are important in this sport, but I would think the most important skill would be aim.  One could have the correct stance, the perfect positioning of the arrow, but if the aim is off, the goal is missed!  I read that there are several methods to aiming including something called, “instinctive shooting.”  Rather than using a mechanical sight attached to the bow, one relies on the subconscious mind plus motor and muscle memory.

Our verse for today is sobering.  There are those who have missed the mark when it comes to faith.  Instead of using the objective truth of God’s Word for aim, they have used their own subjective ideas.  They profess to have knowledge and spiritual illumination apart from the Scriptures.  Paul calls it, “irreverent babble and godless chatter.”  It may sound smart, but its results are disastrous!

“Faith comes by what is heard and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)  We miss the mark of faith if we aim for it through man’s ideas and knowledge.  Lord, increase my faith by keeping Your Word in my sights!


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Sounds

IMG_20130427_193737Scripture for Today:  Deuteronomy 13:4  “You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”

This is a sound machine.  I find myself explaining what it is quite often when I travel by air.  The security people often look baffled and concerned over it!  Unfortunately, I cannot sleep without this constant white noise, as it blocks out all other sounds.  It does need to be constant though.  The choice of sounds includes ocean waves.  I never pick that one as I find myself always waiting for the next wave!

Our verse for today is a clear command.  The context of this verse speaks of false prophets who do wonders and encourage others to follow after false gods.  But there is only one voice to which we are to listen, and that is His voice.  We are to listen to His voice with a desire to obey Him, serve Him, and cling to Him.

There are plenty of other voices out there that clamor for our attention.  Their voices can be quite persuasive, especially when their fulfilled predictions seem to authenticate their message.  But if their message deviates at all from the Word of God, then we are not to listen.  Let it be white noise.

Believers are like sheep who recognize and follow the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:27).  His voice is like no other.  He knows and speaks our name.  Mary, at the tomb, recognized the voice of Jesus at the sound of her name coming from His lips.  His voice is worth listening to as He speaks love to my heart.  His voice woos and calls.  It is a voice I want to follow and obey.  Help me to listen for Your voice today.


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Soaps

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 5:25-26  “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the Word,”

I love going to our open market in Guebwiller and smelling the homemade soaps for sale!  There is such variety it is difficult to choose!  My favorite is lavender because I like to think its fragrance is soothing.  But there are all kinds available, including lemon verbena, almond, honey and so many more.  Some are made with olive oil, others with shea butter.  There are soaps that have crushed flowers or herbs in them.  But one thing they all have in common is that they make one clean, even the black soap!

Our verse for today describes how Christ sets apart and cleanses those who are part of His church.  His goal is to create in us glorious splendor!  One day we will be holy and faultless, without spot or wrinkle!

This soapy cleaning process starts with His sacrifice on the cross!  I am washed in His blood and my sins are forgiven forever!  He washes me whiter than snow and it is ALL His doing.  But because I still sin, my “feet get dirty” (John 13:1-10)  That is when I need “spiritual soap.”  And it comes from God’s Word.

The Lord uses His Word to signal to me what needs to be put right in my life.  It does not happen every time, but often.  When I am in His Word I am motivated to to obey Him.  He uses the written Word to speak to me and our relationship becomes closer.  I come away from these encounters squeaky clean and smelling good!

As lovely as soaps are, one day they will no longer be needed!