Entries by YMI

ODJ: encouraging words

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June 3, 2015 

READ: 2 Chronicles 32:1-8 

“He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people (v.8).

The head teacher of a British primary school wrote a letter to encourage his students after a long and hard week of testing. He said, “The school is proud of you as you have demonstrated a huge amount of commitment and tried your very best during a tricky week. These tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique. The people who drew up the tests do not know each of you. . . . These people do not know you try, every day, to be your very best. Remember that there are many ways of being smart.”

What encouraging words! Encouragement is a powerful tool. This is probably why, like that British headteacher, King Hezekiah gave a brief but powerful speech to encourage his troops during a particularly discouraging time.

In the 14th year of the faithful reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, King Sennacherib moved to seize Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13; 2 Chronicles 32:1). Hezekiah implemented counter-measures, which included concealing water supplies and repairing the breaches in the wall. Then, to infuse his troops with confidence, Hezekiah encouraged them not to be fearful or discouraged (vv.7-8). The king wanted a great reality to wash over their hearts: The Lord is greater than the Assyrian army. Yes, their foes were powerful, but Hezekiah reminded his people that victory doesn’t come from an army’s might—it comes from our all-powerful God.

Do you know people who are facing discouragement, fear and anxiety? Has something robbed them of their peace and joy? Remind them of these truths: God hears our cries, comforts us in our fears, steadies our lives with His powerful hand and is stronger than any enemy. Be encouraged!

—Marvin Williams

365-day-plan: Jonah 1:1–2:10

MORE
Read Isaiah 40:30-31 and see some of the effects of being encouraged by God. 
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When do you tend to get discouraged, and how do you typically respond? How does the reality that God is on your side and fighting for you help your heart to soar? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Something New

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June 3, 2015 

READ: Ephesians 2:10-22 

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 

It was only scrap wood, but Charles Hooper saw much more than that. Salvaging old timbers from a long-abandoned corncrib, he sketched some simple plans. Then he felled a few oak and poplar trees from his wooded property and painstakingly squared them with his grandfather’s broadax. Piece by piece, he began to fit together the old lumber with the new.

Today you can see Charles and Shirley Hooper’s postcard-perfect log cabin, tucked away in the trees on Tennessee Ridge. Part guesthouse, part museum for family heirlooms, the structure stands as an enduring tribute to Charles’ vision, skill, and patience.

Writing to a Gentile audience, Paul told the church at Ephesus how Jesus was creating something new by bringing together Jewish and non-Jewish believers as a single entity. “You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” Paul wrote (Eph. 2:13). This new structure was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (vv. 20-21).

The work continues today. God takes the brokenness of our lives, artfully fits us together with other broken and rescued people, and patiently chips away our rough edges. He loves His work, you know.

— Tim Gustafson

Lord, we can’t thank You enough for Your passionate love for us. Help us to see that You bring us together in this beautiful body of believers known as Your church.

Our rough edges must be chipped away to bring out the image of Christ. 

ODJ: the same Jesus

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June 2, 2015 

READ: Hebrews 13:1-8 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (v.8).

In C. S. Lewis’ book Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children are once again summoned from our world back to Narnia—this time to help Prince Caspian. At first, Lucy is the only one in all of Narnia who can see and hear Aslan—the great lion and creator king of Narnia. Initially she sees brief flashes, but soon young Lucy is convinced that she sees him.

When Aslan finally reveals himself to Lucy, he seems to be bigger than she remembered. He explains to her that his size hasn’t changed, but only her understanding of him.

The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He’s the same Jesus who “existed in the beginning with God” and “created the universe” (John 1:2-3; Hebrews 1:2). He’s the same Jesus who was born a human being (Philippians 2:6-7).

He’s the same Jesus who cared for the social outcasts and stood against the racism and sexism of His day (Mark 1:40-45; John 4:4-42). He’s the same Jesus who calmed stormy seas and performed many other miracles (Mark 4:35-41).

