Entries by YMI

ODJ: wonders and whispers

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January 30, 2014 

READ: 1 Kings 18:36-39, 19:9-13 

After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper (19:12).

Scene 1: Elijah is on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-39). The prophet has declared a test. He and the prophets of Baal will each erect an altar and call to their respective gods. The one who sets the altar on fire will be revealed as the one true God (v.24).

The prophets of Baal holler to their god all day, even slashing themselves with knives to get his attention. But the altar stands untouched (vv.28-29). Then Elijah drenches his altar with water and calls on the Lord. Soon fire falls from heaven and burns the soaking altar to a cinder. The people fall prostrate in awe (vv.38-39).

Scene 2: Elijah is on Mount Sinai, this time alone (19:1-13). He’s told to get ready for an appearance from God. A powerful wind rushes past, splintering rocks and shaking the mountain. Surely this is God! But it’s not (v.11). An earthquake comes next and then a fire (as on Mount Carmel), but God is in neither. Then, as things grow quiet, Elijah hears a gentle whisper. He covers his face in awe (vv.12-13).

One man, one God and two very different spiritual experiences. I think this story has a lot to say to us today. Some of us seek God through dramatic wonders. We like large gatherings with loud worship and we call on God to work miracles every Sunday. If Sunday comes and a miracle doesn’t occur, some ‘wonders’ people question why God didn’t ‘show up’.

Others of us like quietness and order. Our spirituality emphasises the hearing of God’s gentle whisper. When a wonder comes, some ‘whispers’ people get suspicious, or they dismiss the miraculous altogether.

But Elijah encountered God in both wonders and whispers. A balanced spirituality for us means being open to both. —Sheridan Voysey

MORE
Read Luke 5:16-26 to see Jesus seeking the Father’s whispers (v.16) and then enacting the Father’s wonders. 
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Are you more prone to seek God’s wonders or whispers? Why is it important to acknowledge both? 

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ODB: Great Expectations

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January 29, 2014 

READ: Philippians 1:12-21 

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified. —Philippians 1:20 

I once asked a counselor what the major issues were that brought people to him. Without hesitation he said, “The root of many problems is broken expectations; if not dealt with, they mature into anger and bitterness.”

In our best moments, it’s easy to expect that we will find ourselves in a good place surrounded by good people who like and affirm us. But life has a way of breaking those expectations. What then?

Stuck in jail and beset by fellow believers in Rome who didn’t like him (Phil. 1:15-16), Paul remained surprisingly upbeat. As he saw it, God had given him a new mission field. While under house arrest, he witnessed to the guards about Christ, which sent the gospel into Caesar’s house. And even though those opposing him were preaching the gospel from wrong motives, Christ was being preached, so Paul rejoiced (v.18).

Paul never expected to be in a great place or to be well liked. His only expectation was that “Christ will be magnified” through him (v.20). He wasn’t disappointed.

If our expectation is to make Christ visible to those around us regardless of where we are or who we are with, we will find those expectations met and even exceeded. Christ will be magnified.

— Joe Stowell

Lord, forgive me for making my life all about what
I expect and not about glorifying You regardless
of my circumstances. May Your love, mercy,
and justice be magnified through me today.

Make it your only expectation to magnify Christ wherever you are and whoever you are with. 

ODJ: glory & authority

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January 29, 2014 

READ: John 2:1-22 

His mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (v.5).

John records for us two events that occurred at the beginning (probably in the first few weeks) of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus performed the first of his 35 recorded miracles at a wedding in Cana, turning plain water used for ceremonial washing into top quality wine (John 2:1-11). More than just showing us a tender and compassionate Jesus helping an embarrassed, newly married couple whose wine ran out too early, we’re offered a taste of His transforming power!

John then shows us a totally different and intolerant Jesus. Enraged and with a physical display of anger, Jesus made a whip from some ropes and threw all the traders out of the temple compound (vv.13-22). Turning water into wine revealed Jesus’ glory (v.11) and throwing out the traders showed His authority (v.18).

John put these two events back to back to give us a balanced view of Jesus. We need to see both His tender kindness and His holy wrath, that the Lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah. The qualities of a lamb—gentleness and tenderness—indeed are found in Christ, but so are the majesty and ferocity of a lion.

We welcome His power in our lives, especially if that power is used for our benefit. We have no difficulty basking in Jesus’ glory, but we resist His authority over us. We welcome Jesus’ action of turning water into wine but we resist when He turns our lives upside down, inside out and right side up. We don’t want Him to interfere with how we live.

