ODJ: true repentance
They turned from their sins and worshiped the Lord (v.19). READ: Jeremiah 26:18-19 Today, my son lied to me. The specifics were minor, but his attempts to weasel out of the offense without coming clean caused me concern. One author, writing about our vague “confessions,” said that she imagines “God as a wily writing teacher [...]
ODB: credibility
January 13, 2010
READ: 1 Peter 2:11-21
[Have] your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that . . . they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God. —1 Peter 2:12
The recent global financial crisis caused people to pay closer attention to their credit report. When credit was easy to get, some people became careless about how they used it. They didn’t bother to save for what they wanted; they just borrowed. Being in debt was no big deal. But in a crisis, that is no longer the case. Having good credit is suddenly very important.
After an advertisement for a credit repair service, a local newscaster said, “Credit repair isn’t something you can buy; it’s something you have to work for.”
The same principle applies to the credibility of our lives. We can’t buy it; it’s something we have to work for. We may be able to “borrow” credibility for a while by associating ourselves with credible people, but sooner or later we will need our own.
Credibility has to do with the ability to elicit belief. The reason it’s essential for Christians is that our lives affect God’s reputation (1 Peter 2:12). When we call ourselves by Christ’s name, His reputation is tied to ours. If people have reason not to believe us, they may not believe God.
The way to earn credibility is to live honorably. Then others will believe and glorify God. — Julie Ackerman Link
If we take care of our character, our reputation will take care of itself.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Loading ...ODB: finishers
January 12, 2010
READ: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. —2 Timothy 4:7
When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a black belt in karate. Several years ago, I began training and came close to fulfilling that goal. However, two belts away from my goal, I quit. There were two reasons—my teacher changed styles in the middle of my training, and I got so busy that I could not devote adequate time for training.
Almost every week, I am nagged by the thought that God wants me to be a finisher in all aspects of my life—but especially in my service for Him.
As Paul spoke of the conclusion of his life, he did not have any nagging thoughts of unfinished business about his ministry. In this final farewell (2 Tim. 4:7), Paul used imagery-rich words to talk about finishing his service for Christ. He described his life and ministry in terms of a fight: “I have fought the good fight.” The fight was good because he had engaged in it for God and the gospel. Then he used the imagery of a race as synonymous with his ministry: “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul affirmed that by God’s grace he had finished all that God had given him to do.
As followers of Jesus, let us strive to be finishers, persevering in our service for Jesus Christ. — Marvin Williams
Run the race with eternity in view.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: discord in the family
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people (2 Timothy 2:24).
READ: Proverbs 6:12-19
According to a 2009 study, men and women sin differently. This study of the seven deadly sins found that the top sin for men is lust, followed by gluttony, laziness, anger, pride, envy, and greed. For women, the sin list in order of frequency is pride, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, greed, and laziness. These seven deadly sins were first laid down by Gregory the Great in the 6th century AD. But, in reality, it’s wrong to say that there are only seven deadly sins. For all sins are deadly (Romans 6:23; James 1:15).
King Solomon listed seven sins, which are detestable to God (Proverbs 6:17-19). Contrary to popular understanding, he isn’t saying that there are only seven specific sins that God hates. For all sins are abhorrent to Him! In the Bible, the “six . . . seven” numerical pattern (also seen in Job 5:19; Proverbs 30:15-16,18-19,21-31) does not give a complete list. Instead, these patterns lay out all items equally, pointing to the final item—“a person who sows discord in a family” (6:19)—as the culmination of the preceding items.
In Proverbs 6, the passage is bracketed by liars who “constantly stir up trouble” and those who sow “discord in a family” (vv.12,14,19). It describes the attitudes and actions of the divisive person. A divisive person is wicked (v.12), deceitful (v.13), perverted (v.14), proud (v.17), and evil in his heart (v.18). He sows discord by hypocritical actions and deceptive words (vv.12,13,17,19). The divisive person is without value to the community and will be severely punished (vv.12,15). He has incurred God’s wrath (v.16).
A troublemaker can easily destroy the unity of the church. We’re reminded: “Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes too. Quarrels and insults will disappear” (Proverbs 22:10). —K.T. Sim
How should you deal with a divisive person in your fellowship group or church? What should you say to him or her?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: following our example
January 11, 2010
READ: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers. —1 Timothy 4:12
Alyssa, who is 6 and just learning to read, often saw her parents and grandparents reading their Bibles in the morning. Early one day, she woke up before everyone else. Grandma found her sitting on the couch, with her Bible and a devotional booklet on her lap. She wanted to follow the example of spending time with God at the beginning of the day.
Timothy, a young pastor, faced heavy responsibilities in the church at Ephesus—training believers, leading in worship, countering false doctrine. The older, experienced apostle Paul gave him instruction on leading the church in these areas, but he also mentioned the importance of personal conduct. He said, “Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
Paul challenged Timothy: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine” (v.16). If he paid attention to his own spiritual life and to solid doctrine, he would be a godly example to the church family.
We all have others who are observing us. Even little Alyssa has younger siblings watching her. Let’s live our lives in such a way that those who follow our example will help others in their walk with God. — Anne Cetas
A good example has more value than good advice.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: opportunity for joy
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy (v.2).
