Entries by YMI

ODJ: guard your heart


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February 4, 2013 

READ: Proverbs 4:20-27 

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (v.23).


Christianity is a religion of the heart. Once God has our heart, the rest of life flows. To God, the heart is central.
A cursory glance at the Bible shows this to be true. God doesn’t look at external appearances but at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He despises religious acts devoid of worship from the heart (Isaiah 29:13). God searches our heart (Psalm 139:23) and wants us to trust Him (Proverbs 3:5). The essence of His law is to love Him and others with all of our hearts (Matthew 22:37-39).
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for promoting a religion of deeds without the heart. They thought they could hate and lust all they liked, as long as they didn’t commit the acts of murder or adultery (5:21-30, 43-48), but Jesus would have none of it. He said that our words and things we treasure reveal the true state of our hearts (6:21, 12:34). And He promised to unleash rivers of life from within after we invited Him to reside there (John 7:37-38).
Our heart is our essence—the deepest part of what is truly us. It’s the wellspring from which our dreams, desires, passions, motives, thoughts, emotions, decisions and actions arise. So it’s no wonder that Scripture says to guard it! Our heart really does “determine the course” of our lives—both here and beyond.
So, guard your heart. Guard it from idols. For the heart is the place where the God we worship speaks. The true God will call you to acts of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23), while all other gods—whether money, sex or power—will lead you astray.

So, in the end, we don’t need to build fences around our heart but invite the true God into it, letting him completely fill us. —Sheridan Voysey


MORE
Read Luke 4:1-15—the parable of the sower—and notice the central place the heart has in the story.
 
NEXT
How are you prone to try to please God by your acts, rather than loving Him with all your heart? How will you guard your heart today?
 

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ODB: Savor The Flavor

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February 3, 2013 

READ: Nehemiah 8:1-12 

All the people went their way to eat and drink . . . and rejoice greatly. —Nehemiah 8:12 

In a fast-paced culture of “eat and run,” few people make time to enjoy a leisurely meal in the company of friends. Someone has even remarked that the only way to enjoy a seven-course meal today is to get it all between two pieces of bread!

After many of the Israelite exiles in Babylon returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls of the city, they gathered to hear Ezra read from the Book of the Law given by God through Moses (Neh. 8:1). They listened to God’s Word for hours, while teachers among them “gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (v.8).

When they wept because of their shortcomings, Ezra, along with Nehemiah the governor, told them this was not a time for sorrow but a time for rejoicing. The people were told to prepare a feast and share it with those who had nothing, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (v.10). Then “all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them” (v.12).

The spiritual banquet God has prepared for us in His Word is a cause for great joy. It is worth taking time to savor.

— David C. McCasland

Lord, give us a hunger and a thirst to know You more
that can be satisfied only by time spent with You in Your
Word. Help us to savor that time and, as we do,
to grow more in love with You each day.

Christ the Living Bread satisfies our spiritual hunger through the Living Word. 

ODJ: El-Shaddai


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February 3, 2013 

READ: Exodus 6:1-9 

I am Yahweh—“the Lord.” . . . [I am] El-Shaddai—“God Almighty” (vv.2-3).


El Shaddai, a worship song written by Michael Card and John Thompson, features many Hebrew words in its lyrics. It won Song of the Year and Michael Card won Songwriter of the Year at the 1983 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. The title of the song came from Genesis 17:1 and Exodus 6:3.
Refusing to free the Jews, the Pharaoh of Egypt challenged, “Who is the Lord?” (Exodus 5:1-2). God responded, revealed and reaffirmed His covenant identity: “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’ ” (Exodus 6:2-3).

The four affirmations of God’s proper name, “YHWH”—transliterated “Yahweh” and rendered as “I am the Lord” (vv.2,6,7-8)—underscore His absolute sovereignty and authority. The seven “I will” statements affirm His faithful resolve to carry out His redemption plan: “I will free you . . . and will rescue you from your slavery. . . . I will redeem you . . . . I will claim you as My own people, and I will be your God. . . . I will bring you into the land . . . . I will give it to you as your very own possession” (vv.6-8).

Revealing Himself as “El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’ ” (v.3), He wants us to know that He is the preexistent and self-existent, self-sufficient and all sufficient, all powerful and all bountiful YHWH! He wants us to know Him as our Deliverer (v.7).
The chorus of El-Shaddai states: “El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai (God Almighty), El-Elyon na Adonai (God Most High). Age to age You’re still the same, by the power of the name. El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai, erkamka na Adonai. I will praise You till I die. El-Shaddai.”

