Entries by YMI

ODJ: the waiting game

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March 22, 2014 

READ: James 5:1-11 

Be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the autumn and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen (v.7).

In 2006 Trevor Thompson surveyed 1,003 adults and determined the following: while waiting in line at an office or shop, most people take an average of 17 minutes to lose their cool. When placed on hold during a phone call, most people lose their patience in 9 minutes. Women lose their patience after waiting in line for about 18 minutes. Men lose it after 15 minutes. People with a degree and a higher income lose their patience quicker than those with lower income and less education.

Though the believers of his day may have been facing mistreatment by the rich (or perhaps envied their riches), James exhorted them not to lose their patience (James 5:1-7). They were no doubt fatigued and weary from the trials they endured, but he told them to take courage and to be patient (v.7). This kind of patience would be developed only in the crucible of discomfort, pain and suffering. They were called to live in hope until Jesus returned and eradicated injustice in the world.

To help them understand what he was asking them to do, James used an agricultural illustration. The farmer was dependent on God and waited for Him to send the rains, so he could grow and harvest precious fruit. Therefore, these believers, like Job, needed to wait and trust God to address the mystery of their suffering. James wrote, “We give great honour to those who endure under suffering” (v.11).

We are also called to be patient. As we read God’s Word, dwell in His love, intentionally slow down and live from an eternal perspective (Romans 15:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Hebrews 10:34-37), we can develop growth in this virtue. And we can learn to respond more and more like Jesus (1 Peter 2:23). —Marvin Williams

365-day plan› 1 Samuel 8:6-22

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Read Galatians 5:22 and consider what God is doing in us as we exhibit patience. 
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What situations try your patience the most? How can God’s patience with you inspire you to be patient with others? 

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ODB: Still Working

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March 21, 2014 

READ: Matthew 25:14-21 

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” —Matthew 25:23 

Vivian and Don are in their mid-90s and have been married more than 70 years. Recently Vivian suffered a setback when she broke her hip. This has been additionally difficult because for several years both Don and Vivian have been saddened by the realization that they are no longer strong enough to be active in the life and work of their church.

However, Vivian and Don are still hard at work for the Lord: They are prayer warriors. While they may not always be physically present and visible in the life of their church, they are faithful “behind the scenes” in their service for Him.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us that we must use the “talents” God has given us wisely. All of us have God-given skills and abilities at various levels—and we must not bury, unused, what God has given us.

It is not only in our years of strength that God will use us, but also in our youth and age, as well as in our sickness and weakness. Vivian and Don continue to serve by praying. And like them, we honor our Savior by using our skills—“each according to his own ability” (v.15) to serve Him who is worthy.

— Dave Branon

Lord, You have done so much for me. Please show
me what I can do to serve You—to honor You with
the abilities You have provided. May my life be a
living sacrifice of love and action for Your honor.

God can use you at any age—if you are willing. 

ODJ: tower of…books

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March 21, 2014 

READ: Genesis 11:1-9 

Let’s build a . . . tower that reaches into the sky (v.4).

Marta Minujin created an 82 foot tall sculpture of the Tower of Babel in the Plaza San Martin in Buenos Aires. The artist made it using over 30,000 donated books written in nearly every world language. Inside the turret, visitors could hear a recording of Minujin’s voice pronouncing the Word in various languages. She said her mission was to “unite all people”.

Different languages emerged as a result of the original Tower of Babel. After the flood, some of Noah’s descendants found a nice, wide-open patch of earth in Babylonia. They settled there and planned to “build a great city . . . with a tower that reach[ed] into the sky” (v.4). They hoped this super structure would make them famous and keep them united. But their ambition for greatness was self-centred, prideful and godless.

God came down, inspected their building site (v.5) and decided to put an end to the construction. He did this by creating multiple languages among them. Communication that had been effortless became impossible. The gobbledygook they heard from each other sent them running—they scattered throughout the world (v.8).

The issue of ambition can be tricky. Although it isn’t wrong to want success, we’ve got to remember that God enables every achievement to take place (Deuteronomy 8:18). Also, our efforts to succeed should reflect godly virtues such as humility, honesty and hard work. These qualities can point others to Jesus regardless of the outcome of our endeavours.

