Entries by YMI

ODJ: judgement of justice


May 26, 2013 in , , /by

May 26, 2013 

READ: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 

[God] ensures that orphans and widows receive justice (v.18).


An acquaintance of mine, who is highly intelligent and has a philosophical leaning, also carries antipathy toward God and religion. He enjoys being provocative, recently quoting the second-century philosopher Epicurus who said: “There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.”


If Epicurus was teaching that viewing justice as an ideal disconnected from the actual choices of life makes the notion of justice a sham, I agree with him. It seems, however, that Epicurus argued (and my friend with him) that there are no principles of justice that reign over human affairs. Rather, human choices determine what is just and what is unjust. 


I believe Epicurus was drastically wrong in this view, and I’m thankful for that. 


as Moses handed down laws creating the guiding principles of justice for Israel, he led with this question: “What does the Lord your God require of you?” (Deuteronomy 10:12). Justice is something that God sets before us, not something we set before ourselves (v.18). His justice sits in judgement over our actions. His truths and ways instruct us to conform to them. Justice is God’s making, not ours. 


The changing whims of human logic and the fickle affections of the human heart are not enough to withstand the ongoing history of human violence and oppression. A constant refrain in the human story is the insidious presence of our greed and self-interest. If there is no judge over us and if right and wrong exist merely by our own choices, we’re kidding ourselves if we believe our morality can provide a clear and unequivocal answer to those who are abusive and violent. 


The God of justice, however, rules over the earth, and we’re told to obey Him (v.13). This is good news.—Winn Collier


MORE
Read Exodus 23:1-13. Note how many times “justice” is mentioned. Who gives these instructions?
 
NEXT
What difference does it make to you if justice is your idea or God’s idea? Where does God want you to participate in His work of justice?
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Navigating The Storm

May 25, 2013 /1 Comment/in , , /by

May 25, 2013 

READ: Psalm 107:23-32 

He commands and raises the stormy wind, . . . and He brings them out of their distresses. —Psalm 107:25,28 

The ancient people of the nation of Axum (located on the Red Sea in modern Ethiopia) discovered that the stormy winds of the monsoon season could be harnessed by sail for speedy navigation. Rather than dreading the high winds and rains, they learned how to navigate their way through the storm.

Psalm 107 provides a wonderful word picture of how God allows storms to come our way, and then provides help for us to navigate through them. “He commands and raises the stormy wind, . . . and He brings them out of their distresses” (Ps. 107:25,28).

Trusting God for guidance in troubled times is a biblical theme. Hebrews 11 lists many who used their problems as an opportunity to exercise faith and to experience God’s grace, provision, and deliverance: “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, [and] out of weakness were made strong” (vv.33-34).

Stormy circumstances are inevitable. Although our first reaction may be to run from the problem, we can instead ask God to teach us how to trust Him to navigate us through the storm.

— Dennis Fisher

When life feels like a storm-tossed sea
With crashing waves of pain and grief,
Turn to the Lord and trust in Him,
He’ll give you peace and bring relief. —Sper

Better to go through the storm with Christ
than to have smooth sailing without Him. 

ODJ: the greatest gift


May 25, 2013 in , , /by

May 25, 2013 

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
 

All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ (v.18).


My 9 year old Ugandan son and I often list the things he’s done the past few years—activities that he could not have done if he were still orphaned and living in extreme poverty. In his village he never would have received a formal education, eaten sushi, gone surfing, read books, flown in an aeroplane, played tennis or even had running water and electricity in his home.


Wasswa’s life is radically different now that he’s my son. His new life with me, though, can’t compare with what it means to experience new life in Christ. As believers in Jesus, we’re controlled by His love that prompts us to cast self aside and live for God and others. “Those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (2 Corinthians 5:15).


When we belong to Christ:


• We don’t just have different circumstances; we are new people. The old life is gone; a new life has begun (vv.14,17).


• We stop evaluating others from a human point of view (v.16).


• We are reconciled in Christ, and He no longer counts our sins against us (vv.18-19).


• We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us (v.20).


• We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (v.20).


• We are made right with God through Christ, who never sinned (v.21).


As much as we shower our children with love, guidance and material things, we could never be their ‘all in all’. Only God can be that—Christ alone. “All glory to Him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power and authority are His before all time (Jude 1:25).

—Roxanne Robbins


MORE
Read James 1:17 and see what God the Father provides for us.
 
