Entries by YMI

ODJ: truth from on high

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August 8, 2015 

READ: Matthew 16:13-20 

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v.16).

Albert Einstein challenged long-held views of science with his theory of general relativity— a complicated idea that defied comprehension. Virtually no one could understand it. For instance, in 1919, mathematician Sir Arthur Eddington was asked if it was true that only three people on earth understood relativity. He replied, “Who’s the third?” Good question!

In Matthew 16, Jesus challenged His disciples with the question of who people said He was. They reported that the people believed He was a prophet—perhaps John the Baptist, Jeremiah or even Elijah (vv.13-14). But Peter said something even more astounding, something that perhaps no one else understood at the time, as he testified that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” (v.16). The Saviour responded by telling Peter that this truth had been revealed to him by God Himself (v.17). Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and the Son of God was and is a revelation given from on high!

Sadly, I rarely treat this truth with the awe that it deserves. Over the course of many years, I’ve become accustomed to the saying that “Jesus is Lord” or that He’s the “Son of God”. These are expressions that roll easily from the tongues of mature Christians. But it’s good sometimes to sit back and simply remember what these truths fully mean and express—that they’re nothing short of a revelation of the highest degree. And, yes, they’re something that should fill us with awe and wonder!

A proper response is amazement, much like the centurion at the foot of the cross (Matthew 27:54) or like Mary Magdalene when she first saw the resurrected Jesus on Easter Sunday (John 20:16). May we stand amazed as we consider everything God has revealed to us!

—Peter Chin

365-day-plan: Luke 13:1-21

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Read Matthew 17:1-13 to see another account of Jesus’ identity being revealed. 
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Do you ever find that some of the expressions of Christianity have become cliché for you? How can you prevent this from happening and retain a proper sense of awe as you consider Jesus’ identity? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Unpredictable

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August 8, 2015 

READ: Psalm 46 

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

 

In the 2003 US Women’s Open, the relatively unknown Hilary Lunke secured the greatest prize in women’s golf—and a place in history. Not only did she win the US Open in an 18-hole playoff, but it was also her only professional victory. Her surprising and inspiring win underscores the fact that one of the most exciting things about sports is its unpredictability.

            The unpredictability of life is not always so thrilling, however. We devise and strategize. We make plans, projections, and proposals about what we would like to see happen in life, but often they are little more than our best guess. We have no idea what a year, a month, a week, or even a day might bring. So we pray and plan, and then we trust the God who knows fully and completely what we can never predict. That is why I love the promise of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

            Life is unpredictable. There are countless things I can never know with certainty. What I can know, however, is that there is a God who knows all and loves me deeply. And by knowing Him, I can “be still”—I can be at peace. 

— Bill Crowder

What plans do I need to surrender to God today?

For further study, read It’s Not Fair: Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense at discoveryseries.org/q0719

God’s care is the certainty we take into life’s uncertainties.  

ODJ: teaching lines

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August 7, 2015 

READ: Titus 2:1-15 

Encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example . . . . Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching (vv.6-7).

I overheard my 11 year old son telling his grandmother about one of his classes at school. “On our first day of Studio Art,” he said, “our teacher told us to draw self-portraits. Mine was bad. Everyone’s was bad. The next day she taught us how to use lines, and everyone’s self-portraits improved.”

I took away two things from his words: firstly, teachers play an essential role in helping us learn and develop talents. Secondly, using the appropriate tools helps us to line things up correctly (the eyes, nose and mouth in a self-portrait!) and do what’s best.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul—a teacher and church leader—gave his protégé Titus a list of things he and other leaders should do and teach to other church members:

• “Promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching” (Titus 2:1).

• “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect and to live wisely.” They are also to “have sound faith and be filled with love and patience” (v.2).

• “Teach the older women to live in a way that honours God”, “not slander others or be heavy drinkers” and to “teach others what is good” (v.3).

• “Train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure” (vv.4-5).

• “Encourage the young men to live wisely” (v.6).

• “Be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching” (v.7).

——Roxanne Robbins

365-day-plan: Luke 12:49-59

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Read Exodus 18:20 and consider what Jethro told his son in law Moses to do. 
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Reflect on the role teaching currently plays in your life. Have you kept your heart teachable and open to godly instruction? What is God calling you to do as a teacher of others for Him? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Faultfinders Anonymous

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August 7, 2015 

READ: Philippians 1:1-11 

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more.  Philippians 1:9

 

Like many people, when I read a newspaper or magazine I notice the misteaks in grammar and spelling. (You saw that, didn’t you!) I’m not trying to find errors; they leap off the page at me! My usual reaction is to criticize the publication and the people who produce it. “Why don’t they use ‘spell check’ or hire a proofreader?”

            You may have a similar experience in your area of expertise. It seems that often, the more we know about something, the more judgmental we become over mistakes. It can infect our relationships with people as well.

            Yet Philippians 1:9 expresses a different approach. Paul wrote, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” God’s plan is that the more we know and understand, the more we love. Rather than cultivating a critical spirit and pretending we don’t notice or don’t care, our understanding should nourish empathy. Criticism is replaced by compassion.

            Instead of our being faultfinders, the Lord calls us to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (v. 11).

            When the Lord fills our hearts, we can overlook mistakes, hold our criticism, and love others, no matter how much we know about them! 

— David McCasland

Lord, by Your grace, please replace my critical spirit with Your love and compassion for others.

To err is human; to forgive, divine. Alexander Pope  

ODJ: two questions

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August 6, 2015 

READ: Amos 5:1-20 

Come back to the LORD and live! (v.6).

