Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Holiness


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White Wedding

Scripture for Today:  Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

June is a month traditionally thought of as the best time for a wedding.  The days are longer, the sun makes its appearance more often and schedules change for the summer.  It just seems the perfect time for new beginnings.  The white colors of the wedding ceremony suggest a clean slate.  The lyrics of Billy Idol’s song, White Wedding, repeat the words over and over; “It’s a nice day for a white wedding.  It’s a nice day to start again.”   It only seems right that this momentous step is symbolized by the color white.

Today’s verse gives hope that each day can be a new start.  The Lord’s compassion is renewed for His own every morning.  Regardless of what happened the day before, He is faithful to His commitment towards us.  Because of His unfailing love, we receive from Him His amazing grace.  We do not deserve forgiveness, but He continues to offer it to those who come clean with Him.

His renewed compassion gives me that new start every morning.  He washes me whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7).  He continually clothes me in dazzling white with each pardon.  Each morning I can start again.  That is what His forgiveness does for me.  I do not have to put on dirty clothes.  My past mistakes and failures are never an issue with Him.  He promises to not even remember them (Heb. 10:17).  How wonderful to begin each day with a clean slate!  Because of what Jesus did for me on that cross I can sing for a better reason, “It’s a nice day to start again.”

Thank you Lord, for Your pure perfect pardon.

 


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The Spotted Dalmatian

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 5:27 “That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things (that she might be holy and faultless).”

Disney’s 101 Dalmatians always come to my mind when seeing one of these sweet dogs.  They come from the Dalmatia province in Croatia and were used in the past to run alongside a carriage and ward off highwaymen.  Now their high energy and agility make them a perfect choice for hunting, guarding, and circus performing.  The dalmatian is also known as a firehouse mascot.  They love to be in the middle of the action.  But what makes those dalmatians so adorable are their spots!

My spots are not so cute.  But today’s verse says that one day I will be spot-free!  No more age spots.  It is true that I will have a whole new glorified body for eternity.  However, this verse is speaking of the spots and wrinkles as sin.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I can look forward to being completely without sin in heaven.  As part of His Church, I will be presented to God without spot or wrinkle.

Christ’s love and sacrifice sets me apart and makes me clean.  Being washed by the water of His Word is a life-long process, but with a promised result of being one day holy and faultless before Him.  What a day that will be!  No more guilt or shame.  No more self-condemnation.  And no more interruption to a perfect closeness with my Lord.  I am tired of my own sin.  Those spots and wrinkles are plenty ugly.  But the future is all glorious splendor.  Spot, wrinkle, and all ugliness of any kind will be gone forever!

Thank you Lord, for Your cleansing perfect forgiveness!


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The Right to Disconnect

Scripture for Today: Psalm 85:8 “I will listen to what God the Lord says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly.”

France has just passed a labor law that makes sending after-hour emails illegal between employer and employee!  The idea is to minimize work-related stress as technology often blurs the lines between personal and professional life.  Companies of over fifty employees are expected to comply.  I can understand the good intentions behind this law but can envision all kinds of complicated problems it can create too!  But the right to disconnect has its appeal.  When we leave work physically it would be nice to leave behind all thought of work as well.

Today’s verse is a declaration from David to listen to all that God says.  He connects listening to God’s voice with the peace of obedience and right relationship with Him.  This peace is promised to those who are faithful to obey Him.  But turning again to our own foolish ideas destroys that peace.  When we turn a deaf ear to His voice, we act like foolish sheep who get themselves into trouble.  We listen to the voice of our Shepherd so that we can follow His footsteps (John 10:27).

We all have the right to disconnect from God but it can be risky, especially after hours and on the weekends!  His voice keeps me out of trouble.  His voice keeps me from harm of my own making.  And His voice speaks peace to my soul.  He is so hard to hear sometimes with all the other voices clamoring for attention.  He is loud enough.  It is just that I am not quiet enough to wait and expect His voice.

Lord, I need to hear Your voice today.


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Time Out

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 32:17 “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”

All a mother wants is peace and quiet.  With lack of sleep and an overwhelming schedule, the last thing she wants to deal with is a toddler’s tantrum.  At least for a few minutes there is blessed peace and quiet as the sobs subside and the anger dissipates.  One can hope that those few moments in the corner will lead to some understanding of their bad behavior.  But at the very least, there is a break in the action and a chance to catch one’s breath!  Both toddler and mother can rediscover a sense of calm.

Today’s verse talks about a time when God’s Spirit is poured out on Israel.  It will be a time of peace and blessing.  There will no longer be strife and oppression because of the Lord reestablishing His justice.  The contrast is stark between life with His righteousness and life without it.  When His laws are obeyed, the “desert becomes a fertile field and the fertile field seems like a forest” (verse 15).  What a beautiful picture of how God wants life to be!

We long for peace but we do not seem to make that connection with righteousness.  Instead we connect peace to getting enough sleep, having the right environment or having our every wish fulfilled.  But peace is intricately linked to my obedience to Him.  When I follow His way, I can enjoy that sense of quietness and confidence.  I have that peace with God, not because I am perfect but because He makes me righteous through faith in His Son (Rom.3:22).  But I still need to have those “time outs” to think about following Him more closely!

Help me Lord, to experience Your peace today.


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Muzzled!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 39:1 “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.'”

I am always a bit sad to see a dog muzzled.  I feel bad for him but safer, as I am sure there was a reason for it being there.  Many states have dangerous dog laws that are imposed by the courts for public safety.  Special restrictions are enforced for dogs that threaten or attack others.  But the dog pictured here looks to be   guilty of only too much enthusiasm!

Today’s verse talks about a voluntary muzzle needed for our mouths, especially in the presence of the wicked.  David was feeling down and discouraged with what he felt was God’s rebuke and discipline (verse 11).  He expressed anguish over the fact that life is short and seemingly vain (verse 6).  But David did not want any of these feelings voiced in the presence of the wicked.  Even when upset with God, David did not want to malign His name.

I need to muzzle my mouth as well, especially when I am questioning the Lord or discouraged in my walk.  That does not mean I cannot share these feelings with a trusted believing friend.  But when I am with those who do not know the Lord, I would not want my emotional outburst to keep them from faith.  I would not want my words to be an obstacle to someone else.  The tongue is described as a small spark that can set on fire an entire forest (James 3:6).  The damage my tongue could do could have eternal consequences!

Lord, do not ever let me malign Your beautiful and holy Name.