Entries by YMI

ODB: Tender Loving Care

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July 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

Dear Lord, help me to be sensitive
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

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July 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

MORE
Read Revelation 22:1-7 and consider what’s in store for those who believe in Jesus. 
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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!)

ODB: A Lesson In Worry

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July 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

Thank You, Lord, that we do not have to be
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

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July 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

MORE
Read John 15:18-25 to see how Jesus describes our relationship with the world. 
NEXT
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?

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July 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

Up from the grave He arose,
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. 

ODJ: impressions

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July 1, 2014 

READ: Acts 28:1-10 

The people . . . changed their minds and decided [Paul] was a god (v.6).

A hazy morning at a harbour. Chalky, grey mist shrouds the boats, but a peach-coloured sunrise warms the scene. Claude Monet captured this scene in his masterpiece Impression, Sunrise. Created in 1872, this painting was not well-received. French critic Louis Leroy slammed the painting as little more than a sketch that could barely be considered a finished work. Over time, however, opinions within the art world changed. Today, historians credit Monet’s harbour scene with having sparked the Impressionist movement.

People’s opinions change—sometimes drastically. Paul experienced this when he and his fellow travellers ran aground on Malta (Acts 28:1). The locals welcomed them by kindling a fire. Paul gathered sticks to help, but as he placed the branches onto the blaze, a poisonous snake fled the flames and latched onto his hand. The islanders viewed this as divine payback for some terrible crime they supposed Paul had committed. They “said to each other, ‘A murderer, no doubt!’ ” (v.4). But their opinion of Paul changed when he didn’t die from the viper’s venom. They then “decided he was a god” (v.6).

People often form impressions based on incomplete information. We draw faulty conclusions, and our judgements change. As Paul experienced at Malta, the opinions we form are fickle and fleeting. Jesus was celebrated as king on Palm Sunday and then crucified as a criminal on Friday (Matthew 21:9, 27:22). Unlike God’s wisdom, our flickering opinions are not to be trusted.

Instead of jumping to conclusions (1 Corinthians 4:3-5), it’s much wiser to take time to prayerfully bring our first impressions to God. He alone has the true view of each heart and circumstance. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

365-day plan› Matthew 6:1-18

MORE
Read Joshua 22:9-34 and consider what almost happened when some Israelite tribes jumped to a false conclusion. 
NEXT
How concerned are you with others’ opinions of you? How can you be more godly and careful in your opinions of others? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Big Comeback

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June 30, 2014 

READ: 1 John 1 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9 

Chad Pennington is a former American football player who has suffered multiple career-threatening injuries. Twice, his injuries forced him to endure surgery, months of physical therapy, and weeks of training to get back onto the field. Yet, both times he not only returned to playing but he also excelled at such a high level that he was named Comeback Player of the Year in the National Football League. For Pennington, his efforts were an expression of his determination to return to football.

Spiritually, when sin and failure break our relationship with God and sideline our service, determination alone is not what restores us to rightness with God and usefulness in His kingdom. When we are sidelined because of sin, the path to a comeback is confession as well. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

For us to be able to recover from our spiritual failings, we are absolutely dependent on the One who gave Himself for us. And that gives us hope. Christ, who died for us, loves us with an everlasting love and will respond with grace as we confess our faults to Him. Through confession, we can find His gracious restoration—the greatest of all comebacks.

— Bill Crowder

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, I come. —Elliott

Confession is the path that leads to restoration.