Entries by YMI

ODJ: controlled or controlling?

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November 14, 2014 

READ: Proverbs 1:1-7 

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair (v.3).

At the start of this year, a friend of mine made a statement that set the tone for the rest of my year. Nicola remains convinced that ‘control’ is at the root of many of our internal struggles—with self-control being the most challenging to master. We get angry or lose heart when we can’t control people or circumstances. We lack discipline and lose control over our own thoughts, words or actions, and spiral into a self-destructive cycle—hurting ourselves and others.

King Solomon, one exceptionally wise man (1 Kings 4:30), wrote the book of Proverbs as a practical guide for attaining wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:2). Although he probably faced many a battlefield, he also waged a vicious war in his mind and suffered the crushing consequence of a lack of self-control. His 700 wives and 300 concubines were instrumental in turning “his heart away from the LORD” (1 Kings 11:3), and he went on to lose control of much of his kingdom.

Solomon understood that people who lack self-control are like a city with broken-down walls (Proverbs 25:28). They’re lost and will ultimately die in their own foolishness (5:23).

Scripture teaches, however, that those who are not impressed with their own wisdom fear the Lord and turn away from evil (3:7-8). The writer of Hebrews understood that discipline isn’t enjoyable while it’s happening—it’s painful. But afterwards there’s a peaceful harvest of right living for those who learn from it (Hebrews 12:11).

As we approach the end of this year, may we continue to grow by looking to the Word of God and to the Holy Spirit for help in choosing a disciplined, self-controlled life (Proverbs 1:3). —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

365-day plan› Acts 25:1-27

MORE
Read Titus 2:11-14 to see how the revelation of God’s grace can teach us to live self-controlled lives. 
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Don’t wait till the New Year to set a new goal for controlling others less and controlling yourself more. What’s preventing you from starting now and keeping it going throughout next year? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Creeping Christmas?

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November 13, 2014 

READ: Galatians 4:1-7 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15 

I love Christmas. The celebration of the birth of Christ and the beauty and wonder of the season make it “the most wonderful time of the year” for me. In recent years, however, the season has been accompanied by a growing irritation. Every year “Christmas stuff” comes out earlier and earlier—creeping all the way back to early fall.

Christmas used to be limited to December, but now we find radio stations playing Christmas music in early November. Stores start advertising Christmas specials in October, and Christmas candy appears in late September. If we’re not careful, this growing deluge can numb us—even sour us to what should be a season of gratitude and awe.

When that irritation begins to rise in my spirit, I try to do one thing: Remember. I remind myself what Christmas means, who Jesus is, and why He came. I remember the love and grace of a forgiving God who sent us rescue in the Person of His Son. I remember that, ultimately, only one gift really matters—God’s “indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). I remember that the salvation Christ came to provide is both the gift and the Giver all wrapped up in one.

Jesus is our life all year long, and He is the greatest wonder. “O come, let us adore Him!”

— Bill Crowder

Living God, I thank You for the unspeakable gift
of Your Son. Draw my heart to Your own, that my
worship to and gratitude for Your Son will never be
diminished by the distractions of the world around me.

Jesus is our life throughout the year. 

ODJ: joy of faithfulness

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November 13, 2014 

READ: Deuteronomy 28:1-6 

If you fully obey the LORD your God . . . [He] will set you high (v.1).

In early 2014 the attention of the world turned to Sochi, Russia, where Olympic athletes pursued their lifelong quests. Our family loves the Summer and Winter Games—the global pageantry, the athletes’ grit and fight, the goodwill expressed among countries.

Our favourite moments are the individual athlete stories. From the Olympic Trials through the 2 weeks of the Games, we hear tales of athletes who spent years training, who overcame hardship, who became (over years of persistent devotion to their sport) women and men prepared to represent their homeland and compete on the world stage. Hearing the Olympians’ stories, I’m struck by the way so many of them are compelled by the joys of competition, love for their sport and hope for the glory of a medal.

In Scripture, God called His people to a lifelong obedience—a dogged faithfulness of commitment to God’s ways. Moses challenged Israel to “carefully keep all his commands” (Deuteronomy 28:1). God provided these instructions as guides for life. They weren’t fickle whims, but a holistic pattern of living and being.

Yet there was much joy and promise accompanying these commands. For in keeping them, Moses reminded Israel, “you will experience all these blessings” (v.2). Their cities would be blessed (v.3). Their families and farms would be blessed (v.4). They would know abundance (v.5). And to make sure God was clear about the extent of the promised joy to come, Moses concluded with a flourish: “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed” (v.6).

A life of enduring, persistent faithfulness to God requires much and is often difficult. But the path leads to eventual and eternal joy. —Winn Collier

365-day plan› Acts 23:23-24:27

MORE
Read the rest of Deuteronomy 28. How did Moses continue to describe the good that would come from their obedience? What kind of sorrow comes from disobedience? 
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Where in your life do you struggle most with faithfulness to God and the life He’s provided for you? How might joy come as a fruit of saying “yes” to God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Final Picture

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November 12, 2014 

READ: Isaiah 40:21-31 

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things. —Isaiah 40:26 

What started as an empty 11-acre field in Belfast, Northern Ireland, ended up as the largest land portrait in the British Isles. Wish, by artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, is made from 30,000 wooden pegs, 2,000 tons of soil, 2,000 tons of sand, and miscellaneous items such as grass, stones, and string.

