ODB: triumphing over giants
May 18, 2010 READ: 1 Samuel 17:33-50 The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. —1 Samuel 17:37 In 1935, the debate team of Wiley College, a small and unranked black school in Texas, unexpectedly [...]
ODJ: the longing of God
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them” (v.3).
READ: Revelation 21:1-4
Blaise Pascal once said the now-famous words: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which [can] be filled . . . only be filled by God.” St. Augustine once prayed, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” In Revelation 21 we see the end of human longing—the heart at rest in relationship with its Creator in His eternal kingdom.
Something we spend less time thinking about, however, is the longing that God has—a longing that will also be fulfilled on that great day. Now, to be sure, an omnipotent, self-sufficient God doesn’t lack anything. We don’t meet God’s needs. But throughout biblical history, God has expressed His longing for us: “You will be Mine.”
• “I will claim you as My own people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7).
• “I will be your God, and you will be My people” (Leviticus 26:12).
• “I will put My instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
• “You will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28).
For thousands of years, God has had one desire—a people drawn to Himself. This longing has fueled His missionary endeavors: sending prophets to call back His straying people, sending His Son to find His straying sheep (Luke 19:10). In the kingdom of God, His desire will finally be fulfilled: “I will be their God, and they will be My children” (Revelation 21:7).
God is our King and Judge, that’s true. But we often miss His Father heart—a heart that longs for our free, loving, devoted allegiance to Him; a heart that awaits that longing to be fulfilled. —Sheridan Voysey
How do you view God? The “You will be My people” statements are often in the context of God’s disobedient people repenting. How can this encourage you when you repent of your sin?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...ODB: God’s origami
May 17, 2010
READ: Romans 8:22-30
We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. —Ephesians 2:10
Not long ago, I attended a class in origami, where I learned that the term comes from two Japanese words that mean “folding paper.” In this process, a piece of paper is transformed into a bird or other unique shape by a series of geometric folds and creases.
Our facilitator was Hitoshiro Akehi, a Japanese brother in Christ. As we folded our paper into different shapes, Mr. Akehi shared some of his life experiences. The youngest of 11 children, he was raised by his mother after his father died during World War II. Through many twists and turns, his family came into contact with missionaries. As a result, many of his family members became Christians.
As I refashioned a simple piece of paper into a beautiful new form, I thought of how God shapes us. First, He uses circumstances to bring us to our knees and to Him. Then, by grace He continues to use life’s twists and turns to reshape us into more Christlike persons, “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).
Has your life taken an unexpected turn? Remember, in the hands of our Creator and Redeemer, we are “[God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10). We are His unfinished works of art. God can use the twists and turns in our lives to make us more like His Son. —Dennis Fisher
Christians are God’s works in progress.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Five Loaves & Two Fishes
The Master needs what you have to offer, No matter if you think it’s small; His work on earth is done through His children, So give Him your best, give your all. —Hess What is your “five loaves & two fishes”?
(29 votes, average: 4.72 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: in control
Jesus said, “No more of this.” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him (v.51).
READ: Luke 22:47-53
Flight 1549 was in trouble. After taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport on January 15, 2009, the jetliner struck a flock of geese. Some of the birds were sucked into its twin engines, causing them complete failure.
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger didn’t allow the chaos of the moment to overwhelm him. He didn’t lose control. The veteran pilot chose the safest course—a water landing in the Hudson River. Due to his cool head, the lives of all 150 passengers and five crewmembers were saved.
In Luke 22, as Jesus faced betrayal and an unjust arrest that would lead to His crucifixion, He remained calm and in control. He said to Peter—who had just used his sword to slash off the ear of the high priest’s slave—and the others, “No more of this” (Luke 22:51; John 18:10). Then, showing His divine power, Jesus reached out and touched the man’s gaping wound and “healed him” (Luke 22:51).
The Master chose to use a gentle touch and calming words to still the chaos of the moment (v.51). As He confronted the leading priests, captains of the temple guard, and elders who had come to bind Him and take Him away, He coolly stated, “But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns” (v.53).
Jesus knew the horrors that awaited Him as He laid down His power in order to allow the “power of darkness” to reign for a time. Earlier, He had told His disciples, “No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again” (John 10:18).
