Entries by YMI

ODJ: false gods, true blessing

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August 22, 2013 

READ: 1 Samuel 7:3-13  

If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your . . . gods (v.3).

The stuff of life has a way of turning our hearts away from God. False gods include money, success, school, careers, romantic relationships, children and more. Tim Keller, in Counterfeit Gods, defines a false god this way: “Anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”
In 1 Samuel we find the Israelites falling away from God as they fell for false gods (7:1-3). After tasting defeat at the hands of the dreaded Philistines and subsequently enduring deadly divine punishment due to disobedience, the people felt distant from Him (4:1-2, 6:19). They cried out, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” (v.20).

Much like the way we think and sometimes behave when we’re feeling weak or insecure, the people turned to false gods to try to fill the spiritual hole in their heart. We might seek material things, achievements or sex to make us feel better. But nothing will satisfy our deep desire and need for God.

Samuel the prophet made it clear that the Israelites had been looking for hope and meaning in all the wrong places. He said to the people, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods . . . . Determine to obey only the Lord” (7:3). Fortunately, they got rid of their false gods (v.4).

The end result? Out of obedience flowed blessing—the Israelites were able to defeat the Philistines in battle (v.10). The One true God conquered a people who worshipped false gods.

What are the false gods in your life? Turn them over to God as you seek Him and His blessing alone. —Tom Felten

MORE
Read Isaiah 43:10 and note what God says about Himself and false idols.  
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When are you most prone to seek false gods? Why can they never satisfy your deepest needs? 

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ODB: Living Beyond The Odds

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August 21, 2013 

READ: Acts 12:1-11 

Constant prayer was offered to God for [Peter] by the church. —Acts 12:5 

Many of us make daily decisions based on the odds. If there’s a 20 percent chance of rain, we may ignore it. If there’s a 90 percent chance, we’ll take an umbrella. The greater the odds, the more our behavior is affected because we want to choose wisely and be successful.

Acts 12:1-6 describes a situation in which Peter’s odds of survival were very low. He was in prison, “bound with two chains between two soldiers” while others guarded the door (v.6). Herod had already executed James, one of Jesus’ closest followers, and he had the same fate in mind for Peter (vv.1-3). A gambler would not have put any money on Peter getting out of this alive.

Yet God’s plan for Peter included a miraculous deliverance that even those who were interceding for him found hard to believe (vv.13-16). They were astonished when he showed up at their prayer meeting.

God can operate outside the odds because He is all-powerful. Nothing is too hard for Him. The One who loves us and gave Himself for us is in charge of our lives. In ordinary circumstances and impossible situations, God can reveal His power. Whether we are showered with success or sustained in sorrow, He is with us.

— David C. McCasland

Dear God, we’re so thankful that nothing is too
difficult for You. You can do amazing things!
Help us to trust that You are always with us
and always in control. We love You, Lord.

God is always in control behind the scenes. 

ODJ: to give or not to give

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August 21, 2013 

READ: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15  

They gave not only what they could afford, but far more (v.3).

Some days I find only one. Other times they fill my letter box. Not to mention the phone calls. Help the children, feed the homeless, care for the wounded. Worthwhile requests, yet it’s impossible to meet them all. Even with the contributions we make, I feel strangely guilty whenever I throw away a letter requesting donations or when I tell a contribution-seeking caller: “No, thank you.” The tension I experience is another reminder of the calling I must live out in a less-than-perfect world. Give selflessly, just like Jesus.
It’s my conviction that true giving is what we contribute beyond our tithe. Still, we might ask: should our giving be determined by the need or the available resources? Paul tells us that the churches in Macedonia “gave not only what they could afford, but far more” (2 Corinthians 8:3). There are times when God calls us to step out in faith and give, even though it may not seem practical (1 Kings 17:12-14). By the same token, Scripture teaches that our first responsibility is to meet the needs at home (1 Timothy 5:8,16).

When Jesus taught His disciples to give what had been freely given to them, He also revealed that selfless giving occurs when we see God as our provision, regardless of the instrument He may choose to use (Matthew 10:8-10).

Two principles, however, were to guide their actions. Firstly, they were to give only what had been deposited into their lives, be it tangible or intangible. Reiterating this idea, Paul said, “Give in proportion to what you have” (2 Corinthians 8:11). Secondly, Jesus’ disciples knew that biblical giving came from a desire to advance the work of God’s kingdom, not the intentions of men.

What will you give today? —Regina Franklin

MORE
Read Proverbs 11:23-25 and consider how we must challenge ourselves not to think like secular society when it comes to giving.  
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The Bible tells us that giving can result in blessing, but what should be our primary motivation? How are you making a financial investment for the kingdom of God beyond your tithing? 

