Entries by YMI

ODB: Chili Peppers

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May 20, 2016 

READ: James 1:22–27 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27

 

“My mother gave us chili peppers before we went to bed,” said Samuel, recalling his difficult childhood in sub-Saharan Africa. “We drank water to cool our mouths, and then we would feel full.” He added, “It did not work well.” 

Government upheaval had forced Samuel’s father to flee for his life, leaving their mother as the family’s sole provider. Then his brother contracted sickle cell anemia, and they couldn’t afford medical care. Their mother took them to church, but it didn’t mean much to Sam. How could God allow our family to suffer like this? he wondered.

Then one day a man learned about their plight. He got the essential medicine and brought it to them. “On Sunday we will go to this man’s church,” his mother announced. Right away Sam sensed something different about this church. They celebrated their relationship with Jesus by living His love.

That was three decades ago. Today in this part of the world, Sam has started more than 20 churches, a large school, and a home for orphans. He’s continuing the legacy of true religion taught by James, the brother of Jesus, who urged us not to “merely listen to the word” but to “do what it says” (James 1:22). “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (v. 27).

There’s no telling what a simple act of kindness done in Jesus’ name can do. 

— Tim Gustafson

 

 

Sometimes the best witness is kindness.  

ODJ: Little Things

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May 19, 2016 

READ: Luke 16:1-18  

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities (v.10).

Reality TV and me? Not a good fit. No one is going to make a reality TV show about my life anytime soon. My life consists simply of loving and caring for my husband and daughters, working at my church part-time, doing some writing and trying my best to love others in my spheres of influence. From the world’s perspective, I’m not worthy of the bright lights.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not important to God or to those around me. I’m firmly convinced that living out the ordinary parts of life is sacred and special to Him. Being faithful in the unseen little things, in obscurity, is important (Luke 16:10). And it’s something God greatly values.

It can be easy to be on our best behaviour when we’re on the big screen, on a stage, out in public, at church or hanging around those who are mere acquaintances. As Jesus pointed out, it’s easy “to appear righteous in public” (v.15). The question is, who are we in private and obscurity? Jesus tells us that if we’re faithful in little things, then we’ll be faithful when we’re given “greater responsibilities”. If God can trust us when no one else is looking, He can rely on us when there are onlookers.

The world is constantly wooing us to conform to its standards, to do the things that will make us popular or famous. But God’s standard of measurement is far, far different. In fact, Jesus’ words to the Pharisees are helpful for us today: “What this world honours is detestable in the sight of God” (v.15).

We may never be celebrities, but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t think of us as shining stars in His universe (Philippians 2:15 NIV). May we follow Him; and as He leads us, may we do the little and the big things well.

—Marlena Graves

365-day plan: Proverbs 4:1-27

MORE
Reflect on Isaiah 57:15. What kind of people does God choose for fellowship? 
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Do you measure yourself and others according to God’s standards or the world’s? What little things will you do to honour God today? Why? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Great Literature

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May 19, 2016 

READ: Psalm 119:97-104 

How sweet are your words . . . , sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

 

Recently I came across an article describing what constitutes great literature. The author suggested that great literature “changes you. When you are done reading, you’re a different person.”

In that light, the Word of God will always be classified as great literature. Reading the Bible challenges us to be better. Stories of biblical heroes inspire us to be courageous and persevering. The wisdom and prophetic books warn of the danger of living by our fallen instincts. God spoke through various writers to pen life-changing psalms for our benefit. The teachings of Jesus shape our character to become more like Him. The writings of Paul orient our minds and lives to holy living. As the Holy Spirit brings these Scriptures to our minds, they become powerful agents for change in our lives.

The writer of Psalm 119 loved God’s Word for its transforming influence in his life. He recognized that the ancient Scriptures handed down from Moses made him wise and more understanding than his teachers (v. 99). It kept him from evil (v. 101). No wonder he exclaimed, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long,” and “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (vv. 97, 103).

Welcome to the joy of loving great literature, especially the life-changing power of God’s Word! 

— Joe Stowell

Lord, thank You for Your Word and its powerful influence in my life. Help me learn to put its truth into practice. 

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to change the people of God.  

ODJ: Jesus the Reconciler

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May 18, 2016 

READ: Ephesians 2:11-18  

[Jesus] made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people (v.15).

I live in a region and neighbourhood that share a tragic racial history. For instance, the daughter of one of my elderly neighbours was part of a civil suit to force area schools to obey federal law and desegregate. As I’ve spoken with my neighbours, I’ve had to grapple with the racial divide in my country, with the many ways people have yet to fulfil God’s mandate to be agents of reconciliation.

Reconciling humans to God and to each other (part of the gospel message) isn’t merely some modern social imperative that is insisted upon by enlightened people. Rather, reconciliation is a central part of God’s mission in the world. We “have been united with Christ Jesus. Once [we] were far away from God, but now [we] have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Jesus “made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people” (v.15).

The Duke Centre for Reconciliation has issued a fantastic document that lays out ten theses for “Recovering Reconciliation as the Mission of God”. The first thesis declares the essential foundation for a Christian vision of reconciliation: “Reconciliation is God’s gift to the world. Healing of the world’s deep brokenness does not begin with us and our action, but with God and God’s gift of new creation.”

