Entries by YMI

ODB: Genuine Concern

Nov 20, 2013 in , , /by

November 20, 2013 

READ: Philippians 2:1-5 

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4 

On the first night at family camp, the camp director informed the families of the schedule for the week. When finished, he asked if anyone else had anything to say. A young girl stood up and made a passionate appeal for help. She shared about her little brother—a boy with special needs—and how he could be a challenge to care for. She talked about how tiring this was for her family, and she asked everyone there to help them keep an eye on him during the week. It was an appeal born out of genuine concern for her brother and her parents. As the week went on, it was great to see people pitching in to help this family.

Her appeal was a gentle reminder of how easily we can all get wrapped up in our own world, life, and problems—to the point that we fail to see the needs of others. Here’s how Paul described our responsibility: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). The next verse reminds us that this is part of the example of Christ: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Our caring displays a Christlike concern for people who are hurting. May we rest in God’s grace, trusting Him to enable us to serve others in their seasons of need.

— Bill Crowder

Lord, open my eyes to the hurts, needs, and struggles
of a world that is so desperately in need of Your love.
Help me to be Your instrument to inject
that love into hurting lives.

Nothing costs as much as caring—except not caring. 

ODJ: feast or famine

Nov 20, 2013 in , , /by

November 20, 2013 

READ: Amos 8:11-14 

Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the Lord’s word (v.13).

You can walk into a Christian bookshop today and find rows and rows of books on the shelves. And without stepping into a church, you can listen to thousands of podcasts and sermons online. The massive amount of biblical resources available at our fingertips is astounding. So, is it possible during this age to experience a famine of God’s Word? Do we need to heed the warning for the prophet Amos (8:11) or was that relevant only for ancient Israel?

Answering these questions is critical because the consequences for ignoring God’s Word are devastating. Essentially God has said, “If you keep shutting Me out, eventually I’ll turn silent. When that day happens, you’ll understand that ‘people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

God’s Word provides spiritual nourishment and refreshment. When it is unavailable, even the young, strong and beautiful will languish from spiritual malnutrition (Amos 8:13). The warning through Amos came because of Israel’s complacency, idolatry and oppression of the poor. Are we guilty of that today?

It’s helpful to note that Jesus said something similar to His disciples. He taught, “To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them” (Matthew 13:12).

This doesn’t mean that God will remove all copies of the Bible from us, but that when we seek help, advice or comfort from Him, we will not get it. The only way to avoid this famine is to feast on His Word and obey it. — Poh Fang Chia

MORE
Read Psalm 1 to remind yourself of the blessing or curse for living or not living by God’s Word. 
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What might a famine of God’s Word look like in your life? What will help you feast on Scripture this week? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Traveling Companion

Nov 19, 2013 in , , /by

November 19, 2013 

READ: Psalm 39 

For I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were. —Psalm 39:12 

I looked up the members of my seminary graduating class recently and discovered that many of my friends are now deceased. It was a sober reminder of the brevity of life. Three score and ten, give or take a few years, and we’re gone (Ps. 90:10). Israel’s poet was right: We’re but strangers here and sojourners (39:12).

The brevity of life makes us think about our “end”—the measure of our days and how fleeting they are (v.4), a feeling that grows more certain as we draw closer to the end of our lives. This world is not our home; we’re but strangers and sojourners here.

Yet we are not alone on the journey. We are strangers and sojourners with God (39:12), a thought that makes the journey less troubling, less frightening, less worrisome. We pass through this world and into the next with a loving Father as our constant companion and guide. We’re strangers here on earth, but we are never alone on the journey (73:23-24). We have One who says, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20).

We may lose sight of father, mother, spouse, and friends, but we always know that God is walking beside us. An old saying puts it like this: “Good company on the road makes the way to seem lighter.”

— David H. Roper

My times are in my Father’s hand;
How could I wish or ask for more?
For He who has my pathway planned
Will guide me till my journey’s o’er. —Fraser

As you travel life’s weary road, let Jesus lift your heavy load. 

ODJ: measuring ourselves

Nov 19, 2013 in , , /by

November 19, 2013 

READ: Romans 12:3-5 

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (v.3).

