Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Salvation


by 1 Comment

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Scripture for Today:Matthew 13:16 “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

I never quite understood the symbolism in the carol, Do You Hear What I Hear, until I looked at its history.  It was written in 1962 by a couple named Noel and Gloria Regney.  Each stanza asks the question and the conversation is not resolved until the end where the king declares that all people should pray for peace and that the Child born would give us goodness and light.

This carol was written as a prayer for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Knowing that gives new meaning to the “star” that is seen in the sky with a “tail as big as a kite,” and the so-called song above the trees with a “voice as big as the sea.”  I love that the carol uses the lamb as a picture of innocence.  But for each of the images in the carol, there is a corresponding spiritual truth!

The star can also be seen as the star of Bethlehem heralding Christ’s coming and the birth of hope.  Jesus was called the Lamb of God, His sacrifice taking away our sin.  As the song says this Child, “will bring us goodness and light.”  And the Lord did just that!  John declares that God is light (I John 1:5) and David affirms that His goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6).

Not everyone sees.  Not everyone hears.  The message of Christmas is so often lost in the beautiful distractions of the season.  I want to keep my focus on the Giver of goodness and light.  Do you hear His invitation to, “come and see?” (Psalm 66:5)  Do you see Jesus for who He really is; God’s only Son?

Lord, keep me seeing and listening for You.

 

 


by 1 Comment

A Bad Penny

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

I am one of those rare people who still bend down to pick up a lost penny, bad or not!  The phrase, “a bad penny always turns up,” was coined in the mid eighteenth century.  Pennies used to be more valuable and because they were easily counterfeited, the “bad ones” would continually circulate, turning up in a pocket or purse.  “Turning up like a bad penny,” came to mean someone or something unwanted, turning up repeatedly and unexpectedly.

Today’s verse reassures the believer that God’s forgiveness of sin is complete.  He chooses to no longer remember our sins.  Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin, the penalty has been paid and God’s justice is satisfied.  Those sins are blotted out forever.  When He forgives, He does not bring it up again.  But like a bad penny, the thought of them (for the believer) can turn up at the most unwanted and inopportune times.  Thankfully, that is never the case for the Lord.  Of course, He is all knowing and so forgets nothing.  But the idea is that He does not call it to mind with censor and judgement.

I would love to be able to “remember my sins no longer.”  But the memories remain.  Thankfully, God’s Word is full of reassurances of unconditional love and complete pardon.  The Lord graciously softens and blurs memories of past failures.  If guilty memories occasionally do reappear, He is there to build me back up.  If nothing else, those remembrances can serve to remind me that I am not perfect, but His forgiveness is!

Thank you Lord, that Your grace chooses not to remember what is forgiven!


by Leave a comment

Neutrality

Scripture for Today: I John 5:12 “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Les Diablerets, Switzerland is one of my favorite places in the world!  This small village in the Alps looks like a scene right out the book, “Heidi.”  The air is clean and pure.  The hiking trails beckon and the surrounding tall peaks invite me to keep looking up!  Life seems simple and unspoilt here in Switzerland and its residents have worked hard to stay out of conflict on the world stage.  I find I am ambivalent about their position, or lack of it.  I see good and bad about staying neutral.

Today’s verse makes it very clear that there is no neutral stand in one’s position on Jesus Christ.  One either has the Son in their life or they do not.  One either has life in Him or one does not.  There is no middle ground.  There is no straddling of a fence.  He does not make it possible to have it both ways.  Without Him there is no true life.  We are dead spiritually without Him.  But thankfully, Christ made us alive even when we were dead in our sins (Eph. 2:5).  His forgiveness quickens our hearts and opens our eyes!

Quite frankly, the whole spiritual dimension to my life is what makes my life worth the living!  I am incredibly blessed with the love of husband, family and friends.  I have good health and am relatively comfortable financially.  But none of that satisfies me completely.  It is the intimate, unseen relationship with the Son that gives my life the meaning I so desire.  Sharing life with the Giver of life is what true life is all about!

Thank you, Lord, for giving me life in Your Son.


by Leave a comment

Blind Man’s Bluff

IMG_5980Scripture for Today: Revelation 3:17 “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

I never much liked the game, “Blind Man’s Bluff” growing up.  It was uncomfortable not being able to see.  I always feared falling over my own two feet or running headlong into someone else and hurting myself.

This game has a long history with different versions dating back to Ancient Greece.  It was also a favorite pastime in the Victorian Era of the 1800’s.  There is an old Japanese version where the “it” must tag others not only blindfolded but carrying a full cup of tea!  Maybe that would be a good training exercise for waitress work!

Our verse for today talks about a blindness that is spiritual.  What is so sad is that the person described does not realize his blindness, nor his poverty and nakedness.  Being wealthy has caused this person to feel self-sufficient and not in need of anything.  What is so beautiful in this passage is that Christ proposes a remedy for this blindness.  He offers salve for the eyes to restore spiritual sight.  He also offers refined gold coming from Him, which represents true eternal riches.  Christ gives us white clothes to cover our nakedness.  Those white clothes are a symbol of His righteousness obtained for us.

There is no reason for me to continue to be poor, blind or naked.  Christ has taken the initiative to change my pitiful state when I repent of all my wrongdoing.  When I let go of of my pride and denial, I can open the door of my heart in answer to His knock.

Lord, may I always realize my need and open the door to You.

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.


by 1 Comment

Jade Imitations

Scripture for Today:  John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

We got taken.  It was the summer of 1980 and after doing a summer missions trip in Taiwan, we went to Hong Kong.  The shopping there was wonderful.  Being young and naive, we thought we would get a good price on real jade from a street vendor.  We got a real good price on two simple matching bands.  But as they were imitations the price was a bit high for just green glass!  We felt very embarrassed when we learned that we were cheated.

Satan is in this same business of selling imitations.  He tries to sell his version of “life.”  But according to our verse for today, his real intent is to steal, kill and destroy life.  Unfortunately, he has lots of buyers.  His customers love the sound of freedom without consequences and without restraints.  Imitation life can be quite convincing when one has education, comfortable finances, family and friends.  It can feel real.  It can feel right.  But a way that seems right to man can end in death rather than life (Proverbs 14:12).

Jesus says He is the Life.  He has come to give real and abundant life, found in relationship to Him.  Anything else is imitation life.  When we find that intimate daily relationship with our Creator, we experience life as it is meant to be lived.  I do not want imitation life.  I want the real thing.  Regardless of what kind of day I am having, I want it to be genuine.  For even a day in His courts is better than a thousand outside (Psalm 84:10).  He makes my life abundant by His very presence!

Thank you, Lord, for REAL life!

Look familiar?  This is a re-post due to summer ministry schedule.