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ODB: Image Conscious

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August 20, 2013 

READ: 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, 17-18 

We all . . . are being transformed . . . by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:18 

When going through old family photos, my cousins and I joke about which physical characteristics we’ve inherited. We notice primarily the negative ones: short legs, crooked teeth, unruly cowlicks. All of us can easily identify in our ancestors our own least favorite body part. In addition to physical attributes, we also inherited character traits—some good, some not so good. But we don’t always pay as much attention to those.

According to my unscientific observations, people try all kinds of methods to overcome physical imperfections—exercise routines, weight-loss programs, makeup, hair coloring, cosmetic surgery. But instead of trying to overcome our character flaws, we tend to use them as an excuse for behaving badly. I suppose this is because changing our looks is easier than changing our character. But imagine how much better off we’d be if we put our energy into character development.

As God’s children, we’re not limited by our genetic makeup. We can surrender our flaws to Him and allow Him to fulfill the potential He had in mind when He created us as unique expressions of His love. The power of God’s Spirit and the life of God’s Son are at work in us, conforming us to His image (2 Cor. 3:18).

— Julie Ackerman Link

I know, Lord, that You’re more interested in the
condition of my heart than my outward appearance.
Please make me into the person You want me to be—
filled with kindness, patience, integrity, and love.

The Spirit develops in us the clear image of Christ. 

ODJ: you’re beautiful

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August 20, 2013 

READ: Genesis 1:1-31 

God saw that the light was good (v.4).

I was just 16 when I visited Rome. I toured the ancient catacombs as well as St. Peter’s Basilica. They’re both marvels of human creativity, evoking wonder with their enduring tribute to the way humans can chisel stone and dig into the earth and craft beauty from raw elements. In both the cavernous tunnels and the vast domed cathedral, I experienced deep reverence. I can only imagine what the artisans of these sacred spaces must have felt as they concluded their labour.
In Genesis 1 we see God acting as the first Artist-Architect, stringing lights across the sky, crafting beautiful meadows and deep oceans, forming creatures to roam the plains, and sculpting humankind from the earth’s clay. After each creation, God stepped back from His artistry and declared, “This is good.”

After making light, God said, “Good” (v.4); after forming land and water, God said, “Good” (v.10); after creating plants and trees, God said, “Good” (v.12); after crafting the moon and sun, God said, “Good” (vv.17-18); after making creatures for the sea and air, God said, “Good” (v.21); after forming wild animals large and small, God said, “Good” (v.25).

After completing His wondrous project, God sat back, took in the entire sight, sighed contentedly, and thought, This is very good! (v.31).

It’s important to remember that the word translated “good” means, in our vernacular, beautiful. God was not merely declaring creation something appropriately completed, but something aesthetically delightful. God, the Artist, took pleasure in His creation.

He still does. God takes pleasure in all His works—including you (Ephesians 2:10). —Winn Collier

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Read Genesis 2:18-20. After the litany of “this is good” in Genesis 1, the declaration of something being “not good” is striking. What did God do about it?  
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What do you think God sees in you that He names very good? How does it change your posture to know He sees you as beautiful? 

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ODB: The Gift Of Remembering

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August 19, 2013 

READ: Genesis 40:1-14,23 

Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. —Genesis 40:23 

During seminary, I worked in a nursing home. As I spent time talking to these men and women, at some point nearly every patient would describe the loneliness of their present lives and the realization that they were outliving their peers. Most wondered if anyone would remember them when they passed from this life.

It isn’t just the elderly who can feel lonely and forgotten. In fact, many of us feel trapped and alone, set aside by circumstances fair and unfair. Sometimes we even experience what the Old Testament character Joseph did: people failing to remember us when there’s every reason they should.

Genesis 40 describes Joseph’s experiences as he’s trapped in prison. The cupbearer had been freed and returned to the king’s service, just as Joseph told him would happen (vv.9-13). Joseph had asked to be mentioned to Pharaoh, but the cupbearer forgot him (vv.14,23).

We may feel forgotten. Yet, like Joseph, we are not (42:9-13). Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and our prayers reach the throne of the King without fail because our Savior is our Mediator. When we feel alone, let’s remember to rest in the confidence of Jesus’ promise to be with us forever (Matt. 28:20).

— Randy Kilgore

Lord, let me be found serving others, as Joseph
did, in those hours when I feel most forgotten.
May I never be the “cupbearer” who fails to bring
the lonely and hurting to Your attention in prayer.

Jesus never abandons or forgets His own. 