Christian researcher and writer David Kinnaman put it this way: “Gaining credibility for its own sake is vanity; gaining credibility to participate in God’s work to redeem the world is a mission.” —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

1 Samuel 8:1-5 ‹365-day plan

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Read Isaiah 14:12-15 to see the danger of godless ambition. Read Romans 15:20-22 for a peek at Paul’s ambition. 
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Why are you at risk of forgetting about God when you experience success? What might indicate that success has become an idol in your life? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Misplaced Love

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March 20, 2014 

READ: Psalm 115 

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. —Psalm 115:4 

Martin Lindstrom, an author and speaker, thinks that cellphones have become akin to a best friend for many owners. Lindstrom’s experiment using an MRI helped him discover why. When the subjects saw or heard their phone ringing, their brains fired off neurons in the area associated with feelings of love and compassion. Lindstrom said, “It was as if they were in the presence of a girlfriend, boyfriend, or family member.”

Many things vie for our affection and time and attention, and it seems we’re always needing to evaluate where we’re focusing our lives. Joshua told the people of Israel that they were to give their affection and worship to God alone (Josh. 24:14). This was significant in contrast to the idols worshiped by the nations around them. These idols were made of metal and were only the work of men’s hands (Ps. 115:4). They were totally powerless compared to the Lord. Therefore, God’s people were exhorted to find their security in Him and not in other gods (Judg. 10:13-16). Jesus reiterated this in His discussion of the commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).

The Lord alone is our help and shield (Ps. 115:9). May we reserve our worship for Him.

— Marvin Williams

For Further Thought
What do our actions in the last few months reveal
about our affections? Is there any indication that we
have placed someone or something above God?

God is most worthy of our affections. 

ODJ: i am He

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March 20, 2014 

READ: John 5:16-30 

So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill [Jesus]. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God (v.18).

Friends, it is time I revealed to you who I really am. I—Sheridan Voysey—am He. I am the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

I tell you the truth, I—Sheridan Voysey—can do nothing by myself. I do only what I see the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, I also do. For the Father loves me and shows me everything He is doing. Just as the Father gives life to those He raises from the dead, so I give life to anyone I want. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, He has given me absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honour me—Sheridan Voysey—just as they honour the Father.

Are you ready to stone me yet?!

Because I am certainly not the Messiah! I simply paraphrased John 5:19-23 to make a point: we can lose sight of how audacious Jesus’ words about Himself were. To His contemporaries, particularly the religious leaders of the day, Jesus was just a man from a small northern village. But this villager claimed to have the authority to break religious rules (John 5:8-10), follow God’s will perfectly (v.19), have intimate divine knowledge (v.20), be the source of life (v.21), be the ultimate judge (v.22) and be worthy of the same honour as God (v.23). As the Jewish authorities understood, Jesus was making Himself equal to the Father (v.18). They thought, How dare He?!

There are some religious sects today that claim the Bible as their authority but deny Jesus’ divinity. Let’s be clear: a Jewish man would utter the words Jesus uttered only if he were insane, or if he were right. These are the words of divinity.

Unlike me, Jesus’ sinless, miracle-working life and His resurrection from death vindicate His audacity. He was and is God in the flesh. —Sheridan Voysey

365-day plan› 1 Samuel 3:1-21

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Read John 8:53-59, Colossians 1:15-20 and Hebrews 1:3 for some other references to Jesus’ divinity. 
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How important is it for you to believe that Jesus is truly God? How could He be both human and divine? 

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ODB: Heaven Rejoices!

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March 19, 2014 

READ: Luke 15:1-10 

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. —Luke 15:10 

Joann had been raised in a Christian home. But when she went to college, she began to question her beliefs and walked away from God. After graduation, she traveled to a number of countries, always looking for happiness but never feeling satisfied. While experiencing some difficulties, she recognized that God was pursuing her and that she needed Him.

From Germany, Joann called her parents in the US and said, “I have given my life to Christ, and He’s changing me! I’m sorry for the worry I have caused you.” Her parents were so excited that they called her brothers and sisters-in-law to come over immediately. They wanted to tell them the exciting news in person. “Your sister has received Christ!” they said, rejoicing through tears.

The woman in Luke 15 who found her lost coin called her friends and neighbors together to rejoice with her (v.9). Jesus told this story, and others about a lost sheep and a lost son, to the religious people of His day to show how He came to earth to pursue lost sinners. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, there is rejoicing both on earth and in heaven. Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (v.10). How wonderful that Jesus has reached down to us and heaven rejoices when we respond!

— Anne Cetas

I was lost but Jesus found me—
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way. —Rowley

Angels rejoice when we repent. 

