staying together
Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together (v.6). READ: Matthew 19:1-10 Last year, a woman named Joan opened a letter from a local law firm and immediately burst into tears as she read its contents. The letter stated that her divorce from husband John [...]
for sale: one soul
May 31, 2009
READ: Matthew 16:24-28
What will a man give in exchange for his soul? —Matthew 16:26
One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred.
Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university instructor succeeded in selling his immortal soul for $1,325. He said, “In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it.” One wonders how the purchaser intended to collect.
We can’t literally sell our soul, but we can lose our soul to gain something else. We need to ponder Jesus’ question, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). Our answers today would differ only in specifics from the responses of Jesus’ day: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The lusts that captivate us and the thirst for unbridled pleasure, success, revenge, or material things have certainly taken on far more importance to many people than any considerations of eternity.
Nothing on earth compares to the gifts of God’s love and forgiveness. If the pleasures of this world are preventing you from trusting in Jesus Christ, please think again. It’s not worth the cost of your eternal soul. — David C. Egner
Jesus is the only fountain who can satisfy the thirsty soul.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Loading ...unseen
There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah (v.16).
READ: 1 Kings 17:3-16
I never thought of myself as having control issues—until I got married. Somehow blending two lives into one exposes how much we want things our way. From the way I like the covers tucked (or not tucked) at night to how we made decisions, I wanted things done in a way that made me feel comfortable. Exposing my need for control, God revealed how this issue ultimately came from a lack of trust in Him.
Trust is never easy. But it’s even harder when things look bleak. We’re willing to obey as long as we have a vague idea of the outcome. But God wants to know our response when we’re hiding in a cave with nowhere to go.
Zealous for the Lord, Elijah had boldly proclaimed to a self-indulgent king that the rain would fall only at his (Elijah’s) command (1 Kings 17:1). What should have been a moment of spiritual triumph became testing grounds for Elijah’s faith. With his life in danger, all he had was a directive from the Lord.
Not knowing what each day would hold, Elijah learned that life itself proceeds from what God speaks (Numbers 23:19). He had to trust that God would take care of him no matter how circumstances looked (Isaiah 41:10). Giving up the need to know, Elijah discovered . . .
• wherever God directs, His provision follows (1 Kings 17:3-6).
• God uses circumstances to move us within His will (vv.7-9).
• our trust and subsequent obedience bring life to those in need
(vv.14-16).
We want God to be our provision and hope, but sometimes we insist on moving only when we feel comfortable. The very essence of trusting His ways means realizing they’re not our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). —Regina Franklin
In what areas are you having difficulty trusting God? How has your desire for comfort limited your obedience to Him?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...wow!
May 30, 2009
READ: Romans 11:33-36
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? —Exodus 15:11
One blustery day in June, our family, holidaying in the Canadian Rockies, went to a tourist site that was billed as a “must see.” The cold wind made me reluctant to go on until I saw a group of people returning from the scenic spot. “Is it worth it?” I asked. “Definitely!” was their response. That gave us the incentive to go on. When we finally reached the spot, its beauty rendered us virtually speechless. “Wow!” was all we could manage.
Paul reached that point as he wrote about the work of God in saving Jew and Gentile in the book of Romans. Three things about God “wowed” him.
First, God is all-wise (11:33). His perfect plan of salvation shows that He has far better solutions to the problems of life than we are capable of devising.
Second, God is all-knowing. His knowledge is infinite. He needs no counselor (v.34) and nothing surprises Him!
Third, God is all-sufficient (v.35). No one can give to God what He has not first given to them. Nor can anyone ever repay Him for His goodness.
We can say with Moses, “Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Ex. 15:11 ESV). What a marvelous God we serve! — C. P. Hia
In God’s character and in His creation, we see His majesty.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...God is doing something
The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it” (v.5).
READ: Habakkuk 1:1-11
A silent heaven,” it has been said, “is the greatest mystery of our existence.” Have you ever prayed and felt as if heaven were silent? Have you seen injustice and wondered, Where is God? Have you ever asked the question, Does it pay to live a righteous life? If so, you’re not alone.
When Habakkuk looked at his broken and unjust world, he was forced to ask God some questions: How long will it be before You respond to me? Why is evil winning? When will You stop the violence? (see 1:1-4). Habakkuk’s questions arise from a perplexed faith, not a weak one. Yet, God understood that his concerns stemmed from a limited perspective of God’s larger purpose. God answered: “I am doing something . . .” (v.5). God was going to discipline wicked Judah through an even more wicked, violent, and notorious nation: Babylon. God was opening Habakkuk’s eyes so he could see that God was always working. Even when He seemed distant, He was sustaining order in the universe and positioning people to be used for His glory.
God also wanted Habakkuk to know that He does not work in typical fashion. He chose to discipline His people through an unlikely and dubious source—the wicked Babylonians. And He wanted Habakkuk to know that He was going to do His work in ways that he never would have chosen. “I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it,” He said (v.5).