ODJ: a pet’s death

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August 19, 2013 

READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-7 

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

A friend of mine who runs his own company says he has two rules for his employees: “Rule 1: The boss is always right. Rule 2: If the boss is wrong, refer to Rule 1.” He’s obviously joking, but these words do reflect the way many of us would like to live.
An ‘I can do no wrong’ mentality would have resonated with King David at a certain time in his life. For he lied, stole, committed adultery, betrayed and murdered a friend, and yet lived as if he had done nothing wrong. So the prophet Nathan had a difficult task to complete (2 Samuel 12:1): how do you confront the most powerful man in the kingdom and get him to confess crimes he had willfully concealed? Such a confrontation could have been considered a capital offence against the king.

So Nathan came to David with a story about a poor shepherd and his beloved pet lamb (v.3). It was common for shepherds to have a special lamb as a pet. Having been a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:15), David would have felt the strong emotional bond between the man and his lamb (2 Samuel 12:5-6).

Nathan forced David and all of us to consider the horrors of killing a pet. The gratuitous slaying of the innocent lamb exposed the repulsiveness of David’s sin, and it also pointed to the murder of another innocent beloved Lamb 1,000 years later. This death exposes the ugliness of our own sins (1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:2).

David concealed his sins (Psalm 32:3). But they still were “piled up before God” (Isaiah 59:12). God sees our secret sins (Psalm 90:8). We can’t simply live as if we’ve done nothing wrong (Jeremiah 2:35, 17:9-10). Let’s confess our sins today and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8-10). —K.T. Sim

› John 11:37-57

MORE
Read Psalms 32 and 51 to see what David experienced when he refused to confess his sins. Note also the blessings that come with confessed sin. 
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What sin have you tried to hide? Confess it now and claim the promises of 1 John 1:9. 

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ODB: Always An Upgrade

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August 18, 2013 

READ: Colossians 3:12-17 

Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; . . . but above all these things put on love. —Colossians 3:12,14 

When I’m about to leave the house, sometimes my wife, Martie, stops me and says, “You can’t go to the office dressed like that!” It’s usually something about the tie not matching the jacket or the color of the slacks being out of sync with the sportcoat. Though being questioned about my fashion choices may feel like an affront to my good taste, I have realized that her correcting influence is always an upgrade.

Scripture often calls us to “put on” attitudes and actions that match our identity in Christ. Sometimes we are known by the clothes we wear, but we can make Jesus known by wearing attitudes and actions that reveal His presence in our lives. The apostle Paul advised us to set the fashion standard by modeling the wardrobe of Jesus’ compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12). And, he added, “above all these things put on love . . . . And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (vv.14-15).

Clothing ourselves in Jesus’ likeness begins with spending time with Him. If you hear Him say, “You can’t go out like that!” let Him lovingly take you back to the closet so He can clothe you with His likeness. It’s always an upgrade!

— Joe Stowell

Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us. By
Your Spirit teach us to adorn our lives with the
attitudes and actions You have designed for us as a
public statement about our identity with You.

Clothing ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions shows His presence in our lives. 

ODJ: words disperse

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August 18, 2013 

READ: James 3:1-12 

No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison (v.8).

In the movie Doubt, a preacher told of a woman who confessed her sin of gossip to her priest. The man told her to first go home, take a pillow up onto her roof, cut it open and then return. She did as instructed. Then the priest asked her what she saw. “Feathers everywhere, Father.” He said, “Now I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that flew out onto the wind.” She protested, “It can’t be done. I don’t know where they went. The wind took them all over.” “And that,” replied the priest, “is gossip!”
Every sin can be forgiven, but the effects of some sins can’t be corrected. Let’s say I gossiped to a female friend. Later I can say I’m sorry for what I said and even ask her to forget it; but you can’t ‘un-ring a bell’. Every time she thinks of the man I talked about, there’s a good chance my words will come to mind and taint her image of him. And that’s the best case scenario. More often than not, she’ll share my venom with one or two friends, who will share it with one or two friends, until many are poisoned.

Proverbs warns that gossip seems like fun, for ‘rumours are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart’ (18:8). But it needlessly ignites an uncontrollable fire, for harmful “words are a destructive blaze. A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends” (16:27-28).

Here’s a good rule of ‘tongue’: say behind a person’s back only what you would say to that person’s face. It’s better to swallow some thoughts than to regret sharing too much. Let’s avoid the painful truth of Proverbs 13:3: “Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” —Mike Wittmer

MORE
Read Proverbs 10:18-19, 11:12 and 18:21 to learn why gossiping is foolish.  
NEXT
What words do you wish you could take back? How can you limit their damage, and how can you prevent this from happening again? 

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