Entries by YMI

ODJ: Sarcasm and Sincerity

Jul 19, 2016 in , /by

July 19, 2016 

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:3-13  

You must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart (1 Peter 1:22).

Sarcasm can cause us to laugh. But it can also become a shield. Why open ourselves to rejection when we can make sure that no one ever knows the real us? Ironically, such insincerity actually leaves us more vulnerable.

Some historians believe that the term sincerity comes from the Latin compound, sine—which means “without”, and cera—which means “wax”. In the ancient world, wax was often used to conceal cracks in pottery and buildings. For example, a poor family that couldn’t afford a perfectly smooth stone to seal their loved one’s grave would fill in the gaps with wax. While this looked fine at first, the wax would melt in the summer sun, providing an opening for creatures to enter and do what creatures do. Wealthy families who could buy the best told their craftsman to chisel a door sincerely, or without wax.

Sincerity seems to be essential for the safety of friendship. Only sincere people can have genuine friends. No one opens their heart to someone they can’t trust, but everyone wants to hang around people who are trustworthy. Paul told the Corinthians to open their hearts to him because he had opened his first. “We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part” (2 Corinthians 6:11-12).

Has sarcasm cost you friends? Do you need the “love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and genuine faith”? (1 Timothy 1:5). Let the light of God’s Word reveal the ‘wax’ in your life (Psalm 119:105). Then replace it with the solid substance of sincerity. Real friendship requires that we be real with others. And the Holy Spirit provides what we need to show them “sincere love” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

—Mike Wittmer

365-day plan: John 6:41-71

MORE
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13 to learn how sincerity supplies the foundation for friendship. 
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Do your words provide a safe environment for others? What can you do to earn their trust? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Marking Time

Jul 19, 2016 in , /by

July 19, 2016 

READ: Psalm 25:1–15 

Let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Psalm 25:3 nkjv

 

The military command, “Mark Time, March” means to march in place without moving forward.  It is an active pause in forward motion while remaining mentally prepared and expectantly waiting the next command.

In everyday language, the term marking time has come to mean “motion without progress, not getting anywhere, not doing anything important while you wait.” It conveys a feeling of idle, meaningless waiting.

In contrast, the word wait in the Bible often means “to look eagerly for, to hope, and to expect.” The psalmist, when facing great difficulties, wrote: “O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed” (Ps. 25:2–3 nkjv).

We often have no choice about the things we must wait for—a medical diagnosis, a job interview result, the return of a loved one—but we can decide how we wait. Rather than giving in to fear or apathy, we can continue to “march in place,” actively seeking God’s strength and direction each day.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (vv. 4–5 nkjv).  

— David McCasland

Lord, give me grace to embrace the pauses in my life, and to be prepared to follow Your next command.

Waiting on God is active trust in Him.  

ODJ: Empty Spaces

Jul 18, 2016 in , /by

July 18, 2016 

READ: Ephesians 5:15-20  

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (v.18).

I’m convinced that the Holy Spirit is attracted to empty spaces. Let me explain...

We see Him first, in the book of Genesis, hovering over the formless, empty world (Genesis 1:2). He filled the empty tabernacle with His presence (Exodus 40:34-35; 2 Chronicles 5:11-14). He filled Jesus, who emptied Himself of privilege (Matthew 3:13-16; Philippians 2:5-8). He filled the disciples at Pentecost, empty of pride after getting their view of Jesus so wrong (Acts 2:1-4). We’re to bring our thirsty souls to the Spirit so He can quench them (John 7:37-39). We’re to offer our empty bodies as His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). We’re not to fill our hearts with wine but to fill them with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Spirit just loves to fill a vacuum!

If this is true, then it follows that there’s such a thing as holy emptiness—an emptiness reserved for Him. Sadly, however, my heart is often so full of things that there’s little space left for the Holy Spirit.

Wine isn’t the only thing vying with the Spirit for our emptiness. Pride, greed, bitterness and lust all compete to fill that space. Our worries, anxieties, dreams and plans can consume us, while entertainment, magazines and social media chatter can fill us with empty noise.

Is there space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit? Will we seek to be filled with and yield to His leading?

The good news is that we can.

Confession clears away sin and makes space for the Spirit, and forgiveness removes the blockage of bitterness (Colossians 3:13; 1 John 1:9). Worship empties our hearts of ourselves, and prayer makes space for His voice (Psalm 63:1-4; John 10:27-28).

May we submit to the Holy Spirit today, praying that He’ll pour into our empty spaces.