We have a tendency to overestimate ourselves and inflate our positive qualities. Recently researchers asked nearly a million secondary school pupils to assess their leadership skills. Seventy percent rated themselves as above average, while only 2 percent rated their leadership skills below average. In another study, 94 percent of university professors rated their work above average. Psychologists call this the “illusionary superiority” effect—where we think we’re better than we really are.

This flawed self-assessment is nothing new. The apostle Paul warned the believers in Rome about this ‘above average fallacy’ long ago. He began by reminding them of his apostolic authority, laying a foundation for instruction he wanted them to accept and apply (Romans 12:3). He reminded them that God had granted each of them spiritual gifts and that they were to use them to be a blessing to others in the body of Christ (vv.4-5). And so that they didn’t simply assume that they were worthy of these gifts, Paul warned them that the “illusionary superiority” effect could disrupt the unity of the body as they exercised their spiritual gifts.

Instead, the Roman believers were to strive to have a well balanced evaluation of themselves. Then they would be able to use their gifts for the benefit of one another as they served side by side, functioning interdependently (v.5).

As living sacrifices, we’re to preserve the unity of the body of Christ by rejecting an attitude of pride or status and accepting a realistic view of ourselves. This will renew the realisation that the gifts we’ve received have come from God, and it will inspire us to use them to be a blessing to others. — Marvin Williams

MORE
Read Philippians 2:3-8 and note how Jesus’ example should guide our view of ourselves and our relationship with other believers.  
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Why do we tend to compare ourselves with others and have a flawed self-assessment? Why is it important not to compare ourselves with other believers in the body of Christ? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Welcome Back

Nov 18, 2013 in , , /by

November 18, 2013 

READ: Nehemiah 9:7-21 

You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. —Nehemiah 9:17 

Jim decided to follow Christ at the age of 10. Fifteen years later his commitment had faded. He had adopted a live-for-the-moment philosophy and developed some bad habits. Then his life seemed to fall apart. He had problems at work. Three family members died almost simultaneously. Fears and doubts began to plague Jim, and nothing seemed to help—until one day when he read Psalm 121:2, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” These words cut through the fear and confusion in his heart. He turned back to God for help, and God welcomed him.

Jim’s spiritual journey reminds me of ancient Israel’s history. The Israelites had a unique relationship with God—they were His chosen people (Neh. 9:1-15). However, they spent many years rebelling and ignoring God’s goodness, turning away to follow their own path (vv.16-21). Yet when they returned to Him and repented, God was “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (v.17).

These divine qualities encourage us to draw near to God—even after we have wandered away from Him. When we humbly abandon our rebellious ways and recommit ourselves to God’s ways, He will show compassion and welcome us back to closeness with Him.

— Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me. —Thompson

God’s arms of welcome are always open. 

ODJ: leading integrity

Nov 18, 2013 in , , /by

November 18, 2013 

READ: Nehemiah 7:1-3 

I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani . . . because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do (v.2 NIV).

In 2012 a group of experts held a search for 1,000 people of integrity in their country. From that group they identified 20 who they felt could become key governmental leaders. This was in reaction to the widespread dismay over the fact that one-third of the country’s regents and mayors were under investigation for corruption. In a country of hundreds of millions, there was no shortage of leader applicants, but the group of experts believed it was imperative that they help elect leaders who possessed integrity.

Integrity was an important issue in Nehemiah’s day as well. With the walls completed and gates restored, the city of Jerusalem was secure once again (Nehemiah 7). But Nehemiah had two more tasks to do. Firstly, he appointed “the gatekeepers, singers and Levites” (v.1). Why gatekeepers? Weren’t they simply security guards who were ignored by most people? No, their contribution should have been highly valued. For what good were impregnable walls if the one controlling the gates wasn’t trustworthy? The Great Wall of China was breached many times, simply because the gatekeepers were bribed to let in the invaders. Walls and gates are only as good as the people guarding them (v.3).

Secondly, Nehemiah appointed leaders who were people of integrity (v.2). Today there is no shortage of talented people in our churches. And often these gifted ones are appointed as leaders because they’re deemed to be successful in their professional fields. But are they people of integrity, people who fear God? They should certainly be individuals who “fear God more than most” (v.2).

