Entries by YMI

ODJ: human chameleon


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January 26, 2013 

READ: Luke 19:1-10 

“[Jesus] has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled (v.7).


Chinese performance artist Liu Bolin is known as “the invisible man” or “the human chameleon” because he blends himself into his surroundings. To do this he covers his entire body in paint which perfectly matches his chosen backdrop. Liu has painted himself into real life scenes which include graphite walls, supermarket shelves and even telephone booths.
As Christians we sometimes try to walk the line between blending in with the world around us and standing out as citizens of a excessively strict subculture. Becoming worldly may make us ineffective witnesses for Christ, while preaching from a ‘holier than thou’ standpoint can isolate us from people who need God’s grace.


Zacchaeus developed a godly set of convictions shortly after meeting Jesus. Interestingly this was not the result of any lecture from Christ. When Zacchaeus volunteered to “give [the people] back four times as much” as he had wrongly taken from them (Luke 19:8), Jesus celebrated his change of heart (v.9). Although there is certainly a time to confront sinful words and behaviour (Matthew 12:38-39; John 2:15-16), we can be gentle and gracious with people who see their need for God (Luke 7:44-48; John 8:4-11).


Although Jesus engaged with sinful people, He never participated in their sin. He visited Zacchaeus’ home, but He didn’t go into business with him or accept shady money from the “notorious sinner” (Luke 19:7). Jesus had a greater influence on Zacchaeus than what the “chief tax collector” (v.2) had on Him. When we befriend unbelievers, we should consider how we might lift them up, rather than changing our convictions to match theirs (Psalm 1:1).


If we follow Jesus’ lead when it comes to relating to the people and culture around us, we’ll find the right balance between being in the world but not of it (John 15:19). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt


MORE
Read James 4:4 to see one result of friendship with the world. Read Matthew 9:12-13 to see how Jesus responded to the Pharisees who looked down on sinners. 
 
NEXT
Is it more dangerous to get too close to the world or to be too far removed? How can we avoid the spiritual pride that results in harshness toward nonbelievers?
 

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ODB: Guest List

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January 25, 2013 

READ: Luke 14:7-14 

When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed. —Luke 14:13-14 

Qumran was a first-century Jewish community that had isolated itself from outside influences to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah. They took great care in devotional life, ceremonial washings, and strict adherence to rules of conduct. Surviving documents show that they would not allow the lame, the blind, or the crippled into their communities. This was based on their conviction that anyone with a physical “blemish” was ceremonially unclean. During their table fellowship, disabled people were never on their guest lists.

Ironically, at that same time the Messiah of Israel was at work in the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee. Jesus proclaimed His Father’s kingdom, brought teaching and comfort, and worked mighty miracles. Strikingly, He proclaimed: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed” (Luke 14:13-14).

The contrast between Jesus’ words and the guest list of the Qumran “spiritual elite” is instructive to us. Often we like to fellowship with people who look, think, and act like us. But our Lord exhorts us to be like Him and open our doors to everyone.

— Dennis Fisher

The gospel must be shared with all,
Not just with those like you and me;
For God embraces everyone
Who turns to Him to set them free. —Sper

The inclusive gospel cannot be shared by an exclusive people. —George Sweeting 

ODJ: work


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January 25, 2013 

READ: Colossians 3:16-25 

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (v.23).


The first thing you notice are the nets. They stretch tautly between buildings, hung to catch workers who might attempt to leap to their deaths. This is Foxconn, the behemoth factory in Shenzhen, China, where crowds of young Chinese people manufacture iPads, iPhones and computers for the world. As the nets attest, the job isn’t always fulfilling. 
To be fair the suicide rate at Foxconn is lower than in the rest of China, and waves of peasants continue to leave the countryside for a chance to earn money to send back home. But silently performing the same task thousands of times each day can sometimes drain the life from the happiest soul.


These jobs may be better than anything in their villages, but they still don’t begin to tease out the talents that each worker has to offer. The assembly line is efficient, which keeps the price of computers low, but it’s not the way humans made in the image of God were meant to work.


What if you were a Chinese Christian trapped in one of these ‘dead end’ jobs? Perhaps you would pray and work for your conditions to improve as you took Paul’s words to heart. He told slaves in Colosse that they should work hard, for “the Master you are serving is Christ” (Colossians 3:24).


Why were they serving Christ? Paul declared that Jesus was the Creator (1:15-17), which means that Jesus is the One who begins the Bible by commanding us to “fill the earth and govern it” and “tend and watch over” it (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). Theologians call these commands the “cultural mandate”, for they express God’s desire that we serve others by developing the raw materials of creation. 


