Entries by YMI

ODB: Serious Fear

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December 8, 2013 

READ: Luke 2:8-20 

Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. —Luke 2:10 

After weeks of preparation by the children’s choir, the night had finally arrived for our annual Christmas musical in 1983. The costumed children began filing into the auditorium when suddenly we heard a ruckus at the back door. My wife and I turned to look and saw our own little Matt. Sobbing loudly and with a look of sheer terror on his face, he had a death grip on the door handle. He refused to enter the auditorium. After much negotiating, the director finally told him he didn’t have to go on stage. Instead, Matt sat with us, and soon his fears began to subside.

Although we don’t usually identify Christmas as a time of fear, there was plenty of it on the night of Christ’s birth. Luke says, “Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid” (Luke 2:9). The sight of the angelic messenger was more than the shepherds could process. But the angel reassured them: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (v.10).

In a world full of fear, we need to remember that Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). We desperately need His peace. As we look to Him, He will ease our fears and calm our hearts.

— Bill Crowder

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings. —Wesley

God incarnate is the end of fear. —F. B. Meyer 

ODJ: Jesus changes everything

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December 8, 2013 

READ: Luke 1:39-56 

He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands (vv.52-53).

If Jesus hadn’t entered our world, two things would be true. Firstly, those with the most _________ win. (Fill in the blank with whatever you or your culture happen to value most.) In ancient times it was those with the most camels, wives or gold. Today it includes those with the most cash, toys or Facebook friends. Either way the goal is the same: get all you can while you can.

This competition to get ahead distracts us from the second, more obvious truth we would face without Jesus: in the end everybody loses. No matter how hard you try, you’re done when you die (Ecclesiastes 5:15). And if death were to be the end of our existence, then we might as well “feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32). It’s actually worse than that; for if Jesus hadn’t come we would all be condemned to pay for our sins in the endless torment of hell (Hebrews 9:27-28). We would cry out for a death that would never come.

But Jesus has come and He didn’t go to the trouble of entering our world to offer warm handshakes all around. He didn’t slap us on the back and say, “Looks like you’ve got everything under control. Keep up the good work!” No, as Mary sang, her Son came to turn our world upside down. He “has brought down princes . . . and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands” (Luke 1:51-53).

The rules have changed. Life is no longer about you collecting the most _________ before you die. Jesus tells us: “Turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” (Matthew 16:24-25). — Mike Wittmer

MORE
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 to learn how Jesus turns the power and wisdom of the world on its head. 
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How has the fact that Jesus came affected your decisions and actions? What needs to change in the way you’ve allowed the culture to affect you?  

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Christmas Lights

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December 7, 2013 

READ: Matthew 5:13-16 

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. —Matthew 4:16 

In December each year, a neighborhood of 13 families near where we live sets up a dazzling display of 300,000 Christmas lights. People drive for miles and wait in line for hours to see the flashing, colorful lights and hear the music that is programmed to go with it. The sound-and-light display is so elaborate that it requires a network of 64 computers to keep everything synchronized.

When I think about these holiday lights, I am reminded of the Light that makes Christmas a holiday for many—a single Light so bright that it illuminates the whole world with truth, justice, and love. This Light—Jesus—is everything that the world is longing and looking for (Isa. 9:2,6-7). And He has told His followers to display His light so that others will see and glorify God (Matt. 5:16).

Imagine if Christians worked as hard at shining and synchronizing the light of God’s love as the families of that neighborhood work when they illuminate their street with Christmas lights. Perhaps then the people still living in darkness would make an effort to see this great Light. When Christians work together to display God’s love, the gospel will shine more brightly and attract more people to Jesus—the Light of the world.

— Julie Ackerman Link

O to be filled with His life divine;
O to be clothed with His power and might;
O to reflect my dear Savior sublime—
Always to shine as the saints in light! —Anon.

Our witness for Christ is a light in a dark world. 

ODJ: strangers and foreigners

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December 7, 2013 

READ: Hebrews 13:1-3 

So you, too, must show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19).

Last summer my son and I were heading to a connecting flight at Chicago’s International Airport. As we walked briskly from one terminal to another, Wasswa said, “Look, Mummy, a Dinka!”