We need to pay heed to what Jesus’ mother told the servants: “Do whatever he tells you” (v.5). Jesus’ glory and authority demands our obedience and submission. Will you do whatever Jesus tells you to do? —K.T. Sim

MORE
Read Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17 and Luke 19:45-46 for the second and later cleansing of the temple. 
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Jesus wants to change you. How are you resisting Him? What will it mean for you to submit to His authority today? 

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ODB: Better Than Planned

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January 28, 2014 

READ: Ephesians 5:15-21 

Giving thanks always for all things. —Ephesians 5:20 

Interruptions are nothing new. Rarely does a day go by as planned.

Life is filled with inconveniences. Our plans are constantly thwarted by forces beyond our control. The list is long and ever-changing: Sickness. Conflict. Traffic jams. Forgetfulness. Appliance malfunctions. Rudeness. Laziness. Impatience. Incompetence.

What we cannot see, however, is the other side of inconvenience. We think it has no purpose other than to discourage us, make life more difficult, and thwart our plans. However, inconvenience could be God’s way of protecting us from some unseen danger, or it could be an opportunity to demonstrate God’s grace and forgiveness. It might be the start of something even better than we had planned. Or it could be a test to see how we respond to adversity. Whatever it is, even though we may not know God’s reason, we can be assured of His motive—to make us more like Jesus and to further His kingdom on earth.

To say that God’s followers throughout history have been “inconvenienced” would be an understatement. But God had a purpose. Knowing this, we can thank Him, being confident that He is giving us an opportunity to redeem the time (Eph. 5:16,20).

— Julie Ackerman Link

Lord, so often it’s the little things in life that get
to me, and there seem to be so many of them.
Whenever I’m tempted to lose my temper, blame
someone, or just give up, help me see You.

What happens to us is not nearly as important as what God does in us and through us. 

ODJ: established

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January 28, 2014 

READ: Psalm 119:105-112 

You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News (Colossians 1:23).

The room was a disaster. Desks appeared tossed about, popcorn littered the floor and the whiteboards bore a mess of abstract artwork. My classroom had served as an area for some primary school aged actors to rest and stay entertained between their few scenes in the high school musical. Now that the final curtain had closed, I surveyed the damage and went to work sweeping and cleaning. As I folded back the large rug I keep at the front of the room, the words on its underside caught my eye.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105 NKJV

Then I remembered. At the beginning of the school year I had written that verse on the bottom of the rug as a symbolic declaration of my true calling. Amidst the piles of paper on my desk, the duties to perform and the lessons to plan, my primary responsibility was to stand in the truth and authority of Jesus. Regardless of what life brings, we can simply try to survive or truly thrive. The key is in the positioning of our feet.

Jesus told us that each day would hold its own challenges (Matthew 6:34), but He also declared His sovereignty over any situation we face (John 16:33). Being established in God’s Word isn’t simply a Christian cliché. It requires a decision to believe what God says above anything else we read or hear. Moreover, it’s a decision to believe that Jesus—the living Word of God (John 1:1-4)—is more powerful than anything we’ll encounter.

Far beyond a recitation in a Sunday service, our declaration of faith is a decision to stand firm and follow the truths of God’s Word (Psalm 105:11-12; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21,24). —Regina Franklin

MORE
Read Psalm 33:1-18. Identify five declarations of faith we can make that are based on this passage. 
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If given the opportunity, what verse would you write on the floor beneath your feet? What does ‘thriving’ in the midst of challenges mean to you?  

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ODB: The Wonder Of The Cross

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January 27, 2014 

READ: Hebrews 12:1-4 

[Look] unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. —Hebrews 12:2 

While visiting Australia, I had the opportunity on a particularly clear night to see the Southern Cross. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, this constellation is one of the most distinctive. Mariners and navigators began relying on it as early as the 15th century for direction and navigation through the seas. Although relatively small, it is visible throughout most of the year. The Southern Cross was so vivid on that dark night that even I could pick it out of the bundle of stars. It was truly a magnificent sight!

The Scriptures tell us of an even more magnificent cross—the cross of Christ. When we look at the stars, we see the handiwork of the Creator; but when we look at the cross, we see the Creator dying for His creation. Hebrews 12:2 calls us to “[look] unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The wonder of Calvary’s cross is that while we were still in our sins, our Savior died for us (Rom. 5:8). Those who place their trust in Christ are now reconciled to God, and He navigates them through life (2 Cor. 1:8-10).

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the greatest of all wonders!

— Bill Crowder

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride. —Watts

Christ’s cross provides the only safe crossing into eternity. 

