Entries by YMI

ODJ: hospitality to strangers

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December 27, 2014 

READ: Hebrews 13:1-3 

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers (v.2).

In 2011 marine biologists around the globe were fixated on a pod of sperm whales in the North Atlantic Ocean; they had adopted a bottlenose dolphin calf. Jens Krause, a German behavioural ecologist, told one news source that sperm whales have “never been known to mingle this closely with another species”. Apparently the young dolphin had a spinal defect and couldn’t swim fast enough to keep up with other dolphins. But surprisingly, the sperm whales gathered the struggling dolphin into their fold.

The sperm whales modelled in nature what the people of God are to do throughout the whole world—welcome with wide-open arms of love those who are outsiders, gathering them into our communities. The writer of Hebrews charges the church to “keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 13:1). Before we can give love, however, we must be immersed in communities where love is front and centre, where it forms our identity. We must experience love as it’s freely poured into us.

Love must never stay confined within us, though. It should move outwards. “Show hospitality to strangers,” the Scripture says (v.2). This instruction doesn’t carry a simple moral mandate. Rather, these words define the way love works. It welcomes, offers friendship and relationship, tends to others’ needs and takes on others’ burdens. “Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies” (v.3). To feel another’s pain, we must allow them to come in close. We must welcome them into our inner circle.

Teresa of Avila encouraged this kind of biblical hospitality. “Spread love everywhere you go,” she said. “Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” —Winn Collier

365-day plan› 1 John 5:1-21

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Read Hebrews 13:2 again. What strikes you about the possibility of us encountering angels? Why do you think this was included in this passage? 
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Where do you most need hospitality to be offered to you? How does hospitality reflect God’s loving nature? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Out Of Egypt

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December 27, 2014 

READ: Matthew 2:13-21 

Take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt. —Matthew 2:13 

One year when our family was traveling through Ohio on the way to Grandma’s house, we arrived in Columbus just as a tornado warning was issued. Suddenly everything changed as we feared that our children might be in danger.

I mention that story to help us imagine what it was like for Joseph’s family as he, Mary, and their young child traveled to Egypt. Herod, not a tornado, threatened them as he sought to kill their little boy. Imagine how frightening it was for them, knowing that “Herod [sought] the young Child to destroy Him” (Matt. 2:13).

We usually take a more idyllic view of Christmastime—lowing cattle and kneeling shepherds in a peaceful scene. But there was no peace for Jesus’ family as they sought to escape Herod’s horror. Only when an angel told them it was safe did the family go out of Egypt and back home to Nazareth (vv.20-23).

Consider the awe we should feel for the incarnation. Jesus, who enjoyed the majesty of heaven in partnership with the Father, set it all aside to be born in poverty, to face many dangers, and to be crucified for us. Coming out of Egypt is one thing, but leaving heaven for us—that’s the grand and amazing part of this story!

— Dave Branon

Jesus our Savior left heaven above,
Coming to earth as a Servant with love;
Laying aside all His glory He came,
Bringing salvation through faith in His name. —Hess

Jesus came to earth for us so we could go to heaven with Him. 

ODJ: the source of joy

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December 26, 2014 

READ: Psalm 43:1-5 

There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy (v.4).

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your level of joy?

When a friend was asked this question, her reply was “1.” She shared, “I’m happy, living a relaxed life, doing what I want, but I am not joyful.”

Clearly there’s a distinct difference between happiness and joy. Author Oswald Chambers offers this explanation: “Joy is different from happiness, because happiness depends on what happens. There are elements in our circumstances we cannot help; joy is independent of them all.”

So where can we find joy? In God!

The numerous commands to rejoice in Him (Psalms 5:11, 9:2, 32:11, 40:16; Philippians 3:1, 4:4) show that it’s possible for all believers—regardless of temperaments—to experience the joy of the Lord. And because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can rejoice in His attributes as well as His actions during good days and bad days.

The author of Psalm 43 knew this truth objectively, but subjectively he felt sad and discouraged. I’m sure we can all identify with him. Let’s look at what he did to find joy again: firstly, he spoke to God about his circumstances (vv.1-4). But more than simply asking God for deliverance, he asked for light and truth that would guide him to God and His exceeding joy. Secondly, he spoke to his soul (v.5). Preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones described the importance of preaching to ourselves: “Have you realised that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?”

Let’s learn from the psalmist. Preach hope to your soul when your circumstances are speaking of despair. Tell yourself: “Hope in God,” “praise Him again,” for He is “my Saviour and my God!” (v.5). —Poh Fang Chia

365-day plan› 1 John 3:1-24

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Read Luke 10:17-22 to discover what made Jesus rejoice greatly and what could prompt us to rejoice. 
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What brings you joy? What does it mean for you to find joy in the Lord? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: In The Neighborhood

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December 26, 2014 

READ: John 1:1-14 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:14 

It was the buzz of our neighborhood. A famous professional football player had moved in just two houses down from where we lived. We had seen him on television and read about his great skills on the field, but we never thought he would choose to reside in our neighborhood. Initially, our expectations were that we would welcome him into the neighborhood and we would all become great friends. But his life was obviously far too busy for any of us to get to know him personally.