Adam had eaten of the forbidden fruit and it was now time for him to face the music. God walked through the garden and “called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ ” (Genesis 3:9). Later, when God came to confront Cain for killing Abel, He asked, “Where is your brother?” (4:9). This reminds us that those who reject God are apt to wound others.

Open any of the books of the Old Testament prophets and it won’t be long until you read warnings about idolatry, injustice and the day of the Lord that will call everyone to account. Consider Amos, who begins by lamenting that God’s people “have rejected the instruction of the LORD, refusing to obey his decrees” (Amos 2:4). Such rebellion turns them against each other, and “they trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way” (v.7). This abuse won’t last forever, however, because the “day of the LORD” will come suddenly and there will be no escape (5:18-20). Their only hope is to repent. “Come back to [the LORD] and live!” (vv.4-6).

The prophets repeat this message because it’s exactly what we need to hear. For we often try to ‘play God’, which prompts us to hurt the people who get in our way. Instead, when we submit to God we find it easier to serve others joyfully. Jesus noted this connection between God and others and pointed us to the twofold love command that very rule in Scripture can be reduced to: Love God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).

Scripture’s first sins brought two essential questions. God still asks both questions of us today. Where are you? Where is your brother? God has provided all we need to love and follow Him—may we do so without question!

—Mike Wittmer

365-day-plan: Luke 12:22-48

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Read 1 John 4:7-21 to learn the connection between loving God and loving others. 
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Think of a recent time when you were unkind to someone. How might your actions indicate that something is amiss between you and God? What does love require that you do? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Family Privilege

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August 6, 2015 

READ: John 1:6-14 

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

 

When I was in primary school in Ghana, I had to live with a loving and caring family away from my parents. One day, all the children assembled for a special family meeting. The first part involved all of us sharing individual experiences. But next, when only “blood children” were required to be present, I was politely excluded. Then the stark reality hit me: I was not a “child of the house.” Despite their love for me, the family required that I should be excused because I was only living with them; I was not a legal part of their family.

            This incident reminds me of John 1:11-12. The Son of God came to His own people and they rejected Him. Those who received Him then, and receive Him now, are given the right to become God’s children. When we are adopted into His family, “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16).

            Jesus doesn’t exclude anybody who is adopted by the Father. Rather, He welcomes us as a permanent part of His family. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

— Lawrence Darmani

Thank You, Father, for making it possible for me to be Your child. I’m grateful to be Yours and not to have to worry about whether You will remove me from Your family. I am Yours and You are mine.

Assurance of salvation is not in what you know but who you know.  

ODJ: swearing not to swear

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August 5, 2015 

READ: Luke 6:43-45 

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart (v.45).

A private secondary school has instituted a “no foul language” pledge—only to female students. According to the school’s head teacher, the girls had been using the foulest language. (Hmm, I’m guessing the boys were guilty too!) So they were asked to raise their right hands and say: “I do solemnly swear not to use profanities of any kind within the walls and properties of this school.” So, in essence, the students swore not to swear (to speak profanity).

According to Scripture, no external rule or pledge can fix the smell of foul speech. Jesus revealed that just as people know the kind of tree by the fruit it bears (Luke 6:43-44), so people know whether someone is pure or not by what they say. In this instruction, Jesus uses fruit to define spoken words, not a person’s works: “What you say flows from what is in your heart” (v.45).

The Saviour was pointing out that if you really want to change a person’s speech, you have to go straight to the heart—not start with the mouth. A transformed heart will transform one’s speech. As David wrote, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

We can’t change our words with pledges or by swearing not to swear. We eliminate bad speech by letting the Holy Spirit change our hearts. The transformation begins when we confess Jesus as Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3). It continues as we invite the Holy Spirit to fill us.

And when He does, He inspires us to sing good words about God and His works (Ephesians 5:18-19). We will also begin to thank God for everything, speak in a way that’s gracious and tactful, and use words that are instructive and edifying (v.20, 4:15,29; Colossians 4:6).

—Marvin Williams

365-day-plan: Luke 12:1-21

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Read Mark 7:14-23 to see what Jesus said will defile the heart. 
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What do your words/speech say about your heart? In what ways are you inviting the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and transform your speech? 

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ODB: Chess Master

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August 5, 2015 

READ: Romans 8:18-25 

We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

 

In high school I took pride in my ability to play chess. I joined the chess club, and during lunch hour I could be found sitting at a table with other nerds, poring over books with titles like Classic King Pawn Openings. I studied techniques, won most of my matches, and put the game aside for 20 years. Then I met a truly fine chess player who had been perfecting his skills long since high school, and I learned what it is like to play against a master. Although I had complete freedom to make any move I wished, none of my strategies mattered very much. His superior skill guaranteed that my purposes inevitably ended up serving his own.

            Perhaps there is a spiritual picture for us here. God grants us freedom to rebel against His original design, but even as we do so we end up serving His eventual goal of restoration (Rom. 8:21; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1). This transformed the way I view both good and bad things. Good things—such as health, talent, and money—I can present to God as offerings to serve His purposes. And bad things—disability, poverty, family dysfunction, failure—can be “redeemed” as the very instruments that drive me to God.

            With the Grand Master, victory is assured, no matter how the board of life may look at any given moment.

— Philip Yancey

Father, I’m grateful that in all of life Your purposes are being accomplished. May I learn to have open hands—to accept whatever You give to me and whatever You take from me. Help me to trust Your heart.

When we can’t see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.