Entries by YMI

ODB: Waiting for an Answer

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October 19, 2015 

READ: Psalm 9:1-10 

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

 

When our daughter was 15, she ran away. She was gone more than 3 weeks. Those were the longest 3 weeks of our lives. We looked everywhere for her and sought help from law enforcement and friends. During those desperate days, my wife and I learned the importance of waiting on God in prayer. We had come to the end of our strength and resources. We had to rely on God.

It was on a Father’s Day that we found her. We were in a restaurant parking lot, on our way to dinner, when the phone rang. A waitress at another restaurant had spotted her. Our daughter was only three blocks away. We soon had her home, safe and sound.

We have to wait on God when we pray. We may not know how or when He will answer, but we can put our hearts constantly before Him in prayer. Sometimes the answers to our prayers don’t come when we would hope. Things may even go from bad to worse. But we have to persevere, keep believing, and keep asking.

Waiting is never easy, but the end result, whatever it is, will be worth it. David put it this way: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Ps. 9:10). Keep seeking. Keep trusting. Keep asking. Keep praying.

— James Banks

What’s on your heart that you need to talk to God about today? Will you trust Him and keep praying?

James Banks is an author who has written several books, including Prayers for Prodigals.

ODJ: laying burdens down

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October 18, 2015 

READ: 1 Peter 5:1-11 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (v.7).

It’s documented that children shouldn’t carry more than 10 to 15 percent of their total weight in their backpack. Researchers in Spain assessed the backpacks and back health of 1,403 students aged 12 to 17. They concluded that over 60 percent were carrying backpacks weighing more than 10 percent of their body weight. One in four reported suffering back pain for more than 15 days during the previous year. Other conditions included stress fractures in the back and nerve damage in the neck and shoulders.

How big a burden are we carrying these days? The Bible has an answer to our heavy loads. In 1 Peter 5, the apostle encouraged his readers to humble themselves under their elders, other older believers and God (vv.5-6). One of the ways they expressed their humility to Him was by placing their burdens in His hands: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (v.7).

Peter wanted them to see that worry is a form of pride because it involves taking concerns upon ourselves instead of entrusting them to God. The basis for their “humble handover” was their confidence that Jesus’ shoulders are bigger and stronger and that He’s genuinely concerned for our welfare.

—Marvin Williams

365-day-plan: Acts 8:1-25

MORE
Read Psalms 27:14, 37:5, 55:22 and list some ways we can cast our cares upon God? 
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What burden are you lugging around that’s negatively affecting your spiritual state? What keeps you from humbly handing it over to God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Cross and the Crown

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October 18, 2015 

READ: John 19:21-30 

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11:25

 

Westminster Abbey in London has a rich historical background. In the 10th century, Benedictine monks began a tradition of daily worship there that still continues today. The Abbey is also the burial place of many famous people, and every English monarch since ad 1066 has been crowned at the Abbey. In fact, 17 of those monarchs are also buried there—their rule ending where it began.

No matter how grandiose their burial, world rulers rise and fall; they live and die. But another king, Jesus, though once dead, is no longer buried. In His first coming, Jesus was crowned with thorns and crucified as the “king of the Jews” (John 19:3,19). Because Jesus rose from the dead in victory, we who are believers in Christ have hope beyond the grave and the assurance that we will live with Him forever. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (11:25-26).

We serve a risen King! May we gladly yield to His rule in our lives now as we look forward to the day when the “Lord God Almighty” will reign for all eternity (Rev. 19:6).

— Bill Crowder

Thank You, Jesus, for rising from the dead and that You are alive forever.

To learn more about the crown and cross Christ bore, check out The Mockery and Majesty of the Cross at

ODJ: valued

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October 17, 2015 

READ: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 

May the LORD value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles (v.24).

We anticipated an amusing evening at church. Whether it would be the antics of our own kids or someone else’s, we were confident the child driven event would elicit laughter. Sure enough, laughter rang out, but my husband and I sat stunned and tried to hide our dismay. What had appeared to others as a funny comment had actually been a joke at my husband’s expense. Though we had felt tension with the couple in charge of the programme, the episode exposed the depth of the chasm.

Conflict invariably enters our relationships. The greater revelation of our spiritual maturity is not if we ever experience it, but rather how we handle it. If we don’t understand our identity outside of others’ opinions, then every disagreement becomes personal. This lack of security was the very thing that plagued Saul and caused him to treat David as a threat rather than a son (1 Samuel 18:7-11, 26:25).

But when our identity is rooted in God and His view, then we’re free to love others and work through conflict in a positive way. As Solomon wrote, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones” (Proverbs 14:30, see also 15:1, 29:8). Though Saul was trying to kill him, David gained the victory when he honoured God by sparing the troubled king’s life. David understood that he didn’t have to destroy someone else to feel stronger or more self-assured.

When we understand the meaning of the cross, we value the lives of those who seek to destroy us or our reputations, whether or not they will ever value ours. God’s love compels us to do as Jesus instructed in Mark 12:30-31: love Him with every part of who we are and love others as we love ourselves.

