Entries by YMI

ODJ: who can i trust?

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June 24, 2014 

READ: Isaiah 2:18-22 

Don’t put your trust in mere humans (v.22).

In 1942 more than 250,000 Jews were transported by the Nazis from Warsaw to the death camp in Treblinka, Poland. Most of these Jews were killed. A social worker named Irena Sendler, however, posed as a nurse to get into the Warsaw ghetto and rescue children. She managed to smuggle more than 2,500 to safety. In hopes of reuniting the children with their families after the war concluded, she hid the children’s names in two jars buried under an apple tree.

We can only imagine the terror as parents handed their children to a stranger. “Can you guarantee that they will live?” a mother would frantically ask. “No,” Irena would answer, “but if they stay here I guarantee that they will die.” Then, Irena offered these solemn words: “You shouldn’t trust me. But what else can you do?”

This story highlights Irena’s tenacious courage, but it also sheds light on the horrific dilemma the parents faced. All of us ask ourselves this question when times of trouble come: Who can I trust?

Scripture tells us over and over again that we can trust God with our life and with our future. All of the idols of this world “will completely disappear” (Isaiah 2:18). Human beings, even with the best of intentions, are still “frail as breath”, and we can give only our limited, flawed effort (v.22). Irena, even in her immense courage, knew what she couldn’t promise. She would do her best to save the children, even at the risk of her own life. But it was possible that it wouldn’t be enough.

God, who “rises to shake the earth” (v.19), is the only One who holds the whole world in His hands. He’s the only One we can trust all the time. —Winn Collier
365-day plan› Mark 1:16-39

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Read Isaiah 26:1-4 and reflect on why you can trust God completely.  
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Think of a time when you put your trust in someone who wasn’t trustworthy. What happened? Why is it vital for you to place your trust in God alone? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Restored By The Master

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June 23, 2014 

READ: Colossians 3:8-17 

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10 

Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration process that is impossible in the world of art. It’s a restoration of God’s people. Paul wrote, “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). This is no attempt at renovating the work of a deceased artist. It is a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. His forgiveness brightens the colors of our lives while His grace sharpens the lines of His purpose for us.

The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us.

— David C. McCasland

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing. —Lyte

Jesus specializes in restoration. 

ODJ: not less in your mess

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June 23, 2014 

READ: Genesis 29:16-30:24 

Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too” (30:3).

God’s royal family in Genesis was a bit seamy. Consider Abraham’s family. He slept with his female slave and later consented to his wife’s desire to banish the woman and his son by sending her into the wilderness (Genesis 21:14). What family could be worse than that?

Isaac’s family. They were divided down the middle as each parent picked a favourite son. Then one son plotted to kill the other for ripping him off (27:41). What family could be worse than that?

Jacob’s family. One man slept with two wives and two slaves, each desperately trying to produce sons for ‘Team Leah’ or ‘Team Rachel’. Later, out of hatred, the older sons sold their brother Joseph to slave traders and let their father believe that “a wild animal must have eaten him” (37:33).

We can’t excuse what any of these people did, but it’s comforting to know that God was not less in their mess. His sovereign plan was not threatened by their sin.

We have all done things we regret. Some of us have really messed up our lives. How we long to start again! Whatever we’ve done we can remember two things:

• You have not messed up your life more than these families.

• God remained in complete control of these families, and He’s not threatened by your sin.

When King David sinned by counting his fighting men, he stopped the ensuing plague by erecting an altar “on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite” (2 Samuel 24:18). It was on this land that Solomon, David’s son with Bathsheba, later built the temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). As one preacher has said, “Only God can take a man’s two biggest sins and make a temple out of them.”

Don’t despair over your sin. God is the best at cleaning up a mess.—Mike Wittmer

Luke 4:16-30 ‹365-day plan

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Read Genesis 50:1-21 to learn how God brought good out of an evil situation. 
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What sin makes you feel the most guilt? What do you think God wants you to know about this sin and its guilt? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: The Day My Dad Met Jesus

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June 22, 2014 

READ: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 

I obtained mercy . . . as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. —1 Timothy 1:16 

My grandfather, my father, and his brothers were all tough men who, understandably, didn’t appreciate people who “got up in their faces about faith.” When my father, Howard, was diagnosed with a rapid and deadly cancer, I was so concerned that I took every opportunity to talk to him about Jesus’ love. Inevitably he would end the discussion with a polite but firm: “I know what I need to know.”

I promised not to raise the issue again and gave him a set of cards that shared the forgiveness God offers, which he could read when he wanted. I entrusted Dad to God and prayed. A friend also asked God to keep my dad alive long enough to know Jesus.

One afternoon the call came telling me Dad was gone. When my brother met me at the airport, he said, “Dad told me to tell you he asked Jesus to forgive his sin.” “When?” “The morning he passed,” Mark replied. God had shown him “mercy” as He had shown us (1 Tim. 1:16).

