Entries by YMI

ODB: Perspective From The Clouds

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March 17, 2014 

READ: Job 3:3-5; 42:5-6 

I have heard of You . . . but now my eye sees You. —Job 42:5 

In 1927 the silent film Wings, a World War I film about two American aviators, won the first Academy Award for Best Picture. When it was being filmed, production stopped for several days. Frustrated producers asked the director why. He responded: “All we have is blue sky. The conflict in the air will not be as visible without clouds. Clouds bring perspective.” He was right. Only by seeing aerial combat with clouds as a backdrop could the viewer see what was really going on.

We often wish for blue skies instead of storm clouds. But cloudy skies may reveal God’s faithfulness. We gain perspective on how God has been faithful in our trials as we look back on the clouds.

At the beginning of his terrible suffering, Job lamented: “May the day perish on which I was born . . . . May a cloud settle on it” (Job 3:3-5). His experience of despair continued for a long time until God spoke. Then Job exclaimed, “I have heard of You . . . but now my eye sees You” (42:5). Job had encountered the sovereign Creator, and that changed his perspective on God’s purposes.

Do clouds of trouble fill your skies today? Sooner than you think, God may use these clouds to help you gain perspective on His faithfulness.

— Dennis Fisher

God, give us wings to rise above
The clouds of trial that block the sun,
To soar above gray skies and see
The love and goodness of Your Son. —Sper

Often the clouds of sorrow reveal the sunshine of His face. —Jasper 

ODJ: saying goodbye

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March 17, 2014 

READ: Acts 20:13-38 

They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship (v.38).

Today I told my friend Jen goodbye. Having met her a year ago, I liked her from the first time I interviewed her for a teaching position in our department. I soon realised we were twins born 8 years apart—she too keeps bananas in her freezer and has a sensitive heart. Witty, bright, strong—and unafraid to cry—Jen embraces life with passion. I’ll miss her dearly as she begins a new life with her husband in a different part of the country. As unexpectedly as our paths crossed, they now divide.

Travelling around Europe and Asia, the apostle Paul knew more of partings and distance in his relationships than he did of consistency and geographical closeness. Though he was unafraid to tell of his disappointment in various relationships and quick to ask for aid when needed (2 Timothy 1:15, 4:10-13), the account of his meeting with the elders from Ephesus for a final goodbye provides an intimate glimpse into the love Paul had for others. He wanted—and perhaps even needed—to see them again (Acts 20:17). But when dealing with the finality of this parting, Paul kept his eyes focused on the purpose God had given him for those relationships in the first place: to advance Jesus’ kingdom (vv.24-25).

Separation isn’t easy, even when we know God is in control and especially when the relationship is one that has brought spiritual growth to our lives. We fear change; we dread loss. But we can either live closed off in an attempt to avoid painful goodbyes, or we can fully love those God gives us in a divine—not random—appointment.

When the goodbyes invariably come, our hope remains constant: God is up to something good (Romans 8:28). —Regina Franklin

Ruth 3:1-18 ‹365-day plan

MORE
Read 1 Samuel 20:27-42 and consider how David and Jonathan’s lives would have been decidedly different if they had made their always being together a contingency for their obedience to God. 
NEXT
How can we determine if fear of loss is affecting our ability to form healthy, godly relationships with others? What person has God recently brought into your life in a divine manner? How are you stewarding that relationship?  

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Heart Food

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March 16, 2014 

READ: Jeremiah 15:15-21 

Your words were found, and I ate them. —Jeremiah 15:16 

I love food! I love to see it beautifully presented, and I love to savor the taste. If it were up to me, I would eat more often than I should—although it wouldn’t help my waistline! So, it’s a good thing my wife, Martie, knows when to lovingly remind me to eat healthful foods in the right amount.

Reading Jeremiah’s interesting thought—that when he found the words of God (even the words of God’s judgment) he “ate them” (Jer. 15:16)—makes me wonder if I ingest God’s Word as eagerly, as lovingly, and as often.

Clearly, Jeremiah did not actually eat God’s Word. It was his way of saying that he read and savored it in his innermost being. And that’s exactly where God’s Word is intended to go. The Word is heart food! When we ingest it, the Holy Spirit provides the power to help us grow to be more like Jesus. His Word transforms how we think about God, money, enemies, careers, and family. In other words, it’s really good for us.

