Entries by YMI

ODB: All Through This Hour

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September 9, 2013 

READ: Psalm 25:1-11 

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. —Psalm 25:5 

The majestic chime of London’s Great Clock of Westminster, commonly known as Big Ben, is familiar to many. In fact, some of us may have clocks in our homes that sound the same hourly chime. It is traditionally thought that the melody was taken from Handel’s Messiah. And the lyrics inscribed in the Big Ben clock room have a time significance:

All through this hour,

Lord, be my guide;

And by Thy power,

No foot shall slide.

These lyrics are a good reminder of our constant need for God’s guidance. King David recognized that he needed guidance all through the day as he faced the challenges of life. In Psalm 25 he says: “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (v.5). Wanting to be a teachable follower of God, David looked to his Redeemer for direction. His heart’s desire was to wait on God with dependent faith throughout the entire day.

May this be our desire as well. Our requests for God’s help often begin the day, but then competing distractions can pull our attention away from Him. Lord, remind us to pray: “All through this hour, Lord, be my guide.”

— Dennis Fisher

There’s never a day nor a season
That prayer may not bless every hour,
And never a prayer need be helpless
When linked with God’s infinite power. —Morton

Let Christ be first in your thoughts in the morning, and last in your thoughts at night. 

ODJ: timely advice

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September 9, 2013 

READ: Jude 1:17-25 

You . . . must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life (vv.20-21). 


I saw a group interacting with others outside my train station—sharing Scriptures with anyone who would listen. A group member approached and asked me to take a survey. One question referred to Revelation 22:17. She asked, “Who do you think is the ‘bride’?” I said, “The church.” She replied, “Read the text carefully. It’s God, the Mother.”

How should we respond in an age when false teaching is prevalent (there’s no teaching of God as mother in Scripture) and not all Bible teachers can be trusted? Jude gave us some timely advice.


Firstly, we’re to remember the words of the apostles who wrote down much of the Word of God in the New Testament (Jude 1:17). They correctly predicted that false teaching would occur. So we shouldn’t be unduly discouraged or fearful when we see false teaching creep into the church. It’s a reality.


Secondly, we’re to grow in our understanding of God’s Word (v.20), for the Holy Scriptures are fully authoritative and totally sufficient. Someone said, “The safest Christian is the one who has a desire to grow in the truth of the Christian faith.”


Thirdly, Jude exhorts us to live a life of dependence on God and to live in the sphere of God’s love for us—to dwell on it, to delight in it, to draw on it and to be cheered on by it (vv.20-21). A person who is full of God’s love won’t be vulnerable to a false teacher’s sales pitch. We can respond to wrong teaching with grace and truth—reaching out with true compassion and godly wisdom (vv.22-23).


Last, but not least, we can rest in the power of God, who will keep us from falling away and to present us faultless (v.24). These truths can help us resist what is false! —Poh Fang Chia


Matthew 25:1-30 ‹

MORE
Read Acts 20:29-30, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 and 2 John 7 to see what the apostles said about false teaching.
 
NEXT
How can you strengthen your knowledge of God’s Word so you can recognise false teaching? What measurable goals should you set? 
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Light Up The Night

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September 8, 2013 

READ: Daniel 12:1-3 

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament. —Daniel 12:3 

On a mild fall evening when the sky was dark and the moon was full, thousands of people in my hometown gathered along the banks of the river to light sky lanterns. They released them into the darkness, and watched as the lights rose to join the moon in a dazzling display that turned the night sky into a sparkling work of art.

When I saw pictures of the event, I was disappointed that I was out of town and had missed it. But a few days later I realized that what had happened in Grand Rapids could be seen as a symbol of the conference I was attending in New York City. More than 1,000 people from 100 cities around the world had gathered there to plan a “work of art”—how to light up the darkness of their own cities by planting churches and reaching thousands of people with the gospel of Christ, the Light of the world.