Dinkas comprise the largest tribe in South Sudan. They’re considered the tallest people group in Africa and with their beautiful, deep skin colour are fairly easy to recognise if you’re somewhat familiar with sub-Saharan tribes. We stopped to say “hello” to the man and he was pleased, albeit surprised, that upon seeing him we identified his heritage.

Through broken English the gentleman explained that a few years earlier he and his family had entered America as war refugees. He said they were thankful to be here, but they still felt like strangers in a foreign land.

Hearing this man’s plight caused me to reflect on Matthew 25:37-39, which states that the “righteous ones” will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

As members of the body of Christ, we’re called to:

• Love each other as brothers and sisters (Deuteronomy 10:18-19; Hebrews 13:1).

• Show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it! (v.2).

• Remember those in prison, as if we were there ourselves (v.3).

• Remember also those who are being mistreated, as if we were experiencing their pain in our own bodies (v.3).

Today, let’s ask God to help us recognise the people, including strangers, to whom we can show true hospitality. —Roxanne Robbins

MORE
Read Job 31:32 and note the suffering man’s hospitable approach to caring for strangers. 
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How has God shown His love to you—bringing you into His family after you knew you were outside of it? How can we practise wisdom and discernment as we reach out to strangers? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: More Than Enough

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December 6, 2013 

READ: Psalm 103:1-11 

[The Lord] crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. —Psalm 103:4 

When I entertained a large group in my home, I feared that the menu I planned wouldn’t be enough to serve all the guests. I shouldn’t have worried though. Several friends unexpectedly brought additional items and all of us were able to enjoy the surprise surplus. We had more than enough and were able to share out of the abundance.

We serve a God of abundance who is consistently “more than enough.” We can see God’s generous nature in the way He loves His children.

In Psalm 103, David lists the many benefits our Father bestows on us. Verse 4 says that He redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

The apostle Paul reminds us that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” and “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 1:3; 3:20).

Because of His great love, we are called children of God (1 John 3:1), and His grace gives us “sufficiency in all things” that we “may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

God’s love and grace, spilled over into our lives, enables us to share them with others. The God of power and provision is always the God of “more than enough”!

— Cindy Hess Kasper

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing. —Lyte

We always have enough when God is our supply. 

ODJ: warped view

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December 6, 2013 

READ: Ephesians 1:15-23 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope [God] has given to . . . his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance (v.18).

Recently I was talking with a friend who has been scarred by sin—things done to him by others. The effects linger, even though the actions occurred long ago. He was struggling, trying to see beyond the lies that caused him to feel unworthy of God’s grace. He felt powerless and weak, which left him vulnerable to the temptation to assuage his pain through wrong means. His identity in Jesus had been warped and weakened by his negative life experiences. So the two of us took a long look into God’s Word to view my friend’s true identity in Jesus.

The apostle Paul knew all about warped identity. He had once viewed all believers in Jesus as despicable and worthy of death. And his own identity was based on his background, education and accomplishments—not God’s grace (Philippians 3:4-6). So, later, when he prayed for the church at Ephesus, it’s understandable that he wanted them to see themselves as God viewed them (Ephesians 1:15-17). He wrote that they had been . . .

• given a confident hope—they were God’s “holy people who [were] his rich and glorious inheritance” (v.18).

• filled with the incredible greatness of God’s power—the Holy Spirit and His unlimited power was flowing in and through them (v.19).

• brought into the body of Christ—they were now part of a living community that was “made full and complete” by Jesus (v.23).

Life and its challenges have a way of giving us a distorted view of ourselves—often leaving us feeling weak, small, vulnerable. But as we dive deeply into God’s grace (v.7), we receive “every spiritual blessing” from Jesus (v.3). He gives us hope, power and community—gifts that can help us stand strong, resist sin and live out healthy identities in Him. —Tom Felten

MORE
Read John 15:9-17 and note how Jesus views those who believe in Him.  
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How does having a right view of your identity in Jesus help you resist the temptation to sin? What part of your identity in Jesus do you need to meditate on today? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Get Your “Wanter” Fixed

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December 5, 2013 

READ: Philippians 4:4-13 

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. —Philippians 4:11 

When my wife was a young girl in Austin, Texas, Carlyle Marney was her family’s neighbor, pastor, and friend. One of his off-hand remarks about being content became one of her family’s enduring expressions: “Dr. Marney says, ‘We just need to get our wanter fixed.’”

