About YMI
YMI (which stands for Why Am I?), is a platform for Christian young people all over the world to ask questions about life and discover their true purpose. We are a community with different talents but the same desire to make sense of God’s life-changing word in our everyday lives.
Entries by YMI
ODB: Dependence Day
Jul 4, 2014 in Devotional, Our Daily Bread Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 4, 2014
READ: John 15:1-13
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. —John 15:5
In the US, the Fourth of July is a national holiday when outdoor grills are heated up; beaches are packed; and cities and towns have parades and fireworks displays, picnics, and patriotic celebrations. All of this is in remembrance of July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies declared their independence.
Independence appeals to all ages. It means “freedom from the control, influence, support, and aid of others.” So it’s not surprising that teenagers talk about gaining their independence. Many adults have the goal of being “independently wealthy.” And senior citizens want to maintain their independence. Whether anyone is ever truly independent is a discussion for another time and place—but it sounds good.
Craving political or personal independence is one thing; daring to pursue spiritual independence is problematic. What we need instead is a recognition and acceptance of our deep spiritual dependence. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Far from being self-reliant, we are totally and eternally dependent on the One who died to set us free. Every day is our “dependence day.”
— Bill Crowder
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. —Hawks/Lowry
Our greatest strength comes from dependence on our strong God.
ODJ: love as you love yourself
Jul 4, 2014 in Devotional, Featured Devotionals Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 4, 2014
READ: Luke 10:25-37
Love your neighbour as yourself (v.27).
Following a mass shooting in which a dozen victims were murdered, a writer lamented that the horrific event received a lack of media coverage and national attention. “What number of dead here would it have taken to give the nation pause?” Cynthia McCabe wrote in a blog post. While some people moved on quickly from reflecting on the senseless crime and those affected by it, many individuals, organisations and churches demonstrated compassion for those affected by the tragedy. That includes my friend Heidi who—along with other members of her local church—chose to remember the victims in a tangible way.
The church organised a prayer vigil for the men, women and children who had lost loved ones to the terrible attack. In essence they were saying, “You are our neighbours. We’re sorry for your pain. We grieve with you and ask God to give you comfort and peace that surpasses understanding during this sorrowful time.” They did as Luke 10:27 instructs: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
We can all be ‘Good Samaritans’ in our local areas by compassionately caring for those who are affected by crimes, accidents or disasters. This includes bandaging wounds, transporting the hurting and helping to meet physical needs through provision of food and housing (vv.33-35). But whether or not we live near them, we can all stop and pray when we learn of others’ hardships.
Jesus says we demonstrate love when we show mercy to those who have been affected by adversity. Like the good Samaritan who stopped to help a stranger who had been beaten and was left lying in the road, may we show loving compassion to our neighbours in need (vv.36-37). —Roxanne Robbins
365-day plan› Matthew 7:13-29
Read 1 John 3:16-18 and consider what it says about what true love looks like.
What are some practical ways you can show compassion to others? What does it mean to love them as you love yourself?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Tender Loving Care
Jul 3, 2014 in Devotional, Our Daily Bread Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 3, 2014
READ: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-7
We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. —1 Thessalonians 2:7
Max runs a small farm as a hobby. Recently when he checked on the cows he is raising, he was surprised to see a newborn calf! When he bought the cattle, he had no idea one was pregnant. Sadly, the mother cow had complications and died shortly after her calf was born. Immediately, Max purchased some powdered milk so he could feed the calf from a bottle. “The calf thinks I’m its mother!” Max said.
The tender story of Max’s new role with the calf reminded me of how Paul likened himself to a caring mother in dealing with the believers at Thessalonica: “We were gentle among you,” he said, “just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7).
Paul adopted a nurturing attitude when teaching people. He knew believers needed the “milk of the word” for spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2). But he also gave special attention to the concerns of those he cared for. “We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,” Paul said, “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” (1 Thess. 2:11-12 niv).
As we serve each other, may we serve with the tender loving care of our Savior, encouraging each other in our spiritual journey (Heb. 10:24).
— Dennis Fisher
and caring as I serve others.
Help me to love others tenderly as You
so tenderly love and care for me.
God pours His love into our hearts to flow out to others’ lives.
ODJ: dead coming back to life
Jul 3, 2014 in Devotional, Featured Devotionals Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 3, 2014
READ: Ezekiel 47:1-12
There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows (v.9).
The Dead Sea in Israel is a ‘one of a kind’ place to take a dip. Tourists who enter its waters immediately realise that swimming aids aren’t necessary. Yep, there’s no need to tread water in the Dead Sea. Due to its exceptionally high concentration of salt, people simply float on its surface like apples bobbing in a barrel of water.
The Dead Sea is also the lowest land-based point on earth. The Jordan River empties into it, but nothing flows out of it. And due to its toxic blend of minerals, nothing lives in it. Needless to say, the fishing stinks!
But one day the Dead Sea will undergo a radical change.
The last book of the Bible reports that once Jesus returns, God will send the “holy city, the new Jerusalem” down to earth from heaven (Revelation 21:2). The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel received a vision of the temple area in the new Jerusalem. He saw a river flowing from the temple towards the Dead Sea. Ezekiel was told that the waters from the river “will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. . . . Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. . . . Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean” (Ezekiel 47:8-10).