Sometimes we talk about the gospel, other times we share our story, still other times we just show a silent Christlike example, and always we pray. We know that salvation is ultimately a work of God and not something we can do for another. God is a gracious God, and no matter what the outcome of our prayers, He can be trusted.

— Randy Kilgore

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
Watching for you and for me! —Thompson

We plant and water, but God gives the increase. 

ODJ: out of the abyss

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June 22, 2014 

READ: Luke 22:31-34,54-61 

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers (v.32).

Why did I repeatedly deny I knew Him? How could I have betrayed His trust?

These and other questions probably filled Simon Peter’s troubled mind as he walked away from the courtyard in shame. He had just denied his Master and Lord three times.

At certain moments in our lives, we’ve all been able to relate to what Peter felt that day. We did something that we shouldn’t have done or said something we shouldn’t have said to people we love. We saw the pain in their eyes and we slinked away, thoroughly disappointed with ourselves. Beyond saying that we were sorry, we weren’t sure how to fix the harm we had done.

So how can we climb out of the abyss of self-disappointment and shame?

Firstly, we can thank God for what Jesus said to Peter in the upper room: “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

God isn’t surprised by our failure. In fact, He intercedes for us. He desires reconciliation and restoration. We don’t need to run away when we feel we’ve disappointed Him. Instead, we can admit our errors and turn back to Him. He waits for us with open arms! It is wonderful to be forgiven. And we can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done for us. He went to the cross and took our punishment.

With God’s forgiveness in view, don’t run away in shame from the person you’ve hurt. Admit your sin. Seek reconciliation.

Above all, remember: “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). —Poh Fang Chia
365-day plan› John 4:43-54

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Use Psalm 51 as a guide for repentance and for finding restoration with God. 
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How does Peter’s story encourage you to come clean before God? What happens to our shame when we truly repent of our sin and claim God’s forgiveness? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: World’s Fastest Walkers

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June 21, 2014 

READ: Luke 10:38-42 

She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. —Luke 10:39 

According to a study measuring the pace of life of cities in 32 countries, people in the biggest hurry live here in Singapore. We walk 60 feet in 10:55 seconds, compared to 12:00 seconds for New Yorkers and 31:60 seconds for those living in the African city of Blantyre, Malawi.

But regardless of where you live, the study shows that walking speeds have increased by an average of 10 percent in the past 20 years. And if walking speed is any indicator for the pace of life, we are certainly much busier than before.

Are you caught up in the frenzy of a busy life? Pause and consider Jesus’ words to Martha: “You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Notice Jesus’ gentle words. He didn’t rebuke Martha for wanting to be a good host but rather reminded her about her priorities. Martha had allowed the necessary to get out of proportion. And, in the process, she was so busy doing good that she didn’t take time to sit at Jesus’ feet.

In our drive to be productive for the Lord, let’s remember the one thing worth being concerned about—enjoying time with our Savior.

— Poh Fang Chia

Jesus longs for our fellowship even more than we long for His. 

ODJ: reminders

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June 21, 2014 

READ: 1 Samuel 7:1-17 

Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the LORD has helped us!” (v.12).

As a Christian radio host I occasionally get to ask songwriters and musicians about the writing process that leads to the creation of their music. These worshippers often refer to a specific event that became the inspiration for a particular song. Then when I hear the track, I’m reminded of the story behind the lyrics. Just as these songs contain reminders of an individual’s journey, so do poems, blogs, paintings and social media updates. They all serve as ways we can remind ourselves and others of the provision, deliverance and presence of God.

The Israelites were often commanded to build tangible reminders of the faithfulness of the Lord. They would erect stones, pillars or altars after a victory over an enemy or as a reminder of the provision of God (Joshua 4:5-7; 1 Samuel 7:17). Just south of Gilgal, the Israelites had twice been defeated by the Philistines, and the Ark of the Covenant had been stolen (4:1-11, 5:1). But when they finally defeated the Philistines, Samuel set up a stone as a reminder of the Lord’s help and called it Ebenezer, which literally means “stone of help”. Samuel said, “Up to this point the LORD has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7:12).

When we go through the trials and sorrows of life (John 16:33), we often forget God’s faithfulness and how He carried us and gave us victory in previous similar challenges. Jesus doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). We can look back and be confident that He will once again prove Himself faithful, no matter the difficulties we face today.

Your ‘Ebenezers’ will remind you of what God has done, and they can also be a powerful witness to others of the continuing faithfulness of the Lord.—Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

John 4:1-42 ‹365-day plan

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Read Psalm 96:1-4 and consider the goodness and faithfulness of God. 
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What tangible reminders do you have of God’s favour or provision in your life? Why is it vital that we continually reflect on God’s faithfulness? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)