Imagine this: Jesus—the Lord of the universe and Creator of all things—chose to dwell among us! He left heaven and came to this earth. As John says, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Jesus chose to become intimately involved with all who will come to Him. And, even more significant, for those of us who have received His redeeming love, the Holy Spirit has now set up residence in our hearts to comfort, counsel, convict, lead, and teach us.

When you think of the Babe in the manger, remember how special it is that He not only moved into our “neighborhood,” but that He did it so He could bless us with the intimate privileges of His residence within us.

— Joe Stowell

Lord, I’m amazed that You, the greatest One of all,
would take up residence within us! Help us to
treasure the gift of Your presence as our ultimate joy.
Draw us to Yourself to enjoy intimacy with You.

Take advantage of the gift of God’s presence. 

ODJ: the right time

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December 25, 2014 

READ: Luke 4:16-21 

He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor . . . to proclaim that captives will be released . . . and that the time of the LORD’s favour has come (vv.18-19).

In a speech given during the commencement of a newly formed missions agency, my friend—who heads up the ministry—spoke of its mission and vision. He also gave everyone a clear picture of its goals and plans.

Similarly, at the start of His public ministry, our Lord Jesus gave an ‘inaugural message’ in a synagogue in His hometown. He deliberately directed everyone’s attention to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning God’s Anointed One (Luke 4:16-20).

Nearly 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had spoken of the mission of the Messiah: “The LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor . . . to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed . . . to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favour has come” (Isaiah 61:1-2). Isaiah 61 celebrates God’s grace in delivering the Jews from the Babylonian bondage, and proclaims God’s glory in restoring and blessing the Jews after their exile.

After reading this Scripture, Jesus publicly announced that He was the Messiah who had come: “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4:21). Jesus laid out His mission (vv.18-19). He declared that God had sent Him to rescue us (Matthew 1:21), to heal all who are broken by sin (Psalms 34:18, 147:3), to set free those captured by Satan and enslaved in sin (John 8:32-36; Romans 6:6-8) and to restore and bless us (Ephesians 1:3).

Christmas is a reminder that “the time of the LORD’s favour has come” (Luke 4:19). And the apostle Paul reminds us not to reject “this marvellous gift of God’s kindness. . . . Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). —K.T. Sim

365-day plan› 1 John 1:1-10

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Read Matthew 5:3-10 to see the blessings God has given to everyone who receives Jesus as Saviour. 
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God has shown you His favour. Have you received His gift of salvation? If you are a believer, how has salvation in Jesus changed your life? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Smells Of The Stable

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December 25, 2014 

READ: Luke 2:15-20 

They shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” —Matthew 1:23 

A stable? What a place to give birth to the Messiah! The smells and sounds of a barnyard were our Savior’s first human experience. Like other babies, He may even have cried at the sounds of the animals and the strangers parading around His temporary crib.

If so, they would have been the first of many tears. Jesus would come to know human loss and sorrow, the doubts his brothers and family had about Him, and the pain His mother experienced as she saw Him tortured and killed.

All these hardships—and so much more—awaited the baby trying to sleep that first night. Yet from His very first moments, Jesus was “God with us” (Matt. 1:23), and He knew what it meant to be human. This would continue for over three decades, ending at His death on the cross.

Because of His love for you and me, Jesus became fully human. And being human allows Him to identify with us. Never again can we say that no one understands us. Jesus does.

May the Light that entered the world that night cast its brilliance into the deepest corners of our souls this Christmas, giving us the peace on Earth of which the angels spoke so long ago.

— Randy Kilgore

Father, help our hearts to know the
love of Christ and to honor Him
with our unyielding devotion in
this and every season. We love You.

Jesus understands. 

ODJ: the gift

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December 24, 2014 

READ: Luke 2:25-35 

Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people (vv.29-31).

Most people aren’t naturally wired to say they can die in peace. One has to experience something profound to mouth those words! But that’s precisely what Simeon said as he held baby Jesus in his arms. He said to God, “Let your servant die in peace” (Luke 2:29).

The righteous man’s response leads to a question: What exactly had Simeon seen Jesus do? The answer: nothing. There’s no indication that Jesus performed a miracle of some kind at His tender age, nor was there a nativity-like chorus of angels overhead. He probably seemed like an ordinary baby, and little more. Yet Simeon said, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people” (v.30).

So why did Simeon react the way he did? This is explained in part by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. For it was the Spirit that brought Jesus to Simeon and revealed His true identity (the long-awaited Messiah) to the old man (vv.25-26).

What a great reminder that we need the Spirit to help us see Jesus clearly! But, in addition, I think Simeon responded the way he did because he had been faithful his entire life and truly knew God. Luke labelled him as both “righteous and devout”, and being a man of God, he knew that He is good and loving (v.25). So God’s servant would surely be good and loving as well. Because Simeon trusted the Giver, he was able to see the Gift (Jesus) for what He truly was!

In order for us to recognise God’s good gifts, we need to focus not only on the gift itself, but on the character of the One who gives it. And if we have faith in a good, wise and powerful Father, then surely we can trust that whatever He gives will be wonderfully good as well! —Peter Chin

365-day plan› 2 Peter 1:2-21

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Read Luke 11:1-13 and James 1:17 for additional reminders of what kind of provider our great God is. 
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Have you ever received something from God that didn’t seem to be a gift? Was there some way that ‘gift’ did indeed end up being a blessing? What gifts will you praise God for today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)