Entries by YMI

ODJ: not far from us

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November 22, 2014 

READ: Acts 17:24-31 

God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12).

Scientists tell us that the chemical element carbon is the building block of life. Hidden from the naked eye, this vital atom is in everything, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. In fact carbon makes up nearly 20 percent of the human body.

Without carbon, life as we know it wouldn’t exist. But where does it come from? How did it become the chemical backbone for all living things? This is where the amazing observations of peering through a microscope can take us only so far. Such answers can be found only through the lens of faith.

The pages of the Bible faithfully point to the answer. Twenty-seven of its 66 books speak of one Creator God who “made the skies and the heavens and all the stars” as well as the “earth and the seas and everything in them” (Nehemiah 9:6; see also Jeremiah 10:11).

Paul gave the same answer in a speech he presented in ancient Athens. To a group of people who were interested in hearing more about the resurrection of Jesus, Paul declared that the one true God of the universe “made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17:24). Translation: life as we know it, right down to the very carbon atoms we are made of, originates from one Source—the Maker of heaven and earth.

Paul goes on to declare that we’re more than just an elaborate chemistry set to our Creator God. He loves us and knows us. Paul proclaimed that the God who “gives life and breath to everything” is not far from any of us (vv.25,27). Even though He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world, He wants people from all nations to find Him (vv.30-31).

Seek your Maker today. He is there to be found. His handiwork can be seen and His presence can be felt. —Jeff Olson

365-day plan› Romans 8:19-39

MORE
Read Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 4:11 (from the bookends of the Bible) and see the similar things these verses say about God. 
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How have you experienced God’s presence recently? How can you seek Him in a fresh new way today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Dealing With Distractions

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November 21, 2014 

READ: Matthew 13:14-22 

The cares of this world . . . choke the word. —Matthew 13:22 

A restaurant owner in the village of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem, offered a 50-percent discount for patrons who turned off their cell phones. Jawdat Ibrahim believes that smartphones have shifted the focus of meals from companionship and conversation to surfing, texting, and business calls. “Technology is very good,” Ibrahim says. “But . . . when you are with your family and your friends, you can just wait for half an hour and enjoy the food and enjoy the company.”

How easily we can be distracted by many things, whether in our relationship with others or with the Lord.

Jesus told His followers that spiritual distraction begins with hearts that have grown dull, ears that are hard of hearing, and eyes that are closed (Matt. 13:15). Using the illustration of a farmer scattering seed, Jesus compared the seed that fell among thorns to a person who hears God’s Word but whose heart is focused on other things. “The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (v.22).

There is great value in having times throughout each day when we turn off the distractions of mind and heart and focus on the Lord.

— David C. McCasland

O Lord, help me to turn off all the
distractions around me and focus on You.
May my heart be good soil for the
seed of Your Word today.

Focusing on Christ puts everything else in perspective. 

ODJ: encouraging words

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November 21, 2014 

READ: Nahum 1:7-15 

Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news! (v.15).

In the film Saving Mr. Banks, writer Pamela Lyndon (P. L.) Travers reluctantly agrees to allow Walt Disney to bring her beloved character Mary Poppins to the silver screen. Carrying deep emotional wounds, P. L. is controlling and cantankerous—causing the film adaptation of Mary Poppins to be a difficult proposition for all those involved in the production. Unlike her literary character who could magically take flight, Travers—trapped within a cloud of bitter thoughts and memories—almost prevents the film version of Mary Poppins from getting off the ground.

Nahum and the people of Judah struggled under a dark cloud—the deadly threat of the Assyrians (who had destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel). This led to desperate thoughts and a bitter existence. But Nahum received a word from God—an encouraging word. Good news was “coming over the mountains” to lift them up and out of their valley of despair (1:15). God promised to one day destroy the evil empire at their doorstep. But not only would He destroy the Assyrians, He would also preserve His people—making for peace and celebration (vv.12,15).

This good news surely must have lifted the peoples’ spirits and filled their hearts with hope. Nahum, inspired by God, declared, “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (v.7).

P. L. Travers, moved by some lyrics composed for the movie Mary Poppins, found relief from her dark thoughts as she sang “Let’s go fly a kite . . .” in a scene from Saving Mr. Banks. Are you feeling trapped beneath a dark cloud caused by bitter life circumstances? Allow God’s encouraging words to lift your heart today! —Tom Felten

365-day plan› Romans 8:1-18

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Read Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3:19-26 and see how he found light and hope even in the midst of some dark days. 
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What bitter memories and painful circumstances are darkening your world today? What will you do to bring those things to God and claim the encouraging truths found in His Word? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Can You Help?

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November 20, 2014 

READ: James 2:14-20 

Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. —James 2:17 

The administrators of the high school in Barrow, Alaska, were tired of seeing students get into trouble and drop out at a rate of 50 percent. To keep students interested, they started a football team, which offered them a chance to develop personal skills, teamwork, and learn life lessons. The problem with football in Barrow, which is farther north than Iceland, is that it’s hard to plant a grass field. So they competed on a gravel and dirt field.

Four thousand miles away in Florida, a woman named Cathy Parker heard about the football team and their dangerous field. Feeling that God was prompting her to help, and impressed by the positive changes she saw in the students, she went to work. About a year later, they dedicated their new field, complete with a beautiful artificial-turf playing surface. She had raised thousands of dollars to help some kids she didn’t even know.

