Entries by YMI

ODJ: extending grace

June 28, 2014 

READ: Colossians 3:1-17 

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (v.12).

When I was growing up, my family often became frustrated because I would take whatever I wanted into my possession. If anything went missing, the invariable response was to “look in Gina’s room”, for I was sure to have nabbed it. In a just vindication of their frustrations, my hairbrush now shows up in my daughter’s room, my scissors can be found in my son’s art case and my phone charger is in my husband’s possession as much as my own.

We cherish the powerful truth of the Golden Rule to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” Its wisdom can help as we work through things done by others that irritate, frustrate or hurt us. But in our own lives, its application often chafes against our selfish desires. Let’s face it—it’s hard to think of others first. But considering the needs of others above our own isn’t a biblical suggestion; it’s a mandate demonstrated by Jesus Himself (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Luke 10:27 reveals the answer of a young man to Jesus’ question about the greatest commandment: “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus then affirmed the young man’s response by saying, ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’ “ (v.28).

We can’t live out being God’s “holy people” through selfishness and getting our own way (Colossians 3:1; Philippians 2:3-4). Instead, we’re called to to give up something we want so that someone else might see Jesus in us (Colossians 3:1-2). We grow spiritually when we zealously pursue love and peace by seeking what’s best for others. Then we become the city on the hill, the light that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14-16). —Regina Franklin
365-day plan› Matthew 5:1-16

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Read 1 Samuel 25:1-39 and consider the difference between Abigail’s and Nabal’s response to the needs of others and the outcome of their respective choices. 
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During the past week, in what situation did you find it most difficult to love others above yourself? How does extending grace to others reflect the heart of God? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Do No Harm

June 27, 2014 

READ: Romans 13:8-10 

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —Romans 13:10 

Many consider the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates as the father of Western medicine. He understood the importance of following moral principles in the practice of medicine, and is credited with writing the Hippocratic Oath, which still serves as an ethical guide for today’s medical doctors. One key concept of the oath is “to do no harm.” It implies that a physician will do only what he thinks will benefit his patients.

The principle of doing no harm extends to our relationships with others in everyday life. In fact, benevolence is central to New Testament teaching about loving others. In reflecting on the law of God, Paul sees that love is the intent behind many biblical commands: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

Each day as we follow Jesus Christ our Savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, “Does this reflect Christ’s concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?” Such a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and help those in need.

— Dennis Fisher

Lord, I admit that it is easy to be consumed with my
own wants and needs. Thank You that You showed
us how to be concerned for others too. Help me
to follow Your example in caring for others.

Caring for the burdens of others helps us to forget about our own. 

ODJ: rotten fruit

June 27, 2014 

READ: Amos 8:1-7 

O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

There’s a ‘quick sale’ area in my local supermarket where fruit is offered at a huge discount. If not sold quickly, the fully ripened edibles will become soft, flabby and infected with fungus.

In Amos’ day Israel was militarily strong and economically rich. But prosperity increased the gap between the wealthy and the poor. In fact, being prosperous gave the rich even more opportunities to exploit the needy. Businesses were maximising profits through dishonest means, cheating on the quantity and quality of their products and using price fixing to exploit the people. To pay for grain the poor sold themselves into slavery, only to be further exploited and given inadequate payment—just enough to buy a pair of sandals! (Amos 8:4-6).

The basket of ripe fruit represented Israel’s wickedness (v.1). It included greed, dishonesty, social injustice and exploitation of the powerless. Angry with His people, God warned, “Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment! . . . I will never forget the wicked things you have done!” (vv.2,7). That’s scary! God said His people would have to account for their wickedness—something He remembered clearly.

God spoke of horrifying punishment. The Assyrians would slaughter them, destroy their cities and exile the survivors. There would be much death, devastation and destruction. Instead of rejoicing, there would be wailing (v.3).

Ancient Israel had refused to do what God told them to do and so He punished them. Today, we have the opportunity to “do what is right” and live out the instruction of Micah 6:8. Our great God loves mercy and commands us to be merciful! —K.T. Sim
Mark 2:23-3:19 ‹365-day plan

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Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11 to see how God wants His people to help the poor and needy in the community. 
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Is there “a basket full of ripe fruit” in your life? What will you do to bring it to God in repentance?  

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Roadside Assistance

June 26, 2014 

READ: Psalm 46 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1 

An acquaintance of mine was hunting with friends near Balmoral, the country estate of the queen of England. As they walked, he twisted his ankle so badly that he couldn’t go on, so he told his friends to continue and he would wait by the side of the road.

As he sat there, a car came down the road, slowed, and stopped. The woman driving rolled the window down and asked if he was okay. He explained and said he was waiting for his friends to return. She said, “Get in; I’ll take you back to where you are staying.” He limped to the car and opened the door only to realize that it was Queen Elizabeth!

