Entries by YMI

ODJ: discerning truth

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January 6, 2016 

READ: 1 Kings 2:13-25 

Be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).

In the Shakespearean play Othello, the main bad guy is named Iago. He pretends to be Othello’s closest friend, offering counsel and advice, but all the while Othello, the main bad guy he’s plotting his friend’s downfall behind the scenes. The play is carefully constructed so that it’s impossible for even the audience to grasp the underhanded deceit of Iago until the very last scene. He’s plausible right up until the end, and if his part is acted well, the audience will often gasp when his true nature is finally revealed, for the character’s deception is convincingly hidden by his words and actions.

In 1 Kings 2:13-18, Bathsheba is thoroughly taken in by Adonijah. She suspects nothing dark in his request. What could possibly be wrong with his asking for the beautiful Shunammite woman with the not-so-lovely name Abishag? Abishag had comforted David, Adonijah’s father, in his last days (1 Kings 1:1-4), so surely it would be a service to her and a perfect match for him.

Solomon, however, saw the motivation behind the request. He discerned Adonijah’s ambition behind his desire for the woman who had spent time with the great King David (2:22). It was all about a political power play that would aid Adonijah in his desire to seize the throne. Solomon discerned the truth and saw the rebellion hidden in his heart.

Believers in Jesus should seek to bless and think the best of others, and yet God gives us discernment by His Spirit. Jesus told His disciples to “be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Being as innocent as a dove and as wise as a serpent is not achieved by imitating an Iago character. May God through His Word and Spirit help us to see what’s truly true.

—Russell Fralick

365-day-plan: Genesis 8:1-22

MORE
Look at Peter’s confession of Christ in Matthew 16:13-20 and see what the Holy Spirit revealed to him. 
NEXT
Do you seek God’s wisdom in every situation, or are you content to form judgments based merely on what you see and feel? How can you discern the truth about a difficult issue you’re facing today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Ringing Reminders

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January 6, 2016 

READ: Psalm 37:21-31 

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:24

 

The clock tower at Westminster, which contains the bell known as Big Ben, is an iconic landmark in London, England. It is traditionally thought that the melody of the tower chimes was taken from the tune of “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” from Handel’s Messiah. Words were eventually added and put on display in the clock room:

Lord, through this hour be Thou our guide;

So by Thy power no foot shall slide.

These words allude to Psalm 37: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (vv. 23-24 nlt). Notice how intimately involved God is in His children’s experience: “He delights in every detail of their lives” (v. 23 nlt). Verse 31 adds, “The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”

How extraordinary! The Creator of the universe not only upholds us and helps us but He also cares deeply about every moment we live. No wonder the apostle Peter was able to confidently invite us to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). As the assurance of His care rings in our hearts, we find courage to face whatever comes our way.

— Bill Crowder

Loving Father, thank You that every part of my life matters to You. Encourage me in my struggles so that I might walk in a way that reflects Your great love and honors Your great name.

No one is more secure than the one who is held in God’s hand.  

ODJ: the first witnesses

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January 5, 2016 

READ: Luke 2:8-20;John 20:11-18 

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message (John 20:18).

Who was the first group of people to be invited to see the Christ-child? Who was the first eyewitness of the resurrected Christ?

On these two immensely important events, the birth and the resurrection of Jesus, we notice something interesting about God’s choice of witnesses—truly unlikely people. At the manger, we find shepherds; at the tomb, we meet some women.

During Jesus’ day, shepherds were normally poor, uneducated, uncultured, and considered uncouth. People looked down on them, and their work made them ceremonially unclean to participate in temple activities. Yet God the Father put them at the top of the invitation list for the most important birthday of all time—the birth of His Son!

Similarly, in ancient Jewish culture, women didn’t have much social standing. The rabbis often began temple meetings with the words, “Blessed art thou, O Lord, for thou hast not made me a woman.” Women were all but excluded from public religious life. It was rare that they were taught the Torah, even in private. Yet the risen Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene, a woman once possessed by seven demons (Mark 16:9). She not only saw Him, she heard Him and touched Him. What a great privilege for this woman whose broken life had experienced true healing.

