Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Grace and Forgiveness


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Baby Steps

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:23 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Learning to walk has its ups and downs!  Our second grandson is getting ready to take his first steps.  It is a slow process, holding on to what is stable in order to be eventually stable one’s self.  What an adventure to find balance and courageously take that first step!  There is plenty of swaying and lots of plopping on the floor, but eventually his steps become firmer.  The hand is relinquished and a new independence is found!

Our verse for today is a promise for the one who delights in the Lord.  This is a conditional promise, addressed to the believer who relishes his relationship with God.  Delighting in the Lord describes a dependent relationship where one does not let go of His hand.  Unlike the development of a baby, the believer is to become progressively more dependent.  Letting go of His hand and going our own way puts us at risk of falling.

Life is not without its stumbles.  We learn greater trust and dependence when stumbling.  But falling down hard is not part of His plan for His children.  He is there at our sides to insure that it does not happen.  Unfortunately, it happens anyway as we let go of His hand to go our own way.

When I suddenly find myself sprawled on the ground asking myself, “What happened?” He stretches out His hand to lift me up.  Hopefully, the next time I think to wander off, I will hold on to His hand more tightly instead.

Lord, it is a delight to walk with You.  Keep me holding on to Your hand today.


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Losing the Thread

eGZ4MGVoMTI=_o_cross-stitch---threading-the-needle-the-half-cross-Scripture for Today: Acts 10:43 “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness through His name.” 

There is nothing more annoying than to be in the middle of a sewing project and to lose the thread.  Everything stops while I struggle to wet the end of that thread and reinsert it into that impossibly small needle opening.  I can lose my motivation to continue when this happens.

The same thing can happen when I lose the thread of a story.  I lose my motivation to keep reading.  When what I am reading seems random and disjointed, I put down the book in frustration.  The phrase, “losing the thread,” was coined in the mid 1900’s.  The thread represents an idea that connects various parts of a narrative together.

God’s Word has a very important thread.  Our verse for today is part of a discourse by the apostle, Peter.  He saw very clearly that the thread is Jesus Christ.  From the very beginning in Genesis 3:15 the coming of Christ was foretold.  Not only was His coming redemption repeated by the prophets, but even the sacrificial system was an image of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

I love seeing Jesus in the Messianic Psalms.  I get excited to see so many details of Christ’s earthly life prophesied and then fulfilled!  Jesus Himself is the thread that runs through the centuries during which the Bible was written.  In the Old Testament everything points forward to Him.  In the New Testament everything points back to His redeeming work.

There is no other subject more worthy!  That is because it is in Him that I find forgiveness of sin.  That crushing weight of guilt and regret can lift off my shoulders.

Lord, may Your forgiveness be the thread in my life as well.

 


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Free Turkey!

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

I love the promotions I see in America.  My daughter’s grocery store offered a free turkey after a certain sum was spent in their store.  We came home with a beautiful twenty pounder for which we paid nothing!  That night while walking through a deserted parking lot, my daughter bent over to pick up a twenty dollar bill!  Lucky us!  This will certainly pay for all the side dishes, making our Thanksgiving feast absolutely free!

Our verse for today talks about something else far greater that is absolutely free.  We do not pay for our salvation, although it was costly.  Jesus paid that cost and so it is free of charge for us.  Being spared the punishment we deserve for our sin is an enormous gift.  But we had no part in procuring that gift.  It is a true gift of grace, or unmerited favor, and absolutely free.

Thanksgiving Day can mean many different things to different people.  Perhaps, the idea of a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving scene seems ludicrous in some families experiencing difficulty.  Giving thanks can especially be hard after recently losing a loved one.  In times of economic stress or declining health, subjects of thanksgiving are not what come to mind.  But even in the darkest times, there is always reason for the believer to give thanks; salvation – full, rich and free!  Is not that the biggest reason to give thanks?

This Thanksgiving feast, as wonderful as it is, can not even compare to our future wedding supper of the Lamb! (Rev. 19:9)  Praise and thanksgiving in the presence of our Savior will rival any earthly feast!

Lord, I will be forever thankful!

 


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Mind the Gap

Scripture for Today: James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

I am not often in England, but when I am, two warning signs have proved very important: “Look Right,” and “Mind The Gap.”  When crossing a street it is automatic for me to look left for oncoming traffic.  As the British drive on the other side, I need to remember to check the opposite direction!  The sign, “Mind The Gap” warns the rail passenger to watch their step.  It is too easy to fall into that space between the station platform and the train.

Today’s verse is a wonderful promise that God will draw near to us when we make the effort to draw near to Him.  We often feel there is a “gap” or distance between us.  How often the Lord has felt far away!  Yet, according to His promise, He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5).  Even so, there are times when He does not feel close by and the gap is felt.  The reason is clear.  His love is unconditional for His children, but when we rebel and disobey we are moving away from that love.  When we obey His commandments, we remain in His love (John 15:10).

The truth is, He does not move, I do.  But in His compassion for me, He reassures me with His closeness when I confess and agree with Him about my sin.  Our relationship is renewed each time I humble myself in honest confession.  If I am feeling far away from Him, the solution is clear.  He is waiting for me to come clean.

Thank you Lord, for the intimacy of Your love!  May I feel Your nearness today.

 


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Childbirth

Scripture for Today: Hosea 13:13 “Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.”

One never completely forgets the childbirth experience, even after decades have past.  But the memories of the pain give place quite quickly to the joy of holding that precious newborn!  My firstborn was two weeks late but the wait, though hard, was well worth it!  Experiencing the miracle of birth is a privilege I am glad God gave to women!

I cannot imagine a baby refusing to be born!  Our verse uses the image of childbirth to describe Israel’s rebellion.  It was a dark time of idol worship.  The people had become proud after being satisfied with God’s provision.  They forgot Him and turned to Baal.  It is a difficult chapter of painful judgement.  But God’s judgement is always just.  There is opportunity to repent but in this instance, there was no wisdom or sense to do so.  Ephraim, or Israel, acted like a child refusing to exit the womb towards life.

Sin hurts.  Whether it is enduring its consequences or undergoing judgement, there is pain.  I am thankful for God’s grace that gives the opportunity to ask forgiveness.  There is pardon and mercy for those that do.  There is life when exiting that sinful behavior.  There is life for me because of Christ.  He took all the pain and death that rightfully should have been mine and bore it Himself.  Because of Him I am born again!

The time has arrived as “today is the day of salvation!” (II Corinthians 6:2)  My prayer is that today, family members and friends will “exit the womb” to new birth, forgiveness and new life!