Entries by YMI
ODB: Delay May Not Mean Denial
December 29, 2014
READ: John 11:21-35
When [Jesus] heard that [Lazarus] was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. —John 11:6
My sons’ birthdays are in December. When they were small, Angus quickly learned that if he didn’t receive a longed-for toy for his birthday at the beginning of the month, it might be in his Christmas stocking. And if David didn’t receive his gift for Christmas, it might appear for his birthday 4 days later. Delay didn’t necessarily mean denial.
It was natural for Martha and Mary to send for Jesus when Lazarus became seriously ill (John 11:1-3). Perhaps they looked anxiously along the road for signs of His arrival, but Jesus didn’t come. The funeral service had been over for 4 days when Jesus finally walked into town (v.17).
Martha was blunt. “If You had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died” (v.21). Then her faith flickered into certainty, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (v.22). I wonder what she expected. Lazarus was dead, and she was wary about opening the tomb. And yet at a word from Jesus, Lazarus’ spirit returned to his decaying body (vv.41-44). Jesus had bypassed simply healing His sick friend, in order to perform the far greater miracle of bringing him back to life.
Waiting for God’s timing may also give us a greater miracle than we had hoped for.
— Marion Stroud
Upon His Word I calmly rest;
In His own time, in His own way,
I know He’ll give me what is best. —Hewitt
Time spent waiting on God is never wasted.
ODJ: audience of One
December 28, 2014
READ: 2 Samuel 6:12-23
I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! (v.21).
As a preacher, I’m rightly concerned with the content of each of my Sunday sermons. I must confess, however, that I can fall into the trap of being overly concerned with what people think of my message—not whether or not the message is clearly understood or whether the people and the Lord Himself are blessed by what I say. I can become more concerned with the goal of having church members like what I say and approve of my message. Sometimes a furrowed brow in the congregation, especially from someone I know and respect spiritually, can seriously interrupt my flow and cause me no small amount of consternation.
In 2 Samuel 6, David didn’t dabble in such self-obsession as he danced “with all his might” before the ark (v.14). His behaviour wasn’t becoming for a king, nor was it in keeping with the character of a mighty warrior. (“Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” the people sang in 1 Samuel 18:7.) Mighty warriors and kings simply didn’t behave so passionately, so exuberantly in front of their subjects. What must his generals have thought?
But David danced before God “with all his might,” because God is worthy of all our worship, and He demands our all. The writer of the great hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” put it perfectly: “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Likewise, in John 7:1-52, we read of Jesus passionately doing what His Father wanted Him to do. His family, the Jews, the multitude and the Pharisees all turned on Him! But He pressed on, despite their sniping words and physical attacks. Only His Father’s opinion really mattered. May that also be true of us as we passionately serve our audience of One. —Russell Fralick
365-day plan› Jude 1:17-25
Read Philippians 1:21 and reflect on what it means to be completely sold out for Jesus and His ways.
How does pride sometimes prevent us from truly worshipping God? Why are we sometimes held back by the opinions of others? What can we do about that?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Is Jesus Still Here?
December 28, 2014
READ: Romans 8:31-39
[Nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38-39
Ted Robertson’s home in Colorado was one of more than 500 destroyed by the Black Forest Fire in June 2013. When he was allowed to return and sift through the ash and rubble, he was hoping to find a precious family heirloom made by his wife—a tiny ceramic figurine of baby Jesus about the size of a postage stamp. As he searched the charred remains of their home, he kept wondering, “Is the baby Jesus still here?”
When our lives are rocked by disappointment and loss, we may wonder if Jesus is still here with us. The Bible’s answer is a resounding Yes! “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
In a corner of what used to be his garage, Ted Robertson discovered the burned remnants of a nativity scene and there he found the baby Jesus figurine undamaged by the flames. He told KRDO NewsChannel 13, “[We’ve] gone from apprehension to hope . . . that we’re going to recover some parts of our life that we thought were lost.”
Is Jesus still here? He is indeed, and that is the everlasting wonder of Christmas.
— David C. McCasland
And earthly joys have flown,
My Savior whispers His promise
Never to leave me alone. —Anon.
If you know Jesus, you’ll never walk alone.
ODJ: hospitality to strangers
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
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?
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
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
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
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
Read Luke 10:17-22 to discover what made Jesus rejoice greatly and what could prompt us to rejoice.
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
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
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.