God remembers the lowly. He sees those who society marginalizes, and He lifts them up. The shepherds and Mary Magdalene rejoiced at receiving such grace. Their joy bubbled over, and they shared the good news with others (Luke 2:20; John 20:18).

As we reflect on God’s reaching out to us, we will similarly wonder at His amazing grace. And like the shepherds and Mary Magdalene, may we go and proclaim the good news to others!

—Poh Fang Chia

365-day-plan: Genesis 7:1-24

MORE
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 to see how God’s message reaches those who may appear to be “foolish” and “powerless.” 
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Why is it important for us to see the value in all people—not just the rich, powerful, and famous? How can you share God’s good news with those in your sphere of influence today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Lonely Season

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January 5, 2016 

READ: 2 Timothy 4:9-18 

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:16

 

Amid the pile of post-Christmas mail I discovered a treasure—a handmade Christmas card painted on repurposed cardstock. Simple watercolor strokes evoked a scene of wintry hills livened with evergreens. Centered at the bottom, framed by red-berried holly, was this hand-printed message:

Peace be with you!

The artist was a prisoner and a friend of mine. As I admired his handiwork, I realized I hadn’t written to him in 2 years!

Long ago, another prisoner was neglected as he waited in prison. “Only Luke is with me,” wrote the apostle Paul to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:11). “No one came to my support, but everyone deserted me” (v. 16). Yet Paul found encouragement even in prison, and he wrote, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength” (v. 17). But surely Paul felt the lonely ache of abandonment.

On the back of that wonderful Christmas card my friend wrote, “May the peace and joy and hope and love brought about through the birth of Jesus be with you and yours.” He signed it, “Your brother in Christ.” I put the card on my wall as a reminder to pray for him. Then I wrote to him.

Throughout this coming year let’s reach out to the loneliest of our brothers and sisters.

— Tim Gustafson

What lonely people can I think of right now? Newcomers to town? Prisoners? People in the hospital or in senior living centers? What can I do, no matter how small, to reach out to them?

Reach out in friendship and encourage the lonely.  

ODJ: dead or alive?

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January 4, 2016 

READ: Ephesians 2:1-10 

God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (vv.4-5).

I recently received news that the cancer I’ve been battling off and on for 12 years has returned for the fifth time. So now my wife and I are prayerfully considering treatment possibilities. The therapy employed last time included a bone marrow transplant. And now with that normally last line of defense crossed, my doctor tells me we’re in “uncharted territory.” My lymphoma has continued to threaten to take my life. That’s why I’m glad I already was dead—but am now alive in Jesus.

Let me explain . . .

The apostle Paul wrote, “God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Paul reveals that before I received salvation, I was dead in my sins. My thoughts were filled with rebellion against God, and I was separated from Him. But something amazing happened. By God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit within me, I was reborn. I became alive in Jesus when I believed in Him (v.8).

As a foretaste of what’s to come, I have been raised up with Him and seated in “the heavenly realms” (v.6). Did you catch that? Those who have received salvation in Jesus are in Him and He is in us! His Spirit now dwells within, empowering us to avoid doing things against God’s holy ways (vv.2-3), and comforting us with His presence and the hope we have in Him (Romans 8:10- 11; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

So today, I may be headed into uncharted territory from a medical sense, but my future is safe and secure in Christ. What about you? Today you can choose to move from death to life, from despair to hope. Receive Jesus by faith, die to sin and death, and be made alive in Him! (Galatians 2:20).

—Tom Felten

365-day-plan: Genesis 6:9-22

MORE
Read Colossians 2:13 and consider what it reveals about the work God has done to bring you from death to life in Jesus. 
NEXT
Have you received salvation through Jesus—dying to your sin nature and being made alive in Him? What does it mean for you to have the very Spirit of God alive within you? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Is He Listening?

