ODB: point of no return
December 31, 2009
READ: Deut. 11:7-12
The eyes of the Lord your God are always on [the land], from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. —Deuteronomy 11:12
Longtime California pastor Ray Stedman once told his congregation: “On New Year’s Eve we realize more than at any other time in our lives that we can never go back in time. . . . We can look back and remember, but we cannot retrace a single moment of the year that is past.”
Stedman then referred to the Israelites as they stood on the edge of a new opportunity. After four decades of desert wanderings by their people, this new generation may have wondered if they had the faith and fortitude to possess the Promised Land.
Their leader, Moses, reminded them that they had seen “every great act of the Lord which He did” (Deut. 11:7) and that their destination was “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (v.12).
On New Year’s Eve, we may fear the future because of events in the past. But we need not remain chained to our old memories because we can move ahead focused on God. Just as the Lord watched over the land and His people, so His eyes will be upon us.
God’s faithful care will extend to every day of the new year. We can count on that promise. — David C. McCasland
The “what” of our future is determined by the “Who” of eternity.
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Loading ...Thirsty?
By Tracy Phua, Singapore
Not long ago, I was having this awful sore throat—no thanks to my late nights and bad habit of not drinking enough water. I didn’t drink enough water because I didn’t’ feel thirsty. As a result, I fell sick.
Many a time, we ignore our body’s plea for water and carry on with our activities. It’s not until we feel that we’re falling sick that we chug down large amounts of water hoping to reverse the damage that has already been done.
In John 4, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that those who drink the water that He gave would never be thirsty again. But do we know that we are thirsty? Haven’t we all at some point in our lives, thought to ourselves, “Ah, I’m so tired today, I’ll pray tomorrow when I’m more awake.” Or “Everything’s going well for me right now, I have nothing to ask of God.” Or maybe even “Yeah God is great, He made everything wonderful for me, but I’ll do my quiet time tomorrow since I’m busy.” Isn’t it true that when we’re feeling physically exhausted, or when everything is going well for us, or when we’re caught up with our lives, that we compromise our daily time with Him?
And so, it’s no wonder that God has to sometimes allow us to face a big dilemma or a big stressor event to catch our attention. Only through these interventions can God turn our self-preoccupied thoughts to Him, and help us realize that we are not self-sufficient but God-dependent. It is only then do we realize that we’ve been ignoring our thirst, and hence suffering the “sore throat.”
I guess we really have ourselves to blame, isn’t it? God is faithful. He is waiting for us to turn our attention to Him. Yet we keep telling Him, “Yup wait . . . hold on . . . in a while . . ..” His “power is made perfect in our weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9), so let us remember Him in our good times as well as bad. Let’s spend daily time with Him.
“All Who Are Thirsty”
All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep (we sing)
Come Lord Jesus come
Holy Spirit come
As deep cries out to deep
©1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire)
Words and Music by Brenton Brown and Glenn Robertson
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: treasures
December 31, 2009
READ: Matthew 6:19-24
Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (vv.20-21).
Every day, according to one survey, Americans buy an average of 3,972,603 movie tickets; 1,683,835 songs and albums from online resources; 1,650,000 DVD rentals from Netflix; 978,030 bags of Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet popcorn; 568,764 Titleist golf balls; 443,650 large fries at Burger King; 160,968 bottles of Absolut Vodka; 7,500 Samsung LCD TVs; and 60 Ford Mustangs on eBay. It’s clear from this incomplete list that many consumers are spending money on things that have temporary stamped on them. Jesus, however, says that we should use our resources to acquire things that have eternity written all over them.
In Matthew 6, He identifies two types of treasures. The first are the ones accumulated on earth. These treasures are vulnerable to all kinds of decay and theft. They are the goods that we should not be going for. The alternative is treasures in heaven. Now Jesus was not saying we can buy our way into heaven. He was simply calling us to simplify our lives and leverage our time and resources for the sake of people in need (Matthew 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). When we, with pure motives (Matthew 6:1-4), give up our lives and resources for the marginalized, we’re “storing up” treasures in heaven.
How can we determine where our treasure is and where our hearts are? I believe the following questions can help us: What occupies my thoughts and daydreams? What do I fret about the most? Apart from my immediate family, who or what do I most dread losing? What criteria do I use to evaluate others? What would make me most unhappy to be without?
Let’s prayerfully consider the resources we’re using and pursuing, making sure that our stuff is being used to bless others and glorify God. —Marvin Williams
How can you make an investment in eternity today? What is a good way to evaluate your use of money?
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December 30, 2009
READ: Hebrews 10:22-39
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. —Hebrews 10:22
The former athlete had neglected his body for too long, so he began an exercise routine. The first day, he did several push-ups and went for a light jog. The next day, more push-ups, a few sit-ups, and a longer run. Day 3: exercises and a mile-and-a-half run. On Day 4, our ex-athlete in re-training woke up with a sore throat.
Then he did one more exercise: He jumped to the conclusion that exercising was a bad idea. If all he got out of his huffing and puffing was sickness, it wasn’t for him.
Let’s examine another scenario. A Christian, realizing he has neglected his relationship with God, begins a new spiritual routine of Bible-reading and prayer. But after just a few days, some problems arise in his life. What does he conclude? Like the ex-athlete, should he decide that his spiritual quest was a bad idea and that it didn’t do any good? Certainly not.
We don’t pray and read the Bible to get a perfect, trouble-free life. Pursuing God is not cause and effect. We do it because it draws us closer in our relationship with the One who is perfect. The pursuit of godliness will not exempt us from trouble (2 Tim. 3:12). But a life dedicated to loving and pursuing God (Heb. 10:22) is always a good idea—no matter what happens. — Dave Branon
The roots of stability come from being grounded in God’s Word and prayer.
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