Entries by YMI

ODB: True Loyalty

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July 15, 2014 

READ: 2 Corinthians 11:23-31 

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. —2 Corinthians 11:30 

By one estimate, more than 14 trillion frequent-flyer miles have been accumulated by people worldwide. It all started in the early 1980s, when airlines began the first frequent-flyer programs to encourage repeat business by rewarding customers for their loyalty. Accumulated miles could be redeemed for free travel, goods, and services, so it wasn’t long before people began planning their travel based as much on personal reward as on price or schedule.

The apostle Paul was an avid first-century traveler, but he wasn’t in it for the “frequent-sailor miles.” His goal was to reach as many people as he could with the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus. When some people in the city of Corinth questioned his authority, he wrote a letter describing the price he had paid to bring the gospel to others: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep” (2 Cor. 11:25). God gave Paul the grace and endurance to risk his life to tell people about Jesus with no thought of personal gain.

Whether we receive persecution or praise for our service to the Lord, may our focus always be loyalty to Him and gratitude for His sacrifice of love.

— David C. McCasland

I am Yours, Lord, yet teach me all it means,
All it involves of love and loyalty,
Of holy service, full and glad,
In unreserved obedience to Thee! —Bennett

Our loyalty to Jesus grows from His love for us. 

ODJ: one

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July 15, 2014 

READ: Ephesians 4:1-6 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love (v.2).

Have you ever wanted to take a quick peek at someone else’s mail? Maybe it was an envelope from a doctor’s office that held the results of a family member’s recent medical tests. Or perhaps it was a letter addressed to your parents from an estranged family member. As you held the envelope in your hands, the temptation to open it might have felt overwhelming.
In the country where I live, a person can go to prison for tampering with another’s mail. But, in a way, that’s what we do every time we open one of the epistles in the New Testament.

These letters found in God’s Word were written to individual believers and to young churches that had been planted across the Roman Empire during the earliest days of Christianity. The apostle Paul wrote 13 of the letters, each addressing a specific situation or concern.

Halfway into his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul pleaded with his readers to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3). Why did he want them to be one? Because they shared so many ones—one body, one Spirit, one glorious hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father (vv.4-6).

Oneness. It’s meant to be the heartbeat of God’s people. And Paul wrote that humble, gentle, patient and peaceful attitudes are what will help a heart of unity to beat strong (vv.2-3).

When believers in Jesus experience conflicts and disagreements (and we will), pride, harshness, impatience and intolerance won’t keep us together. Those things will only tear us apart. Instead, we need to remember the letter to the Ephesians which reminds us to “be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of [our] love” (v.2). —Jeff Olson

365-day plan› Matthew 10:16-42

MORE
Read Ephesians 4:32 and reflect on the example Jesus gave us of loving others well. 
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How have you struggled to achieve unity with other believers in Jesus who have differing views of disputable matters? (such as dress, music, worship styles, Bible translations). How can you move towards unity in the days ahead? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Grain On The Mountaintop

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July 14, 2014 

READ: Psalm 72:12-20 

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains. —Psalm 72:16 

I’ve been on a number of mountaintops in the US in my time, and I can tell you that not much grows up there. The summits of mountains are bare rock and lichen. That’s not where you would normally find an abundance of grain.

But Solomon, who wrote Psalm 72, asked God for “an abundance of grain . . . on the top of the mountains,” to characterize his reign as king. If grain on the mountain is so unusual, what is Solomon suggesting? That God’s power can produce results in even the most unpromising soil?

Perhaps you think of yourself as a little person, with very little to bring to the kingdom. Take courage: God can produce an abundant harvest through you. This is one of the ironies of faith: God uses the insignificant to accomplish the great. Not many of us are wise or noble; most of us are anonymous and far from extraordinary. Yet all of us can be used. And contrary to what we might think, it is because of our weakness that we can be used by God (1 Cor. 1:27-29; 2 Cor. 12:10).

It’s possible to be too big or proud for God to use, but we can never be too little. “Out of weakness” we are “made strong” (Heb. 11:34). By God’s great power, we can do all that He has called us to do.

