Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Holiness


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Cupcake

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119: 97 “Oh how I love Your Law.  I meditate on it all day long.”

This bunny reminds me of the one we used to have in Grenoble.   Cupcake had a beautiful long-haired coat and would sit on our laps like a cat.  But he was a bit of a free spirit too.  We would allow him to roam the enclosed back yard.  The problem was that every time we opened the door to the detached garage, he would make a run for it!  In his little bunny brain he was sure that freedom lay just beyond that door!  One day he made it and we never saw him again.  I sometimes wonder if it was a car on that street or a hawk from the mountains above us that did him in!

Today’s verse expresses love for God’s Law.  This is not the usual sentiment when thinking about law.  One can understand feeling respect but love seems a bit extreme.  However, God’s Law makes one wise, gives understanding and insight and keeps us from evil.  God’s Law gives us boundaries for our protection.  Unfortunately, we tend to constantly push at those boundaries, not understanding that they are there for our protection.

My independent spirit is SO strong!  I do not enjoy anyone telling me what I can or cannot do.  There’s a rebel lurking inside of me!  I want my own way, even if that way leads to ruin and despair.  My Creator must just shake His head at me when I am as foolish as Cupcake was.  His Law is really another expression of His loving care for me.  His arms are the Law that enclose me.  When I obey Him our communion is sweet.  Loving His Law is part of loving Him.

Lord, change my heart to love Your Law.


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Chocolate Only Please

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 5:21-22  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.”

My husband and I were having lunch with my French chorale group after a concert.  At that round table,  everyone was ordering the ice cream dessert, vanilla with chocolate sauce.  My husband, concerned about cost, told me we could get a cone later that night.  I was not happy as chocolate ice cream is my weakness.  As my husband left for the bathroom, others encouraged me to go ahead and order!  Thankfully, I resisted as they were out of the chocolate sauce and gave everyone strawberry instead.  Later that night I doubly enjoyed my chocolate ice cream cone!

Today’s verse tells us that we are to submit to others as a sign of reverence for Christ.  This submission is done reciprocally in a marriage but then wives are specifically addressed.  When a wife submits to her husband she is showing her love by respecting him (verse 33).  This submission is not unlike our submission to the Lord, also to show love and respect.  And just as the submission of Christ to the Father is a strength, so our submission is a show of strength and commitment to God’s plan.

The hardest part of submitting to my husband’s wishes that day was the public nature of it.  I was concerned that I would look like a weak push-over in front of the others.  But respecting my husband was more important than their opinion.  The Lord was so good to sweeten the experience that evening with what I really wanted.  And the added benefit was the sweetness in our relationship!

Lord, give me the strength to submit, showing my love for my husband and for You.

 


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Rosa Carte Blanche

Scripture for Today: Titus 2:12 “It (grace) teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

This beautiful rose did not grace our earth until its creation in 1982.  The rose begins as a dark pink bud, opening as a pale pink bloom and then fading to near white.  Its name, “Carte blanche” (blank page) was an idiom attributed to King Charles II of France.  He gave his workers a blank page with his signature, allowing them freedom as to how a task was completed.

Some may believe that grace gives us “carte blanche” to do what we please.  But today’s verse gives insight into the role grace plays in the life of a believer.  At the start, grace, or God’s unmerited favor, is how we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9).  But it does not stop there.  Grace continues to impact our lives, teaching us to say no to what is ungodly and worldly.  Grace, rather than give us carte blanche to do whatever we like, teaches us to be self-controlled.  Grace motivates believers to lead godly upright lives.  It is God’s favor that provides a way out of temptation (I Cor. 10:13).

His grace is greater than all my sin.  There is not a single sin that He is not willing to forgive!  But rather than presume on His grace, I want to live up to it.  I do not want His grace for me to be in vain.  He knows I blew it yesterday.  He knows I will blow it today.  His grace means that my relationship with Him continues.  I want to grow in grace (II Peter 3:18) and understand God’s grace (Col. 1:6) but I know it will be a life-long process.

Thank you Lord, that You show grace to me.

Photo Credit: Anna reg/CC BY-SA https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_Carte_Blanche.jpg

 

 

 

 

 


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Cat Grooming

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 7:1  “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

If it seems that cats are always licking themselves, you are right as they spend fifty percent of their awake time in some form of grooming!  Their rough tongues and teeth are used to maintain healthy skin, remove loose hair, dirt and parasites.  They learn this behavior very early and are often self grooming by the time they are weaned.  But in addition to the obvious benefits, this daily ritual is also, “an emotional feel good behavior.”

Today’s verse talks about the effort we are to make in being uncontaminated, not only in the body but in the spirit too.  Our motivation to keep ourselves morally pure is a special one as our bodies are the temple of God (6:16).  His desire is to live with us, walk among us and be a Father to us.  Because of these promises, He wants us to keep ourselves holy or set apart for Him.  We keep ourselves pure and uncontaminated from the world by being completely separate from its morals and values.  There is no fellowship between light and darkness (verse 14).

Although I am pretty good at noticing dirt on someone else, I do not always see the dirt on myself!  My less-than-clean spirit is so well hidden from others that it is easy for me to ignore.  I can be asymptomatic but still be contaminated and contaminate others!  Keeping myself pure comes as a result of that daily examination and confession.  He brings to light those dark places I have swept to the corners.  And He so freely and lovingly restores me that this can also be an “emotional feel good behavior!”

Lord, purify my heart today.

 


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Hair Color Reveal!

Scripture for Today: Matthew 5:36-37 “And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

During these strange times of self-isolation, we hair-coloring women will soon be facing a big “reveal!”  Some may even feel that covering one’s face during a pandemic is secondary to covering emerging roots!  In a pinch we can go to the do-it-yourself boxed method.  Somehow, the results are never the same as the salon.  But of course, these problems are minor compared to the bigger ones of infection.

Today’s verse tells us not to swear by our heads.  It was a common practice in Matthew’s day to include oaths to add credibility to statements or promises made to one another.  But to swear to something puts us in a vulnerable position.  Just as one cannot change the true color of hair, so we are unable to change circumstances out of one’s control.  To the Lord, not fulfilling a vow is something very serious.  In essence it is like lying to Him.  Rather than risk that we are told to avoid making oaths at all.

I would like for my words to be able to stand on their own.  Rather than making myself more believable, speaking an oath tends to cheapen my words.  That is because I do not have complete control in my life.  There will always be a possibility that I will not be able to come through.  If I want to be taken seriously my “yes” should always be truthful, as well as my “no.”  Thankfully, God’s words are always trustworthy (I Cor.1:20) as every promise is a “Yes” in Christ!

Lord, make me a person of integrity.