Entries by YMI

ODB: Wonders Of The Heart

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December 10, 2014 

READ: Job 38:1-11 

By You I have been upheld from birth. —Psalm 71:6 

Our heart beats about 100,000 times every day, pumping blood to every cell in our bodies. This adds up to about 35 million beats a year and 2.5 billion beats in an average lifetime. Medical science tells us that every contraction is similar to the effort it would take for us to hold a tennis ball in our palm and give it a good hard squeeze.

Yet as amazing as our heart is, it is only one example of a natural world that is designed to tell us something about our Creator. This is the idea behind the story of a man named Job.

Broken by a series of mounting troubles, Job felt abandoned. When God finally spoke, He didn’t tell Job why he was suffering. Nor did the Creator tell him that someday He would suffer for Job. Instead, He drew Job’s attention to a series of natural wonders that are always whispering to us—and sometimes shouting—about a wisdom and power far greater than our own (Job 38:1-11).

So what can we learn from the complexity of this hardworking muscle, the heart? The message may be similar to the sound of waves coming to shore and stars quietly shining in the night sky. The power and wisdom of our Creator give us reason to trust Him.

— Mart De Haan

Lord, we are Yours, You are our God;
We have been made so wondrously;
This human frame in every part
Your wisdom, power, and love we see. —Anon.

When we reflect on the power of God’s creation, we see the power of His care for us. 

ODJ: using your gift

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December 9, 2014 

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:7 

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all (12:31).

The 2013 film Frozen tells the story of a troubled princess named Elsa who possessed a special gift—the power to create ice and snow. We’re not talking about making iced tea. No—with a flick of the wrist, this princess could unleash a blizzard that would instantly turn a warm summer day into a cold winter wonderland.

But as a young girl, Elsa’s gift nearly resulted in the death of her sister Anna. Scared that she couldn’t control her special ability, the princess chose to hide it and live alone in fear. By the end of the film, however, Elsa discovered that genuine love was not only the key to controlling her powers for the good of others, but it also opened the door to restoring relationships that years of fear and misunderstanding had stolen.

The apostle Paul longed for the young, upstart church in Corinth to make the same discovery about the power of love when it came to their ‘special abilities’ (1 Corinthians 12:1). Apparently questions and misunderstandings over the meaning of “spiritual gifts” had arisen that threatened to drive the young local church apart. Paul reminded them that all spiritual gifts were important and were “given to each of us so we can help each other” (v.7). He wanted them to understand that the highest virtue of all—love—holds the key to the exercising of their gifts and the resolution of the tensions that threatened their unity.

None of us comes close to living up to Paul’s famous description of genuine love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), but with God’s help we can grow into “a way of life” that is “best of all” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Rather than allow fear and misunderstanding to pull us apart, let’s show love; it has the power to knit us together. —Jeff Olson

365-day plan› 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

MORE
Read 1 Corinthians 13:3 and see what it says about the importance of love. 
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How have you struggled with thinking your spiritual gift is less important or more important than others? What fears might be holding you back from exercising your gifts for God’s glory? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Our Life Is A Primer

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December 9, 2014 

READ: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 

You shall teach them diligently to your children . . . when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. —Deuteronomy 6:7 

The New England Primer was published in the late 1600s. Throughout the colonies that would later become the United States, the book became a widely used resource.

This early American textbook was based largely on the Bible, and it used pictures and rhymes based on Scripture to help children learn to read. It also included prayers like this one: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

In Colonial America, this became a way that one generation was able to pass along their faith to the next generation. It fit well with what God wanted of His people, the ancient Israelites, as recorded in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach [God’s commandments] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them . . . when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

As we talk about who God is, what He has done for us, and how He desires our love and obedience, our lives can become primers to the next generation. We can be teaching tools that God will use to help people in their walk with Him.

— Dennis Fisher

Lord, we love You. We want to learn to love
You with all our heart, soul, and strength.
Use our lives and our words to point others to You,
who first loved us.

When we teach others, we’re not just spending time, we’re investing it. 

ODJ: preparing the way

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December 8, 2014 

READ: Luke 1:13-17 

He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children (v.17).

On 21 July 2013, media outlets worldwide held their collective breath as they waited for the birth of the child of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The baby was third in line to the British throne, and so when Prince George was born the next day there was hardly a newspaper or news programme that didn’t herald the announcement front and centre.

A star paid the Creator homage (Matthew 2:9), angels called out in worship, “Glory to God in highest heaven” (Luke 2:14) and shepherds and wise men travelled from afar to give Jesus the glory and gifts that He deserved (Matthew 2:11; Luke 2:15-16). But before Jesus was born, another baby entered the world. That baby grew to be the man called by God to announce His message of repentance and to prepare the way for the coming King. As we read in Luke 1, an angel heralded not only Jesus’ birth, but also the birth of the prophet John the Baptist (v.17). While in his mother’s womb, John leapt with joy as Jesus—while in Mary’s womb—came close to him (v.41).