Erkamka na Adonai (based on the Hebrew words of Psalm 18:1) is our rightful response: It means, “I love you, Lord.” —K.T. Sim

 | 365-day plan› Exodus 4:1-17

MORE
Read Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, 48:3 to see how God reveals Himself as “El-Shaddai.” What do these passages teach you about God?
 
NEXT
The Jews didn’t believe God was El-Shaddai because “they had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery” (Exodus 6:9). How does life’s pain cause us to doubt God’s power and goodness? How should we respond to God?
 

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ODB: New Eyes

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February 2, 2013 

READ: Ephesians 1:15-21 

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know . . . the riches of the glory of His inheritance. —Ephesians 1:18 

A college student I met had recently placed her faith in Christ. She described her initial life-change this way: “When I trusted Christ for salvation, it felt like God reached down from heaven and placed a new set of eyes in my eye sockets. I could understand spiritual truth!”

It was moving to hear how her encounter with the Savior brought new spiritual perception. But her experience is not unique. Everyone is endowed with spiritual sight when they trust Christ as their Savior. Yet, at times a “fog” rolls in and our spiritual vision becomes cloudy and unclear. That happens when we neglect our relationship with Him.

In Paul’s fervent prayer for believers’ spiritual sight, we see how important it is to fully appreciate all that God has done and will do for us through Christ. He prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened that we “may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18).

Each believer has been given new eyes to discern spiritual truth. As we keep our hearts tuned to God, He will help us to see with our spiritual eyes all that He has given to us in Christ.

— Dennis Fisher

My soul within me yearns for Thee
Till Christ be fully formed in me;
Let love divine enlarge my heart,
Then all Thy fullness, Lord, impart. —Stewart

I once was blind but now I see! 

ODJ: Jesus’ Father


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February 2, 2013 

READ: Matthew 18:10-14 

In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish (v.14).

I was recently reading through the book of John when my eyes fell on these words: “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God” (John 20:17). This is the amazing declaration Jesus made to Mary Magdalene, just moments after she came to the stunning realisation that He had risen from the dead.

Jesus’ words are truly good news that speak to a deep need we all have inside of us. Every last one of us needs a father.

God didn’t flip a coin to decide whether or not to relate to us as a father or a mother. I believe it was intentional. God knew that once mankind got off track and fell into the brokenness of sin, the number of godly fathers serving their families would be severely lacking.

And the results have been devastating.
In America, for instance, research shows that children from fatherless homes are 32 times more likely to run away from home, 20 times more likely to have behavioural disorders, 9 times more likely to drop out of secondary school, 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances, and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.
In his book Faith of the Fatherless, Paul Vitz points out the connection between atheism and the lack of a father figure. He argues that one of the major sources of the world’s prominent militant atheists is ”the absence of a good father”.

Part of the good news of Jesus is that God doesn’t want us to go through our lives lacking the presence and love of a father. Our heavenly Father wants to fill those places where our earthly fathers (even the good ones) fall short.

He wants us to know Him as our Father, just as Jesus does. —Jeff Olson
Exodus 3:1-22 ‹365-day plan |

MORE
Read Matthew 18:10-14 to see how serious God takes His role as our heavenly Father.
 
NEXT
Where do you need God to be a father to you? What are the characteristics of God the Father that mean the most to you?
 

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ODB: Heart Attitude

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February 1, 2013 

READ: Ephesians 6:5-9 

Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. —Ephesians 6:6 

I love watching the skill and passion of great athletes as they give their all on the field. It shows their love for the game. Conversely, when a long season is winding down and a team is already eliminated from any opportunity for championship or playoff games, sometimes it seems that the players are merely “going through the motions.” Their lack of passion can be disappointing to fans who have paid to watch a good game.

Passion is a key aspect of our personal lives as well. Our heart attitude toward the Lord is revealed in how we serve Him. The apostle Paul said that our service includes the way we go about our daily work. In Ephesians 6:6-7, we read that we are to approach our work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

For me, the key in that verse is “from the heart.” I have a heavenly Father who loves me deeply and sacrificed His Son for me. How can I do anything less than give my very best for Him? The passion to live for God that comes “from the heart” provides our best response to the One who has done so much for us.

— Bill Crowder

Father, every day offers opportunities for me to express
my love for You. May the passion with which I live, work,
serve, and relate to others be a fitting expression of my
gratitude for Your love for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The love of God motivates us to live for God. 

ODJ: fast cash


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February 1, 2013 

READ: Proverbs 28:18-28  

A person who wants quick riches will get into trouble (v.20).