As shocking as receiving help from the queen of England may be, we have an offer of help that is even more astounding. The Creator-God of the universe descends into our world, sees our trouble, and offers to marshal His resources to help us. As the psalmist confidently affirms, “God is . . . a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Next time you feel stranded along life’s road, look for your Helper.

— Joe Stowell

Lord, I’m thankful that when I experience trouble
You are waiting and wanting to help. Teach
me to look to You and to rest in Your kind and
loving care until You deliver me safely home.

Rejoice! Your God is a helping King! 

ODJ: prayer for revival

June 26, 2014 

READ: Acts 4:23-31 

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness (v.31).

Blasio Kugosi was tired. This schoolteacher from Rwanda was tired of simply sitting back in quiet discouragement over the lack of spiritual fervour in the church and his own spiritual life. So, in 1935 Kugosi fasted and prayed for a week. During that time God transformed him.

He began boldly preaching the gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out in Rwanda. Then, just days later, God used him to spark a similar revival in Uganda. But suddenly Blasio died of a high fever. His ministry lasted but a few weeks. His impact? Decades!

The early church prayed one of the most dramatic prayers of the New Testament. They began by acknowledging God as sovereign Creator (Acts 4:24). They continued with the theme of God’s revelation through His Word, as written down by David (vv.25-26). A third theme of this prayer was Jesus the Messiah (vv.27-28). In the past God had spoken through the prophets, but now He spoke through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). Just as He spoke through David and Jesus, the believers wanted God to equip them with greater boldness. Their prayer wasn’t for relief. The focus was on total faith and dependence on the sovereign power of God.

How did God respond? The room shook and He filled them anew with the Holy Spirit—sending them out to speak the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).

Praying a prayer like this is still very applicable for believers in Jesus today. Let’s gather together and pray powerful prayers. And let’s acknowledge that the Creator, who sent His Son to earth to die and rise again, will give us the boldness and courage we need to carry out the building of His kingdom. —Marvin Williams
365-day plan› John 5:1-47

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Read Psalm 80:1-19 and compare Asaph’s prayer with the early believers’ prayer. What are some similarities and differences? 
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What can you do to encourage revival in your life and church? As you consider God’s passionate love for you, what is your response? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Wisdom From Above

June 25, 2014 

READ: 1 Samuel 24:1-10 

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. —James 3:17 

If Kiera Wilmot had performed her experiment during her high school science class, it might have earned her an A. But instead she was charged with causing an explosion. Although she had planned to have her teacher approve the experiment, her classmates persuaded her to perform it outside the classroom. When she mixed chemicals inside a plastic bottle, it exploded and she unintentionally unsettled some fellow students.

The Old Testament tells the story of another case of peer pressure. David and his men were hiding from Saul in a cave when Saul entered (1 Sam. 24). David’s companions suggested that God had delivered Saul to them, and they urged David to kill him (vv.4,10). If David killed Saul, they thought they could stop hiding and David could become king. But David refused to harm Saul because he was “the Lord’s anointed” (v.6).

People in our lives may sometimes suggest we do what seems most gratifying or practical in the moment. But there is a difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6-7). Wisdom from above “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy” (James 3:17). When others are urging us to take a certain course of action, we can invite God to influence our response.

— Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me. —Pollard

One is truly wise who gains his wisdom from above. 

ODJ: why didn’t He protect us?

June 25, 2014 

READ: John 11:47-53 

So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death (v.53).

Our lives began to fall apart when my daughter took her life,” the woman told me during a break in the conference we were both attending. “And then our second daughter spiralled into depression and started to self-harm. After several months we discovered the reason why: while my husband and I were missionaries in Indonesia, two of our three children had been sexually abused at a mission-run school. We had given our lives to serve God. . . . Why didn’t He protect us?” I would hear similar stories at that conference—these people felt betrayed by God.

Surely there are blessings inherent to following the Lord, including protection from evil (Psalm 91:9-12, 121:5-8). But to invoke such promises like a spell, expecting a calamity-free life, is to go awry. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). He did.

As a child, Jesus’ life was under threat (Matthew 2:13). As an adult, He was hunted by authorities (Luke 13:31). A mob tried to throw Him off a cliff (4:29), and He had a finance manager who embezzled His funds (John 12:4-6). A plot was hatched by religious leaders to take His life (11:47-53)—one which ultimately succeeded.

Jesus gave His all to follow the Father. He was perfectly in God’s will. The result? Trouble. Even those touched by His ministry were in jeopardy (12:10-11).

“Jesus gave us only two promises,” another conference attendee told me after sharing his own pain: “To be with us to the end of the age, and to wipe every tear from our eye” (Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:4). After hearing the man’s words, and those of others who had suffered, I learned something: God may not protect us from every evil, but He will always get the victory. After crucifixion came the resurrection. —Sheridan Voysey
Luke 5:1-39 ‹365-day plan

MORE
Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 to be reminded of Paul’s hardships in following God’s will. 
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From what can we expect God to protect us? What can we do when we feel betrayed by Him? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)