Devotions By Jan


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Dayspring

Scripture for Today: Luke 1:78-79 “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

How wonderful to celebrate the arrival of Spring this week! This welcomed season was originally called, “lent,” as a derivative of the German word, “langitinaz,” meaning lengthening of days. And I do enjoy the additional daylight! From the 14th century on, the name was changed to “springing time” to mark the resurgence of plant growth. Spring in latin is “tempus primum” meaning first season. And Spring was first in the Roman calendar. It makes sense then that this season signals for many a fresh start!

Today’s verse has a rising sun, which in other translations is called “Dayspring.” These verses come from the newly loosened tongue of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesying John’s role in preparing the way for the coming Dayspring from Heaven. Jesus is our Dayspring, shining light in a world darkened by sin and brokenness. He is sent to us out of the tender mercy of our God, making a way to establish peace between God and mankind.

Spring, with the lengthening daylight hours, with dormant growth coming to life, and with the offering of a new beginning is also a beautiful picture of Jesus. He has brought newness of life to me and a reason to have hope. What can look dead and gone can be given a new season of growth. Instead of being in the shadow of death, I can enjoy the light of His continual presence. One day, I will live without interruption in the warmth and sunshine of that Dayspring!

Thank you Lord for spring and the small glimpse of what is to come!


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Fill Our Staplers Day

Scripture for Today: II Timothy 2:21 “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Who would have thought there would be a day set apart to fill our staplers! This day’s observance began in 2013 as part of the Chase Calendar of Events. We are supposed to kindly go around the office and fill everyone’s staplers so that the day will go smoother for all. If we are not involved in office work the idea is to go around the house and do the same for the family. It is true that no one likes to interrupt a project with this mundane task, especially when in a hurry! Any extra step in preparedness usually pays off.

Today’s verse talks about being prepared so as to be useful to the Master. As believers we are called to do good works for the Lord. These good works have been prepared by God in advance (Eph. 2:10). But we are to be prepared as well to do them! And we do that by making sure we are cleansed, confessing our sins (I John 1:9). We are likened to vessels made of either gold and silver for special purposes, or made of wood and clay for common use (vs. 20). That we are used by Him for any purpose is a privilege. But we can be set apart for special purposes when we keep our lives free from sin.

There are days when I feel that I am made of clay or wood. And I wonder if I am of any use to Him at all. Thankfully, He uses all kinds of vessels for all kinds of purposes, using the gifts of the Spirit. But if I long to be more fruitful for Him, if I long to make a difference to His Kingdom work, than I need to be sensitive to His conviction of sin in my vessel! I need to examine my heart daily and do the uncomfortable work of confession.

Thank you Lord, that You want to use me. Help me stay prepared.


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What Are You Looking At?

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 11:10 “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

How odd to see this orderly organized group of dogs on a local trail! It is as if they were posing for a picture, which is exactly what they were doing! Their photographer was ready at her camera to take the shot. The lighting was perfect, the dogs arranged just so and no one was around….until my son came around the corner. As you can see, the dogs all turned as one to face him, ruining the carefully crafted moment. But my son was delighted with a photo of his own, all because the dogs were looking in the wrong direction!

Today’s verse describes where Abraham was looking. He was looking forward to a city not made with human hands. This permanent and eternal city is the heavenly Jerusalem to come (Heb. 12:22) and is described in Revelation 21. Abraham’s incredible faith was strengthened by where he was looking. Abraham and all the others honored for their faith in Hebrews 11 were looking for a country of their own, considering themselves as aliens and strangers on this earth (vs. 13-14). He was looking toward the future of a promise fulfilled, seeing it from a distance with eyes of faith.

Just like those distracted dogs, I am often looking in the wrong direction. My eyes need to be fixed on Jesus and the coming fulfillment of all He has promised. The evil one distracts me with empty promises of contentment here on earth. But I need to fix my eyes on what is unseen and eternal (II Cor. 4:18). And the more I can look in the right direction, the more my faith will strengthen and grow.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and all that awaits!


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Leap Year

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

What are you doing with your extra day this week? Being leap year, we have this extra day in February every four years, thanks to Julius Caesar. His version of the calendar was in use until the 1500’s. Pope Gregory XIII then created our Gregorian calendar, also coining the term, “leap year.” And this term reminds me of another leap in the term, “leap of faith,” meaning to believe or accept something not on the basis of reason. Is this what Christians do?

Today’s verse tells us that we live our lives on the basis of faith and not by what we see. However, that does not mean there is no reason or logic to our faith. Creation itself shouts to us that there is intelligent design. In fact, when denying God, one’s thinking becomes futile and the heart is darkened (Rom. 1:21) Understanding is darkened when separated from the life of God. (Eph. 4:18) But part of the transformation that faith in Jesus brings is a renewal of the mind. (Rom. 12:2)

I do not throw my mind out the window to believe that God exists and to accept His revelation of Himself in His Word, the Bible. No longer do I have to do mental gymnastics to discount His very obvious existence. It is no leap of faith to believe in Him as He brings sense to what is senseless without Him. My faith is firmly placed in the All-Knowing One who through His Spirit gives wisdom and understanding. (Col. 1:9) He even makes wise this simple one! (Ps. 19:7)

Thank you Lord, that faith in You makes sense!!


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“It’s Hip to be Square”

Scripture for Today: Matthew 9:16  “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.”

My friend, Gale, makes beautiful patchwork quilts. Pictured here is one of hers made of batik fabric and called, “It’s Hip to be Square,” a design created by Cheryl Brown. Gale’s passion for patchwork is shared by many in the Orange Grove Quilter’s Guild of which she is a member and past president. What used to be done out of necessity by early American settlers is now a creative art form. There are many beautiful patterns to choose from but all of them require precision in cutting and sewing in order for the edges to fit together exactly as they should. And of course, all the pieces of fabric need to be preshrunk before sewing.

In today’s verse Jesus uses the illustration of patching a tear with new unshrunk material on to old material. The conversation arises out of questions from those following tradition and ritual. They are trying to connect their system of belief with what Jesus was teaching. These men were distracted with the externals of religion that fed their own self-righteousness. Jesus is revealing a new internal Gospel of forgiveness and cleansing. What is legalistic and of the flesh could not be attached to what is grace and of the Spirit (Gal. 3:3).

Any time I think I can earn God’s favor by my own good works or religious observances, I am falling into that same kind of thinking! Whether it is church attendance, fasting, hymn singing or giving, none of these activities, as positive as they are, earn right standing with God. My relationship with Him is only because of His grace. Thankfully, His love is not dependent on my performance. “Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.” 

Thank You Lord, that I cannot improve on Your grace.

(Look familiar? This is based on my previous blogpost from 2014)