Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Grace and Forgiveness


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Messy Roomate

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

Clothes strewn everywhere.  Dust inches thick.  Important papers and keys impossible to find.  And yet, the effort to clean and organize a room sometimes seems like just too much trouble.  Enter a roommate and everything changes.  No longer is there freedom to live as one pleases.  I am lucky to never have had a roommate quite as messy as pictured.  But I admit there were times that I myself came close to being that messy roommate.

Today’s verse reminds the believer that his body is indwelt by God’s Spirit, making it a temple.  No longer can we treat our bodies without regard for the Other who lives there.  He is holy and His standards for cleanliness are much higher and purer than ours.  Because He lives within us, we are to keep the place honorable for Him.

The longer God’s Spirit resides in me, the more I see the dirt that before went unnoticed.  He shines a light in all the cobwebbed corners.  He reveals what is under the couch cushions.  What passed for clean before does not quite make the standard for Him.  He wants me to pursue holiness and purity in my thoughts as well as my actions.  He wants me to be responsible in my diet choices.  Misusing my body in any way affects Him too.  My body no longer belongs to me but to Him.  Thankfully, He shows love, forgiveness and grace when I come to Him for that deep cleaning.

Lord, help me to honor Your presence by treating my body as Your temple.


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“Occam’s Razor”

Scripture for Today: John 6:29 “Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'”

Looking at this beautifully groomed poodle reminds me of the Westminister Dog Show we just viewed on television.  Hours were spent in meticulous grooming to ready the participants for the competition.  It is obvious that this dog’s hair does not grow this way naturally.  It is safe to assume that scissors and razor were used to shape the dog’s coat.  Occam’s Razor is the name of the philosophy that says that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

God made salvation incredibly simple to grasp.  What is it about salvation through grace that escapes us?  Why do we want to add our own feeble efforts?  Jesus answers the question about works in today’s verse.  There is only one “work” that saves; believing in Jesus as God.  The tendency is to complicate what God made simple.  We are not saved because of any righteous works we can do (Eph. 2:8-9).  Our salvation comes from throwing ourselves on His unmerited favor, recognizing that there is nothing good in us that can earn it.  The more we feel we contribute to acquiring salvation, the more we take away from His all-sufficient sacrifice for us.  It is all a gift, even the faith to believe.

Knowing this takes away any reason for me to boast or to be prideful.  There is no sense of being better than anyone else.  My abject need of His grace to forgive makes the ground completely level in front of the cross.  It is so simple but so incredibly profound; “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Thank you Lord, for making it simple.  It is all Your work, not mine.


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The Cedar Tree

Scripture for Today: Psalm 29:4-5 “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.”

Our recent winds were impressive, sending tumbleweeds across the freeway and downing some trees.  It was so sad to see a majestic palm tree toppled over on its side.  But to topple a cedar tree would have meant a much more powerful wind.  This tree can reach up to 130 feet and diameters of eight feet.  The cedar is highly valued for its quality timber, oil and resin.  What a shame to see one of these mighty trees damaged!

Today’s verse uses the image of the cedar tree to illustrate just how powerful and majestic the Lord’s voice is.  Just one word from God can break the strong and mighty cedar into pieces.  Just one word from God can bring this impressive tree crashing down to the ground.  Something so seemingly powerful and stable is entirely vulnerable to the sound of His voice.

The cedar tree was used as a symbol of the arrogance of man in Isaiah 2:13-14.  It stands proud and lofty, much like those who seek to exalt themselves.  God will humble all pride and bring down low every arrogant thought.  He alone will be exalted.  He will break down the cedar-like pride of every individual who has not already humbled themselves before Him.  Instead of standing tall, one day every knee will bow (Phil. 2:10).

The majestic and powerful voice that breaks the cedar is the same voice that also speaks love and forgiveness when I bow the knee.  His voice becomes soft and gentle for His own sheep who recognize and follow Him.

Lord, open my ears to hear, respect and follow Your voice.

 


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Bewitched

Scripture for Today: Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.”

With just eight seasons, the Bewitched show has become an icon of television history!  We have the privilege of knowing the Murphy twins, Diane and Erin, who played the role of Tabitha.  This show, running from 1964 to 1972 made the top 20 in its first five seasons.  Its declining popularity toward the end of its run is sometimes blamed on the unexplained and sudden switch of the character, Darrin.  There is even a term used to reference an unpopular switch; “the Darrin Syndrome.”

Today’s verse uses the term,” bewitched” to describe the switch the Galatians had made.  They were bewitched or fooled into switching from the Gospel of grace to a system of works.  A group of legalistic Judaizers convinced this group of converted Gentiles that the death of Christ was not sufficient.  They believed that certain ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were still binding.  They were adding works to the Gospel of grace.  Paul reminds the Galatians that observing the Law did not earn them the Holy Spirit or right standing with God.  Faith in Christ’s sacrifice did that.

It is so easy to be “bewitched” today.  How many religions fool their adherents to believe that it is through our own efforts that we are saved or can please God?  Why switch to a never-ending treadmill of works that does not erase my sense of guilt?  I am never good enough.  There is always more I should be doing.  I am so thankful for His grace.  God’s standard of righteousness was fully met in my Savior and the debt of my sin has been fully paid!

Thank you Lord, that You paid it all and there is nothing more to add!


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White Christmas

marche JEKSI1jmb5pLdUmxH-bstxUx66sScripture for Today: Isaiah 1:18 “…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

I am dreaming of a white Christmas, but in Southern California, that is all it is; a dream.  We enjoyed having snow in Alsace, France and sometimes even on Christmas day.  Pictured is a manger scene in the forest of the Christmas Market next to the Metz train station.  Somehow, the manger scene surrounded by snow makes it even more picturesque.  The Christmas markets with their quaint booths and twinkly lights looked magical when the snow gently fell.  It is lovely to see everything new and white.

Our verse today says that I can be whiter than snow.  The Lord’s forgiveness makes me that way.  My sin makes my heart dirty.  My guilt makes it dark.  But the Lord promises full cleansing when I confront and confess my sin.  His forgiveness makes everything white and bright again.

Like the snow outside, the whiteness of my heart does not seem to last very long!  Sin creeps back in little by little, dimming the white and changing it to grey.  Before long it is too noticeable to ignore.  The washing of my heart needs to be a daily routine.  Just as the washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13 is a daily necessity, so is my daily confession.

How wonderful to experience the new freshness of bright white snow!  How amazing that God’s forgiveness does the same for me!  His patient and consistent pardon means that each day can have a new white beginning.  One day, that whiteness will last forever!

Merry Christmas to all my readers and may your Christmas be white with His wonderful forgiveness!