On The Road | Devotions By Jan

October 11, 2013
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Stuck!

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can endure it.”

I will never forget this traffic jam. It seemed to last forever. Thankfully, we were comfortable with pillows, food and water. There was nothing to do about it. The exits were too far apart. We just had to wait it out. In French, the word for a traffic jam is the same as for a bottle stopper. Whatever the image, it is not a fun experience! There was no point in venting our frustrations as doing so changed nothing! We were stuck and there was just no way out.

Our verse for today gives a promise regarding temptation. Of course, God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13). The word for “temptation” in the Greek is a neutral word, meaning to prove or to try. Though God allows our faith to be tested, it is never His intent that we sin. In His grace, He makes the test bearable without falling into sin. The tests He allows us to go through have a way out. If we endure the test with our faith strong and intact, that means we have found the way out!

That “way out” promised is Jesus Himself. He is the “Way.” His strength, His riches, His grace, and His love are what make any crushing circumstance bearable. The only way to move through a trial successfully is to run to Him for the solution. Thank you, Lord, that You are my way out and with You I can endure!

August 28, 2013
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GPS

Scripture for Today: James 4:6 “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

The other day while finding our way in the mountains, our GPS got totally confused. Her voice stayed confident as she told us take the second exit at the round point where there was none! There were several times that had we obeyed her, we would have turned right into the mountainside! After listening to her continue to give us outrageous directions, we finally just turned her off! Thankfully, we had an old fashioned map as a back up. But not once did she apologize! She never said, “I was wrong and you were right!” Of course, had she admitted her mistake I would have fainted with surprise!

There is something in all of us that bristles at the thought of admitting our errors. Sometimes, the only way it can happen is if we can point to extenuating circumstances! Or we can maybe admit we were wrong if someone can share our chagrin. It is never a comfortable experience.

In our relationship with the Lord, humbling ourselves and admitting our wrongs is the starting point to our relationship with Him. We cannot receive forgiveness without confession. But pride can keep us from admitting our sin. Pride itself is the root of so much sin and heartache. This is why it tops the list of abominable sins in Proverbs 6:17. There are those who would rather face the opposition of the Almighty God than be humbled.

The good news is that there is grace for those who come clean with Him. He shows me unmerited favor when I humble myself in honest confession. Forgive me my pride, Lord! Oh how I need your grace today!

October 30, 2012
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Ask Directions

Scripture for Today: Psalms 25:5 “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”

What is it with men and directions? Normally, my husband does not have a problem stopping the car and asking for some guidance. But he recently had a meeting to attend in Paris. He spent some time beforehand studying this metro map at the house. He confided that he did not want to look like an ignorant tourist and have to ask others for help. I understand it can be stressful trying to figure out the system while being jostled by impatient commuters.

When it comes to decision making for the believer, there are times when we do not want to admit we need guidance. To ask counsel somehow denotes weakness and ineptitude. We want to always appear competent and in control.

Our verse today talks about the need for guidance when it comes to His truth. We are not going to find it on our own. We need to be guided by Him. What’s more, we need to ASK Him for that guidance. There’s the challenge: to remember to ask! I would like to think I already have it figured out. I have been a believer for many years. I can delude myself into thinking I have a handle on His truth. That is like failing to consult the map and deciding to just “wing it.” Before I know it, I am going the wrong way on a one- way street!

It takes humility to ask for directions, but when it comes to God’s truth it is the only way to get there! God’s Word and His Spirit give us that direction. Guide me today, Lord. My hope is in You.