Entries by YMI

ODB: Unwelcome Visitors

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March 17, 2015 

READ: James 1:2-12 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. —James 1:2-3 

Recently my wife, Marlene, and I received a panicky phone call from our son and his wife. The night before, they had found two bats in their house. I know bats are an important part of the ecosystem, but they are not my favorite among God’s creatures, especially when they are flying around inside.

Yet Marlene and I were thankful we could go over to our kids’ house and help. We helped them to plug the holes that might have been used by these unwelcome visitors to enter their house.

Another unwelcome visitor that often intrudes into our lives is suffering. When trials come, we can easily panic or lose heart. But these difficult circumstances can become the instruments our loving heavenly Father uses to make us more like Christ. That’s why James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work” (James 1:2-4).

We are not expected to enjoy trials or to celebrate suffering. But when these unwelcome visitors arrive, we can look for God’s hand in them and trust that He can use them to make us more like His Son.

— Bill Crowder

Thank You, Father, that You give to us each day what You know is best. We’re thankful that we can trust Your heart, which is kind beyond all measure.

Trials may visit us, but our God is always with us. 

ODJ: what is a koala?

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March 16, 2015 

READ: Jeremiah 29:1-14 

This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers . . . trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name” (vv.8-9).

I recently read an article that lists 12 common half-truths many of us have accepted as facts. Here are a few: peanuts aren’t really nuts (they’re legumes), a palm tree isn’t a tree (it’s a plant) and a koala bear isn’t really a bear (it’s a marsupial). Whether they are of consequence or not, we find ourselves swimming in half-truths.

God’s people found themselves living with a half-truth, and Jeremiah had to send a letter to correct them (Jeremiah 29:1). Word had reached the prophet in Jerusalem that some of the exiled false prophets were predicting Babylon would collapse . . . soon, and that those exiled would be able to return to their homeland. Jeremiah, being the true prophet that he was, felt a pastoral obligation to warn his brothers and sisters against self-delusion. He charged the exiles to get comfortable and pursue as normal a life as possible because their exile was going to be long, not short (vv.5-7). Because God was the ultimate agent of the exile, He would be the ultimate agent of their freedom. Instead of listening to and believing the half-truths of false prophets, they were to wait in humble submission for God’s deliverance (vv.10-11).

To avoid falling into the traps of false teachers and their teaching, we need to expect that some will be deceived (1 Timothy 4:1). Test everything that is said by the truth of the Scriptures and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit; hold to what is good and live God honouring lives (1 Thessalonians 5:21); and continue to submit to God and resist the father of lies and half-truths (John 8:31-32,44; James 4:7). —Marvin Williams

365-day plan: Ruth 2:1-23

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Read 2 Timothy 2:17-18, and learn about New Testament false teachers. What half-truth(s) were they attempting to sell? 
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What lies/half-truths do you see affecting followers of Jesus today? How and why do people accept and live with these false ideas? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: A Good Name

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March 16, 2015 

READ: Proverbs 10:2-15 

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. —Proverbs 22:1 

Charles Ponzi’s name will be forever associated with the financial fraud scheme he elevated to a way of life. After some minor financial crimes and brief times in jail, in early 1920 he began offering investors a 50 percent return on their money in 45 days and a 100 percent return in 90 days. Although it seemed too good to be true, the money poured in. Ponzi used money from new investors to pay prior investors and fund his lavish lifestyle. By the time his fraud was discovered in August 1920, investors had lost 20 million dollars and five banks had failed. Ponzi spent 3 years in prison, was later deported to Italy, and died penniless in 1949 at the age of 66.

The Old Testament book of Proverbs frequently contrasts the reputations of wise and foolish people: “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. . . . He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Prov. 10:7,9). Solomon sums it up by saying, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (22:1).

We seek a good name, not to honor ourselves but to glorify Christ our Lord whose name is above all names.

— David C. McCasland

Lord, You know what is best, and You desire to lead us in paths that are right and good. Give us the courage to trust and to follow You in the way of right living for Your name’s sake.

A good name honors our great God. 

ODJ: incredible claim

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March 15, 2015 

READ: John 10:22-42 

The Father and I are one (v.30).

People frequently leave advertisements on my doorstep for services such as landscaping, gutter cleaning and pest control. One day I found a different sort of pamphlet on my welcome mat—one full of Bible verses, all of which seemed to be correct. The leaflet also identified Jesus in its copy. But as I looked closer, however, I noticed that the words did not describe Him accurately. The publisher of the pamphlet denied that Jesus is truly God.

Jesus confirmed His deity when one of His disciples said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied” (John 14:8). Jesus responded, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” (v.9). To further explain, He said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (v.11). Passing along this information was safe in the presence of His followers, but dangerous in other settings.

In a temple in Jerusalem, a group of people encircled Jesus and questioned Him about His identity. He said, “The Father and I are one” (10:30). His words ignited a murderous spirit in the crowd. “The people picked up stones to kill [Jesus]” (v.31). Facing His enemies, Jesus questioned their violent motives. They explained, “We’re stoning you for . . . blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God” (v.33).