So, “eat” God’s Word to your heart’s content! No doubt you will find yourself agreeing with the prophet Jeremiah when he said: “Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (15:16).

— Joe Stowell

Lord, cultivate in me an appetite for Your Word. Thank
You that the Bible is food for my soul. Lead me to read
it, to savor it, to ingest it, and to know the strength
that Your words can give to my often-failing heart.

The more you feast on God’s Word, the healthier you will become. 

ODJ: the main event

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March 16, 2014 

READ: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 

If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world (v.19).

In John Irving’s novel Prayer for Owen Meany, Owen announced the distinct importance of Jesus’ resurrection: “Anyone can be sentimental about the nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event.”

Owen held this conviction, but not because it presents an abstract theological idea. Rather, the resurrection is central because this story of death being redeemed and life being found in God is at the centre of His intentions in the world.

The apostle Paul reiterated the prime theme and truths of the gospel, the good news that had been given to him and that he was now compelled to give to others. He wrote that “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried and he was raised from the dead on the third day” (15:3-4). Some Corinthian Christians, however, had begun to suggest that there was no resurrection of the dead.

No, Paul exclaimed, with force. No, do not surrender our hope. Paul’s insistence on our good future (and creation’s good future) hinged on what Jesus had already done, crucifying sin in His death and then renewing life in His resurrection. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless” (vv.16-17).

Jesus’ resurrection was not merely a picture of God’s love and justice or just some economic transaction where humanity’s sins moved from one ledger to another. Jesus was “the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (v.20). By his resurrection, He inaugurated how God intends to renew every person and every place where death resides. Resurrection may seem absurd, but it is our sure hope. —Winn Collier

365-day plan› Ruth 2:1-23

MORE
Read 1 Corinthians 15 in its entirety. Which of Paul’s words stand out to you? Why does he seem so passionate about the resurrection? 
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Does the resurrection seem preposterous or absurd to you? Why? How does the fact of the resurrection change the way you view the broken places in your life or heart? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Job Titles

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March 15, 2014 

READ: Ephesians 4:11-16 

For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith. —Ephesians 4:12-13 

When the British Broadcasting Corporation asked for examples of important-sounding, obscure, and even bizarre job titles, one writer offered hers: Underwater Ceramic Technician. She was a dishwasher at a restaurant. Sometimes titles are used to make a job sound more important.

When the apostle Paul listed some of God’s gifts to the church in Ephesians 4:11, he did not intend for these to be understood as high-sounding job titles. All the parts of the body are necessary for the body to function properly. No one part is better than another.

What was of primary importance was the purpose of these gifts. They were “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to . . . the stature of the fullness of Christ” (vv.12-13).

It matters little what title we hold. What is important is that we strengthen the faith of God’s people. When we gauge our effectiveness by the standard that the Bible gives us, it will not matter when we are moved to another role or no longer hold a specific title. Out of love for God, we serve to build up fellow believers, and we let God give His commendation in heaven as He sees fit (Matt. 25:21).

— C. P. Hia

Lord, please use me as Your instrument to touch
others’ lives. Help me not to be concerned
about what title I hold but instead that my
life might show others Your grace.

God’s gifts to us are not for us but for others. 

ODJ: x prize

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March 15, 2014 

READ: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 

What gives us hope and joy and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy (vv.19-20).

The X Prize Foundation attempts to solve the world’s problems by offering large cash prizes to whatever team can fix them first. Winning teams have built a spacecraft that can fly beyond the earth’s atmosphere twice in 2 weeks and cars that achieve 100 miles per gallon. Other teams are trying to land a robot on the moon, build a machine that can quickly sequence each person’s genome and create a portable device that can diagnose a patient’s condition. These goals will probably be met, for people will work hard for extortionate amounts of money.

The success of the X Prize helps to remind me that God offers something far greater than money to those who help solve the world’s greatest need.

Paul told the Thessalonians that he gladly worked hard amid intense persecution to bring them to Christ. He didn’t sacrifice to hear their praise or to “get [their] money”, but for the joy of having them stand beside him when the Lord returns (1 Thessalonians 2:5-6,19). Jesus “has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). What could be more satisfying than knowing you had a hand in bringing some of them home?

