Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Holiness


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Soaps

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 5:25-26  “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the Word,”

I love going to our open market in Guebwiller and smelling the homemade soaps for sale!  There is such variety it is difficult to choose!  My favorite is lavender because I like to think its fragrance is soothing.  But there are all kinds available, including lemon verbena, almond, honey and so many more.  Some are made with olive oil, others with shea butter.  There are soaps that have crushed flowers or herbs in them.  But one thing they all have in common is that they make one clean, even the black soap!

Our verse for today describes how Christ sets apart and cleanses those who are part of His church.  His goal is to create in us glorious splendor!  One day we will be holy and faultless, without spot or wrinkle!

This soapy cleaning process starts with His sacrifice on the cross!  I am washed in His blood and my sins are forgiven forever!  He washes me whiter than snow and it is ALL His doing.  But because I still sin, my “feet get dirty” (John 13:1-10)  That is when I need “spiritual soap.”  And it comes from God’s Word.

The Lord uses His Word to signal to me what needs to be put right in my life.  It does not happen every time, but often.  When I am in His Word I am motivated to to obey Him.  He uses the written Word to speak to me and our relationship becomes closer.  I come away from these encounters squeaky clean and smelling good!

As lovely as soaps are, one day they will no longer be needed!


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High Road or Low Road?

IMG_20130319_164837Scripture for Today: Colossians 1:10  “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

There is a very old Scottish melody that comes to mind when I see one path climb higher than another.  The lyrics from The Bonnie Banks O’Loch Lomond say; “Oh, ye’ll tak’ the high road and I’ll tak’ the low road.”  I more often than not find myself taking the low easier road.  Although, these particular paths are deceiving in the vineyards behind the house.  The lower road is actually the more difficult one as it becomes much steeper around the bend!

“Taking the high road” is also a saying that can mean walking the higher moral ground, exhibiting honesty and selflessness.  It signifies a choice that is harder and takes more consecrated effort.

Our verse for today is part of Paul’s prayer for the Colossians.  As believers we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.  In doing so we will be pleasing to Him.  Our good work will have fruit and our knowledge of Him will increase.  This is walking the high road.  It is a road that takes much more effort.

The low road is easy.  There is no effort involved.  In walking it, there is no thought about pleasing Him, only ourselves.  But the good works done will bear no fruit.  Our knowledge of Him does not grow.  No pain, no gain.

Everyday these two roads present themselves in the choices of the day.  Do I strive to please Him and walk in obedience?  Or am I being lazy and enjoying a leisurely stroll on the low road.  Today, may I enjoy His pleasure on that high road!


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The End

Scripture for Today:  I Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind and be sober unto prayer.”

Films in France have the same last image but saying, “La Fin.”  The music swells, the lights come up and everyone moves toward the exit.  There is no confusion.  We all recognize the visual prompt on the screen.  It is over.  Some are glad it is over and can not wait to leave.  Others wish the story would go on and on as they enjoyed it so much.

Our verse for today talks about the end of all things.  We are told it will be soon.  And because it will be soon, we are to be clear thinking, self restrained and alert for the purpose of prayer.

It is much easier to live like there is no ending.  I can be lulled into thinking that everything will continue as it always has done.  II Peter 3:4 predicts that there will be scoffers in the last days with exactly this attitude.  I do not scoff at God’s Word saying there will be an end.  But sometimes it is more comfortable not to think about it.

Knowing there is an end to all things should motivate me to consider what is really important.  I love to have fun and distractions in my life.  But there is a time for being serious and reflective.  I do not want to miss the signs that the end is approaching.  Just like the theater has visual cues that the film is over, so Scripture is full of prophetic signs that herald the end of time.

I want to be ready for that ending.  It will usher in a new beginning with my Savior!  And that will have no end!


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Watch Your Mouth!

Summer 2009 413Scripture for Today:  Psalms 141:3  “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

My dummy, Renée, and I have had lots of adventures together.  She says things that I would not dare to say!  And she gets away with it.  Renée is allowed to speak English at our summer outreach English camps.  Otherwise, she speaks French.  I do not quite understand why she speaks it with such a funny accent!

There is one routine we do together where the reaction of the children is always the same.  Renée starts to get sassy and says she does not need me to be able to speak.  I put her down, walk a distance from her, and wait for her to talk on her own.  Invariably, the children all look at Renée in breathless anticipation!  Somehow, they start to believe that she controls her own mouth!

Renée has no choice of who controls her mouth, but I sure do!  When I control my mouth, it is sometimes “out of control.”  So much of what displease my Lord comes from my mouth, whether it be gossip, lying, arguments, criticism, swearing….the list goes on.  Like James 3 says, so little a member of my body does such huge damage.

Inside of Renee is a large controlling stick with a small lever on the side that opens and closes her mouth.  For me, that small lever represents the “guard” or “door” that the Lord wants to use with my mouth.  He offers to control my mouth, as my control only causes problems.

Humility is required to admit being a “dummy” in need of Someone at the controls.  The Lord invites me to echo the prayer of our verse.  May He control what comes out of my mouth today!


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Anger

Scripture for Today:  James 1:19-20  “…But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

There are all kinds of pressure gauges connected to our heating system.  Our house is over a hundred years old and uses an older method of heating.  Each room has radiators.  The water for the system is heated in our basement and pressurized.  The water pump pushes the water where it needs to go.

Those pressure gauges are important to keep at the correct readings.  Too much pressure can be dangerous and blow the entire system.  The whole idea makes me nervous.  I do not touch any of it.  It is something I happily leave to my husband and landlord to regulate.

My anger can be like that pressure gauge.  Unchecked, it can increase to dangerous levels.  If I do not take care of it, I can explode and do damage to those I love most.  My anger can even be justified at times, at least in my own thinking.  But justified or not, it will surely produce negative consequences.

Our verse for today warns that man’s anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.  Blowing up does not improve or make right a situation.  More often, anger only clouds the issue.  Anger hurts others and hurts one’s own reputation.  It feels good to let it fly, but I will be the one who looks the fool (Eccl. 7:9)

Listening and keeping my mouth shut can go a long way toward slowing down my anger.  If it does not build too quickly, there is more of a chance to diffuse it.  It is a choice to allow that needle to enter the danger zone.

Lord, help me give my anger to You.