READ: James 1:1-12
Sometimes the Bible puzzles me. For instance, the book of James starts out by telling us that when tough things happen, “consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2). Really? “Great joy?” I don’t know about you, but sometimes even a little joy can be hard to come by.
I’ve wondered how a verse like this applies when someone we care about passes away? Personally, I don’t think my heart has ever ached as much as when my brother’s wife died of cancer. The pain I felt and saw in my brother and his children was, at times, unbearable. So when we lose someone to death, does the Bible tell us to quit hurting and just be happy? Thankfully, no. Our natural response when someone dies is to grieve. Jesus Himself grieved the loss of His dear friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But for those who know Jesus, grief is never the end of the story.
Just hours before He was tortured and put to death on a cross, Jesus informed His first followers, “You will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy” (John 16:20). Hmmm—grief that turns into joy. There it is again. But how is that possible? Jesus goes on to say, “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy” (John 16:22).
As Christians, we can look at death differently. It doesn’t take away the sting of our loss today, but the hope of a great reunion with those who have gone before us brings a true sense of joy that carries us through our pain. —Jeff Olson
When has God provided you with joy amid the pain of life? How do Jesus’ words encourage you when you face suffering?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Spelling Mistake
By Tracy Phua, Singapore Sometimes when we type too fast, it is not uncommon for us to miss out a letter by mistake. It dawned on me recently how important that missing letter might be, and how it might totally spell (pun intended) disaster for missing that tiny detail! For example, you may have wanted [...]
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: register rock
January 10, 2010
READ: Hebrews 11:32-40
We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. —Hebrews 12:1
Along the old Oregon Trail in Idaho there is a marker—a giant lava boulder known locally as Register Rock. It’s located in an area which was one of the favorite overnight camping areas for westbound immigrants who traveled the trail in the 19th century.
Travelers often inscribed their names on the rock as a memorial to their passage. Register Rock stands as a monument to their courage and tenacity.
When I think of Register Rock, I think of other pilgrims who have passed by us on their journey. Hebrews 11 lists some of those hardy souls—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, to name a few.
But there are other more recent pilgrims: my mother and father, my fifth-grade Sunday school teacher Mrs. Lincoln, my youth leader John Richards, my mentors Ray Stedman and Howard Hendricks, and a host of others I could name. They may not have inscribed their names on rocks, but they’re written in my memory.
The author of Hebrews reminds us to remember “pilgrims” who have gone before us, especially those “who have spoken the Word of God” to us and to consider “the outcome of their conduct” (Heb. 13:7). And, most important, he encourages us to follow their faith. — David H. Roper
People who follow Christ lead others in the right direction.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: divine heartbeat
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (v.20).
READ: Luke 15:11-31
If we could listen to the heartbeat of God, what would we hear? Peo—ple. Peo—ple. Peo—ple . . .
This reality amazes both mortals and angels. The psalmist asks, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:4). And angels watched in holy awe at the unfolding of God’s redemption plan for mankind (1 Peter 1:12).
God’s love for people is amazing—especially when you consider that ministering to people is often difficult, tiring, and heavy on heartache. People are fickle—good one moment, bad the next. Look at King David. Look at the apostle Peter. Look at me. We are consistently inconsistent!
Yet we repeatedly find similar storylines to Luke 15:11-31 in God’s Word. Let’s take a look at the pattern:
• Man disobeys God—The younger son overtly disobeyed his father. The older brother appeared to outwardly honor his father, while he was inwardly unhappy with him (vv.13,29-30).
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God initiates reconciliation—The father went out to meet both of his sons (vv.20,28). His heart was “filled with love and compassion” (v.20). And he humbled himself and begged (v.28) his older son to rejoice with him in the family reunion.
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Two responses—The younger son repented, while the older brother would not rejoice with his family despite his father’s pleas.
God’s love for people should be our clear example. As we come to understand His heartbeat, it compels us to love others. The apostle Paul captured the heart of God and the ministry He’s given us when he wrote, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’ ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). —Poh Fang Chia
How do you show God’s love to others? In what ways can you be His ambassador of reconciliation?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: fear of the unknown
January 9, 2010
READ: Hebrews 11:8-12
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called . . . . And he went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8
Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed unreasonable? Something that took you into the territory of the unknown? What if He asked you to refuse a long-awaited promotion or resist a longed-for relationship? What if He called you to a remote part of the world or asked you to release your children to serve Him in a faraway place?
The unknown is full of haunting “what ifs.” Yet God often calls us to chart unknown territory as we follow Him. Obeying His commands to forgive, to give away our treasures, or to give up things that provide security and pleasure often leave us in the scary territory of unknown outcomes.
Imagine how Abraham felt when God asked him to move his whole family without telling him where they were going (Gen. 12:1-3). God also asked Abraham to persevere—to stay in an unknown land even when the lure of past comforts may have threatened to seduce him and his family back to their comfort zone in Ur.
Entering a new year is like entering uncharted territory. The fear of the unknown could cripple our capacity to follow God’s leading through the days ahead. Yet, like Abraham, when we cling to the One who knows all things, we’re in good hands—regardless of where He leads. — Joe Stowell
Never be afraid to entrust the unknown future to the all-knowing God.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
