Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Self Image


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The Vineyards

Summer 2009 040Scripture for Today: Philippians 1:11 …“filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

My husband and I loved living in an area surrounded by vineyards.  Each season brought beautiful changes and the anticipated fruit was celebrated with festivals at its arrival.  Our landlords were vinedressers themselves and taught us much about the different varieties.  Alsace boasts 7 different grapes; Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir.  Not only were these varieties distinctly different but the climate, the soil and the sun exposure all contributed to more subtle differences.  All it took was a difference of 100 meters in location to completely change the fruit.

Our verse for today is a prayer of Paul for the believers in Philippi.  He prays that they will  be filled with love (verse 10) in order to produce the fruit of righteousness.  That fruit cannot be produced except through Jesus Christ.  There is no fruit of righteousness without being connected to the Vine (John 15:5)  But connected to Him we can be filled with that fruit!

Just as there is so much variety among the grapes of Alsace, so there are varieties among the spiritual fruit of believers.  Each season of life is different.  Each person’s spiritual gifting is different.  Each believer’s circumstances are different.  I can get distracted from my own “fruit production” by comparing myself to others.  The fruit God is producing in me is supposed to be different than what He is producing in someone else.  I am a different variety!

I thank God for different varieties!  I thank Him that He is the One who produces the fruit in me.  It is all about Him and His glory and praise.

Lord, thank you that You use even my variety of fruit for Your glory!


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The Ostrich

Scripture for Today: II Peter 1:9 “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

I was surprised to learn that the ostrich does not really bury his head in the sand!  It is such an accepted saying that I never questioned it!  But in fact, it just looks as if they do being that they press their long necks close to the ground.  They do this to avoid detection, and as their plumage blends in so well with the sandy soil it seems that their heads are buried.  No one is too sure where this idea originated, but the saying is well known.  Someone who exhibits this figurative behavior is one who does not face facts!

Our verse for today describes a believer who is figuratively nearsighted and blind, much like the ostrich.  Whether intentional or not, a believer who has not grasped the reality of true forgiveness is not seeing clearly.  We can easily bury ourselves in thoughts, memories and self recriminations from past sins.  When we do, we make ourselves ineffective and unproductive in our Christian walk (verse 8).

I do not need to bury my head in shame.  The Lord with His gracious forgiveness lifts my head.  He makes it possible for me to live out my faith, adding to it goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love (verses 5-7).  I continually remind myself that as far as the Lord is concerned, my sins are as far away as the east is from the west! (Psalm 103:12)  He has completely removed them.  Being convinced of this truth makes it possible to live for Him the abundant life He wants to produce in me!

Thank you Lord, for lifting my head to see Your wonderful and complete forgiveness!

 


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Lizards

Scripture for Today: Numbers 6:25-26 “The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

Living in a warm dry climate I see lots of these little guys.  They never bother me much as I know they eat those nasty insects I do not want around.  They scurry and hurry and escape quite easily the little hands that try to catch them.  But they slow down when they get to that patch of sunlight.  They love to soak up the sun directly and from the warm surface of rock.  They seem to be quite content sunning themselves for hours without moving.

Our verse for today talks about the Lord shining His face on the ones who belong to Him.  When He turns His face towards us, we feel His grace and His peace.  When we recognize that patch of “Sonlight,” we want to slow down and enjoy the warmth.  It takes time to soak in His presence and love.  It means we are still and quiet.  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

So often the list of activities and obligations in a day keep me from enjoying His presence.  I know He is there.  But it requires that I take time for Him to really soak in His favor and light.  The warmth of His love is not a place I want to quit.  Sometimes I want life to just stop, so that I can bask in that wonderful light of His countenance without interruption.  It gets a bit uncomfortable and chilly when I am away from Him too long.

He gives amazing peace in the midst of frenzied activity.  He communicates His grace throughout the day.  But how wonderful to stop and soak it all in!


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Playing Pretend

blogunnamedScripture for Today: Proverbs 13:7 “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”

Playing pretend with my grandson the other day was sweet.  He is not even 3 years old yet, but he understands the concept of pretend play.  We created different scenarios with one of his favorite characters, Curious George.  In the  world we created, everything was fun and perfect.  Everyone got along and could do exactly as they pleased.  Pretending is important for a child’s imaginative play.  Pretending as adults has very little value unless in the context of the arts.

Pretending in the church serves no positive purpose.  We often pretend to be something other than what we are in an attempt to seem spiritual.  If we are poor, we try to hide the fact.  If we are rich, we try to hide that too, although maybe less frequently!  Our verse for today is in contrast to the one before it.  “Righteousness guards the person of integrity…”  Being a person of integrity is being without pretense.

In attempting to look as if my act is together, I am in fact being unrighteous.  The Lord wants me to be authentic.  I struggle sometimes with being an imperfect wife, mother and grandmother.  Pretending to be perfect in every area is exhausting and frustrating.  I am thankful that the Lord sees through the pretense and loves me anyway.  No one around me is fooled either.  We are all flawed.  We all struggle.  Our relationship with Christ does not mean perfection for anyone.  It is in being authentic and sharing our struggles and victories that we encourage each other.

I may be discouraged but I do not need to pretend.  Thank you Lord, that You promise to complete in me what You have started.

 


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“You’re So Vain!”

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

For a good five minutes I watched this bird look at himself in the mirror.  I have never seen a bird be obsessed with his looks!  He/she did not seem to mind that I was just inches away.  Perhaps he was just attracted to the reflected light, or perhaps he was enthralled with his own reflection.  All he seemed to see was himself.

The behavior of this bird reminded me of our verse for today.  This verse is addressed to believers in the church.  Each one is given his spiritual gift by God Himself.  These gifts allow for each of us to contribute our part to the functioning of the church.  It may be a more public speaking gift or it may be a behind-the-scenes supportive gift.  Each one is important.

These spiritual gifts are just that; gifts.  We did nothing to deserve receiving them.  God distributed them according to His wisdom and plan.  That being true, we have no cause to boast.  Our purpose is to glorify Him and not ourselves.  I am not to think that I am somehow higher up in God’s favor.  My view of myself is to be sober, recognizing the role of grace in my life.

When I think of myself more highly than I ought to think, I am forfeiting the grace He promises to the humble.  I can pretty much expect to fail and fall when I get too full of myself! (Prov. 16:18)

Lord, don’t let me become so proud that I miss out on Your glory and grace!