Later as a man, John began a ministry that paved the way for the greatest King the world has ever known. But while John made his own headlines, he ultimately came to realise the true identity of Jesus and to proclaim that He was the Messiah. All will bow to this King—stars and angels, shepherds and wise men. As Paul wrote, “Christ will be revealed from heaven . . . the King of all kings and Lord of all lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

Christmas stands as a vivid reminder of Jesus’ identity as the King of Kings. May we prepare the way for others to bow before this King as we proclaim His good news this Christmas. —Peter Chin

365-day plan› 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

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Read Revelation 5:6-14 for another powerful image of Christ as King, worthy of all praise and glory. 
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When you worship God, what image of Him do you most commonly hold in your heart and mind? How can you prepare the way for others to hear the good news of Jesus the King this Christmas? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Stones Cry Out

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December 8, 2014 

READ: Luke 19:28-40 

I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. —Luke 19:40 

Every year it seems that Christmas becomes more and more commercialized. Even in nations where the majority of people call themselves “Christian,” the season has become more about shopping than worshiping. The pressure to buy gifts and plan elaborate parties makes it increasingly difficult to stay focused on the real meaning of the holiday—the birth of Jesus, God’s only Son, the Savior of the world.

But every holiday I also hear the gospel coming from surprising places —the very places that so commercialize Christmas—shopping malls. When I hear “Joy to the World! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King” ringing from public address systems, I think of the words Jesus said to the Pharisees who told Him to silence the crowds who were praising Him. “If they keep quiet,” Jesus said, “the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40 niv).

At Christmas we hear stones cry out. Even people spiritually dead sing carols written by Christians long dead, reminding us that no matter how hard people try to squelch the real message of Christmas, they will never succeed.

Despite the commercialism that threatens to muddle the message of Christ’s birth, God will make His good news known as “far as the curse is found.”

— Julie Ackerman Link

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found. —Watts

Keeping Christ out of Christmas is as futile as holding back the ocean’s tide. 

ODJ: better than myself

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December 7, 2014 

READ: Proverbs 27:5-10, 27 

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (vv.5-6).

Charles complained to his friend about some lower back pain. He was seeking a sympathetic ear, but his friend gave him an honest assessment. “Your back isn’t your problem,” he pointed out. “It’s your stomach. Your stomach is so big it’s pulling on your back.”

Would you have been offended if someone said that to you?

Charles shared that he resisted the temptation to be offended. He lost the weight and his ‘back’ problem went away. Charles recognised that “an open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:5-6).

The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than helped by criticism. Truth hurts. It bruises our ego. It calls for change. It makes us uncomfortable.

We need to recognise that true friends don’t find pleasure in hurting us. Rather, they love us too much to deceive us. They’re people who show loving courage by pointing out what we probably already know well—things we’ve found hard to accept and truly address. They tell us what we need to hear and not only what we want to hear.

Author Vaughn Roberts wrote, “There is a certain ‘niceness’ to a friendship where I can be, as they say, myself. But what I really need are relationships in which I will be encouraged to become better than myself. Myself needs to grow a little each day. I don’t want to be the myself I was yesterday. I want to be the myself that is developing each day to be more of a Christ-like person.”

Do you have friends who are helping you grow in Christ? Make an effort to maintain those friendships. They’ll help you become better than today’s version of yourself. —Poh Fang Chia

365-day plan› 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

MORE
Read Ephesians 4:15 to remember the attitude we ought to have when speaking the truth. 
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How well do you take criticism? Why is it vital that you accept hard words spoken in love and speak the truth in love to others? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Johnny’s Race

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December 7, 2014 

READ: Hebrews 10:19-25 

Comfort each other and edify one another. —1 Thessalonians 5:11 

When 19-year-old Johnny Agar finished the 5k race, he had a lot of people behind him—family members and friends who were celebrating his accomplishment.

Johnny has cerebral palsy, which makes physical activity difficult. But he and his dad, Jeff, have teamed up to compete in many races—Dad pushing and Johnny riding. But one day, Johnny wanted to finish by himself. Halfway through the race, his dad took him out of his cart, helped him to his walker, and assisted Johnny as he completed the race on his own two feet. That led to a major celebration as friends and family cheered his accomplishment. “It made it easier for me to do it with them behind me,” Johnny told a reporter. “The encouragement is what drove me.”

Isn’t that what Christ-followers are meant to do? Hebrews 10:24 reminds us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (niv). As we model the love of our Savior (John 13:34-35), imagine the difference it could make if we all set out to encourage each other—if we always knew that behind us we had a group of friends cheering us on. If we took the words “comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thess. 5:11) seriously, the race would be easier for all of us.

— Dave Branon

Help us, Lord, not to think that we can go through
life without others. Cure us of our independent
spirit. Use us to bless others and humble
us to accept encouragement.

A word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up or going on.