Entries by YMI
ODB: City Of Refuge
August 1, 2014
READ: Psalm 59:10-17
I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. —Psalm 59:16
As we entered a town in Australia, we were greeted by a sign that declared: “We welcome all who are seeking refuge and asylum.” This kind of welcome seems to resonate with the Old Testament concept of the cities of refuge. In the Old Testament era, cities of refuge (Num. 35:6) were established to be a safe haven for people who had accidentally killed someone and were needing protection. God had the people establish such cities to provide that refuge.
This concept, however, was not intended to be simply a practice for ancient Israel. More than that, cities of refuge reflected the heart of God for all people. He Himself longs to be our safe haven and our city of refuge in the failures, heartaches, and losses of life. We read in Psalm 59:16-17, “I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.”
For the hurting heart of every generation, our “city of refuge” is not a place. Our city of refuge is a Person—the God who loves us with an everlasting love. May we find our refuge and rest in Him.
— Bill Crowder
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul. —Cushing
Refuge can be found in the Rock of Ages.
ODJ: one diverse family
August 1, 2014
READ: Acts 2:37-47
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (v.42).
A question I often hear (and also ask myself) regarding diversity is this: “God calls us to reach out to those who are different from us, but how far are we supposed to go?” Is it enough to serve and minister to people who are different, or are we called to do more?
Acts 2 is a wonderful guide for us. It seems on the surface that there are two separate and distinct accounts in the chapter. But as we view them together, we gain insight about what happened on Pentecost. Firstly, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and enabled them to speak in the languages of the people from various regions gathered in Jerusalem (vv.3-6). The people were amazed to hear the believers speaking their languages and to hear the message that Peter preached (vv.14-40). In turn, 3,000 of them “believed what Peter said [and] were baptised and added to the church that day” (v.41). What took place reveals God’s heart of love for people of all lands and languages.
But that’s not the end of the story, because the new believers didn’t simply go their separate ways. They became part of the church and began doing everything together: worshipping, eating and sharing their possessions with one another (vv.42-47). This is the full story of the Pentecost—not simply that 3,000 diverse people were baptised, but that they were baptised into the church—they became brothers and sisters in the diverse family of God.
What a challenge this is for me to realise that God’s heart for diversity doesn’t just mean ministering or serving those who are different. It means to be in true relationship with others, to share our lives together and to see believers who are different from me as family members in the body of Christ. —Peter Chin
365-day plan› Luke 10:25-42
Read Acts 8:26-40 and 10:1-48 to see how far the diversity of the church eventually extended.
How might God be calling you to reach out to believers in Jesus who are different from you? How can you encourage the church to reach out to all people?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Just As I Am
July 31, 2014
READ: Isaiah 55:1-7
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live. —Isaiah 55:3
Good memories flooded my mind as I sat in a concert. The group’s leader had just introduced the song they were about to sing: “Just As I Am.” I remembered how years ago at the end of his sermons my pastor would ask people to come forward while we sang that song, indicating they would like to receive the forgiveness Christ offers for their sins.
But the leader of the musical group at the concert suggested another occasion when we might sing this song. He commented that he likes to think that when he dies and goes to meet the Lord one day, he will sing in thanks to Him:
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Years before writing this song, Charlotte Elliott asked a minister how she might find the Lord. He told her, “Just come to Him as you are.” She did, and later during a discouraging time of illness, she wrote this hymn about the day she came to Christ and He forgave her sin.
In His Word, the Lord encourages us to seek Him: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isa. 55:6). He calls to our hearts: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters . . . . Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live” (vv.1,3).
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can come to Him right now and will one day go into eternity to be with Him forever. Just as I am . . . I come!
— Anne Cetas
Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. —Revelation 22:17
ODJ: blameless
July 31, 2014
READ: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-10
We are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us (2 Corinthians 2:17).
Pastor guilty of bilking money from elderly woman . . . Church elder convicted of accounting fraud . . . Pastor of megachurch accused of financial misappropriation.
Headlines like these tell of an insidious sin that has plagued the church since it began (Acts 5:1-5; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5).
As a minister of the gospel, the apostle Paul was careful to ensure that his conduct and motives were completely above board. He emphasised the necessity and priority of transparency, sincerity, honesty and integrity in his life and ministry. Careful not to be accused of being a fraud who profited monetarily from the church, Paul made sure that his message wasn’t faulty, his motives weren’t impure and his methods weren’t improper. How did he do this?