On her way home, Heather Kelly noticed what looked like “a snow globe of cash” on a dual carriageway. An armoured van had failed to secure its rear door, and the money was airborne. Roughly 30 cars lined the dual carriageway as motorists pulled over and tried to grab the banknotes that had escaped from the van. Kelly recalled, “People had fists full of money.”
For some of us the prospect of instant wealth holds endless appeal. Casinos, lottery tickets, risky business deals, and even high-tech treasure hunts are the stuff of our dreams. The Bible says, however, “A person who wants quick riches will get into trouble” (Proverbs 28:20).

Trouble comes when we lose more than we make while trying to strike it rich. This happens because get-rich-quick schemes are designed to take in money, rather than to provide the promised ‘big returns’. And many financial ploys succeed because they stoke our greed. “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realise they’re headed for poverty” (v.22). Need proof? Ever heard someone say, “I’m so glad I’ve wasted hundreds of pounds on losing lottery tickets!” or “My bookie has helped me achieve financial stability”?

God’s Word says that steady work throughout our years leads to financial wellbeing. “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; [but] wealth from hard work grows over time” (13:11). So the admin assistant or postman who works diligently for decades has a better chance of ending up with wealth than the guy who spends his lunch hour betting on sporting events (10:4).
What’s your perspective on money? Although the Bible says there’s more to life than acquiring wealth (22:1), it’s up to you to decide. Will you commit to a lifetime of work, or chase the fleeting dream of fast cash? —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
 | 365-day plan› Exodus 2:11-25

MORE
Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10 to see some possible negative outcomes of chasing wealth. Read Proverbs 30:8-9 to see the benefits of being neither too rich nor too poor.
 
NEXT
Why do you suppose the Bible says that “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth”? (1 Timothy 6:6). Is there a difference between being wealthy and loving money?
 

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ODB: Rescued

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January 31, 2013 

READ: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-25 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. —Acts 16:31 

Manuel Gonzalez was the first rescue worker to reach the 33 miners trapped for 69 days in a Chilean mine explosion in 2010. At great risk to his own life, he went underground more than 2,000 feet to bring the trapped men back to the surface. The world watched in amazement as one by one each miner was rescued and transported to freedom.

The Bible tells us of an even more amazing rescue. Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, all of mankind is trapped in sin (Gen. 2:17; 3:6,19; Rom. 5:12). Unable to break free, everyone faces certain death—physically and eternally. But God has provided a Rescuer—Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Everyone who accepts the free gift of salvation offered through His death and resurrection is freed from sin’s grip and its resulting death penalty (Rom. 5:8-11; 10:9-11; Eph. 2:1-10).

Jesus Christ is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). He was the first to be raised from the dead, never to die again. Likewise, all will be given life who put their faith in Christ (Rom. 8:11).

Are you still trapped in your sins? Accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and enjoy the freedom of life in Christ and eternity with Him (Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13).

— C. P. Hia

Thinking It Over
What keeps you from calling out to God for spiritual
rescue? Do you fear that you are too bad for God’s
grace? Read and think about Romans 3:23-26.

Through His cross, Jesus rescues and redeems. 

ODJ: let go


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January 31, 2013 

READ: 1 Samuel 15:35-16:13 

“You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, . . . Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be My king” (16:1).


I spent the summer of 1992 tumbling, somersaulting and crashing over the waters of a nearby lake. To avoid a grand impression, I was simply trying to learn how to water-ski. The painful endeavor revealed the deep level of determination I carry within me. One of my greatest errors lay in my refusal to let go of the rope and admit defeat when I had fallen. It was not a pretty sight.
 Twenty years later, far from the roar of the boat’s motor and the cool water of a hot summer day, I find myself tumbling, somersaulting and crashing through the waters of a particular relationship to find reconciliation. Like Samuel, I have mourned over what could have been (1 Samuel 15:35). Believing the call of God was on this individual’s life to lead others into His truth, I am left confused and grieved over the events that have transpired. I’ve tried through my own determination to understand, but instead hit the water with a fierce smack. The message is clear: Let go. 


Samuel could have continued to insist that he was bound to see Saul get it right, but God had appointed otherwise (16:1). The option was no longer whether Saul would obey what God had commanded, but whether Samuel would heed the voice of God in releasing Saul. 


In Romans 12:18 Paul writes, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Because Jesus has set within us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19), we’re to do all we can to keep our relationships in right accord with the Word. There are also occasions, however, when the right choice is separation—but only through biblical means and measures. —Regina Franklin


MORE
Read Genesis 13:6-18 and consider how Abraham’s decision to separate from Lot revealed the inner motivations of each man and opened the door for God’s blessing in Abraham’s life.
 
NEXT
What are the biblical markers to indicate when a relationship is no longer healthy? How must our response to the marriage covenant be different from our response to other relationships in our lives?
 

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