— David H. Roper

Lord, You work through such common things—
those of us with flaws and weaknesses.
We are in awe of Your power and humbled by Your
choice of us. Our hearts long to be faithful to You.

To experience God’s power, we must first admit that we are weak. 

ODJ: the Spirit’s first gift

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July 14, 2014 

READ: Acts 2:1-12 

Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability (v.4).

We often focus on the more controversial aspects of Acts 2. We question whether the Holy Spirit continues to work in the same way today, or if the miracles found in the passage have ceased; and we wonder if such gifts are necessary for salvation.
But there’s something important we often overlook: the disciples who gathered together were all of a homogeneous religious and ethnic background (v.7). On the day of Pentecost, however, they suddenly spoke in the myriad languages of the known world (vv.4,8-11). Of all the gifts the Spirit could have bestowed, the very first was the ability to communicate with people crossculturally. These early Christians were given the chance to reach out to those who were different from them in nearly every way.

This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, for Scripture reveals God’s perfect preparations for the miraculous event. We see Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, ministering to Syro-Phoenecians (Mark 7:24-30), Samaritans (John 4:1-26,39-42) and Romans (Luke 7:1-10)—scandalising the religious establishment of that time. Later, John wrote in Revelation 7:9-10 of a future time when people of every tribe, nation, people and language will stand at the throne of Christ, united in worship. It’s God’s heart—and His plan—for the gospel to transcend all boundaries.

I often ask myself, Does my heart reflect Jesus’ heart? Am I reaching out to those who are different from me—preaching in word and demonstrating in deed that God’s grace transcends all cultural and racial boundaries? I’m often disappointed by my answers. Still, the passage in Acts 2 inspires me—reminding me that God has powerfully equipped all believers in Jesus to fulfil His crosscultural plan! —Peter Chin

365-day plan› Mark 6:1-13

MORE
Read Acts 8:26-40 and 16:11-15 and note the diverse kinds of people the early church reached. 
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In what ways has God empowered you to reach people of varied cultures and backgrounds? How does the Holy Spirit provide you with encouragement as you reach out? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: “No Grace”

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July 13, 2014 

READ: 1 Peter 4:1-11 

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. —Proverbs 19:11 

I have nicknamed our car “No Grace.” Sunday mornings are the worst. I load the car with all the stuff I need for church, get myself in my seat, close the door, and Jay starts backing out of the garage. While I am still getting settled, the seat belt warning starts buzzing. “Please,” I say to it, “all I need is another minute.” The answer, apparently, is no, because it continues buzzing until I am buckled in.

This minor annoyance is a good reminder of what life would be like if indeed there were no grace. Each of us would immediately be called to account for every indiscretion. There would be no time for repentance or change of behavior. There would be no forgiveness. No mercy. No hope.

Living in this world sometimes feels like falling into a no-grace sinkhole. When minor flaws are blown up into major indiscretions or when people refuse to overlook the faults and offenses of others, we end up burdened by the weight of guilt that we were never meant to carry. God, in His grace, sent Jesus to carry the burden for us. Those who receive God’s gift of grace have the privilege of offering it to others on Christ’s behalf: “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Peter 4:8).

— Julie Ackerman Link

Father God, the culture around us can seem so
harsh and hard on people when they fail. Help
me to show grace and patience, because You have
been gracious to me and have forgiven my sin.

When we gratefully acknowledge the grace we’ve received, we joyfully give it to those in need. 

ODJ: use my room

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July 13, 2014 

READ: 2 Kings 4:8-17 

Let’s build a small room for [Elisha] . . . and furnish it . . . . Then he will have a place to stay (v.10).

When I agreed to help start a book club at my church, I was excited about choosing the titles and discussing the literary works. I wavered, however, when I had to decide where to hold the meetings. (My house often has cluttered countertops and my kitchen appliances don’t always sparkle.) Thankfully, one Sunday morning, a woman in my church offered to host the meetings at her home. I sensed a genuine spirit of hospitality, and I gratefully accepted her proposal.
Elisha accepted hospitality from a woman who lived in the town of Shunem. Although the Bible never names her, it does say that she was willing to share from her abundance. “She urged [Elisha] to come to her home for a meal” (2 Kings 4:8). Eventually, her home became a haven where Elisha stopped whenever he was in town.