Firstly, Paul made himself fully accountable to other believers. He made his life an open book. “You can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery” (1 Thessalonians 2:3), he wrote. More importantly, Paul knew he was accountable to God who had entrusted him to preach the good news. Paul’s singular purpose was “to please God” (v.4). There is no pretending, for God “alone examines the motives of our hearts” (v.4). Paul could say with confidence, “God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!” (v.5). Elsewhere, Paul wrote, “We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
Like Paul, may we be able to say, “You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless towards all of you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:10). —K.T. Sim
365-day plan› Luke 10:1-24
Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, Ephesians 5:3-5 and 1 Peter 5:2 to see the standards of integrity for Christian leaders.
How can you encourage the leaders—and others—in your church to pursue a blameless life? How has God been using you as a leader for His glory?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Family Trademarks
July 30, 2014
READ: 1 John 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7
The Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, are known for their beautiful sweaters. Patterns are woven into the fabric using sheep’s wool to craft the garments. Many of them relate to the culture and folklore of these small islands, but some are more personal. Each family on the islands has its own trademark pattern, which is so distinctive that if a fisherman were to drown it is said that he could be identified simply by examining his sweater for the family trademark.
In John’s first letter, the apostle describes things that are to be trademarks of those who are members of God’s family. In 1 John 3:1, John affirms that we are indeed part of God’s family by saying, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” He then describes the trademarks of those who are the children of God, including, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (4:7).
Because “love is of God,” the chief way to reflect the heart of the Father is by displaying the love that characterizes Him. May we allow His love to reach out to others through us—for love is one of our family trademarks.
— Bill Crowder
that others might see Your love reflected in my
care and concern for them. May Your love
drive and dominate my responses to life and to others.
Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Christ.
ODJ: when bad guys win
July 30, 2014
READ: Psalm 37:1-40
Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes (v.7).
How do you feel when you play by the rules, but the cheaters win? Not pleasant, huh? But things like that happen in life—sometimes bad guys win and the good guys suffer.
David knew all about this reality. On two occasions he did the right thing by sparing Saul’s life, only to see Saul return to his comfortable palace while he had only a cold cave to call home.
Can you relate? Perhaps you have a colleague who never gets any work done, but is adept at putting on a good show in front of the boss. That individual may have even received a promotion over you—the faithful one. So what do we do when bad guys win and the good guys suffer?
In Psalm 37 David tells us three times to fret not (Psalm 37:1,7-8 ESV). The Hebrew word for fret means “to burn”. In other words, “Don’t work yourself into a slow burn when you see evil men getting away with their schemes.” Instead, trust God and continue to do good (v.3). Trust that God will act in His time and way (vv.5,7). God loves justice and He will right all wrongs one day (v.28).
“Have you ever noticed in the book of Revelation how God lets wicked Babylon go on in sensuality and wealth until the last hour?” a Bible commentator writes. “Then in one day, in one hour, her judgement falls (Revelation 18:8,10,17,19). Right up to the eleventh hour it looks like wickedness triumphs. Don’t be fooled! In that final hour, God will act on behalf of His saints (vv.20,24).”
And today, God continuously “rescues”, “helps” and “saves” (Psalm 37:39-40). Note the present tense used in these verses. It points to the truth that God is with us in our trials—even when the bad guys win. —Poh Fang Chia
365-day plan› John 8:21-59
Read Psalm 36 and see how it fits with the message of Psalm 37.
What good should you continue to do in your present trials? (Psalm 37:3,27). Why does God allow bad guys to win sometimes?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Confident Access
July 29, 2014
READ: Hebrews 4:14-16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island located about a half-mile off the coast of Normandy, France. For centuries it has been the site of an abbey and monastery that has attracted religious pilgrims. Until the construction of a causeway, it was notorious for its dangerous access that resulted in the death of some pilgrims. At low tide it is encompassed by sand banks, and at high tide it is surrounded by water. Accessing the island was a cause for fear.
Access to God for Old Testament Jews was also a cause for fear. When God thundered on Mt. Sinai, the people feared approaching Him (Ex. 19:10-16). And when access to God was granted through the high priest, specific instructions had to be followed (Lev. 16:1-34). Accidentally touching the ark of the covenant, which represented the holy presence of God, would result in death (see 2 Sam. 6:7-8).
But because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can now approach God without fear. God’s penalty for sin has been satisfied, and we are invited into God’s presence: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace” (Heb. 4:16).
Because of Jesus we can come to God through prayer anywhere, anytime.
— Dennis Fisher
God’s throne of grace and power,
There to obtain delivering grace
In every needy hour. —Watts
Through prayer, we have instant access to our Father.