Our tasks may seem insignificant, but as we do them for Jesus, we will receive His reward. —Mike Wittmer


MORE
Read Ephesians 6:5-8 to learn how we can do even menial jobs to the glory of God. 
 
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How do you serve others and contribute to society? Why is it essential to remember that our work is a sacred calling?
 

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ODB: Like Jesus

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January 24, 2013 

READ: 1 John 2:5-11 

He who says he abides in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk just as He walked. —1 John 2:6 

During a children’s church service, the teacher talked about the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3). She suggested some ways for the kids to keep this command. She said, “Nothing should come before God—not candy, not schoolwork, not video games.” She told them that putting God first meant that time with Him reading the Bible and praying should come before anything else.

An older child in the group responded with a thought-provoking question. She asked if being a Christian was about keeping rules or if instead God wanted to be involved in all areas of our life.

Sometimes we make the mistake of viewing the Bible as a list of rules. Certainly obeying God (John 14:21) and spending time with Him are important, but not because we need to be rule-keepers. Jesus and the Father had a loving relationship. When we have a relationship with God, we desire to spend time with Him and obey Him so we can become more like Jesus. John said, “He who says he abides in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). He’s the example we can follow.

When we want to understand how to love, or how to be humble, or how to have faith, or even how to set our priorities, we can look at Jesus and follow His heart.

— Anne Cetas

Lord, as I look ahead to another day, I give myself
to be led by Your Spirit. Give discernment in
priorities, but most of all a sensitive heart to live like
Jesus did—filled with Your love and power. Amen.

Jesus calls us to follow Him. 

ODJ: serve your oppressor


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January 24, 2013 

READ: Matthew 5:38-42 

Do not resist an evil person! (v.39).


A few years ago some young men stole my car. They crashed it, damaging it beyond repair, and I was never compensated for it. I even had to pay to have the car towed away from the crash site! By rights, those thieves should have replaced what they stole. 
That type of justice was reflected in the Old Testament rule of “eye for eye” and “tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:24; Matthew 5:38). The law taught that people had a right to expect in return exactly what was taken from them. Jesus, however, called His followers to something more radical. “Do not resist an evil person!” (v.39). He gave four illustrations of what He meant:


An insulting slap to the face was prosecutable under Jewish and Roman law. Jesus said not to slap back or prosecute (v.39). Jewish law ensured the protection of one’s clothes (Exodus 22:26-27). But Jesus said that if one’s shirt was stolen, offer your coat too (Matthew 5:40). Roman soldiers could commandeer any citizen for work. Jesus said to not simply do what the oppressor asks, but to do even more (v.41). People who had no ‘right’ to ask for money will ask for it. Jesus said we are not to evade them, but give to them (v.42).


Jesus wasn’t saying that evil should be rewarded or that self-defence is wrong. Neither was He offering laws to be followed rigidly. What He was advocating is this: Forgo all retaliation and seek the best for those who harm you. Your oppressor may have a legitimate need for a shirt, money or help—overlook their wrong and serve them. Your oppressor may simply be evil, but your contrasting behaviour may jolt him or her to repentance (Romans 12:17-21).


I wonder what might have happened if I’d been able to meet the youths who stole my car, discover their real needs . . . and serve them. —Sheridan Voysey


MORE
Read Isaiah 50:6, Mark 14:65, 15:16-20 to see how Jesus followed His own example of nonretaliatory service to His oppressors.
 
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How is someone treating you badly at the moment? How might you creatively serve them in the spirit of Jesus?
 

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ODB: Wholesome Words

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January 23, 2013 

READ: Ephesians 4:25-32 

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. —Ephesians 4:29 

A while back, an Emmy award-winning actress took a courageous stand and walked out in the middle of the Annual American Music Awards ceremony. Her reason? She grew increasingly upset and disappointed by what she described as “an onslaught of lewd jokes and off-color remarks” and raw and raunchy comments by presenters, performers, and hosts. She said the evening was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity and self-respect.

Unwholesome speech was a problem even in the apostle Paul’s day. He reminded the Christians at Ephesus that they should put away vulgarity, lewdness, slander, and obscene talk from their lives (Eph. 5:4; Col. 3:8). These were expressions of their old lives (1 Cor. 6:9-11), and it was now out of place with their new identity in Christ. Instead, their lives were to be characterized by wholesome speech. Their good or wholesome words would give grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29). The Holy Spirit would help guard their speech, convict of any filthy talk, and help them to use words to benefit others (John 16:7-13).

We are called to reflect God with all we are, and that includes our words. May our mouths be filled with thanksgiving and words that benefit others.