At the beginning, only the artist knew what the final artwork was going to look like. He hired workers and recruited volunteers to haul materials and move them into place. As they worked, they saw little indication that something amazing was about to emerge. But it did. From the ground, it doesn’t look like much. But from above, viewers see a huge portrait—the smiling face of a little girl.

God is doing something on a grander scale in the world. He’s the artist who sees the final picture. We’re His “fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3:9) who are helping to make it a reality. Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminded His people that it is He who “sits above the circle of the earth” and “stretches out the heavens like a curtain” (Isa. 40:22). We can’t see the final picture, but we continue on in faith, knowing that we’re part of an amazing work of art—one that is being created on earth but will be best seen from heaven.

— Julie Ackerman Link

While sometimes I think I can see the big picture,
Lord, my heart knows it sees so little. I’m
thankful that You are working out Your beautiful
will in this world, and I can trust You.

God is using us to help create a masterpiece. 

ODJ: the Spirit’s power

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November 12, 2014 

READ: John 16:1-33 

It is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you (v.7).

The effects of an ice storm led to the loss of electricity to my house one morning. Late that night, as we returned home from showering in a nearby leisure centre, we pulled into our street and saw our lights were back on. Yes! We hadn’t realised how dependent we were on electric power until we lost it, and we resolved not to take it for granted again.

The episode reminded me of the Holy Spirit, who is the power of God in our lives. He is God Himself, the third Person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19), and He dwells within all of us who believe in Jesus. We are travelling temples, for our bodies are “the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in [us]” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit baptises us into the body of Christ, joining us with other believers who “share the same Spirit” (12:13) so that we become one united “temple of God” (3:16-17).

The Spirit made us alive when we were dead in sin (Titus 3:5), then sealed us to guarantee that we will persevere to the end (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). The Spirit “shows us God’s deep secrets . . . so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). He groans for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26), and He fills us so we may understand God’s Word and obey (Ephesians 5:18; Philippians 2:12-13).

There isn’t enough space in this article to discuss how He gifts us to serve His church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11,28; Ephesians 4:11), but from the above thoughts we can understand why Jesus said it was better that He leave us and send the Spirit to take His place. It’s easy to take the unassuming yet dependable Spirit for granted, but it’s impossibly hard to live without Him. —Mike Wittmer

365-day plan› Acts 22:30-23:22

MORE
Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 to learn who the Holy Spirit is and what He does for us. 
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Where do you need the Spirit’s help today? Tell Him you’re counting on Him, and don’t forget to include areas you might take for granted. 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Drinking Gourd

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November 11, 2014 

READ: Philippians 2:12-18 

Shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. —Philippians 2:15-16 

Prior to the American Civil War (1861–1865), fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the “Drinking Gourd.” This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.

Both the abolitionists and the “drinking gourd” served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. The apostle Paul says that believers are to shine as “lights in the world” to show the way to those seeking God’s truth, redemption, and spiritual liberation (Phil. 2:15).

We live in a dark world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to shine forth God’s truth so that others can be directed to the One who redeems and is the path to liberty and life. We point the way to Jesus, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

— Dennis Fisher

Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving
me new life. Give me compassion for those who are
still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a light
that points others to You, the Light of the world.

Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus. 

ODJ: small steps

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November 11, 2014 

READ: Acts 6:1-7 

The Twelve . . . said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food programme. . . . Select seven men who are well respected. . . . We will give them this responsibility” (vv.2-3).

Reconciliation. It’s God’s heart for people to be restored in relationship with one another across differences in culture, race and class. This is vital, but sometimes it feels so big that we don’t know where to start.

The answer is to start small.

In Acts 6 we find an issue that was about more than food distribution. It involved a bitter cultural and ideological conflict between Hebraic and Grecian Jews—people who not only spoke different languages but shared other differences too (v.1) The conflict between groups was a recurring problem in the early church, and other accounts can be found in Acts 9, 11 and 22. In light of this the apostles’ decision to place some men in charge of the food distribution seemed woefully inadequate.

But these were Spirit-led followers of Jesus, including Stephen, the first martyr of the church (Acts 7), and Philip, one of the early church’s most powerful evangelists (Acts 8). What’s more their simple efforts to make sure food was equitably distributed minimised the potential for conflict. This paved the way for healing to take place between the two groups.

No reconciliation would have been possible without the practical first step of appointing seven men for the food distribution. In fact, after their installation, the renown of the church spread even further (6:7).

We can take great encouragement from this example. Yes, reconciliation is a difficult pursuit. But it’s also one that can begin with simple acts of generosity, fairness and hospitality. These actions might seem small, but they create an environment where relationships can begin to heal, discussions can take place and—with God’s leading—true reconciliation can occur. —Peter Chin

365-day plan› Acts 21:37-22:29

MORE
Read Luke 19:1-10 to see how Jesus’ seemingly small act of reaching out to Zacchaeus led to the tax collector becoming a force for reconciliation and justice. 
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In what small ways can you begin to lay the foundation for reconciliation in your personal life? How about in your church? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)