Jesus encouraged His would-be attackers to consider the miracles He had performed. If they wouldn’t believe His words, they could believe His works. For He had restored a blind man’s vision, healed a man who couldn’t walk, walked on water like dry land and miraculously multiplied one lunch to feed thousands of people.

Although Jesus’ accusers refused to believe in Him and even plotted to kill Him, they never disproved His incredible claim to be God. Christ was and is “the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

365-day plan: Ruth 1:1-22

MORE
Read Matthew 1:23 to see what the name “Immanuel” means. Look up John 8:58 to learn about how Jesus’ existence in eternity past testifies about His identity as God. 
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How does Jesus’ claim to be God set Him apart from other spiritual leaders and prophets? What would you say to someone who doesn’t believe that Jesus is God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: God Is Listening

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March 15, 2015 

READ: Psalm 5 

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. —Psalm 5:3 

The day before Billy Graham’s interview in 1982 on The Today Show, his director of public relations, Larry Ross, requested a private room for Graham to pray in before the interview. But when Mr. Graham arrived at the studio, his assistant informed Ross that Mr. Graham didn’t need the room. He said, “Mr. Graham started praying when he got up this morning, he prayed while eating breakfast, he prayed on the way over in the car, and he’ll probably be praying all the way through the interview.” Ross later said, “That was a great lesson for me to learn as a young man.”

Prayerfulness is not an event; it is a way of being in relationship with God. This kind of intimate relationship is developed when God’s people view prayerfulness as a way of life. The Psalms encourage us to begin each day by lifting our voice to the Lord (Ps. 5:3); to fill our day with conversations with God (55:17); and in the face of accusations and slander, to give ourselves totally to prayer (109:4). We develop prayer as a way of life because we desire to be with God (42:1-4; 84:1-2; 130:5-6).

Prayer is our way of connecting with God in all life’s circumstances. God is always listening. We can talk to Him any time throughout the day.

— Marvin Williams

Thinking It Over
What is one major obstacle to developing your prayer life? What changes do you sense God wants to make in your heart so that you see prayer as a way of life?

In prayer, God hears more than your words— He listens to your heart. 

ODJ: face the music

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March 14, 2015 

READ: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 

So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other (v.33).

The wise pastor told his new worship director, “There’s one style of music I hope you never play in our church.” She grabbed a pen and asked, “What is it?” He replied, “I’ll never tell you. If we all insist on getting our own way, we’ll never sing anything.”

Few issues are more controversial in church than music. Some churches solve the problem by providing two worship options, a traditional service for those who prefer the hymns and a contemporary one for those who enjoy newer music.

Marva Dawn warns, “It is utterly dangerous for churches to offer choices of worship styles.” She explains that it divides the church, treats Christians as consumers and robs us of the opportunity to serve our neighbour. We should rejoice when a tune is sung that we don’t like, for that’s an opportunity to deny ourselves for the sake of our brother or sister (Matthew 16:24). When hymn-lovers try to learn a new praise chorus or if contemporary music fans sing an old hymn, both are saying to the other, “This may not be my cup of tea, but I’m willing to make room for you. I’ll sing along for your sake, and the whole church will benefit.” Jesus commanded us to love our neighbour as ourselves. If we’re unwilling to do this during worship, when would we ever do it? (Mark 12:29-31).

God knows there will be variety in our worship services. We have all been created with different tastes, and He says that Spirit-filled believers will sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . . making music to the Lord in your hearts” (Ephesians 5:19). Our great God deserves to be praised by the widest variety of worshippers and styles. Keep your preference, but keep it to yourself. —Mike Wittmer

365-day plan: Judges 16:22-31

MORE
Read Psalm 150:1-6 and see the variety of ways we can worship God. 
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What’s your favourite worship song? What is your least favourite? How can you humbly submit to those whose music tastes are different from yours? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Go-Between

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March 14, 2015 

READ: Exodus 20:18-26 

The people stood afar off, but Moses drew near . . . where God was. —Exodus 20:21 

Imagine standing at the bottom of a mountain, elbow-to-elbow with everyone in your community. Thunder and lightning flash; you hear an earsplitting trumpet blast. Amid flames, God descends on the mountaintop. The summit is enveloped in smoke; the entire mountain begins to shake, and so do you (Ex. 19:16-20).

When the Israelites had this terrifying experience near Mount Sinai, they begged Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (20:19). The Israelites were asking Moses to mediate between them and the Almighty. “So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was” (v.21). After meeting with God, Moses brought God’s messages back down the mountain to the people below.

Today, we worship the same God who displayed His staggering greatness on Mount Sinai. Because God is perfectly holy and we are desperately sinful, we cannot relate to Him. Left to ourselves we too would (and should) shake in terror. But Jesus made it possible for us to know God when He took our sins on Himself, died, and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Even now, Jesus is the go-between for us to a holy and perfect God (Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2:5).

— Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Dear Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life so that I could know God. I worship You as the only one who bridges the gap between God and me.

Jesus bridges the gap between God and us.