It’s so easy to want more than we need and to become more focused on getting than on giving. Soon, our desires dictate our choices.

When the apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in the city of Philippi, he told them, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content . . . . I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Phil. 4:11-12). Paul was saying, in effect, “I’ve had my ‘wanter’ fixed.” It’s important to note that Paul was not born with contentment. He learned it in the difficult circumstances of everyday life.

During this season of the year, when shopping and buying often take center stage in so many countries and cultures, why don’t we decide to focus on being satisfied in our present circumstances? It may sound difficult, but Paul, when talking about learning to be content said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (v.13).

— David C. McCasland

Help us, Lord, to learn contentment when life is
rough. Protect us from believing the lie that
having more will bring us happiness. May we be
content with what You have given.

Contentment begins with having fewer wants. 

ODJ: God of surprises

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December 5, 2013 

READ: Romans 11:33-36 

He does great things too marvellous to understand. He performs countless miracles (Job 5:9).

Were the angels surprised when God sketched out the universe? Surely they were—as surprised as when they saw the first bird take flight and the first humans blink their eyes. As surprised as when they watched God Himself sew garments to cover the fallen humans’ shame (Genesis 1-2; 3:21).

God surprised Abraham with a promise, Sarah with a child and Moses with His presence as he knelt before a tree aglow with flames (17:17-19; Exodus 3:2). All Israel walked in wide-eyed wonder as they followed the cloud and the fire, marched between walls of water and fled to a new land (14:21-25).

God surprised Isaac with a wife and Jacob with a dream (Genesis 24:62-67, 28:10-21). He surprised Samuel with a voice and Elijah with a whisper (1 Samuel 3:3-10; 1 Kings 19:11-13). God surprised David with kingship, Solomon with wisdom, Hezekiah with life and Isaiah with a vision (1 Samuel 16:11-13; 1 Kings 4:29; 2 Kings 20:1-6; Isaiah 6:1-7).

And one day God surprised a teenage virgin with an angelic visitation (Luke 1:26-38). The child born to that girl surprised the learned with His knowledge of God (2:47). Later He surprised those around Him by setting off on a mission. On that mission He surprised blind men by opening their eyes and demoniacs by casting their tormentors into swine. He surprised crippled women by straightening their backs and nervous wedding hosts by turning water into wine. It was a surprise when He revealed Himself as the Messiah—carrying a towel and not a sword. It was a surprise when Jesus offered forgiveness to the very ones who betrayed Him and returned to life after the most horrific of deaths (Matthew 28:1-8; Luke 23:34).

Never forget: our God is a God of surprises. —Sheridan Voysey

MORE
Read Luke 24:13-35 and see how Jesus surprised two people on the road to Emmaus.  
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How have you at times placed God in a ‘box’? Why is it encouraging to know that God can be surprising? 

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)

ODB: Eureka Stone

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December 4, 2013 

READ: Matthew 13:44-50 

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. —Matthew 13:44 

In 1867 on a farm in South Africa, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs saw a stone glistening in the sun. The shining rock was eventually reported to a neighbor, who wanted to buy it from the family. Not knowing its value, Erasmus’ mother told the neighbor, “You can keep the stone, if you want it.”

Eventually, a mineralogist determined the stone to be a 21.25 carat diamond and worth a great sum. It became known as the “Eureka Diamond.” (The Greek word eureka means “I found it!”) Soon the fields near the Jacobs’ farm soared in value. Underneath the land was one of the richest diamond deposits ever discovered.

Jesus said that the value of being part of God’s kingdom is like treasure: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44).

When we put our faith in Christ, a spiritual “eureka moment” arrives. God gives us forgiveness in His Son. It is the greatest treasure that could ever be found. Now all of life can begin to center on the value of becoming a joyous member of His eternal kingdom. It’s our joy to share that valuable discovery with others.

— Dennis Fisher

How we need a keen awareness
Of the joys God wants to share!
Priceless treasures found in Jesus—
We are rich beyond compare! —D. DeHaan

God’s kingdom is a treasure meant to be shared.