NEXT
How do gifts from family and friends compare to the gift God gave us when He “brought us back to Himself through Christ?” Write a Thank You note to Jesus for the gifts He’s given you.
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Heavenly Country

May 24, 2013 in , , /by

May 24, 2013 

READ: Hebrews 11:8-16 

Our citizenship is in heaven. —Philippians 3:20 

During high school, my closest friend and I took a pair of horses out for an afternoon ride. We slowly roamed through fields of wildflowers and wooded groves. But when we nosed the horses in the direction of the barn, they took off toward home like twin rockets. Our equine friends knew that it was time for dinner and a good brushing, and they could hardly wait.

As Christians, our true home is heaven (Phil. 3:20). Yet sometimes our desires tether us to the here and now. We enjoy God’s good gifts—marriage, children, grandchildren, travel, careers, friends. At the same time, the Bible challenges us to focus on “things above” (Col. 3:1-2). Things above may include the unseen benefits of heaven: God’s enduring presence (Rev. 22:3-5), unending rest (Heb. 4:9), and an everlasting inheritance (1 Peter 1:4).

Recently I read, “Believers desire the heavenly inheritance; and the stronger the faith is, the more fervent [the desire].” Several Old Testament believers mentioned in Hebrews 11 had strong faith in God that enabled them to embrace His promises before receiving them (v.13). One such promise was heaven. If we too put our faith in God, He will give us a desire for that “heavenly country” (v.16) and will loosen our grip on this world.

— Jennifer Benson Schuldt

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory. —Hewitt

For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E. 

ODJ: where are you looking?


May 24, 2013 in , , /by

May 24, 2013 

READ: Numbers 21:4-9 

Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” (v.8).


more›


Saulo was 16 when he drove the getaway car for a robbery that ended in murder. Now 32, Saulo says, “I remember sitting in the county jail, and it really sunk in:‘Wow, I’m not going home,’ and [I] realised what I did. I didn’t want to live. I couldn’t believe what I did.”


Today Saulo leads the chapel’s praise band in prison and is studying to be a minister. He doesn’t think he deserves parole, saying, “We did horrible things. . . . We deprived people of loved ones, of ever seeing them again.” Whether or not Saulo ever again experiences his freedom as a citizen, he has learned to accept the freedom of forgiveness in Jesus.



I haven’t committed murder, but I know the crushing guilt that comes from doing evil. Like Saulo, I can’t believe what I did, and I wonder, How could God ever forgive me? When I bury myself under mounds of remorse, I’ve learned that the first step to digging out is to get over myself. Do I really think that my sin is stronger than God’s grace? Do I suppose that my sin has a higher value than the death of God’s Son?



The second thing I do is focus all my attention on Jesus. He said that “as Moses lifted up the bronze snake . . . so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The Israelites who had been bitten by the snakes were healed, as long as they looked at the snake (Numbers 21:8-9). They simply had to look. Some may have looked for selfish reasons, some may have had their doubts, but all who looked were healed.



Are you groaning under a load of guilt? Repent and then forget about yourself. Fix your eyes on Jesus.—Mike Wittmer

MORE
Read Hebrews 12:1-13 to learn the secret in winning your fight against sin.
 
NEXT
Why is focusing on yourself the fastest way to lose your assurance that you’re saved? How might ongoing despair over your sin be a form of pride?
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Star Shepherd

May 23, 2013 in , , /by

May 23, 2013 

READ: Ezekiel 34:11-16 

Why do you say, . . . “My way is hidden from the Lord”? —Isaiah 40:27 

In the spring, shepherds in Idaho move their flocks from the lowlands into the mountains. Thousands of sheep move up the passes into the high country to summer pasture.

My wife and I came across a flock on Shaw Mountain last week. It was bedded down in a meadow by a quiet stream—a picturesque scene that evoked memories of Psalm 23.

But where was the shepherd? The sheep appeared to be alone—until a few broke away from the flock and began to wander toward a distant gully. Then we heard a shrill whistle from above. Looking up, we saw the shepherd sitting high on a hill above the sheep, keeping watch over his flock. A mountain dog and two Border collies stood at his side. The dogs, responding to the shepherd’s signal, bounded down the hill and herded the drifting sheep back to the flock where they belonged.

In the same way, the Good Shepherd is watching over you. Even though you cannot see Him, He can see you! He knows you by name and knows all about you. You are the sheep of His pasture (Ezek. 34:31). God promises that He will “seek out” His sheep, “feed them in good pasture,” and “bind up the broken” (vv.12,14,16).

You can trust in God’s watchful care.

— David H. Roper

I trust in God, I know He cares for me
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Though billows roll, He keeps my soul,
My heavenly Father watches over me. —Martin

The Lamb who died to save us
is the Shepherd who lives to care for us. 

