Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Grace and Forgiveness


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Donating Blood

Scripture for Today: I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

After the recent horror of this latest mass murder, I was encouraged to see on the news the long lines of people waiting to donate their blood.  Hundreds came out to help the victims and their compassion warmed my heart.  Many of these volunteers were perhaps unaware that yesterday was World Blood Donor Day.  This event highlights the need for donors and is held every year on June 14th.  “Blood connects us all,” is their motto.  And certainly, giving blood saves lives.

Today’s verse talks about the blood freely given by Another.  This blood also saves lives and was given out of love and compassion for our condition.  The blood of Christ saves us once for all from the eternal punishment for our sin.  His blood makes it possible to walk in light rather than darkness.  His blood makes it possible to walk with others in sweet fellowship, rather than discord.  His blood cleanses and purifies us from sin and its consequences, in this life and in the next.

He shed His blood so I would not have to.  His blood saved my life.  My faith in His blood pays for of all my ugly sin (Romans 3:25).  More than just a needle in the arm, His gift of blood cost Him everything; separation from the Father, the mockery and violence of others, and His life.  How amazing and deep the love that motivated Him!  And how unworthy I am to be a recipient of such a precious life-changing gift!

I am so grateful Lord, for that precious flow, “that makes me white as snow.”


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Broken Record

Scripture for Today: Luke 17:4 “Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

The phrase, ‘sounding like a broken record,’ probably has lost much of its meaning with the demise of vinyl records.  Of course, the record was not really broken when a word or phrase of a song repeated itself over and over.  It was usually a scratch or piece of debris causing the needle to get stuck.  But the phrase came to mean repeating one’s self.  This repetition devalues whatever is said, making it sound insincere.  The more one repeats one’s self, the more what is said sounds canned or contrived.

Today’s verse describes a similar scenario.  Someone who apologizes seven times within a twenty-four hour period loses credibility.  How could it not seem forced and artificial?  Yet, Jesus is saying that even so, we are to forgive.  Even more difficult is the idea that we are forgiving a brother or sister in the Lord (verse 3).  Our expectations of them are usually higher!  Jesus added to this challenge when He answered Peter’s question with the number 70×7 (Matt. 18:22).  The idea is that we are not even to count but always extend that forgiveness to those who ask.

What Jesus asks elicits the same response as that of His disciples, “Increase our faith!”  How else could I rise to this kind of challenge?  And yet, I so often ask the Lord to forgive me over and over, like that broken record.  And He does, every time.  He never withholds His pardon.  If He is so ready to give grace to me, then I need to extend that same grace to others.

Lord, help me to be as gracious to others as You are to me.


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Memorial Day

Scripture for Today: I John 4:10 “This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Today on Memorial Day, North Americans remember those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.  We commemorate the war dead with special ceremonies, parades, speeches, and graveyard visits.  Some consider the origins of this day as coming from “Decoration Day.”  After the Civil War, graves were decorated with flowers, although this had been the practice of women for centuries.  It is good to remember how costly freedom is and to honor those who paid for it with their lives.

Those who gave their lives for freedom did it out of a love for their country.  Today’s verse speaks of another sacrifice also motivated by love.  There is no greater love than this; than to lay down one’s life for another (John 15:13) and that is what the Lord did for us.  And it was also a sacrifice made for the sake of freedom.  Christ died to free us from the power of sin.  The believer is no longer mastered by sin but is able through God’s Spirit to live differently.

We remember this sacrifice not only on Good Friday and when taking communion, but hopefully everyday.  Though sometimes I forget how costly His sacrifice was.  It was not only physical pain for Jesus but the incredible pain of separation from the Father.  It was the first time in all of eternity that God turned away from His Son.  And it was because of my sin.  Jesus endured that separation from God so I would not have to.  “What wondrous love is this?”  Every time I think on it I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Oh Lord, I want to remember every day.


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Magnifying Mirror

lighted mirrorIMG_20160522_075402Scripture for Today: Lamentations 3:40 “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

The morning routine of a mature woman is revolutionized when two essentials are included; tweezers and a lighted magnifying mirror!  Seriously, it has changed my life!  Of course, such minute detail is rarely noticed by anyone else.  But all that scrutiny is now making my morning preparations much longer.  It takes more time but it is all good as I examine and put right the details.  It is rare that I do not find something to remedy each time I dare to look!

When it comes to examining what is on the inside, the experience can be much more uncomfortable.  Today’s verse is an encouragement to do just that.  When we examine our ways and test them, more often then not a correction is needed to return to what God wants.  The self-examination can be revealing and humbling.  But the results are worth it as a new closeness to Him develops.

There is no condemnation as a believer (Romans 8:1) but there is discipline and a loss of intimacy with the Lord as a result of sin.  Examining myself means I can avoid much of that grief.  Because of His unfailing love, He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone (Lam. 3:32-33).  But He will lovingly use the negative in my life to bring me back to where I need to be.  As uncomfortable as that self-examination is, it is so much better than going through discipline or feeling He is far away.  I want to see what He sees and not just think everything is fine!  I want a deeper more satisfying walk with Him without that sin getting in the way!

Lord, help me see my heart like You do.


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License Renewal

Scripture for Today: Acts 11:23 “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.”

I recently had the frustrating experience of renewing my driver’s license.  After 10 years of automatic extensions, it was time.  I was unhappy to give up my old picture.  It was always fun to get that extra scrutiny, as I had changed so much.  I scheduled an appointment for early in the morning to avoid waiting in long lines.  My husband, however, just showed up when it opened without an appointment.  You can guess who got out of there first!  But we both had a nice surprise at the window.  We did not have to take the written test!  We were given grace!

Today’s verse describes another instance of grace.  Barnabus was sent to Antioch where Greeks were hearing the Gospel and turning to the Lord in large numbers.  Up until this point, salvation was seen mainly among the Jews.  Barnabus saw first hand what was to become the first largely Gentile church and he was glad to see that, “the Lord’s hand was with them.”  He discovered what the grace of God had done.

Grace is my favorite subject in God’s Word.  There is evidence of grace in every individual who turns their heart to Christ.  Grace is His hand of favor on my life and it is totally unmerited.  God shows grace only because He decides to and because His love moves Him.  He continuously pours out His grace on my life in every promise, in every answered prayer, in every gift from His Spirit.  His grace covers my stupid mistakes.  I don’t deserve it, but isn’t that the point?

Lord, where would I be without Your grace?