He’s the same Jesus who spent time with shady characters and hung on a cross, dying for our sins (Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:1-9). He’s the same Jesus who stunned the world when He rose from the dead (Mark 16:1-7). He’s the same Jesus who is the Lord of heaven and earth and promises to be with us until He reappears one day to restore all creation to its original goodness (Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 21:5).

Jesus will never change. But hopefully our awareness and understanding of Him has grown and changed and will continue to deepen and expand. The more it does, the more we can embody generous and humble love for the good of others and for the whole world—the same way Jesus does.

—Jeff Olson

365-day-plan: Daniel 6:1-28

MORE
Read 1 John 2:6 and consider what it means to live like Jesus. 
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What are some new insights you’ve recently had about Jesus? How can you better reveal Him and His ways to others? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Feeling Insignificant?

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June 2, 2015 

READ: Psalm 139:7-16 

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 

We are among seven billion people who coexist on a tiny planet that resides in a small section of a rather insignificant solar system. Our earth, in reality, is just one miniscule blue dot among millions of celestial bodies that God created. On the gigantic canvas that is our universe, our beautiful, majestic Earth appears as a tiny speck of dust.

That could make us feel extremely unimportant and inconsequential. However, God’s Word suggests that just the opposite is true. Our great God, who “measured the waters in the hollow of His hand” (Isa. 40:12), has singled out each person on this planet as supremely important, for we are made in His image.

For instance, He has created everything for us to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). Also, for all who have trusted Jesus as Savior, God has given purpose (Eph. 2:10). And then there’s this: Despite the vastness of this world, God cares specifically about each of us. Psalm 139 says He knows what we are going to say and what we are thinking. We can’t escape His presence, and He planned our earthly existence before we were born.

We don’t need to feel unimportant when the God of the universe is that interested in us!

— Dave Branon

 Lord, I look out into the vastness of the heavens and I see the grandeur of Your infinite power, yet You look at me from heaven and see someone You know, love, and care about. Thank You that You find value in me.

 The God who created the universe is the God who loves you. 

ODJ: not what we planned

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June 1, 2015 

READ: Isaiah 55:6-9 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (v.8).

In 1915, Dr. Frank Laubach’s church commissioned him to serve as a missionary in Manila, Philippines, and as a professor at Union Theological Bible College (Manila). When he and another man were being considered for the office of the Bible College president, a vote was held to determine which candidate would win. Dr. Laubach did what he thought honourable; he voted for his opponent. Consequently he lost the election by one vote—his own. He became disappointed, depressed and even questioned God. Yet God used that incident to redirect his life. Eventually Dr. Laubach developed a literacy programme that taught an estimated 60 million people to read.

Sometimes our good plans for our lives and for God’s kingdom don’t come to pass. They don’t turn out to be His perfect plans (Isaiah 55:8). It’s easy to become discouraged and depressed in our disappointment, and we can even become angry with God.

We shouldn’t try to deny our feelings. Like the psalmists, we’re free to be honest with God—to lament and to rage if needed. Let’s face it—pruning can be painful.

Still, by the work of Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit, God reveals that He’s for us. He desires that all of His children flourish. He’s the God of hope who always seeks our best—providing what it means for us to truly flourish even when we can’t see it (v.9).

Our Father is far more generous than we can ever imagine. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Do we believe this is true? It makes all the difference in the world. For as we trust in God, we find that His plans are always best.

—Marlena Graves

365-day-plan: Daniel 5:1-30

MORE
Read Romans 8:31 and consider what it says about why we should always trust in God’s perfect plans. 
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What do you really believe about God’s plans for you? How can you lay your plans before Him and submit to His ways today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Light in the Darkness

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June 1, 2015 

READ: John 12:42-50 

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. v. 46 

During a trip to Peru, I visited one of the many caves found throughout that mountainous country. Our guide told us that this particular cave had already been explored to a depth of 9 miles—and it went even deeper. We saw fascinating bats, nocturnal birds, and interesting rock formations. Before long, however, the darkness of the cave became unnerving—almost suffocating. I was greatly relieved when we returned to the surface and the light of day.