—Sheridan Voysey

365-day plan: John 6:22-40

MORE
Read Acts 4:8-12 and see the bold message Peter preached as he was “filled with the Holy Spirit”. 
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What’s taking up space in your heart? How will you seek to clear away lesser things and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Misplaced Trust

Jul 18, 2016 in , /by

July 18, 2016 

READ: Psalm 20 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

 

I like watching birds, an activity I developed while growing up in a forest village in Ghana where there were many different species of birds. In the city suburb where I now live, I recently observed the behavior of some crows that interested me. Flying toward a tree that had shed most of its leaves, the crows decided to take a rest. But instead of settling on the sturdy branches, they lighted on the dry and weak limbs that quickly gave way. They flapped their way out of danger—only to repeat the useless effort. Apparently their bird-sense didn’t tell them that the solid branches were more trustworthy and secure resting places.

How about us? Where do we place our trust? David observes in Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Chariots and horses represent material and human assets. While these represent things that are useful in daily life, they don’t give us security in times of trouble. If we place our trust in things or possessions or wealth, we will find that they eventually give way beneath us, as the branches gave way beneath the crows.

Those who trust in their chariots and horses can be “brought to their knees and fall,” but those who trust in God will “rise up and stand firm” (v. 8).

— Lawrence Darmani

Have you ever trusted someone or something and been disappointed or let down? Who or what was it? What do you trust in the most?

In a world of change, we can trust our unchanging God.
   

ODJ: Showing the Way

Jul 17, 2016 in , /by

July 17, 2016 

READ: Genesis 6:1-22; 2 Peter 2:4-5 

I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people. . . . I am sorry I ever made them (Genesis 6:7).

A terrible storm with subsequent avalanches ravaged the Annapurna region of Nepal. The area is a popular one for hikers from around the world, and many were caught out on the mountains, leading to their deaths from the cold or the avalanches. Astonishingly, rescue attempts were hampered as crews were forced to assist new hikers to the area—those who still wanted to challenge the mountains despite the obvious dangers and repeated warnings. The likelihood of more avalanches was great, while high winds and impossible navigation over paths that had simply disappeared made it extremely dangerous.

Noah knew all about warning people of impending danger.

You probably know the story of the great flood and the fact that Noah was found to be righteous in God’s eyes (Genesis 6:9). But the reference in 2 Peter that Noah “warned the world of God’s righteous judgement” shows that he must have been doing something more than just building an ark! (2:5).

It’s clear that Noah was telling the people around him to turn back to God and away from their sin. Peter describes him as a herald—someone telling of God and His right ways to a generation that had been pursuing evil.

Peter used this Genesis account to show how important it was for his own generation to turn back to God. He wanted his readers and listeners to know that God compassionately desires that people turn from their sin and find forgiveness in Him, for His judgement of sin is far more serious than avalanches or storms. Yet many people continue to head down dangerous paths away from God. May we be prepared, as Peter instructed, to lovingly warn others and encourage them to find their rescue in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).

—Russell Fralick

365-day plan: Matthew 14:13-35

MORE
Consider the words of Jude 1:14-15 and what it means to warn and encourage people to turn back to God. 
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How prepared are you to share your faith with others? What will you do today to share God’s good news with those around you? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: An Open Hand

Jul 17, 2016 in , /by

July 17, 2016 

READ: Acts 20:22–35 

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

 

In 1891, Biddy Mason was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Los Angeles. That wasn’t unusual for a woman born into slavery, but it was remarkable for someone as accomplished as Biddy. After winning her freedom in a court battle in 1856, she combined her nursing skills with wise business decisions to make a small fortune. As she observed the plight of immigrants and prisoners, she reached out to them, investing in charity so frequently that people began lining up at her house for help. In 1872, just sixteen years out of slavery, she and her son-in-law financed the founding of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

Biddy embodied the apostle Paul’s words: “I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Paul came from privilege, not slavery, yet he chose a life that would lead to his imprisonment and martyrdom so that he could serve Christ and others.

In 1988, benefactors unveiled a tombstone for Biddy Mason. In attendance were the mayor of Los Angeles and nearly 3,000 members of the little church that had begun in her home over a century earlier. Biddy once said, “The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance even as it receives.” The hand that gave so generously received a rich legacy.

— Tim Gustafson

Who in your life is struggling and could use a little help from you? How can you reach out to that person or family today?

The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance even as it receives. Biddy Mason  

ODJ: New Address?

Jul 16, 2016 in , /by

July 16, 2016 

READ: Philippians 4:5-8 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (v.7).