ODJ: ready or not

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January 27, 2014 

READ: Matthew 24:30-51 

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected (v.44).

Recently a thief propped a metal ladder against the back of a restaurant early one morning. He scaled the ladder, reached the roof and entered the eatery hoping to plunder the place. He couldn’t have known, however, that the restaurant’s owner was waiting inside. The restaurant had been burgled three times in previous weeks and the owner refused to become a victim again.

Jesus told a similar story as He talked with His disciples. He said, “If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into” (Matthew 24:43). He continued by saying, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected” (v.44).

Although no one except God knows the exact time when Jesus will come back from heaven (v.36), the Bible encourages us to live watchfully. It also gives us clues about what will happen before Jesus returns: wars, natural disasters and persecution will escalate and false religious leaders will infest the world (vv. 7-9, 23-24).

Despite these events, we don’t have to cower as we watch and wait (Romans 13:11-14). Rather, we can joyfully anticipate Jesus’ return and let it inspire holiness in our lives. Peter supplied us with a few pointers on how best to do this: pray faithfully, love deeply and share generously (1 Peter 4:7-9). This is how we glorify the One we’re waiting for.

Jesus will come as unexpectedly as a thief in the night. Ready or not, we’ll leave this earth to join Him on that day (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Fortunately, we can rely on God to “keep [us] strong to the end so that [we] will be free from all blame” when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
› Genesis 43:1-34

MORE
Look up John 14:1-4 to see where Jesus will take us when He returns. 
NEXT
Are you looking forward to Jesus’ second coming? Why, or why not? How should you respond when you hear someone predicting the day of Jesus’ return? 

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ODB: The Discipline Of Waiting

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January 26, 2014 

READ: Psalm 40:1-3 

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. —Psalm 40:1 

Waiting is hard. We wait in grocery lines, in traffic, in the doctor’s office. We twiddle our thumbs, stifle our yawns, and fret inwardly in frustration. On another level, we wait for a letter that doesn’t come, for a prodigal child to return, or for a spouse to change. We wait for a child we can hold in our arms. We wait for our heart’s desire.

In Psalm 40, David says, “I waited patiently for the Lord.” The original language here suggests that David “waited and waited and waited” for God to answer his prayer. Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God. As a result, David says, God “put a new song . . . a hymn of praise” in his heart (40:3 niv).

“What a chapter can be written of God’s delays!” said F. B. Meyer. “It is the mystery of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are capable.” Through the discipline of waiting, we can develop the quieter virtues—submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in well-doing—virtues that take the longest to learn.

What do we do when God seems to withhold our heart’s desire? He is able to help us to love and trust Him enough to accept the delay with joy and to see it as an opportunity to develop these virtues—and to praise Him.

— David H. Roper

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. —Pollard

Waiting for God is never a waste of time. 

ODJ: waking to our hunger

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January 26, 2014 

READ: Luke 4:1-11 

[Jesus] was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry (v.2).

When our boys come home from school or return to the house from playing, they utter predictable words amidst moans: “I’m starving. I’m going to die if I don’t eat”. They descend on me and my wife like vultures, insisting they’ll keel over at any moment if food doesn’t arrive. Usually, however, as we list the healthy snacks available to them (nuts, fruit, yogurt), they brush each possibility aside. “No, I don’t want that. No, that doesn’t sound good”. Of course, I tell them what every parent throughout human existence has told their children in moments like this: “If you were really starving, you’d eat any of these. Obviously, you’re not that hungry”.

When the devil met Jesus in the wilderness, he tried to hit Jesus right in His belly. Since it had been 40 days since Jesus had enjoyed a meal, He was ravenous. The New Revised Standard Version says that Jesus was “famished”. Knowing Jesus’ weak spot, Satan enticed Him to turn a rock into bread.

Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy, however and said to the devil, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone’ ” (Luke 4:4; see also Deuteronomy 8:3). Now, Jesus knows as well as any of us that we do need staple foods like bread. If we’re to live, we must eat. What Jesus knew more than this, however, was that the bread we manage from our own resources will never satisfy our hunger. The bread we concoct will not be enough to keep us alive.

The bread we require in order to live must come from God. There’s a great temptation to believe that we can meet our needs on our own. We can make this attempt, but if we persist on this foolish path we will spiritually starve. We will die. —Winn Collier
Genesis 42:1-38 ‹

MORE
Read Deuteronomy 8:1-5, the passage Jesus quoted to the devil in the wilderness. Why did God allow Israel to hunger? What did He provide for His hungry people? 
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What are you truly hungry for? How are you tempted to assuage this hunger on your own, with your own kind of bread? 

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