When you ponder perplexing questions, remember that God is still working—navigating circumstances, positioning people, and impacting events to fulfill His divine purposes in the world. May He direct our eyes to see where He’s working today! —Marvin Williams
When have you been perplexed about why God allowed something to happen? What are some of your deepest concerns and frustrations that you need to honestly talk with Him about?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...armed for the fray
May 29, 2009
READ: Ephesians 6:10-18
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. —Ephesians 6:11
Paul the apostle, a spiritual warrior, testified as he came to the end of his embattled life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).
Years earlier, that valiant soldier of Jesus Christ had pleaded with his fellow Christians to put on the armor of God that would enable them to stand firm in their conflict with the powers of darkness. He knew the vital importance of donning that armor every day. In his service for Christ, Paul had been whipped, beaten, stoned, and imprisoned, and was often hungry, thirsty, cold, and weary (2 Cor. 11:22-28).
Strapping on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) enabled Paul to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:14-17). With God’s armor we too are fully covered and prepared for battle.
The prince of darkness with his hosts of demonic helpers is an incredibly crafty foe. That’s why we need to guard against his deceitful devices and put on the whole armor of God every day. When we do, like Paul when he was nearing the end of his days, we can be confident that we have “kept the faith.” — Vernon C. Grounds
God’s armor is tailormade for you, but you must put it on.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...real food
Why pay for food that does you no good? (v.2).
READ: Isaiah 55
Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink (Isaiah 55:1).
In the May 13 ODJ article, I wrote about an African boy named Saddam who had spent 4 years of his young life on the streets of Kampala, Uganda. A few weeks ago, I took Saddam and four of his housemates to the only movie theater in Uganda so they could see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? (v.2).
Saddam had recently read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He was therefore particularly excited to see a film about the same characters that had fascinated him in the book. Though Saddam thoroughly enjoyed the movie, he said afterward, “Aunt Rox, that movie was too much money. You could have used that money for food.”
Why pay for food that does you no good? (v.2).
Another boy, Frederick, age 8, expressed the same value judgment just two days later. When I asked him what was the best gift he had received in his lifetime, Frederick responded, “Food.”
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food (v.2).
God wants us to rank “spiritual food” the way most Ugandan children prioritize physical food—as our No. 1 aim. Ingesting spiritual food will . . .
• position you to experience God’s forgiveness.
“Turn to our God, for He will forgive generously” (v.7).
• direct you in God’s higher ways. “My ways are higher than your ways” (v.9).
• enable you to bear good fruit. “I send it out, and it always produces fruit” (v.11).
Are you “nutritionally” sound in your spiritual diet? If not, consider taking steps to increase your intake of God’s Word. It’s the food you need. —Roxanne Robbins
What has been your recent experience with ingesting God’s Word? How will you change to make spiritual food a priority in your life?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...witnesses
May 28, 2009
READ: Acts 1:1-11
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth. —Acts 1:8
In a criminal court case, witnesses provide vital information about a possible crime. Being a witness means telling the court the truth about what you know.
Just as the criminal justice system relies heavily on witnesses, Jesus uses bold, faithful, and credible witnesses to spread His Word and build His church.
Before Jesus ascended to His Father, He gave His disciples a final command—to launch a worldwide witnessing campaign. The Holy Spirit would come upon them and give them supernatural power to be His witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:8).
Jesus called these early apostles to go into a world where people did not know about Him and to give a truthful account of what they had seen, heard, and experienced (Acts 4:19-20). Since they had witnessed His perfect life, teachings, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 24:48; Acts 1-5), they were to go out and give a truthful testimony about Him.
In taking the gospel to the ends of the world, we are called to testify to the truth about Jesus and how He has changed our lives. “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Rom. 10:14). What are you doing to tell others? — Marvin Williams
God has left us in the world to witness to the world.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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running
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life” (v.4).
READ: 1 Kings 19:1-5
I have a confession to make. I hate to run.
Some people enjoy jogging to stay in shape. Others put themselves through rigorous months of training to run long-distance races. While I admire their discipline, it’s definitely not for me.
A friend who is an amateur marathoner told me that during the last 6 miles of a race everything below his waist begins to shut down. His legs cry out to his brain, “Why are you doing this to me?” In those moments, it makes no sense whatsoever for him to keep going—but somehow he perseveres.
The Old Testament prophet Elijah found himself running—not to train or for exercise, but for his very life! After his dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal, the wicked Queen Jezebel put a bounty on his head (1 Kings 19:1-3). He eventually fled to the desert, collapsed under a tree, and wanted to give up (vv.4-5).
“Why bother?” can be the cry of the heart when the going gets tough. Like a jogger running the last few miles of a grueling marathon, Christians can become so overwhelmed or demoralized by circumstances that it can appear as if there is no point in trying to fix a problem or achieve a dream.
Satan, our archenemy, wants us to quit when we have to deal with difficult circumstances. He wants us to agree with the lie that it’s pointless to keep going. But if we keep our focus on Jesus and all He truly is, we won’t be deceived. We won’t be taken down by the lies of the enemy, and we won’t give up. Because of Him, we can persevere and find the strength to finish whatever race is marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1-2). —Jeff Olson
What challenges in life have you been facing? How will you persevere by God’s strength?
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