Move to a new home, or stay at the old address? This question filled my mind for several days as my husband and I discussed the possibilities. A handful of problems were obvious when we toured a prospective home. For instance, a pipe in the basement jutted up from the floor into the middle of a room. And there was an odd odour in the cellar. Still, there were new cupboards and beautiful windows that would let sunlight pour in.

I found myself more and more concerned with the details involved in the deal. What if we couldn’t sell our home? How much would it cost to fix up the new place? Paul’s words to the Philippians diffused my apprehension. He wrote, “Don’t worry about anything . ...Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7). For me, peace was the absence of the constant mental tinkering with our situation. It meant trusting that God would determine the outcome of our plans.

Paul went on to give his ‘top 8’ list of good things to think about. Not surprisingly, none of them included buying and selling a home. Rather, the categories were: what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise (v.8). Purposely filling our minds with good things and mentally chewing on them leaves little room for fear and worry.

It’s normal to spend time considering the weighty things in our lives. A well thought out approach to our basic needs—shelter, food and employment—is wise. But the Bible tells us we don’t have to worry about those necessities. Prayerfully trusting God and filling our minds with good things helps us to gain the right perspective as we make decisions.

—Jennifer Benson Schuldt

365-day plan: Mark 6:14-29

MORE
Read the following verses for some encouraging examples of God’s faithful provision and direction: Exodus 14:29-30; 2 Kings 20:5-6; Luke 2:11-14; and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. 
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Where’s the line between worrying and simply pondering a decision? How might the absence of worry in a person’s life be considered an act of surrender to God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Gift and the Giver

Jul 16, 2016 in , /by

July 16, 2016 

READ: Luke 1:67–79 

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us. Luke 1:78 nlt

 

It’s only a keychain. Five little blocks held together by a shoelace. My daughter gave it to me years ago when she was seven. Today the lace is frayed and the blocks are chipped, but they spell a message that never grows old: “I ♥ DAD.”

The most precious gifts are determined not by what went into them, but by who they are from. Ask any parent who ever received a bouquet of dandelions from a chubby hand. The best gifts are valued not in money but in love.

Zechariah understood that. We hear it in his prophetic song as he praised God for giving him and his wife Elizabeth their son John when they were well past their childbearing years (Luke 1:67–79). Zechariah rejoiced because John was to be a prophet who would proclaim God’s greatest gift to all people—the coming Messiah: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us” (Luke 1:78 nlt). Those words point to a gift given with so much love that it will even “shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death” (1:79).

The sweetest gift we can receive is God’s tender mercy—the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus. That gift cost Him dearly at the cross, but He offers it freely out of His deep love for us.

— James Banks

Jesus, thank You for Your gift of forgiveness and life through You. I receive Your gift with joy.

Jesus is both the Gift and the Giver.  

ODJ: Real Stewardship

Jul 15, 2016 in , /by

July 15, 2016 

READ: Psalm 115:1-18 

The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity (v.16).

Rick Vuyst hosts a local call-in radio gardening show in my hometown. Vuyst, who identifies himself an “entre-manure”, weekly “soils” the airwaves with gardening advice. But don’t let his “cracked pot” puns fool you. If you’re having problems with your lawn or plants, this master gardener can help, often telling listeners who have called in, “Thank you very ‘mulch’.”

Vuyst is a bit of a modern-day example of Adam and Eve. In the beginning of the biblical story, God gave the first couple the task of looking after His amazing creation, starting with the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:15).

Because Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator, we sometimes forget that God’s original mandate for humans is still there for us today. But God didn’t scrap the human stewardship programme after the first couple rebelled, nor did He tell them to get a divorce and ditch the institution of marriage. Biblical stewardship is still in play today, and it doesn’t just happen in gardens and farmlands. It certainly includes agriculture and taking care of the physical world, but it encompasses all domains of life (Psalm 115:16).

Stewardship can happen when we’re in a boardroom negotiating a business merger that saves hundreds of jobs. It can happen in a classroom, as we teach chemistry with dedication and compassion that helps students grow and succeed. It can happen while we’re sitting at a piano, writing music that moves the soul to worship the Creator of all things (v.15).

As theologian Michael Goheen writes, may we be “busy within the creation, developing its hidden potentials in agriculture, art, music, commerce, politics, scholarship, family life, church, leisure and so on, in ways that honour God.”

—Jeff Olson

365-day plan: Matthew 10:16-42

MORE
Read Genesis 1:26-30 and consider what it means to steward God’s creation. 
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How are you using your gifts and talents to bring God to others? How can you be a better steward of what He’s given you on earth? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)