Jesus compared God to a man who entrusted his money to servants while he was away. Those who used his wealth to advance his kingdom were told, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:21).

Do you believe these rewards are real? Then run for the prize! —Mike Wittmer

Ruth 1:1-22 ‹365-day plan

MORE
Read Acts 20:13-38 to learn how Paul devoted himself to win God’s prize. 
NEXT
What sacrifices have you made to tell others about Jesus? What more might you contribute to the cause? Why? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

Prone to Wander, Lord I Feel It!

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March 14, 2014 

READ: Psalm 119:9-16 

With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! —Psalm 119:10 

One of my favorite classic hymns is “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which was written in 1757 by 22-year-old Robert Robinson. In the hymn’s lyrics is a line that always captures my attention and forces me to do some self-evaluation. The line says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” I feel that way sometimes. Too often I find myself distracted and drifting, instead of having my heart and mind focused on the Savior who loves me and gave Himself for me. Robert Robinson and I are not alone in this.

In those seasons of wandering, our heart of hearts doesn’t want to drift from God—but, like Paul, we often do what we don’t want to do (Rom. 7:19), and we desperately need to turn back to the Shepherd of our heart who can draw us to Himself. David wrote of this struggle in His great anthem to the Scriptures, Psalm 119, saying, “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” (v.10).

Sometimes, even when our hearts long to seek God, the distractions of life can draw us away from Him and His Word. How grateful we can be for a patient, compassionate heavenly Father whose grace is always sufficient—even when we are prone to wander!

— Bill Crowder

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above. —Robinson

Our tendency to wander is matched by God’s willingness to pursue. 

ODJ: abundance

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March 14, 2014 

READ: Ephesians 1:3-14 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ (v.3).

The other day I took my son to a baseball batting cage and paid for eight sets of 25 pitches. To our pleasant surprise, when the round finished, the balls kept coming—and coming. The machine had malfunctioned and as a result it kept delivering an abundance of pitches. This reminded me of the time a friend’s 5 year old daughter woke up and said, “Last night I had the best dream. I was at the beach and more toys than I could ever hope for washed up on the shore for me to have!”

In reality, rarely are earthly possessions and recreational activities showered upon us in abundance. To the contrary, most of us must work to earn money for batting machine rounds and for the toys, cars and homes we desire.

As we abide in Jesus Christ, however, Paul reveals that God has . . .

• loved us and chosen us even before the world was created (Ephesians 1:4).

• made us holy and perfect (v.4).

• adopted us into His family (v.5).

• showed us His grace (v.6).

• forgiven our sins (v.7).

• showered us with kindness, wisdom and understanding (v.8).

• enabled us to hear and understand His salvation plan (vv.9,13).

• given us an inheritance (vv.11,14).

• placed within us His Holy Spirit (v.14).

From God’s abundance “we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).

Today, consider what God has lavished on you and the blessings He offers you through His Son Jesus! —Roxanne Robbins
365-day plan› Judges 16:22-31

MORE
Read what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19 and consider what it says about God and how He will provide for your needs. 
NEXT
How have you seen the essence of Matthew 25:29 unfold in your own life? What does it mean for God to give us abundantly what we need but not what we might want? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Without Power

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March 13, 2014 

READ: Isaiah 40:27-31; 41:10 

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. —Isaiah 40:29 

In late October 2012, a hurricane-spawned superstorm struck the heavily populated northeastern US, leaving massive flooding and destruction in its wake. During the storm, more than 8 million customers lost electricity. Power outages alone caused shortages of food, fuel, and water, along with the chaos of gridlocked transportation. The howling winds and surging waters left many neighborhoods crushed, flooded, and choked with mountains of sand. Media coverage of the event reported: “Millions Without Power.”

Like a storm of nature, a personal tragedy can often leave us feeling powerless and in the dark. During such times, God’s Word assures us of His help: “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isa. 40:29).

At our lowest point, drained of emotional resources, we can place our hope in the Lord and find our strength in Him. He promises us that, for each new day, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (v.31).

God is our spiritual power source in every storm of life.

— David C. McCasland

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home! —Watts

It takes the storm to prove the real shelter.