The prophet Daniel wrote about a time when those who turn others to the Lord will shine like stars forever (Dan. 12:3). We can all join in that great event. When we shine the light of Christ in dark places where we live and work, He is lighting up the night sky with stars that never will go out.

— Julie Ackerman Link

I want to shine for You in my world, Lord. Show
me how to lift You up, the Light of the world. I look
forward to that day when I will gather with people
from all nations to bow at Your feet and worship You.

When the Light of the world illuminates the earth, His beauty will attract people from every nation. 

ODJ: evil


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September 8, 2013 

READ: Job 1:1-2:10 


Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship (1:20).


The problem of evil is the No. 1 reason people give for not believing in God. They assume that a good God would not allow for evil to exist, and an omnipotent God would be able to keep it out, so the existence of evil means God is either not all good or not all powerful. And so they conclude that there is no God.

Christians can’t solve the problem of evil—no one can. But we have more to say about it than anyone else. Firstly, theism trumps atheism. Consider the horror of believing that evil exists but God doesn’t. If the world were simply a series of random events, what would keep us from being struck by the ricocheting pinball of death? But we live as if there is a God who governs our world. Every time we leave our homes, we’re assuming that it’s safe enough to venture out.


This belief in God inspired Job to challenge Him, “Tell me the charge You are bringing against me. What do you gain by oppressing me?” (Job 10:2-3). Imagine Job’s plight if he didn’t believe in God. Where would he go with his complaint?


Secondly, Christianity trumps every other theism. Christians have a transcendent God who makes our lives secure, and we also have a God who suffered and understands what we’re going through. Jesus “understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do” (Hebrews 4:15). And “since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested” (2:18).


We don’t know why God allows evil, but we know that He too has faced it. No one has suffered more from evil than Jesus. So when you pour out your pain in prayer, you cry out to One who understands. —Mike Wittmer


› Luke 21:25-38

MORE
Read Isaiah 53:1-12 to remember the evil that Jesus endured for you and for me.
 
NEXT
What event has shaken your faith in God? How do the death and resurrection of Jesus encourage you to hold on? 
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: GodAware

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September 7, 2013 

READ: Psalm 139:1-10 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! —Romans 11:33 

On the FlightAware website, Kathy checked the progress of the small plane her husband Chuck was piloting to Chicago. With a few clicks, she could track when he took off, where his flight was at any moment, and exactly when he would land. A few decades earlier when Chuck was a pilot in West Africa, Kathy’s only contact had been a high-frequency radio. She recalls one occasion when 3 days had passed before she was able to reach him. She had no way of knowing that he was safe but unable to fly because the airplane had been damaged.

But God was always aware of exactly where Chuck was and what he was doing, just as He is with us (Job 34:21). Nothing is hidden from His sight (Heb. 4:13). He knows our thoughts and our words (1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 139:4). And He knows what will happen in the future (Isa. 46:10).

God knows everything (1 John 3:20), and He knows you and me intimately (Ps. 139:1-10). He is aware of each temptation, each broken heart, each illness, each worry, each sorrow we face.

What a comfort to experience care from the One of whom it is said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33).

— Cindy Hess Kasper

Beneath His watchful eye
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard His children well. —Doddridge

We can trust our all-knowing God. 

ODJ: indicted or invited?


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September 7, 2013 

READ: Revelation 3:14-20 

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (v.20). 


There are two ways most people tend to read the Bible. One is to read it mostly as an indictment of the human race. In other words, we’re sinful rebels who are determined to find life apart from God.


The other is to read Scripture as an invitation. Yes, we’re sinners who have turned away from our Creator God and His design for our lives (Romans 3:23). Yes, we’ve rebelled. But God longs to forgive and to restore us so that we can declare to the world His story of rescue and renewal.


If we read the Bible as an indictment, we’ll tend to see God as angry and harsh. But if we read the Bible as an invitation, we’ll be more inclined to see the merciful and loving God who “sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17).


