Entries by YMI

ODB: Whose Mess?

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July 29, 2015 

READ: Matthew 15:7-21 

Out of the heart come evil thoughts . . . . These are what defile a person. Matthew 15:19-20 niv

 

“Could they not carry their own garbage this far?” I grumbled to Jay as I picked up empty bottles from the beach and tossed them into the trash bin less than 20 feet away. “Did leaving the beach a mess for others make them feel better about themselves? I sure hope these people are tourists. I don’t want to think that any locals would treat our beach with such disrespect.”

The very next day I came across a prayer I had written years earlier about judging others. My own words reminded me of how wrong I was to take pride in cleaning up other people’s messes. The truth is, I have plenty of my own that I simply ignore—especially in the spiritual sense.

I am quick to claim that the reason I can’t get my life in order is because others keep messing it up. And I am quick to conclude that the “garbage” stinking up my surroundings belongs to someone other than me. But neither is true. Nothing outside of me can condemn or contaminate me—only what’s inside (Matt. 15:19-20). The real garbage is the attitude that causes me to turn up my nose at a tiny whiff of someone else’s sin while ignoring the stench of my own.

— Julie Ackerman Link

Forgive me, Lord, for refusing to throw away my own “trash.” Open my eyes to the damage that pride does to Your natural and spiritual creation. May I have no part of it.

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Most of us are farsighted about sin—we see the sins of others but not our own. 

ODJ: waiting for God

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July 28, 2015 

READ: Habakkuk 1:2-4, 2:1 

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint (2:1).

At 14 I had been wandering from Jesus. But then I turned back to Him and went from a rebellious teenager to His passionately enthusiastic disciple. One night I planned to stay up until God revealed Himself to me. This lasted about 3 hours before I succumbed to tired eyes and fell asleep. The next morning, I was deeply disappointed that a tangible experience with God didn’t take place. For I thought that He would surely respond to the eager expectations of a young girl. Over the years, however, God has revealed Himself to me in many unexpected ways as I’ve surrendered myself to Him.

The prophet Habakkuk also waited for God to reveal Himself (Habakkuk 2:1). Like us sometimes, he openly questioned the Lord’s timing as he became impatient with His seeming hesitation in dealing with injustice and evil (1:2). Just as we might become frustrated at what we perceive as God’s slowness in dealing with all that’s wrong in our world, Habakkuk longed for God to reveal Himself and bring an end to the appalling injustices around him (vv.3-4).

But the Lord did answer Habakkuk and reminded him that the righteous live not by their circumstances but by their faithfulness to God (2:4). He also reassured the prophet that even though it seemed to be slow in coming, justice would be realised at the right time (vv.6-19). And although nothing changed initially, Habakkuk’s faith was renewed by God’s Word and he waited patiently for Him to move (2:3, 3:16).

—Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

365-day-plan: John 7:32-53

MORE
Read Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31 to see more results of waiting on God. 
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Are you waiting for God to intervene in your life? What good things can take place as we wait for Him to move? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Pencil Battle

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July 28, 2015 

READ: Judges 2:11-22 

They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. Judges 2:19

 

As I learned to write my letters, my first-grade teacher insisted that I hold my pencil in a specific way. As she watched me, I held it the way she wanted me to. But when she turned away, I obstinately reverted the pencil to the way I found more comfortable.

I thought I was the secret winner in that battle of the wills, and I still hold my pencil in my own peculiar way. Decades later, however, I realize that my wise teacher knew that my stubborn habit would grow into a bad writing practice that would result in my hand tiring more quickly.

Children rarely understand what is good for them. They operate almost entirely on what they want at the moment. Perhaps the “children of Israel” were aptly named as generation after generation stubbornly insisted on worshiping the gods of the nations around them rather than the one true God. Their actions greatly angered the Lord because He knew what was best, and He removed His blessing from them (Judg. 2:20-22).

