Devotions By Jan

Scripture for Today: Matthew 23:24 “Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!

This camel looks a little ridiculous and undignified when really they are magnificent animals!  They can carry 200 extra pounds and travel 20 miles a day.  Camels can drink 40 gallons of water at a time and can eat anything without injuring their mouths.  They can close their nostrils against wind and sand, and store energy in their humps in the form of fat.  But one thing they are unable to do.  They cannot be swallowed whole!

In today’s verse the Pharisees are the blind guides that Jesus addresses.  One would have to be blind not to see the difference between a gnat and a camel!  The Pharisees were all about keeping every detail of the Law, including the tithe on their mint, dill and cumin.  But they were ignoring the larger and more important matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness.  Keeping the details of the Law had become for them a point of pride as details of the Law were visible to others.  Justice, mercy and faithfulness were intangibles and frankly, more difficult to follow.

I am afraid that sometimes I am just as guilty of this in my Christian walk.  I tend to use an accepted set of rules as a shortcut to spirituality.  I know the right words.  I can follow routine.  I can look like I have my act together.  Outside conformity to a set of rules can mask the real state of my heart.  But the Lord knows when my thoughts towards others are harsh instead of merciful.  He sees when I excuse myself but no one else.  And of course He knows when my heart is unfaithful.

Lord, keep my heart close to Yours.

Scripture for Today: James 1:14 & 16 “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.”

It seems a strange story that a magic pipe could lure away rats and children!  The Pied Piper German legend dates back to the Middle Ages.  He was supposedly hired by the mayor of Hamelin to rid the town of rats.  After luring them to their death in the river, he was not paid what was promised.  In revenge he lured away the children!  Today, the image of a pied piper is used to describe someone who offers strong but elusive enticement.

Today’s verse describes the source of our temptations.  It is never from God as His desire is to keep us from sin (verse 13).  Rather we are lured and enticed by our own desires.  There will always be temptations in the life of a believer.  The temptation itself is not sin, as Jesus Himself was tempted.  But it is our response to it that can be so devastating.  Like following the pied piper, we are lured by the bright colors and the music.  Sin promises so much but fails to deliver, ending only in death (verse 15).

Sin can be so attractive to me.  Sometimes it is just easier to indulge, to compromise, or to take shortcuts that I know in my heart are not right.  But what promises to fulfill never really does.  What starts out as pleasurable brings consequences I never anticipated.  My heart and its desires can be so deceitful!  I do not want to blindly follow what everyone around me may be doing.  Doing things God’s way may be more difficult but the problems avoided and the blessing He gives are worth the effort!

Lord, keep me from being led astray!