One day the woman suggested to her husband, “Let’s build a small room for [Elisha] . . . and furnish it . . . . Then he will have a place to stay” (v.10).

There were no strings attached to this woman’s hospitality. And when, through his servant Gehazi, Elisha asked if he could commend her to the king or an army official, she declined (v.13). This demonstrated her sincere heart and care for Elisha.

True hospitality springs from an attitude of open acceptance towards others. It’s okay to start small. We can begin by simply letting people into our hearts and lives through conversations. Eventually, we may have an opportunity to “cheerfully share [our] home with those who need a meal or a place to stay” (1 Peter 4:9). This is one way we can honour our hospitable God—the One who will open His home to us for all of eternity (John 14:2-3). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

365-day plan› Matthew 9:27-38

MORE
Read 2 Kings 4:15-37 to see how God blessed the Shunemite woman for her kindness. Look up Hebrews 13:2 for some unique motivation related to hospitality. 
NEXT
What’s the relationship between our busyness and our willingness to show hospitality? How might showing hospitality bring glory to God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Power Of A Name

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July 12, 2014 

READ: Proverbs 18:1-10 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower. —Proverbs 18:10 

Nicknames are often descriptive of some noticeable aspect of a person’s character or physical attributes. Growing up, my elementary school friends brutally called me “liver lips” since at that stage of development my lips seemed disproportionately large. Needless to say, I have always been glad that the name didn’t stick.

Unlike my nickname, I love the names of God that describe His magnificent characteristics. God is so wonderfully multifaceted that He has many names that communicate His capabilities and character. To name just a few, He is:

Elohim, the God above all gods

Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides

El-Shaddai, the almighty God

Jehovah Rapha, our healer God

Jehovah Shalom, our God of peace

Jehovah Shamma, our God who is present

Jehovah Yahweh, our loving, covenant-keeping God

It’s no wonder the writer of Proverbs encourages us to remember that “the name of the Lord is a strong tower,” that in times of need God-fearing people run to it and “are safe” (Prov. 18:10). When unwelcome circumstances threaten you and you feel vulnerable, reflect on one of God’s names. Be assured—He will be faithful to His name.

— Joe Stowell

Lord, remind us that Your names reveal Your
character. Help us to remember them in our times
of need and distress. Thank You for the assurance
that You are faithful to Your name.

God’s names, which describe His character, can bring comfort when we need it most. 

ODJ: search and rescue

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July 12, 2014 

READ: Psalm 107:1-43 

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you (v.2).

Search and Rescue Stories is a website that captures the accounts of people who have participated in search and rescue missions or of the victims who were dramatically rescued from dangerous and life-threatening situations. There you’ll read nail-biting and heart-warming stories of the rescuers and the rescued.
Psalm 107 is a song of thanksgiving (vv.1,22) that recounts how four groups of people were helped in their distress (vv.4,10,17,23). They were facing adversity, jeopardy, despair and danger because of their own carelessness (v.4), foolishness (v.11), sinfulness (v.17) and recklessness (v.23). “ ‘LORD, help!’ they cried in their trouble.” And they received divine help: “He saved them from their distress” (vv.6,13,19,28).

But God didn’t merely save them. He did a whole lot more. “He led them straight to safety” (vv.7,30). “He [satisfied] the thirsty and [filled] the hungry with good things” (v.9). “He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom” (v.14). “He broke down their prison gates” (v.16). “He sent out his word and healed them” (v.20). “He calmed the storm . . . and stilled the waves” (v.29). Persistently calling on the worshippers to “praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done” (vv.8,15,21,31), the psalmist offered an invitation: “Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD” (v.43).

We have all wandered away, been lost (v.4), imprisoned by our sin (v.10), in danger of death (v.18), helpless and hopeless (vv.26-27)—but we have also been rescued! “Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you” (v.2). You have a story to tell. —K.T. Sim

365-day plan› Luke 8:22-56

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Read Luke 15:1-32 to learn about three more search and rescue stories. 
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What is your search and rescue story? How can you prepare to share it with others? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)