This is not about football—or money. It is about remembering “to do good and to share” (Heb. 13:16). The apostle James reminds us that we demonstrate our faith by our actions (2:18). The needs in our world are varied and overwhelming but when we love our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus said (Mark 12:31), we reach people with God’s love.

— Dave Branon

Open our eyes, dear Father, to those in need. Allow
us to find ways—monetarily and otherwise—to
help meet those needs. Help us to take the focus off
ourselves and place it on those who can use our assistance.

Open your heart to God to learn compassion and open your hand to give help. 

ODJ: unfair and unjust

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November 20, 2014 

READ: Genesis 39:1-23 

The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly (Psalm 103:6).

At a recent kids’ function, I watched two boys play a jousting game on an inflatable ‘fighting’ ring. Each boy was instructed to stand on an inflated pedestal and use an oversized inflatable pole to knock the other off his perch. The one who fell off first would lose.

Well, in this case, the boys continued jousting after they’d fallen off their mounts. Though the instructor asked them to stop, one boy continued pushing the other backwards, making it appear as if both boys were disobeying authority. The boy being pushed wanted to quit, but he was forced to resist the attack of his stronger opponent.

There are times in life when we’re falsely accused or find ourselves in trouble even when we’ve tried to do the right thing. Joseph could relate. When Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, he replied, “No one here has more authority than I do. He [Potiphar] has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (Genesis 39:9).

But Potiphar’s wife refused to relent and “kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day.” And though Joseph “refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way” (v.10), he landed in prison after Potiphar’s shunned wife fabricated charges against him (vv.17-18).

Joseph’s imprisonment was unfair. But the Lord knew the truth and “was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love,” ultimately making him a favourite with the prison warden and causing everything Joseph did to succeed (vv.21-23).

At times we will be treated unjustly. But as we seek to honour our just God, He will enable us to emerge from trials victorious in His eyes. —Roxanne Robbins

365-day plan› Romans 5:1-11

MORE
Read 1 Peter 2:19 and consider what it says about how God views those who choose to do what’s right. 
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When have you patiently endured unfair treatment and seen God help you rise above the situation? How does knowing that God is just help you to endure the unfair times of life? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Goodbye

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November 19, 2014 

READ: Numbers 11:1-10 

When the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. —Numbers 11:1 

When Max Lucado participated in a half-Ironman triathlon, he experienced the negative power of complaint. He said, “After the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike ride, I didn’t have much energy left for the 13.1-mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. He said, ‘This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.’ I said, ‘Goodbye.’ ” Max knew that if he listened too long, he would start agreeing with him. So he said goodbye and kept running.

Among the Israelites, too many people listened too long to complaints and began to agree with them. This displeased God, and for good reason. God had delivered the Israelites from slavery, and agreed to live in their midst, but they still complained. Beyond the hardship of the desert, they were dissatisfied with God’s provision of manna. In their complaint, Israel forgot that the manna was a gift to them from God’s loving hand (Num. 11:6). Because complaining poisons the heart with ingratitude and can be a contagion, God had to judge it.

This is a sure way to say “goodbye” to complaining and ingratitude: Each day, let’s rehearse the faithfulness and goodness of God to us.

— Marvin Williams

Lord, You have given us so much. Forgive us for our
short memories and bad attitudes. Help us to
remember and be grateful for all that You have
provided. And help us to tell others of the good things You have done for us.

Proclaiming God’s faithfulness silences discontentment. 

ODJ: too much fun?

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November 19, 2014 

READ: Luke 17:20-37 

When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. he people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came (vv.26-27).

In the film Ice Age: Continental Drift, many of the creatures are trying to save the world from imminent disaster. Two possums named Crash and Eddie, however, simply engage in fun and games.

Louis the molehog asks a series of questions about their escapism: “How are you both so happy? Doesn’t it weigh on you that the world might be ending?” At that point, Eddie reaches out his hand, pinches Louis’ nose, and says, “Beep.” Ultimate escapism! They didn’t give a second thought to the reality of the end of the world.

To illustrate a similar escapism mentality of the people who will ignore His imminent return, Jesus used the example of Noah and the flood (Luke 17:27). In the days before the flood (Genesis 6:5-7:5), life was business as usual for most people. Noah, however, spent many years building a huge boat as God had commanded (6:14). The rest of mankind continued with their “human wickedness” and “violence” (vv.5,11). Life went on this way until the day it began to rain and the flood came and drowned everyone but Noah and his family.

By using this illustration, Jesus was warning people against false security and encouraging them to be ready for His return—for there will be no second chances. Some will go to be with Him and others will be left behind (Luke 17:30-35).

Like the escapist possums, many will be having too much fun to be concerned—shopping, playing, partying, celebrating, marrying—blocking out the reality of Jesus’ second coming. One day He will return, however. Let’s make sure we’re personally ready for this reality. And let’s tell others about God’s love and mercy and help them prepare for Jesus’ return! —Marvin Williams

365-day plan› Acts 28:15-31

MORE
Read Romans 13:11-12 and see why it’s important for us to enter fully into the reality of Jesus’ return and to tell others about Him. 
NEXT
What is the plight of those who do not know and follow Jesus? Who are the ‘Crashes and Eddies’ in your life that need to be awakened to the reality of the gospel and Christ’s return? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)