Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Submission


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A Three-Legged Race

Scripture for Today:  Amos 3:3 “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?

They were doing so well, outrunning all the others on their combined three legs!  But all it took was a small deviation to the right or to the left without the cooperation of the other to bring down this duo.  There is no hope of winning the prize unless the two runners can move together in sync.  The only way to be coordinated in their movements is to have complete agreement on their direction and their speed.  The most important agreement to make is on who will lead and who will follow.

Today’s verse is in a little-known book of prophecy.  Out of God’s love for Israel, he warns them of coming judgement through his prophet, Amos.  He asks obvious questions of cause and effect to point out that their sin will be punished (verses 3-6).  Two cannot walk together unless they can agree on their pace and their route.  As a nation, they were collectively going in the wrong direction.  Rather than walking toward the Lord in confession they were willfully walking away from Him in their sin.

I want to be intentional about who my walking companions are!  My direction is very different than that of the world.  If I am yoked with unbelievers than I will be tripping and falling all over the place (II Cor. 6:14).  I want to walk in sync with the Lord and follow Him.  That can only happen as I humbly agree with Him in confession.  When I do, that walk is sweet and satisfying.  He chooses just the right path and keeps me from stumbling.  Walking with Him through life gives me purpose and fulfillment.

Lord, don’t let me wander.   Keep me walking close to You.

 


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The Painted Lady

Scripture for Today:  Jeremiah 8:7  “Even the stork in the sky knows when it is time to move on.  The turtledove, swallow and the crane recognize the normal times for their migration.  But My people pay no attention to what I, the Lord, require of them.”

Southern California is being invaded by these dollar-sized butterflies!  These Painted Ladies are migrating north from Mexico after the heavy rains.  They are on their determined way to Oregon to breed.  A cousin of the Monarch Butterfly, the estimated one billion are swarming through streets and neighborhoods, delighting all that have the chance to see them.  The Painted Lady is called an “irruptive migrant” that sometimes migrates without any regard to seasons or geography.  They just seem to collectively know that when it is time, it is time!

Today’s verse talks about four different kinds of birds that like the Painted Lady migrate.  Their little bird brains know instinctively when it is time to move on so as to avoid the freezing temperatures.  Jeremiah mentions these birds as a contrast to the Israelites.  The people prided themselves in possessing the Law of God.  But they continually turned to their own individual course, rather than following God’s way.  The Law, instead of being written in their hearts, became a mere code or outward ceremony.

I wish obeying God was as instinctive for me as migration is for the birds and butterflies.  But then it would not mean as much.  God wants my obedience to be an intentional choice.  Knowing what God expects of me is a good thing.  But I do not want to make the same mistake as the Israelites.  The point is not how many Bible verses I can recite by heart.  He is more interested in how many I obey!

Help me, Lord, to be obedient.


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Bird Box Challenge

Scripture 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.”

Netflix, Canada has just issued a warning begging people not to do the Bird Box Challenge.  People are endangering themselves and others by reenacting the the movie, Bird Box, in real life.  They are going through their day blindfolded as the movie characters did.  However, in real life there are no dangerous monsters trying to capture people through one’s eyesight!  The only danger comes from being blindfolded!

Today’s verse 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 (verse 18).

There is a strong tendency for me to be blind to my need of the Lord when all is well and finances are looking good.  When life is comfortable, I start to feel self-sufficient.  Before long, I take credit and think it is all of my own doing.  Pride seeps in and I become poor, blind and naked in my soul.  There is no reason for me to continue this way.  Christ has taken the initiative to change my pitiful state when I realize my need and turn to Him.  When I let go of of my pride and denial, I can open the door of my heart in answer to His knock (verse 20).

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


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Puppet Strings

Scripture for Today: Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

I was surprised to learn that Punch and Judy have been around since the 1600’s!  These marionettes  as part of British culture were originally intended for adult entertainment.  It was not until the Victorian era that the stories were changed for children.  Each story had common themes including: Punch’s bad behavior, struggles with Judy, his wife and the baby, victory over run-ins with the law, and plenty of songs and jokes mixed in.  Of course, Punch and Judy had no say in the story line!

Today’s verse is part of a charge Joshua gave the Israelites just before his death.  He admonished the people to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully by throwing out the gods of their ancestors.  Joshua challenged them to choose!  Then comes the often-quoted declaration that he and his household choose to serve the Lord.  Our Creator has given us choice.  How it works with His sovereignty is a mystery but true nonetheless.  There are no puppet strings however.  God wants our love and service to be sincere and come from our hearts.

Every day there lies before me a choice in how I will spend those next 24 hours.  I can choose to live them for my own selfish pleasure or I can choose to find my pleasure in service to Him!  When I choose my own interests over His, it is as if I am choosing the same false gods of those Israelites.  But when I choose to serve Him, I feel His pleasure and experience His gracious blessing!

Lord, today I choose You!


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Big Ears

Scripture for Today: Mark 4:23 “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”

A baby’s little ears are so sweet.  However, they will look completely different at age 80, and perhaps will not look so sweet!  Because ears seem bigger and longer with age, there is a common misconception that they continue to grow.  But in fact, it is just that the elastin fibers in the cartilage begin to breakdown, making them stretch and sag.  In any case, having bigger-looking ears does not translate into better hearing!

Today’s verse is a phrase used only by Jesus and He said it eight times in the Gospels to get His listeners’ attention.  Of course His listeners have ears and can hear.  Yet, He understands how easily we are distracted from really listening and responding.  Jesus goes on to say that we are to consider carefully what we hear.  We are responsible and accountable for what we have heard Him say.  He wants from us a response to what we have heard.

There are a multitude of sounds all clamoring for my attention during the day.  Some of these sounds are inevitable, and many of them I can disregard.  When sleeping, our ears continue to hear sounds.  It is just that the brain disregards most of them so we can continue sleeping.  But there is a still small voice that, like Elijah, I need to discern.  The question I need to ask myself is, “Do I really want to hear what He is saying.?”   I do not want to hear Him ask what is uncomfortable or difficult.  But then I would not hear His whispers of love either.

Lord, I really do want to hear You.  Please speak to me today.