Pastor Rick Warren says, “Obedience and stubbornness are two sides of the same coin. Obedience brings joy, but our stubbornness makes us miserable.”

If a rebellious spirit is keeping us from obeying God, it’s time for a change of heart. Return to the Lord; He is gracious and merciful.

— Cindy Hess Kasper

Heavenly Father, You are loving and gracious, and eager to forgive when we return to You. May we pursue you with our whole heart and not cling to our stubborn tendency to want things our way.

First we make our habits; then our habits make us. 

ODJ: what God has done

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July 27, 2015 

READ: Joshua 23:1-14 

You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you (v.3).

Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a summer camp for boys, aged 9 to 12. During that week, the Holy Spirit moved and twelve campers received Jesus as their Saviour. On the last night, one 9 year old boy—who had received salvation during the camp—approached me and said, “You changed my life!” I smiled and replied, “I’m so happy, but God is the One who truly changed your life!” I knew it was God who had done the work in the boy’s heart.

In Joshua’s final words to Israel, we find the well-seasoned warrior, now a “very old man”, pointing to God as the reason for all their victories. “You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you during my lifetime. The LORD your God has fought for you” (Joshua 23:2-3). His focus wasn’t on himself or his accomplishments, but on what God had “done,” what He “will” do (v.5) and the importance of being “careful to follow” God and His commands (v.6).

Successes in life can sometimes cause us to think it’s all about us. We can become prideful and think it was our performance, our abilities, our resources that made good things happen (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). Much like the idolatry Joshua warned the Israelites to avoid in his closing address (Joshua 23:7, 24:15), our self-worship will lead to dreadful destinations.

Instead, as we recognise that it’s God who “fights for [us]” and truly love and worship Him (23:10-11), we’ll find praise for what He’s done rolling off our lips. We’ll humbly acknowledge it’s all about Him! As Joshua stated, “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true” (v.14).

—Tom Felten

365-day-plan: John 7:1-31

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Read Joshua 10:11-14 and consider the amazing things God did to gain victory for His people. 
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What happens when you begin to think your successes are all about you? Why is it important for us to honour and worship God for what He’s done in and 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Checkup

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July 27, 2015 

READ: Psalm 139:17-24 

Search me, O God, . . . and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24

 

It’s that time of year when I go to the doctor for my annual physical. Even though I feel well and I’m not experiencing any health problems, I know that routine checkups are important because they can uncover hidden problems that if left undiscovered can grow to be serious health issues. I know that giving permission to my doctor to find and remedy the hidden problems can lead to long-term health.

Clearly the psalmist felt that way spiritually. Pleading for God to search for hidden sin, he prayed, “Search me, O God, . . . and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). Pausing to give God the opportunity for a full and unconditional inspection, he then surrendered to the righteous ways of God that would keep him spiritually healthy.

So, even if you are feeling good about yourself, it is time for a checkup! Only God knows the true condition of our heart, and only He can forgive, heal, and lead us to a cleansed life and productive future.

— Joe Stowell

Lord, You know me better than I know myself. Search the deepest parts of my heart for anything that is displeasing to You. Cleanse me of my wandering ways and lead me in Your good and righteous way.

God’s work in us isn’t over when we receive salvation—it has just begun. 

ODJ: true success

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July 26, 2015 

READ: Luke 10:1-20 

Don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven (v.20).

What’s your definition of success? People have said, “It’s being happy”, “Reaching my goals” or “Seeing people receive salvation.” One friend said, “Success is God’s prosperity in all areas of my life: spiritual, physical, financial and relational.”

If we define success as achievement, how do we measure it? Perhaps by comparison? For instance, which looks more successful—a church of 30 members or a church of 2,000? A family with three children, a big car and a nice home, or a single mum pushing her newborn in a donated pram? When defined as achievement and measured by comparison, success seems straightforward: the more happiness felt, goals reached, souls saved and prosperity achieved, the greater the success in our lives.