Ezekiel’s vision is a picture of the great restoration we look forward to—the time when even the deadest of waters will come back to life.
In the new Jerusalem, look for me fishing by the banks of the “Live Sea” (no longer Dead), camping out with my family and friends. According to Ezekiel’s report, the fishing should drastically improve. —Jeff Olson
365-day plan› Matthew 7:1-12
Read Revelation 22:1-7 and consider what’s in store for those who believe in Jesus.
What other pictures of restoration does the Bible give us? What do you look forward to in God’s new heaven and new earth?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
Typography : Matthew 17:20 7-2014
Jul 2, 2014 /0 Comments/in Bible Verses, Typography Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIODB: A Lesson In Worry
Jul 2, 2014 in Devotional, Our Daily Bread Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 2, 2014
READ: Psalm 3
Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! —Psalm 3:1
My friend handed me a tall glass of water and told me to hold it. The longer I held it, the heavier it felt. Finally my hand grew tired, and I had to put the glass down. “I’ve learned that worry can be like holding that glass,” she said. “The longer I worry about something, the more my fears weigh me down.”
King David knew about fear. His whole life had been turned upside down. His son Absalom had stolen the allegiance of the nation of Israel from him and was attempting to take the throne for himself. David didn’t know who was loyal to him and who was against him. His only option seemed to be to run. He said to his servants, “Make haste to depart, lest [Absalom] overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us” (2 Sam. 15:14).
In a psalm that David may have written while he was fleeing for his life, he wrote: “I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (Ps. 3:4). In the midst of his fear, David looked to the Lord. God showed him grace and restored him to the throne.
There are plenty of worries that can weigh us down. But as we release them into God’s strong hands, He will help us through our trials.
— Anne Cetas
weighed down by worry. Help us to place our
concerns in Your care so that
we do not fear tomorrow.
Worry is a burden that God never meant for us to bear.
ODJ: diluted faith
Jul 2, 2014 in Devotional, Featured Devotionals Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 2, 2014
READ: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless (v.13).
I usually think about salt in the context of what I consume, like when my doctor repeatedly ‘nudges’ me to stop using so much of the stuff. But salt isn’t just something we sprinkle on chips. In the ancient context, it also preserved food, was used in offerings and was rubbed on newborn babies as an act of purification (Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 16:4). With that in mind, salt is a symbol of our unique character as believers in Jesus—that we are set apart, blessed, useful and holy.
Salt is also an incredibly hardy compound, something that’s difficult to destroy. It has a high melting point, and when smashed it simply creates smaller and smaller grains. But there’s an easy way to get rid of salt—just add water! You can dissolve it in increasing amounts of liquid until the salt is so diluted—its concentration so low—that its effects are negligible.
This reminds me of what can happen when our faith becomes diluted. Faith will often remain intact in the face of terrible hardship because—like salt—it’s designed to be strong, stable and enduring. But also like the white stuff, the easiest way to get rid of faith is to water it down. We dilute it with worldly priorities and concerns. Nothing serious or criminal, just a little bit of the world and its values absorbed in small quantities. In time, our faith—once strong and potent—can become undetectable. It can be watered down into nonexistence. And that’s why Paul and John are so insistent that our faith and our lives must not become diluted by the world and its values (Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15).
Faith can endure through trials of the worst kind. But if it becomes diluted, what good is it? —Peter Chin
365-day plan› Matthew 6:19-34
Read John 15:18-25 to see how Jesus describes our relationship with the world.
How has your faith carried you through an intense trial? What are some specific ways your faith is in danger of being diluted?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
ODB: Who Is This Man?
Jul 1, 2014 in Devotional, Our Daily Bread Asia Pacific, North America /by YMIJuly 1, 2014
READ: Matthew 27:32-44
Our Lord . . . was . . . declared to be the Son of God . . . by the resurrection from the dead. —Romans 1:3-4
When Kelly Steinhaus visited Harvard Square to ask college students what they thought of Jesus, the answers were respectful of Him. One said He was “a person who took care of people.” Another said, “He sounds like a cool guy.” Others rejected Him outright: “He was just a guy. I don’t think He was the Savior.” And “I do not accept any faith system that says, ‘I am the only way to God.’” Some people thoughtfully question who Jesus is and some reject Him.
As Jesus faced death 2,000 years ago, many people mocked the idea that He was anyone special. “They put up over His head the accusation written against Him: ‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS’ ” (Matt. 27:37). Those who said, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!” (v.40) were doubting His power. The religious people even said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save” (v.42).
In His death, Jesus may have seemed powerless. But when we read the whole story, we see that He gave His life willingly. He proved Himself to be the Son of God and limitless in power as He burst forth from the tomb. Grasp the value of His death and behold the power of His resurrection. He’s the Savior of the world!
— Dave Branon
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign. —Lowry
Jesus’ resurrection spelled the death of death.
ABOUT US
YMI (which stands for Why Am I?), is a platform for Christian young people all over the world to ask questions about life and discover their true purpose. We are a community with different talents but the same desire to make sense of God’s life-changing word in our everyday lives.
YMI is a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries.
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