— Marvin Williams

Holy Spirit, we need Your help. Guard our hearts
and minds today. Help us control our thoughts and
words so that we might lift others up and show them
who You are and what You’ve done in us. Amen.

Wholesome words flow out of a life made new. 

ODJ: dinner and a sinner


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January 23, 2013 

READ: Luke 7:36-50 

When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him. She’s a sinner!” (v.39).


Several years ago, while on holiday in America, my family noticed a large crowd forming in front of a popular theater. The word on the street was that Colin Powell, the American Secretary of State at the time, was coming to the theater that evening to watch a play. We quickly learned that watching high-ranking public officials come and go was a favourite pastime of tourists.
In Jesus’ day the locals often lingered around the banquet halls and homes of public figures. Once, as Jesus attended a meal hosted by a Pharisee named Simon, a local woman approached Him, washed His feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed them with a costly perfume (Luke 7:36-39). 


Her actions were a stunning gesture of humility and love. Simon (the Pharisee), however, didn’t get it. In his thoughts, he disregarded Jesus for appearing to be unaware of the woman’s immoral reputation (v.39). Little did he know that Jesus knew everything about her and that, before dinner was over, Jesus would graciously invite Simon to see that he was no different.


Simon considered the woman kneeling at Jesus’ feet to be an especially depraved sinner. But Jesus went on to make it clear to Simon that he was just like this woman, for he too needed to be forgiven. He was just as spiritually bankrupt as she, except that she ‘got it’ and humbly turned to Jesus—offering Him a deep gesture of love (vv.41-47). 


Blinded by his selfishness, Simon not only missed seeing his own need for forgiveness, but he didn’t understand who Jesus was. The One he had invited to dinner was and is the God who offers forgiveness and peace to all, no matter what they’ve done (vv.48-50). —Jeff Olson


MORE
How well do you understand who Jesus is? In what ways do you identify with the woman who washed His feet? With Simon?
 
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Why do we struggle to choose grace in moments of frustration? What’s at the root of our desire to make our frustrations or hurt known to those who have wronged us?
 

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ODB: Choose Your God

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January 22, 2013 

READ: Joshua 24:14-18 

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. —Joshua 24:15 

I recently saw a commercial for an online game based on Greek mythology. It spoke about armies, mythological gods, heroes, and quests. What got my attention was the description of how to get the game started. You go online to register, choose your god, then build your empire.

Wow! “Choose your god.” Those words, though presented casually in the ad, struck me as being characteristic of one of the most dangerous things about our world. In a game, it may be insignificant what “god” you choose; but in the real world that choice has eternal consequences.

To a generation of Israelites surrounded by the gods of their day, Joshua declared that they must choose their god—but it must not be done in a cavalier way. He set the example as he said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).

Today, as in the days of Joshua, there are many options. But there is only one wise choice—the true God. Joshua made the right choice. “We will serve the Lord.”

— Bill Crowder

The gods of this world are empty and vain,
They cannot give peace to one’s heart;
The living and true One deserves all our love—
From Him may we never depart. —D. DeHaan

Nothing can fill the emptiness in your heart except God. 

ODJ: freely given


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January 22, 2013 

READ: Ephesians 1:1-11
 

He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (v.8).


At the end of a long day, I took a moment to get a head start on my work emails—striving to preempt any surprises I might face at 8 o’clock the next morning. Frustration ebbed throughout my tired mind as I read an email that contained complaints and feelings of entitlement from a student known to be immature in his responses to life’s challenges. I wanted to send back a veiled sting of reproach, but instead I crawled into bed to think through my response. Getting to the root of my frustrations, I ignored my first inclinations and seized the opportunity to model grace.
Grace, a foundational belief of our Christian theology and experience, often remains in the abstract of our walk rather than the daily practice. In moments of frustration, the desire for a fair hearing rises up in our hearts. We rush to prove others wrong in their perceptions and to defend our cause. Whether uttered outright or in our hearts, we look for the opportunity to triumph.


In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul reminds the believers that we have access to “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ” (1:3). Sometimes we forget, however, that this spiritual treasury holds the grace necessary to extend kindness where we would otherwise demand an “eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38-44). 


Far from being a philosophical ideal, grace first became visible through Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9; Titus 2:11). In our lives it must be the same. Just as Jesus chose to love us when we had nothing to offer, our ability to extend grace is not measured by those moments when we believe someone has our back. Rather, grace takes on flesh in our lives when we offer love where we could otherwise demand vindication. —Regina Franklin 


MORE
Read Titus 3:3-7 and consider how this passage is essential to our interactions with others.
 
NEXT
Why do we struggle to choose grace in moments of frustration? What’s at the root of our desire to make our frustrations or hurt known to those who have wronged us?
 

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