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January 4, 2016 

READ: Matthew 26:39-42; 27:45-46 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46

 

“Sometimes it feels as if God isn’t listening to me.” Those words, from a woman who tried to stay strong in her walk with God while coping with an alcoholic husband, echo the heartcry of many believers. For many years, she asked God to change her husband. Yet it never happened.

What are we to think when we repeatedly ask God for something good—something that could easily glorify Him—but the answer doesn’t come? Is He listening or not?

Let’s look at the life of the Savior. In the garden of Gethsemane, He agonized for hours in prayer, pouring out His heart and pleading, “Let this cup pass from Me” (Matt. 26:39 nkjv). But the Father’s answer was clearly “No.” To provide salvation, God had to send Jesus to die on the cross. Even though Jesus felt as if His Father had forsaken Him, He prayed intensely and passionately because He trusted that God was listening.

When we pray, we may not see how God is working or understand how He will bring good through it all. So we have to trust Him. We relinquish our rights and let God do what is best.

We must leave the unknowable to the all-knowing One. He is listening and working things out His way.

— Dave Branon

Lord, we don’t need to know the reason our prayers sometimes go unanswered. Help us just to wait for Your time, because You are good.

When we bend our knees to pray, God bends His ear to listen.  

ODJ: stand, don’t fight

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January 3, 2016 

READ: Romans 12:14-21 

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them (v.14).

Cameron, a friend of mine, didn’t share my spiritual beliefs. He openly opposed Christianity and some of its moral tenets. One day in my previous workplace, he led a seminar on domestic violence and used it as a chance to bash the Bible. His “correlation” was illogical and inappropriate. The book that tells husbands to “love their wives as they love their own bodies” and instructs fathers “Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them” does not condone violence in the home (Ephesians 5:28, 6:4).

Happily, a supervisor got to him before I did, or I might have had to apologize for what I said. That same day, however, I lodged a formal complaint with suggestions on how the topic might be approached in the future.

Not much later, I read a letter from a church planter from another country. He told of a group that was placing huge speaker boxes outside their churches in an attempt to disrupt worship and pick a fight with Christians. The minister had one request: “Please help me pray for our people to remember what Jesus taught us and keep the same focus that He did.” His words touched my heart and opened my eyes. Scripture tells us, “Bless those who persecute you” (Romans 12:14). These good people were on the cusp of genuine persecution. I wasn’t anywhere near it.

I thought about the mere annoyance I had faced from one person in our workplace. And I considered the real potential for violence that this church planter’s people faced. The difference was obvious. I asked the Holy Spirit to change my attitude. Then I prayed for God’s peace for that church planter and for those Christians who are a hemisphere away. And I also prayed for Cameron, for he needs Jesus too.

—Tim Gustafson

365-day-plan: Genesis 4:1-16

MORE
Read Ephesians 5:21–6:4 to see Paul’s practical advice for respecting each other in the home. 
NEXT
How do you react when your spiritual beliefs are ridiculed? Do you want to fight? Do you shrink from the situation? How can you let Jesus turn it to good? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: All His Benefits

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January 3, 2016 

READ: Psalm 103 

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Psalm 103:2

 

A recurring difficulty on our journey of life is becoming so focused on what we need at the moment that we forget what we already have. I was reminded of that when our church choir sang a beautiful anthem based on Psalm 103. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (v. 2 nkjv). The Lord is our forgiver, healer, redeemer, provider, satisfier, and renewer (vv. 4-5). How could we forget that? And yet we often do when the events of daily life shift our attention to pressing needs, recurring failures, and circumstances that seem out of control.

The writer of this psalm calls us to remember, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious . . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him” (vv. 8,10-11).

In our walk of faith, we come to Jesus Christ humbled by our unworthiness. There is no sense of entitlement as we receive His grace and are overwhelmed by the lavishness of His love. They remind us of all His benefits.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (v. 1).

— David McCasland

Heavenly Father, we pause to consider all we have in You. Grant us eyes to see Your provision and help us to remember every benefit You have given to us.

Love was when God became a man.