Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Grace and Forgiveness


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Spaghetti Overflow!

Scripture for Today:  Romans 5:15 “But the gift is not like the trespass.  For if the many died by the trespass of one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.”

I am very familiar with spaghetti overflow. Although maybe not to this extent! Somehow, I always figure I know better than the instructions regarding the amount per person. The charts on the package are quite clear, giving precise amounts of pasta, water and salt per person. But in my superior understanding, it never looks quite enough! I am quite sure this never happens to my readers!!

Today’s verse talks about an overflow that is much more positive than this one! Paul is teaching that even though the consequences of Adam’s sin are far reaching and for all time, God’s grace and salvation overflows to the many. His grace or unmerited favor is greater than all our sin (Romans 5:20). There is not a single sin that is not covered by God’s grace when confessed. The gift of His grace is much greater than the judgement that followed that one sin of Adam’s. Christ’s gift of grace covers all sin and provides right standing with God (verse 16).

God’s abundant supply of grace is overflowing. He never stops it up and says, “that’s enough!” His grace never runs dry. It continually flows bringing forgiveness and righteousness! As I continually sin, I need His grace to be overflowing. Everyday I need to feel His love and forgiveness wash over me, giving me a new start. Everyday I can count on His grace as it has nothing to do with me earning it and everything to do with His incredible love.

Thank you Lord, for Your overflowing grace to me!


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Hedgehog Held Hostage!

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:6 “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.”

A friend from our French church recently posted this picture asking for advice from the other church members. At first I didn’t know what it was I was seeing. But as I read his story it became clear that I was looking at a hedgehog. We had them roam our yard in France quite often as they lived under our house. But this one somehow got caught in the family’s badminton net. It seems that the spines on his back caught on the netting, trapping him until he was carefully and gingerly freed!

Today’s verse describes someone who is trapped: the unfaithful. His entrapment is the direct result of his evil desires. He is brought down by his own wickedness. (verse 5) What a contrast this is to the righteous one! His righteousness makes his paths straight. (verse 5) He is delivered from that sticky situation and rescued from trouble. (verse 8) The faithful righteous one will not suffer those added trials of life brought about by evil greedy desires. Instead, those who are in right standing with the Lord will have different desires, desires to please and obey the Lord.

My desires are not always very righteous! And to apply the term, “righteous” to me makes me squirm a bit as I know my heart! Thankfully, God has credited to me His righteousness because of my faith in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. (Romans 4:23-25) The Lord has my back even if (or when!) I make a mess of things! He delivers me. He lifts me back up and dusts me off when I fall. And when I desire Him above every other desire, I find myself on straighter paths and less likely to fall!

Thank you Lord, for Your faithfulness to me!


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“It’s Hip to be Square”

Scripture for Today: Matthew 9:16  “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.”

My friend, Gale, makes beautiful patchwork quilts. Pictured here is one of hers made of batik fabric and called, “It’s Hip to be Square,” a design created by Cheryl Brown. Gale’s passion for patchwork is shared by many in the Orange Grove Quilter’s Guild of which she is a member and past president. What used to be done out of necessity by early American settlers is now a creative art form. There are many beautiful patterns to choose from but all of them require precision in cutting and sewing in order for the edges to fit together exactly as they should. And of course, all the pieces of fabric need to be preshrunk before sewing.

In today’s verse Jesus uses the illustration of patching a tear with new unshrunk material on to old material. The conversation arises out of questions from those following tradition and ritual. They are trying to connect their system of belief with what Jesus was teaching. These men were distracted with the externals of religion that fed their own self-righteousness. Jesus is revealing a new internal Gospel of forgiveness and cleansing. What is legalistic and of the flesh could not be attached to what is grace and of the Spirit (Gal. 3:3).

Any time I think I can earn God’s favor by my own good works or religious observances, I am falling into that same kind of thinking! Whether it is church attendance, fasting, hymn singing or giving, none of these activities, as positive as they are, earn right standing with God. My relationship with Him is only because of His grace. Thankfully, His love is not dependent on my performance. “Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.” 

Thank You Lord, that I cannot improve on Your grace.

(Look familiar? This is based on my previous blogpost from 2014)


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Conversation Hearts

Scripture for Today: Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Growing up, I loved these conversation hearts, giving away to that “special someone” what I could not bring myself to actually say! And receiving these from others would communicate to me something the giver may not have intended! Today, one can special order these candies with your own personalized message. That way you can say exactly what you want the other to hear. Communicating what is in the heart is not always easy.

Today’s verse gives us a reliable way to know what is in the heart of another. What is there is evident by that person’s behavior. Expressing emotions can be lovely but the real indicator of feelings and the state of the heart is evident in our actions. And one action is especially telling. What comes out of our mouths demonstrates the good or the evil found in the heart. That sincere compliment or word of encouragement shows love. The snide remark or the profanity that escapes our lips signals that all is not well.

What slips out of my mouth can be shameful. I am so glad that some of it happens when there is no one to hear. However, there is always Someone who hears. And whether others are around or not, those nasty words signal a need for some serious heart cleaning! Thankfully, He is full of grace and forgiveness, ready to make me clean again and give me a new start!

Lord, clean my heart and fill it with good things to say!

(Look familiar? This is a re-post from 2018)


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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!