Out of love for you and me, Jesus willingly was led away in chains. But make no mistake—He was still in control. —Tom Felten
What do you learn about Jesus in how He chose to use His power? How do you see His love and compassion even in this bitter scene of betrayal?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: the ascension
May 16, 2010
READ: Acts 1:1-11
While they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. —Acts 1:9
When the husband of my longtime friend and publishing colleague collapsed and later died, there was no doubt that life had slipped away from him. There were witnesses. The same was true when Jesus died. But three days later, Jesus was raised from the dead! We have no doubt that this is true because there were witnesses who later saw Him alive.
When we gathered for Dave’s memorial service, we read familiar passages of Scripture that affirm our hope that he is now enjoying new life in heaven. But we claimed these promises by faith because none of us witnessed Dave go to heaven. There was, however, a witness who saw Jesus in heaven. Not long after witnesses saw Jesus ascend (Acts 1:9), Stephen saw the heavens open “and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (7:56). One of the reasons we know that Jesus spoke the truth about going to prepare a place for us (John 14:2) is that He has been seen alive in heaven.
When a loved one goes ahead of us to heaven, we feel as if we’re being pulled in the opposite direction—down into an abyss of sadness. Yet, because God kept His promise to raise Christ and take Him to heaven, we can trust Him to do the same for all who love and follow Him. —Julie Ackerman Link
The promise of heaven is our eternal hope.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: at His feet
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died” (v.32).
READ: John 11:17-37
Today I drank a peach milkshake and cried.
Far from being emotional over ice cream, I was flooded with memories. Though my dad has been gone 15 years, I still miss him. So when my kids and I went to get milkshakes, I couldn’t stop the tears as I sipped bits of peach through my straw. When he was in the final stages of renal cell carcinoma, peach milkshakes were among the few pleasurable foods my dad could tolerate. I bought him one the day he died in an attempt to ease his discomfort. Like our time together, it remained unfinished.
Few things redefine our lives like the death of someone we love. John’s account of Lazarus’ death brings the compassion of Christ into sharp focus. Jesus knew that Lazarus would live again (John 11:11), but He still wept as He saw him lying in the tomb (v.34).
Overcome by their loss, Martha and Mary (in separate instances) say to Jesus when He finally arrives: “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (vv.21,32). One distinct difference, however, marks their responses. Scripture tells us, “When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet” (v.32). Because she had been willing to sit at Jesus’ feet in sweet fellowship (Luke 10:39), Mary had no trouble falling at His feet in her moment of crisis.
Two women—the same question, but dramatically different postures. Intimacy defined the difference.
God doesn’t ask us to embrace our loss with gladness. Confident of His love for us, we are to trust His goodness in spite of our pain. Matthew 5:4 says, “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” When we choose to worship despite our loss, He becomes our comfort, the very presence of peace in our lives (Isaiah 9:6). —Regina Franklin
Is there any loss in your life where you have struggled to trust the Lord? In what ways has God been your Comforter?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...today’s conversation
What is your “five loaves and two fishes”?
(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: charlie’s list
May 15, 2010
READ: Psalm 119:9-16
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.—Colossians 3:16
When Charles Hayward died last May at the age of 87, he left a legacy for his children and grand-children. He and his wife Virginia had faithfully served as missionaries for many years both in India and South Africa. But at age 73, he began to select and memorize portions of Scripture so he would “finish well” with his mind full of God’s truth.
He called his project, “The Whole Bible Memorization Plan.” His children call it, “Charlie’s List.” Charles chose a theme verse (Col. 3:16), at least one verse from each Old Testament book, at least one from each New Testament narrative book, and a verse or verses from each chapter of the New Testament Epistles. He began with Genesis 15:6, “He believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” and ended with Revelation 22:17, “Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
All in all, Charles committed 239 verses to memory. He reminds me of the psalmist who wrote: “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (119:11). Like Charles, the psalmist meditated and delighted in God’s Word (vv.15-16). What better goal could any of us have than to fill our minds with God’s truth. —Cindy Hess Kasper
Memorizing God’s Word is like planting seeds that bear the fruit of a righteous life.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...“Can I pray for you?”
By Tracy Phua, Singapore As I flipped through the newspapers and saw the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in February, I would never have imagined that a disaster of that magnitude would afflict the inhabitants of Earth. But, again, just two weeks ago, the headlines read: “China Rushes to Help 10,000 People Injured in Powerful [...]
(4 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...