            That experience was a stark reminder of how oppressive darkness can be and how much we need light. We live in a world made dark by sin—a world that has turned against its Creator. And we need the Light.

Jesus, who came to restore all of creation—including humanity—to its intended place referred to Himself as that “light” (John 8:12).  “I have come as a light into the world,” He said, “that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (12:46).

            In Him, we not only have the light of salvation but the only light by which we can find our way—His way—through our world’s spiritual darkness.

— Bill Crowder

How have you seen God’s light displayed in our broken world? In what ways have you shared His light?

Tell us your answers to these questions at www.odb.org.

When we walk in the Light, we won’t stumble in the darkness. 

ODJ: swamped

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May 31, 2015 

READ: Joshua 1:6-9 

Be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them (Deuteronomy 12:32).

Dave gazed at the magnificent network of trails reaching into the Canadian wetlands before him. At the swampier sections, timbers strategically placed between patches of terra firma served to keep hikers dry—in theory.

Several fellow hikers ventured ahead. Every one of them splashed into the cold, murky water. But Dave saw one hiker calmly leaping from log to log till he safely reached the other side. Then the hiker hopped back to where he had started. “How’d you do it?” Dave asked. “Focus!” came the response. He showed Dave how the water was much deeper on one side. Everyone was looking at the deep side and leaning towards the shallow. Inevitably, they overcorrected. Dave tried it and found success!

How we need the right focus in life—Jesus. By His strength and guidance, we can find our way.

As God prepared Joshua to fill Moses’ big sandals, He told him: “Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.” (Moses had received those instructions from God.) Then God said, “Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left” (Joshua 1:7). One implication of this instruction is that there are two primary ways we violate God’s instructions. Bible teacher Haddon Robinson noted that the devil tries to get us either to ignore God’s laws or to add to them. “He knows we can fall into a ditch on either side of the road,” Robinson wrote. And the tempter doesn’t care which side we choose.

We ignore God’s instructions to our peril. But to add to them by creating layers of rules is a spiritually fatal overcorrection. Only by focusing on Jesus do we get to where we want to be—living in healthy relationship with Him and with each other.

—Tim Gustafson

365-day-plan: Daniel 3:1-30

MORE
In Genesis 3:1-6, can you spot how Eve “fell into the ditch” on both sides of the road? (Compare v.3 with Genesis 2:16-17.) 
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Am I willfully violating God’s instructions? Is it possible that I could subtly be adding to those instructions? What needs to change? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Blame Game

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May 31, 2015 

READ: Leviticus 16:5-22 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! —John 1:29 

I’ve been blamed for a lot of things, and rightly so. My sin, failure, and incompetence have caused grief, anxiety, and inconvenience for friends and family (and probably even for strangers). I’ve also been blamed for things that were not my fault, things I was powerless to change.

But I have stood on the other side of the fence hurling accusations at others. If they had just done something different, I tell myself, I would not be in the mess I’m in. Blame hurts. So whether guilty or not, we waste lots of time and mental energy trying to find someone else to carry it for us.

Jesus offers us a better way to deal with blame. Even though He was blameless, He took upon Himself the sin of the world and carried it away (John 1:29). We often refer to Jesus as the sacrificial lamb, but He was also the final scapegoat for everything that is wrong with the world (Lev. 16:10).

Once we acknowledge our sin and accept Christ’s offer to take it away, we no longer have to carry the weight of our guilt. We can stop looking for someone to blame for what’s wrong with us, and we can stop accepting blame from others trying to do the same.

Thanks to Jesus, we can stop playing the blame game.

— Julie Ackerman Link

Help me, Lord, to be honest when I am at fault and to confess that to You—instead of looking for someone else to blame. Thank You for taking my blame on Yourself.

Honesty about our sin brings forgiveness.