ODJ: relative peace


May 23, 2013 /1 Comment/in , , /by

May 23, 2013 

READ: Genesis 13:1-18
 

Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us (v.8).


A 60 year old man, atop a tractor, charged at his 69 year old brother in law who was harvesting hay astride his own tractor. The collision resulted in a damaged tyre and the tractor-crasher’s arrest. One law enforcement official commented, “We’ve responded on prior occasions to calls because of differences between the families.” While it’s a bit unclear what the man hoped to accomplish by confronting and crunching his brother in law, the story shows that family feuds can escalate to ridiculous levels if they’re not resolved.


Abram and his nephew Lot needed to settle a family issue regarding farmland because the area where they lived “could not support both [of them]” (Genesis 13:6). Scuffles broke out between their herdsmen. “Finally, Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us’ ” (v.8). Abram bravely took the first step towards peace, noting the need for harmony since they were “close relatives”.


Humbly, Abram said to Lot, “Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate” (v.9). This offer showed that family relationships were more important to Abram than satisfying his self-interest. Imagine what might have happened if he had left Lot in a cloud of dust, yelling over his shoulder: Get lost, kid. I’m your elder, and I’ve got first choice on the prime real estate around here! Instead, Abram kept his word and allowed Lot to settle in the lush Jordan Valley, while he set up camp in Canaan (vv.11-12).


Abram’s actions show how humility, generosity and selflessness can help us navigate through rough spots with our relatives. Jesus said: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).—Jennifer Benson Schuldt


MORE
Why is it sometimes difficult to make peace with family members? How might a Christian seek peace without becoming a pushover?
 
NEXT
How have the wounds of life tried to break your spirit? How might God be using what happened to make you a more considerate and compassionate person?
 

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ODB: A Missed Lunch

May 22, 2013 in , , /by

May 22, 2013 

READ: John 4:27-38 

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” —John 4:34 

For me, food is more than a necessity—it’s a wonderfully enjoyable part of life! I enjoy sitting down to a well-prepared meal, especially when I’m feeling hungry. I imagine that the disciples were hungry for lunch when they returned to the well where Jesus was interacting with the Samaritan woman. They urged Him, “Rabbi, eat” (John 4:31). His response? “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (v.32), which made them wonder if someone had already brought Him something to eat (v.33).

I wonder if the disciples were so consumed with thinking about food that they couldn’t see past their picnic. They didn’t understand the significance of what was going on at the well. The most important thing to Jesus was “to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (v.34). He was focused on the spiritual needs of this woman who desperately needed what only He could give.

It’s easy to become preoccupied with needs of the moment. But Jesus invites us to get beyond our own interests—our own little “lunch”—to open our eyes to the souls who are searching for answers to their deepest needs.

So, join Jesus at the well, and let Him use you to tell others about the spiritual food only He can give.

— Joe Stowell

Dear Lord, may my eyes be fixed not just on the things
I am interested in, but lift my eyes to see the
needy souls around me. Give me passion for the lost
and the joy of seeing others satisfied in You.

Be hungry to satisfy the needs of others around you. 

ODJ: knowing our place


May 22, 2013 in , , /by

May 22, 2013 

READ: Mark 1:1-8
 

Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of His sandals(v.7).


I recently read of a man who started a church and saw it grow and flourish over the years. But unlike some pastors whose fingers have to be pried from the pulpit, this man began grooming a younger man to take over his church. Why? Because he felt God was calling him to do so. And, at just 51 years old, this healthy, dynamic pastor humbly moved on as his 30 year old protégé took his place.


From this account, and John the Baptist’s example, we see the importance of truly finding our place in life. I don’t mean our purpose or vocation, but the point where we humbly acknowledge God’s sovereignty and preeminence. 


John the Baptist had made a name for himself. “All Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John” (Mark 1:5). But he didn’t let the attention go to his head. Instead he told all who would listen, “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of His sandals” (v.7). John knew his place. It was to be a messenger, preparing the way (v.2)—not the Lord Himself! (v.3).


It’s interesting that John was not fully aware of Jesus’s divine purpose when he made his remarks. In fact his full recognition of Jesus’ divinity would come much later, when Jesus made it perfectly clear to John’s disciples (Luke 7:18-23). At that time He also said that of all people “who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than he is!” (v.28). 


John was great, because he followed God in humility. And now we—part of the kingdom of God—can live out our greatness by humbly serving God and His people.—Tom Felten


MORE
Read Proverbs 15:33 to see what precedes honour. Read 1 Peter 5:5-6 to see what God does as we humble ourselves before Him.
 
NEXT
What is your greatest struggle with humility? How do the examples of John and Jesus encourage you to be humble before God?
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)