Featured Devotionals

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ODJ: shrinking faith

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In Indonesia scientists have located remains of an ancient people that may have—over the years—shrunk due to what they call “island dwarfism”. The researchers have used the name hobbit to identify the remains. Though hobbits are fictitious creatures, we’re naturally curious about what might cause humans to grow smaller.

The writer of Hebrews wrote his words to a com

ODJ: stuff of legends

The 2012 film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit tells the story of a band of dwarves seeking to recapture their lost mountain kingdom from an evil dragon.

As Thorin, the dwarf king, lays out his plan to reclaim the long-lost kingdom, an older dwarf named Balin speaks the following discouraging words: “What are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toymakers—hardly t

ODJ: a sure investment

I sat on the gift shop bench while my family looked for souvenirs. We had just finished climbing nearly 300 steps of spiral staircase to the top of a towering memorial. As I leaned against the wall, the display nearest me caught my attention. Filled with clear packages of coins and bills, it offered a selection of replicas of dated money no longer in circulation. One particular piece—the triangu

ODJ: when your dream dies

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In his book, Me, Myself, & Bob, Phil Vischer shares how he invented the popular VeggieTales characters of Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. Phil’s Christian videos sold millions of copies and he became an overnight sensation. But the creative genius was not a gifted businessman, and his exploding company took on too much debt until it went bankrupt. The rights to Bob, Larry and th

ODJ: powerful prayers

In the spring of 2013 North Korean church leaders requested that believers around the world pray for their country and the Christians who live there. They called for this intercession due to the sabre-rattling of North Korea’s government, which had been conducting military exercises with war written all over them. One North Korean church leader stated at the time, “I would like to thank the

ODJ: the fruit of suffering

How are you doing now?” my friend asked as we walked down the path. The last time Adrian and I had spoken I had told him that my wife and I were not able to have children, and the pain this had brought us.

“On the whole,” I said, “we’re doing better. I guess we’re trying to focus on the upside of being childless and the opportunities it brings. You know, like being free

ODJ: in our hearts

After observing the warm fellowship of believers in Jesus, this was the reaction of the unbelieving Greek writer Lucian (AD 120-200): “It is incredible to see the fervour with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator [Jesus] has put it in their heads that they are brethren”. Near the same time that Lucian wrote, Tertullia

ODJ: love like this

When my son was learning to read he realised he could decipher street signs—especially speed limit signs. Thrilled with his new skill, he would call out from the backseat, “Mum, the speed limit is 30—it’s 30!” The first couple of times this happened, I thought it was cute. The next few times, I found it tolerable. Each announcement after that became more trying, even though I kn

ODJ: the sustaining Word

Nine weeks into my first pregnancy I started bleeding. The fear of losing our baby gripped my heart so tightly that I could barely breathe. That night, as I frantically searched the Scriptures to find some comfort, I opened my Bible to Genesis 26:24 (MSG): “That very night God appeared to him and said, I am the God of Abraham your father; don’t fear a thing because I’m with you. I’ll ble