Reading the Bible only as an indictment heaps on shame and condemnation. Reading it as indicted, yet invited, can cause us to feel broken and heavy hearted, but it will also lift us up with great hope. Because we belong to Jesus, we have the capacity to be so much more than our sinful flesh. “New life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).


Indictment alone screams, “Try harder!” Invitation whispers, “Surrender.” Indictment calls for more effort from us. Invitation calls us to drink deep of God’s grace. Indictment barks, “Clean up your act!” Invitation says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends”. (Revelation 3:20)


When you read the Bible, consider yourself invited. —Jeff Olson


MORE
What does Romans 2:4 reveal about God and His invitation to you?
 
NEXT
How will it affect your time in reading God’s Word to view it as an invitation? What does it mean for you to know that God has invited you to be His redeemed child?
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Longing To Grow

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September 6, 2013 

READ: 1 Peter 1:22–2:3 

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. —1 Peter 2:2 

The 2010 documentary film Babies followed four infants who were born into very different circumstances in Namibia, Mongolia, Tokyo, and San Francisco. There is no narration or dialogue from adults in the film, only the sounds babies make as they begin to discover the world into which they have been born. They coo and laugh when they’re happy; they cry when they are hurt or hungry. And all of them like milk! The fascination of the film lies in watching them grow.

As a baby craves milk, followers of Christ are to crave the “pure milk of the Word” that leads to spiritual growth. The apostle Peter says, “Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation; cry for this as a baby cries for his milk” (1 Peter 2:2 tlb). Peter wrote to encourage a group of Christ-followers who had been scattered by persecution. He urged them to set aside feelings of anger and jealousy toward each other, along with talking one way and living another (v.1), and “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby” (v.2).

The Lord invites us to drink all that we need from His bountiful supply. He loves to watch His children grow!

— David C. McCasland

Lord, I want to be more like You.
Please give me a fervent desire to drink of
Your Word. Grow me into a person who
resembles You in all I say and do.

The more we dig into God’s Word, the more we grow. 

ODJ: rescue required


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September 6, 2013 

READ: Galatians 6:1-5 

If another believer is overcome by some sin . . . help that person back onto the right path (v.1).


What do you get when you cross a Frisbee with a life belt? The answer is an invention called a “ResQDisc”. When a rescuer throws it to a drowning person, the light, durable cord inside uncoils, allowing the person to be pulled to safety. The device allows a rescuer to aid someone without jumping into the water himself.


When we see a person struggling, many of us are compelled to ‘jump in’ and lend a hand. This reaction isn’t entirely wrong—at least spiritually speaking—for Paul writes, “If another believer is overcome by some sin . . . help that person back onto the right path” (Galatians 6:1). Helping is well worth the friction that often accompanies confrontation. It means outwardly confirming what the struggling person feels inwardly—the Holy Spirit’s conviction (Ezekiel 36:27).


Nevertheless, humility and gentleness matter when we talk with friends who are tangled in sin (Galatians 6:1). These qualities demonstrate God’s grace, and they guard us against spiritual pride. A ‘finger in the face’ approach may produce excessive guilt and shame, but tenderness welcomes struggling people out of isolation and brings them back to intimacy with God and other believers.


Believers “who are godly” are best suited for this kind of intervention (v.1). Remaining strong in our faith has wonderful personal benefits—peace (Isaiah 26:3), strength (40:31) and joy (Psalm 16:11). Even so the benefits also extend outside of ourselves. When others need help, we’ll be filled and ready for God to use. Although ultimately “we are each responsible for our own conduct” (Galatians 6:5), it’s important to get involved when we see a fellow believer drowning in sin. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt


› Matthew 23:1-39

MORE
Look up 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 and consider Paul’s advice for the way to deal with people who are struggling. Read 2 Peter 2:20-21 to learn about the danger of sin. 
 
NEXT
What kind of spiritual preparation may be important for someone who confronts the sin in another person? What’s God’s will for anyone who’s tangled in sin?
 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)