Devotions By Jan


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Margin of Error

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 7:20 “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

It is complicated to calculate margin of error, at least to those who do not have strong math skills! This concept in statistics expresses the amount of random variation underlying a survey’s results. In principle, the larger the sample is, the smaller the margin of error is. The other important factor is the confidence level, whether 90, 95 or 99%. There are also other sources of error that come into play; bias in the questions, excluding groups that could not be contacted, people refusing to respond, people lying or miscounting.

In today’s verse there is absolutely no margin of error! The sample is the largest it can be: earth’s entire population. Added to this fact is the veracity of God’s Word. Paul affirms this statement when quoting Psalm 14:1-3, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Rom. 3:11) God’s standards of righteousness are well above man’s. God looks down from Heaven on all mankind. (Ps. 53:1-3) And if it were not for the grace He showed when taking on Himself the punishment of our sins on the cross, there would be no hope of forgiveness or of eternal life with Him.

No. There is no error at all in what God declares is true. I have a confidence level of 100% because God said it. There is not a person on this planet (myself included) that can merit eternal life. No one can slide in as part of some forgotten percentage. God does not grade on a curve. His standard is holiness and I am woefully short. Thankfully, He has given me not only abundant grace but also the righteousness of His Son! (Rom. 5:17)

Thank you Lord, that what You say is completely trustworthy.


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Honey for Roots

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:102-103 “I have not departed from Your laws, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

The sweetness of honey is not just appreciated by our taste buds. Honey is also helpful in creating new plants from cuttings! Infections can be avoided at the site of the cut by dipping it in a honey and water solution. This is because honey has antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties that save the cutting from rot and infection. This gives the plant cutting a chance to actually form new roots.

Today’s verse tells us that God Himself is involved in teaching us His way through His Word. His laws are sweeter than honey as they keep us close to His heart. Life is sweeter when we obey the Lord and experience His incredible blessing. With the honey of His law we are able to avoid the rot and corruption of the world around us and grow deeper into Him. We want to be grounded and rooted deep in His nourishing love. (Eph. 3:17) Following His law helps us stay healthy, strong and vibrant in our faith.

It seems odd to think of laws and commandments as something sweet! I normally resist anyone telling me what to do and what not to do. But God’s laws are different. They are always true, right and the best to follow. They allow me to live the best kind of life possible, helping me to avoid the snares and pitfalls sin presents. But most importantly, following His way allows me to stay in a closer relationship to the Lover of my soul. I want to be able to say with the psalmist, “I have not departed from Your laws.”

Lord, keep me close to You.


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Bones

Scripture for Today: Ezekiel 37:5 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.”

This must be what happens when there is just too much exercise and dieting!  I recently had a bone scan done but I am fairly sure I did not look like this skeleton.  With osteoporosis in my family I need to be concerned about good bone health.  There are lots of preventative measures to take.  Weight-bearing exercise is recommended as well as a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.  I am thrilled to see ice cream and frozen yogurt on the high-in-calcium list!  Although vitamin D is important, I would prefer getting it from the sun rather than a pill.  The next time I enjoy ice cream in the sunshine, I can do it without a shred of guilt!

Today’s verse comes from a vision the Lord gave His prophet, Ezekiel.  The bones represent the nation of Israel.  Their bones were dried up as their hope was gone and they were cut off.  God promised to put flesh on those bones and give life through His Spirit.  It was an image of what He would do for them, bringing them back to their land.

There is no life without His Spirit.  We are all dead in our sins without His life-giving Spirit.  Those who reject Jesus Christ are like dried up bones, without hope and cut off from a vital relationship with their Maker.  But with His breath comes true life.  In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).  The breath of His Spirit moves me to a living loving relationship with Him.

Thank you Lord, for breathing true life into me!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2017)


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Jumping to Conclusions

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Who would have thought that this distorted flat and elongated sculpture could actually be the frog pictured in the mirrored cylinder? I would not have! I would jump to the conclusion that the one had very little to do with the other. This is an example of “mirror anamorphosis.” It was developed during the Ming Dynasty in China. A curved mirror is placed before a sculpture or drawing to transform the flat distorted image into an undistorted one!

Today’s verse likens our spiritual growth to seeing only a reflection in a mirror. Our perspective is suspect as we do not see what we finally will be. We only know in part what will be the finished product of God’s work in us. What we will be has not yet been made known to us (I John 3:2) but we do know that we will not be just a new and improved version of ourselves. Better than that, we will resemble Christ!

I am fully known by my Creator. He knows me a whole lot better than I know myself. It is amazing that He loves me just the way I am. But He has more for me. He is slowly transforming me to be more like Him. My image of myself and that mirror are both flawed. But one day I will not only be complete but I will understand all that is blurry and distorted here. I can be content with only knowing “in part,” because I can trust Him and His work in me!

Thank you Lord, for the “future me!”

(Photo by Richard Ivey @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anamorphic_frog_sculpture_by_Jonty_Hurwitz.jpeg)


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I’d Rather Have Jesus

Scripture for Today: Philippians 3:18 “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

This song was written by George Beverly Shea in 1933. He was encouraged by his mother to put music to a poem she liked by Rhea Miller. It was her hope that in putting together this hymn, her son would find new direction for his talent. And in fact he did, touring the world as a soloist with Billy Graham. I cannot hear it without remembering the joke of a former boyfriend. He said if we ever got married, he would sing this as I came down the aisle!!

Today’s verse made me think of this song that says “I’d rather have Jesus than anything.” To Paul, the surpassing worth of knowing Christ made him willing to consider everything else in his life as a loss. This beautiful and satisfying relationship with Christ has made all his past accomplishments seem as worthless garbage.  But gaining Christ was something that could not happen as long as he valued his accomplishments, past or present, more than the Lord. 

When I care too much about the world’s approbation somehow I forfeit having more of Christ. So often I am confronted with choice. Would I rather have Jesus or am I valuing anything as more important than Him? Can I say that I would “rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today?” My answers make all the difference to the choices I make. His kingdom takes precedent over any other concern. I want to make His will my focus and not my own. Gaining Christ makes any sacrifice worth it!

Lord, I choose You.