Devotions By Jan


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Refrigerator Magnets

Clean-dirty-indicator-combinedScripture for Today: Mark 7:15 “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

I feel very silly sometimes to find myself unloading dirty dishes into the cupboards!  My problem is that I rinse too well before loading them into the dishwasher.  The confusion can be avoided with a simple system of magnets on the dishwasher.  These pictured were handmade using mint tins and adhesive labels.

We use labels as well when determining whether people are clean or dirty.  Imagine wearing labels like these to declare to others the state of our hearts!  In our verse for today Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees about what is clean and what is dirty.  The disciples were not following the accepted standards of religious tradition.  Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites for placing outside cleanliness over and above cleanliness on the inside.

It is what comes out of a person that reveals the true state of the heart.  We can work hard on the outward show of religiosity but sooner or later, our words and actions reveal what is on the inside.  No matter what rules we follow, it is only Christ that can truly make us clean.  Despite the correct moral upbringing, environmental and financial advantages, and advances in technology, evil continues to exist in the heart.

It is much less threatening to address social ills by fixing everything on the outside rather than the internal change that is needed.  The Lord is in the business of true and lasting change.  Cleansing me from the inside out is something only He can do.

Lord, keep me from being so distracted by the outside!  Change my heart with Your cleansing.


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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!

 


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Waking Up

Scripture for Today: Psalm 3:5 “I lie down and sleep. I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.”

We miss our Tiger.  But one thing I do not miss is him waking us early in the morning.  The door was always closed but in our old house, he was able to push it open.  He would then jump on the bed and nudge us until we either threw him out or got up.  I can think of worse ways to wake up.  A blaring buzzer on the alarm pulls me out of sleep a little too rudely.  I can still remember my children waking me up with their first cry of the day.  Waking up is just sometimes hard to do.

Our verse for today makes me realize that it is a gift to wake up at all.  It is the Lord’s grace that allows me to lie down and sleep.  I am warm and protected with a roof over my head when so many do not have that privilege.  I awake without fear of danger or war and I awake in good health.  Waking up with joy in my heart is not my strong point.  Yet, I am convinced that it is the Lord who allows me to wake up to one more day.  He sustains my life.  Each breath and each heart beat occurs because He has allowed it.

The Lord of course, never slumbers or sleeps.  He watches me wake up and waits for me to turn my thoughts to Him.  Do I awake with thankfulness in my heart for His gift of life?  Or do my thoughts immediately turn to deadlines and pressures of the day?

If I have not said it yet today, “Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for allowing me another day.”


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The Foreigner

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 10:18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and He loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”

It is not a comfortable experience being a foreigner.  In fact for many, the thought of being classed as a foreigner in another culture keeps people happily and comfortably cocooned in their own worlds.  I completely understand this preference.  It is not easy to stand out from the crowd, going against the current.  Living twenty-five years in France, I learned how to blend in to the culture and lifestyle.  However, early in our marriage we spent a summer in Taiwan.  There was no chance of blending in there.  I was constantly regarded as the foreigner and I had to deal with it!  I was orange and everyone else was blue!

Our verse for today reveals the loving heart of the Lord.  He is especially attentive to the needs of the orphans and widows.  But in addition to that care, He has a special place in His heart reserved for the foreigner and his hapless predicament.  I wonder if it was because His Son would one day descend from Heaven and be Himself a foreigner on earth!

The Lord shows special love to the lost, lonely and displaced person.  The foreigner is often in a humbled position having to depend on the kindness of others in his host country.  Not only does God offer His love and help, but the context urges us to do the same (verse 19).  Those who have been foreigners themselves can have a special empathy, having experienced this turmoil personally.

I have the privilege of reaching out with God’s love to the foreigner residing among us.  Help me Lord, to have the same heart for him as You do.

 


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Crabs

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 5:15 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.”

I am not a fan of crabs.  Their pincers make me a bit nervous and their appearance is a bit off-putting.  But one of their behaviors always brings a smile; their ability to walk sideways.  In trying to avoid them, this unusual behavior makes me unsure of which way to go to get out of their way!  Perhaps they are confused too, not knowing whether they are coming or going!  The fact that their joints bend outwards rather than forwards makes for this bizarre gait.  They can shuffle forwards but sideways allows for more speed and efficiency.  They can quickly dip into a hole or crevice and escape a predator.

Our verse for today reminds us to walk with care.  As believers we are to walk with wisdom.  Perhaps walking wisely can look like a sideways gait to some.  Our walk is to be different than those around us who are walking foolishly, outside of God’s will.  The context tells us to wake up and make the most of every opportunity.  This passage goes on to cite the particulars of this different walk: being filled with His Spirit, speaking differently, singing, making music and being thankful.  Walking in this way is walking in a direction that is different and distinctive!

The subtle influence of those walking around us can affect our walk.  Who wants to be seen walking sideways?  It looks like we are going nowhere.  We are not walking towards worldly values or recognition.  Instead, we are walking towards the commendation of the Master, hoping to hear one day, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

Lord, keep me from blindly following the walk of those around me.  Make me wise, walking Your way today.