Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Self Image


by Leave a comment

Wedding Jewelry

bride-wearing-chinese-green-jade-necklaceScripture for Today: Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

This radiant bride reminded me of my own wedding day.  There were a few surprises marrying into a Chinese family.  An unexpected gift of jade was given me by my new Chinese Grandmother-in-law just after the ceremony.  She saw that I wore it right away with my wedding dress.  Jade is traditionally thought to ward off evil spirits and keep the couple safe on the wedding day.  This stone is historically thought to be royal, representing virtue, purity and righteousness.

Our verse for today brings all kinds of images to mind.  As believers we are clothed in the Lord’s righteousness.  The material is pure dazzling white because of the forgiveness we receive by faith.  As the Church, we are the Bride of Christ.  We are purified and presented to Him without spot or wrinkle.  We are glorious, set apart in a love relationship with Him (Eph. 5:27).  As if that were not enough, we are adorned with jewelry on that beautiful day that begins our eternity with Him!

My own efforts at righteousness are regarded as filthy rags (Is. 64:6).  They are as ineffectual as jade in truly making me virtuous or pure.  But the jewels I wear on that day will, like righteousness, be a gift of grace from His hand.  Jade will not make me royal either, but being a child of the King does!

What a day that will be!  Today I can “delight greatly” in just the thought of what is to come!  His salvation and righteousness make me beautiful!

 


by Leave a comment

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!


by 1 Comment

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!

 


by Leave a comment

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!


by Leave a comment

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.