ODJ: God’s name

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March 19, 2014 

READ: Exodus 20:1-8 

You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name (v.7).

A colleague discovered that her name was used on a website to attract people to attend a Bible seminar. Immediately she took action to investigate the matter. Could this be a case of identity theft?

We get offended when someone misuses our name. Why? Because our name is important to us. It’s not merely a string of letters. It identifies who we are.

God is offended when we misuse His name—and rightly so (Exodus 20:7). For God’s name is always a revelation of who He is. In every title by which God made Himself known to man, He revealed some attributes of His divine character. So misusing His name is an affront to His character.

We can misuse God’s name in many ways. Attaching His name to profanity is one of them. And when we use “my God” or “my Lord” or “Jesus Christ” as a way to express our shock, dismay, surprise, elation or just casual interjection in conversation, we’ve used His name frivolously and disrespectfully. Also, when we praise God in our songs without meaning the words, we’ve uttered His name insincerely.

His name can be misused even through actions and deeds. When believers in Jesus live like the world, we treat the name derived from the One we follow, “Christian”, with disrespect. We give the world occasion to blaspheme the good name of the Lord: “No wonder the Scriptures say, ‘The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you’ ” (Romans 2:24).

The way we handle God’s name is a reflection of our relationship with Him and our esteem for Him. So, let’s serve the right God (1st commandment) the right way (2nd commandment) with the right regard (3rd commandment). —Poh Fang Chia
1 Samuel 1:1-28 ‹365-day plan

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Read Numbers 20:1-13 to see an example of how God dealt with someone who didn’t follow Him in obedience and holiness. 
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How can you treat God’s name more reverently? Why do people choose to disrespect God and His name? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Sweet Fragrance

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March 18, 2014 

READ: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 

We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. —2 Corinthians 2:15 

Some scents are unforgettable. Recently, my husband mentioned he was running low on shaving cream. “I’ll pick some up,” I offered. “Can you get this kind?” he asked, showing me the can. “I love the smell—it’s the kind my dad always used.” I smiled, recalling the time I had been momentarily taken back to my childhood when I got a whiff of the same shampoo my mom used to wash my hair. For both Tom and me, the fragrances had brought an emotional response and pleasant memory of people we loved who were no longer around.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel.”

So, what if our lives were a fragrance that attracted people to God? Second Corinthians 2:15 says that “we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Our fragrance is pleasing to God, but it also attracts others to Him or repels them. We who understand the sacrifice of Jesus have the opportunity to be the “fragrance of Christ”—a reminder of Him—to others.

The sweet scent of the likeness of Christ can be an irresistible pull toward the Savior.

— Cindy Hess Kasper

Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways,
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise. —James

When we walk with God, we leave behind a sweet fragrance that can inspire others to follow. 

ODJ: the Rock

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March 18, 2014 

READ: Psalm 18:1-3, 30-36 

For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? (v.31).

The Christian faith is a singing faith. Knowing that I love to sing hymns, a friend gave me the devotional book 101 Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories

Behind 101 Favourite Hymns so I could learn the history of great songs like “Amazing Grace”, “A Mighty Fortress”, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “It Is Well with My Soul”. Already rich in biblical truth, these hymns have stories behind them that have caused me to appreciate their message even more.

Psalm 18 is a thanksgiving song. The heading “A psalm of David. . . . He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul”, gives us the story behind this song of deliverance (1 Samuel 18-31, 2 Samuel 8:1-14).

David tells of the danger he was in and how the Lord came to his rescue (Psalm 18:4-5,7-29). Then he reveals that there’s sovereign power waiting to be unleashed when we pray and call on God for help (vv.3,6)!

David used various metaphors to describe all the Lord was and had been to him: a rock, a fortress and a shield. “The LORD is my rock . . . my God is my rock, in whom I find protection” is the theme of David’s praise (v.2). A rock is the picture of strength and stability (vv.2,31,46). A fortress pictures a high place of refuge and security to which one might flee for safety (v.2). And a shield is a weapon of defence and protection (vv.2,30,35).

Because he called upon the Lord, David found security, stability, safety, strength and victory in Him (vv.3,6,30-36). Out of gratitude, David sang, “Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!” (v.46). —K.T. Sim
365-day plan› Ruth 4:1-22

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Read Psalm 28 for a similar prayer for help, where David appeals to God as his rock, fortress and shield. 
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What does it mean for God to be your rock, fortress and shield? How has He met you in a personal way? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)