In appointing people to key positions, Nehemiah looked for people of integrity who feared God more than most. May we do the same in our churches. —K.T. Sim

MORE
What kind of people did Moses appoint as leaders in Exodus 18:19-26?  
NEXT
What does it mean for you to be a person of integrity? How does a person who fears God more than most lead others well? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Hero Over Sin

Nov 17, 2013 in , , /by

November 17, 2013 

READ: 1 John 1 

Create in me a clean heart, O God. —Psalm 51:10 

Not long ago, someone asked me a very tough question: “What is the longest you have gone without sinning? A week, a day, an hour?” How can we answer a question like that? If we’re truthful, we might say, “I can’t live a day without sinning.” Or if we look back over the past week, we might see that we haven’t confessed to God even one sin. But we would be fooling ourselves if we said we hadn’t sinned in our thoughts or actions for a week.

God knows our hearts and whether we’re sensitive to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. If we really know ourselves, we take 1 John 1:8 to heart, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We certainly don’t want verse 10 to be true of us, “If we say that we have not sinned, . . . His word is not in us.”

A more encouraging question to ask might be: “What is God’s response to our admission of sin and need for forgiveness?” The answer: “If we confess . . . , He is faithful and just to forgive us” (v.9). Jesus has taken our sin problem upon Himself by dying in our place and rising again. That’s why He can create in us “a clean heart” (Ps. 51:10). My young friend Jaydon is right when he says, “Jesus is the hero over our sins.”

— Anne Cetas

No one can say he doesn’t need
Forgiveness for his sin,
For all must come to Christ by faith
To have new life within. —Branon

Christ’s forgiveness is the door to a new beginning. 

ODJ: thief of time

Nov 17, 2013 in , , /by

November 17, 2013 

READ: Luke 9:57-62 

Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family (v.61).

Maneesh Sethi hired a woman to sit at his computer and watch him as he worked. Armedwith a list of his tasks, her job was to slap him if he tried to put off working by checking Facebook or scanning other websites. Later he employed a tall Swedish man to do the same job—that guy hit a bit harder, according to Maneesh. Oddly this rather extreme measure worked. Maneesh claims that his ‘slappers’ helped him become 98 percent more productive by preventing procrastination during his workday.

It’s important to be productive in whatever job God has given us. Paul wrote, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans 12:11). But we should also be diligent in our work for His kingdom. Jesus said, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work” (John 9:4).

Someone described procrastination as “the thief of time”, and this seems to fit with the sense of urgency Jesus wanted His followers to adopt. Once Jesus invited a man to follow Him, saying, “Come, follow Me.” But the man said, “First let me return home and bury my father” (Luke 9:59). Jesus replied, “Your duty is to go and preach about the kingdom of God” (v.60). Then another man said, “I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family” (v.61). Jesus, who sees past our excuses, replied: “Anyone who puts a hand to the plough and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” (v.62).

God has called each of us to use our spiritual gifts to serve Him. If He’s tapping you on the shoulder today, asking, “When will you serve Me?” don’t put it off. Let Him know that you’re available—first time. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

MORE
Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-3 to see why it’s best to serve God now instead of later. Look up Acts 24:22-27 to see what happened when Felix put off making a decision. 
NEXT
What steps could you take this week to build God’s kingdom? How might God want you to change patterns of procrastination in your life? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: To Whom It Is Due

Nov 16, 2013 in , , /by

November 16, 2013 

READ: Romans 13:1-10 

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. —Romans 13:7 

My husband and I live in a rural area surrounded by farms where this slogan is popular: “If you ate a meal today, thank a farmer.” Farmers definitely deserve our gratitude. They do the hot, hard work of tilling soil, planting seeds, and harvesting the food that keeps us from starving to death.

But every time I thank a farmer, I also try to remember to offer praise to God, for He is the One responsible for producing the food we eat. He gives light, sends rain, and creates the energy within the seed that gives it the strength to push through the soil and produce fruit.

Although the earth and everything in it belong to God (Ps. 24:1), He has chosen humans to be its caretakers. We are responsible to use the earth’s resources as He would use them—to do His work in the world (115:16). And just as we are stewards of God’s physical creation, we also are stewards of His design for society. We do this by respecting those He has placed in authority, by paying taxes, by giving honor to those who have earned it, and by continuing to pay our debt of love (Rom. 13:7-8). But one thing we reserve for God: All praise and glory belong to Him, for He is the One who makes everything possible (Ps. 96:8).

— Julie Ackerman Link

Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation. —Schütz

God’s unsearchable ways deserve our unbounded praise.