—Regina Franklin

365-day-plan: Acts 7:30-60

MORE
Read Philippians 4:1-2 and consider what Paul was asking Euodia and Syntyche to do. 
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How can we be honest with people in times of conflict while also speaking the truth in love? How can we show respect to others in a practical manner even when we disagree with them? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Rugged Road

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October 17, 2015 

READ: Psalm 25:4-11 

Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

 

A fishing buddy of mine told me about an alpine lake located high on the north flank of Jughandle Mountain here in Idaho. Rumor had it that large cutthroat trout lurked up there. My friend got a pencil and scrap of napkin and drew a map for me. Several weeks later I gassed up my truck and set out to follow his directions.

His map put me on one of the worst roads I’ve ever driven! It was an old logging road that had been bulldozed through the forest and never regraded. Washouts, fallen timber, deep ruts, and large rocks battered my spine and bent the undercarriage of my truck. It took half a morning to reach my destination, and when I finally arrived I asked myself, “Why would a friend send me up a road like this?”

But the lake was magnificent and the fish were indeed large and scrappy! My friend had put me on the right road—one I would have chosen myself and patiently endured had I known what I knew at the end.

There is a faithful saying: “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant” (Ps. 25:10). Some of God’s paths for us are rough and rugged, others tedious and boring, but all are filled with His love and faithfulness. When we come to the end of our journey and know what we then will know, we will say, “God’s path was best for me.”

— David Roper

Father, we don’t see the end of the road, but You do. We trust You for what we can’t see. We know that You are bringing us through it.

Our path may have obstacles, but God will lead us.  

ODJ: know too much

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October 16, 2015 

READ: Genesis 2:15–3:19 

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil” (3:4-5).

I teach for a living, so it may surprise you that I write these words: not all knowledge is good. There are some things that are better not to know. Take scientist Ron Fouchier, who developed a strain of the bird flu that could kill 60 percent of the humans it infected. His research was set to be published before the American government stepped in. Do we really want to give terrorists the recipe for killing us? Fouchier said he simply wanted to see what was possible.

Hmm. That sounds a lot like what got humans in trouble in the first place.

God warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had already experienced the good that enveloped them as they thrived in God’s world. Now Eve reasoned that what she would gain from eating the forbidden fruit would be even better. The serpent told her, “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

Adam and Eve’s wrong choice led to the curse of sin cramming into every crevice of creation. Humans would now die, the first one at the hands of his brother. Lions devoured zebras for lunch. Even the soil was infected by sin (v.17). In a feedback loop from hell, humanity’s constant contact with evil increased our knowledge of it, which enabled us to devise more heinous ways to inflict it upon others.

We can’t avoid all knowledge of evil, but we can avoid the knowledge of all evil. As Paul wrote, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable”—the good things God has provided (Philippians 4:8). By His strength, let’s pursue the beauty and good found in and through Him.

—Mike Wittmer

365-day-plan: Acts 7:1-29

MORE
Read Psalm 101:1-8 to learn where to look and where not to look. 
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What evil do you wish you didn’t know? Give this knowledge to Jesus. Ask Him to cleanse and heal your mind. How will you fix your eyes and mind on what is good today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Keep Up the Good Work

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October 16, 2015 

READ: Matthew 6:19-24 

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. —nkjv Matthew 6:20

 

Poorly installed electric wiring caused a fire that burned down our newly built home. The flames leveled our house within an hour, leaving nothing but rubble. Another time, we returned home from church one Sunday to find our house had been broken into and some of our possessions stolen.

In our imperfect world, loss of material wealth is all too common—vehicles are stolen or crashed, ships sink, buildings crumble, homes are flooded, and personal belongings are stolen. This makes Jesus’ admonition not to put our trust in earthly wealth very meaningful (Matt. 6:19).

Jesus told a story of a man who accumulated abundant treasures and decided to store up everything for himself (Luke 12:16-21). “Take life easy,” the man told himself; “eat, drink and be merry” (v. 19). But that night he lost everything, including his life. In conclusion, Jesus said, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (v. 21).

Material wealth is temporary. Nothing lasts forever—except what our God enables us to do for others. Giving of our time and resources to spread the good news, visiting those who are lonely, and helping those in need are just some of the many ways to store up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:20).

— Lawrence Darmani

In what ways are you storing up treasures in heaven? How might you change and grow in this area of your life?

Our real wealth is what we invest for eternity.  

ODB: Treasures in Heaven

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October 16, 2015 

READ: Matthew 6:19-24 

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. —nkjv Matthew 6:20

 

Poorly installed electric wiring caused a fire that burned down our newly built home. The flames leveled our house within an hour, leaving nothing but rubble. Another time, we returned home from church one Sunday to find our house had been broken into and some of our possessions stolen.

In our imperfect world, loss of material wealth is all too common—vehicles are stolen or crashed, ships sink, buildings crumble, homes are flooded, and personal belongings are stolen. This makes Jesus’ admonition not to put our trust in earthly wealth very meaningful (Matt. 6:19).

Jesus told a story of a man who accumulated abundant treasures and decided to store up everything for himself (Luke 12:16-21). “Take life easy,” the man told himself; “eat, drink and be merry” (v. 19). But that night he lost everything, including his life. In conclusion, Jesus said, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (v. 21).

Material wealth is temporary. Nothing lasts forever—except what our God enables us to do for others. Giving of our time and resources to spread the good news, visiting those who are lonely, and helping those in need are just some of the many ways to store up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:20).

— Lawrence Darmani

In what ways are you storing up treasures in heaven? How might you change and grow in this area of your life?

Our real wealth is what we invest for eternity.