Reconciliation isn’t something that we first do—it’s something that is done to us. Jesus brought us back to God, reconciled us—and then (and only then) called us to participate with Him in His grand vision to renew the world.

To reconcile means to bring together what has been severed, to move people from a place of enmity to a place of friendship. In Christ, God has done this for us. In Christ, God has done this for the world (v.18).

—Winn Collier

365-day plan: Psalm 145:1-21

MORE
Read Galatians 3:26-29 and consider how people of all races are one in Jesus. 
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What does it add to your understanding of the cross to recognise that Jesus was enacting your reconciliation with God? How does it expand your vision when you understand that He was also providing for reconciliation among estranged people?  

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Bread That Satisfies

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May 18, 2016 

READ: Luke 10:38-11:4 

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

 

I learned to recite the Lord’s Prayer as a boy in primary school. Every time I said the line, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11), I couldn’t help but think about the bread that we got only occasionally at home. Only when my father returned from his trip into town did we have a loaf of bread. So asking God to give us our daily bread was a relevant prayer to me.

How curious I was when years later I discovered the booklet Our Daily Bread. I knew the title came from the Lord’s Prayer, but I also knew it couldn’t be talking about the loaf of bread from the baker’s shop. I discovered as I read the booklet regularly that this “bread,” full of Scripture portions and helpful notes, was spiritual food for the soul.

It was spiritual food that Mary chose when she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened attentively to His words (Luke 10:39). While Martha wearied herself with concern about physical food, Mary was taking time to be near their guest, the Lord Jesus, and to listen to Him. May we take that time as well. He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and He feeds our hearts with spiritual food. He is the Bread that satisfies.

— Lawrence Darmani

I sit before You now, Lord, and want to learn from You. My heart is open to hear from You in Your Word. Teach me. Feed me.

“I am the bread of life.” Jesus  

ODJ: Tasting Heaven

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May 17, 2016 

READ: Isaiah 25:6-8  

In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet (v.6).

I wrote a book recently about recovering from broken dreams (Resurrection Year). It tells the story of my wife and I being unable to start a family. To our surprise, a TV producer read the book and sent a film crew to make a documentary of our story.

The weeks leading up to filming were intense. There was so much to prepare, and the thought of describing our journey on camera made Merryn anxious. We also felt a little vulnerable entrusting our story to someone else. Would we like what we saw?

The documentary turned out beautifully—particularly the closing scene which centres on a dinner party. You see a silky tablecloth drop gently onto a table. You see delicious food, and glasses are being filled. You see guests arriving and people laughing. You see that life can be good even after a broken dream.

Jesus said He’s preparing a place in His Father’s home for us (John 14:1-4). And Scripture says the first thing He’ll do when He returns is throw us a dinner party (Isaiah 25:6; Revelation 19:6-7). Jesus even gave us a symbolic meal to remind us of that future feast—even as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice (Matthew 26:29).

Every time we remember Christ’s death by sharing the bread and wine of communion, we also catch a glimpse of that great banquet to come. But I think every dinner party we enjoy can be a taste of heaven too. As we lay the tablecloth and cutlery, we remember a place is being prepared for us at God’s table. As dishes are passed and glasses are filled, we catch the aroma of those future delicacies.

And as our guests arrive and the laughter begins, we can sense this: one day, after all the broken dreams of our lives, we will take our seat at a table brimming with joy!

—Sheridan Voysey

365-day plan: Psalm 139:1-24

MORE
Read Luke 14:12-24 to see the unexpected people invited to God’s dinner party. 
NEXT
How could you make daily meals a taste of heaven? How can you echo God’s future banquet by inviting diverse guests to your dinner parties? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Time to Grow

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May 17, 2016 

READ: Galatians 6:1-10 

At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

 

In Debbie’s new home, she discovered an abandoned plant in a dark corner of the kitchen. The dusty and ragged leaves looked like those of a moth orchid, and she imagined how pretty the plant would look once it had sent up new bloom-bearing stems. She moved the pot into a spot by the window, cut off the dead leaves, and watered it thoroughly. She bought plant food and applied it to the roots. Week after week she inspected the plant, but no new shoots appeared. “I’ll give it another month,” she told her husband, “and if nothing has happened by then, out it goes.”

When decision day came, she could hardly believe her eyes. Two small stems were poking out from among the leaves! The plant she’d almost given up on was still alive.

Do you ever get discouraged by your apparent lack of spiritual growth? Perhaps you frequently lose your temper or enjoy that spicy piece of gossip you just can’t resist passing on. Or perhaps you get up too late to pray and read your Bible, in spite of resolving to set the alarm earlier.

Why not tell a trusted friend about the areas of your life in which you want to grow spiritually and ask that person to pray for and encourage you to be accountable? Be patient. You will grow as you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you.

— Marion Stroud

Please give me patience, dear Lord, with myself and with others. Help me to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He shapes my desires and helps me to grow.

Each small step of faith is a giant step of growth.