But when 72 excited disciples returned from a mission, Jesus taught them true success: “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” they said joyfully (Luke 10:17). Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!” (v.18). “Don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven” (v.20).

What a radical redefinition of success. Results will come and go. What matters most is that heaven knows your name.

Fruitful lives matter to Jesus (John 15:1-4). Results matter, but they don’t matter the most. Achievement doesn’t define your success and comparison doesn’t measure its quantity. For Jesus, success is relational—it’s having your name written in heaven’s book in God’s handwriting (Revelation 3:5). And that’s a gift to be received from Him, not an achievement to be made (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Success is found in Christ alone.

—Sheridan Voysey

365-day-plan: Matthew 18:10-22

MORE
Read Psalm 37:4 and consider what it says about where true success and fulfilment are found. 
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How often do you compare your success with others? How can you be truly successful today in God’s eyes? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: A Devoted Heart

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July 26, 2015 

READ: 2 Chronicles 17:1-11 

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:32 niv

 

A successful Christian businessman shared his story with us at church. He was candid about his struggles with faith and abundant wealth. He declared, “Wealth scares me!”

He quoted Jesus’ statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25 niv). He cited Luke 16:19-31 about the rich man and Lazarus and how in this story it was the rich man who went to hell. The parable of the “rich fool” (Luke 12:16-21) disturbed him. 

“But,” the businessman stated, “I’ve learned a lesson from Solomon’s verdict on the abundance of wealth. It’s all ‘meaningless’ ” (Eccl. 2:11 niv). He determined not to let wealth get in the way of his devotion to God. Rather, he wanted to serve God with his assets and help the needy.

Throughout the centuries, God has blessed some people materially. We read of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 17:5, “The Lord established the kingdom . . . so that he had great wealth and honor.” He did not become proud or bully others with his wealth. Instead, “his heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” (v. 6).  Also, “he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (20:32).

The Lord is not against wealth for He has blessed some with it—but He’s definitely against the unethical acquisition and wrong use of it. He is worthy of devotion from all His followers. 

— Lawrence Darmani

Giving thanks to God often helps us learn contentment with what we do have. What are you thankful for?

Wealth or no wealth, devoted hearts please the Lord. 

ODJ: whose opinion matters?

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July 25, 2015 

READ: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 

God will give to each one whatever praise is due (v.5).

I carefully crafted a Scripture lesson for my church youth group. After I presented it, a young man in the group said, “I believe you could have done a better job.” I was hurt. But then I recalled a phrase once spoken by someone else in the church: “We call ourselves servants of God, but when we’re treated like one we get upset.”

It’s hard to avoid being affected by others’ opinions of us. A pastor wants to know if his sermons are hitting the mark. A young woman wonders if her ministry is meeting the needs of the poor she’s serving. While personal appraisals can help us improve, they shouldn’t be the primary benchmark in validating what we do.

The apostle Paul had a clear perspective that he was a servant of Jesus. He used the less common Greek word hypêrétês for servants in 1 Corinthians 4:1. This word means an under-rower, a figure taken from the galley ships of the time. In other words, he saw himself as a lowly servant.

As such, Paul didn’t focus on how well the Corinthians or anyone else thought he was carrying out his duties or how popular or unpopular he was. His personal evaluations of his own performance were irrelevant (v.3). What did matter to him was God’s estimation of his service. He concentrated on doing the job God had put before him to the best of his ability. He strove to be faithful: “A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful” (v.2).

Sometimes simple faithfulness to God’s call may not result in big numbers or meeting success markers, so it’s important to fix our eyes on the One we serve—Jesus. The Lord bases His rewards on our faithfulness in simply following Him. And He gives us all we need to do so.

—Poh Fang Chia

365-day-plan: Mark 9:38-50

MORE
Read Numbers 12:7, Colossians 1:7, 4:7 and Matthew 24:45. Notice the key character quality highlighted in these verses. 
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How have the opinions of others affected you recently? What would it mean for you to do your best for God’s glory and leave the results to Him? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)