The Final Goal: Trust And Sadness
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. – Proverbs 14:13 In early 1994, when our family found out that the US football team would be playing in my home state of Michigan in the World Cup, we knew we had to go. What a [...]
ODJ: the embrace of God
Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them” (v.23).
READ: John 14:15-26
Adrian Edwards was separated from his parents as a toddler, passed along from institution to foster home, and introduced to a life of crime at a young age. As a teenager, he was convicted of armed robbery and spent time in Western Australia’s Fremantle jail. There, in a strange twist of fate, he met his father who was serving time for murder. Adrian was released but longed to see his father again.
Father and son did meet again when Adrian was convicted a second time. Adrian served his sentence and was released, but he desired to be with his father.
Finally, a string of armed robberies had Adrian back in the courts. “He is looking forward to spending a long period of time incarcerated with his father,” his lawyer informed the judge. A long sentence followed. Adrian’s plan to be with his dad was finally fulfilled.
Orphans long for their parent’s embrace and will do extraordinary things to receive it. Thankfully, there’s a God who longs for His children and goes to extraordinary lengths to embrace us.
“I will not abandon you as orphans,” Jesus once told His disciples (John 14:18). They had met their Creator-incarnate (1:3) and would soon lose Him for a time (14:1-2), but they were not to fret. He was going to prepare their heavenly room and would return to collect them (v.3). He was sending them the Holy Spirit, who would “never leave.” (v.16). And as the Spirit was received into the disciples’ obedient hearts, Jesus said something extraordinary would happen: Father, Son, and Spirit together would come and live within them (v.23). The disciples would be wrapped in the embrace of God—in intimate union with Jesus and the Father (v.20).
This promise stands for all—for Adrian Edwards and for us. Love the Son, receive the Spirit, and be embraced in the Father’s arms. —Sheridan Voysey
The day you felt most abandoned, were you ever really alone? How will you express your love and obedience today in response to God’s embrace?
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Loading ...Why The World Cup Doesn’t Interest Me
By Rachel Ang, 21, Singapore I have never been interested in soccer. It is not a sign of femininity, of that I am sure. A number of my girl friends have posters of players in their rooms, and they actually keep up with the scores of the teams in this year’s World Cup. Me? I [...]
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: rescued
June 30, 2010
READ: Colossians 1:12-22
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. —Colossians 1:13
ASouth African man surprised nine men robbing his home. Seven of the robbers ran away, but the homeowner managed to shove two into his backyard pool. After realizing that one of the robbers couldn’t swim, the homeowner jumped in to save him. The Cape Times reports that once out of the pool, the wet thief called to his friends to come back. Then he pulled a knife and threatened the man who had just rescued him. The homeowner said, “We were still standing near the pool, and when I saw the knife I just threw him back in. But he was gasping for air and was drowning. So I rescued him again.”
In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul wrote of another rescue:God the Father had saved them from the domain of darkness. This rescue occurred at the death of Christ, but also at the Colossians’ conversion. The imagery Paul used (1:12-13) suggests that believers have been rescued from the dark reign of Satan by being transferred as free people into the peaceable rule of Christ. By Jesus’ death, believers become free citizens in the kingdom of light.
The appropriate response to such amazing grace is to show joyous gratitude by offering God acceptable service with reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28). —Marvin Williams
Through the cross, Jesus rescued and redeemed the rebellious.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...The Final Goal: A New World
Read: Genesis 1:1, 24-30 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1 Some people have their influence stamped all over certain things. That was certainly true of Jules Rimet. The Frenchman was key in the creation of the very first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930. For the next [...]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: even in the dark
Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me (v.1).
READ: Psalm 139:1-17
Joining the rash of reality television shows in the United States, Dating in the Dark hit the airwaves last summer. Each week, three guys and three girls got together for a week of dates—in a darkened room. They all made the rounds, talking and sharing meals as couples. But they never actually saw what one another looked like. At the end of the experiment, each of them picked the one they were most attracted to. Then, in a nerve-wracking encounter, they received glimpses of the other—discovering whether or not physical appearance ruined their attraction.
The whole enterprise preys on one of our most personal fears—if someone sees who we really are, they will want nothing to do with us.
This fear is why I find Psalm 139 to be so amazing. David tells me that there is absolutely nothing about me that God does not see. It’s out in the open, bright as the sun. No matter where I go, whether “I travel [or] rest at home,” God sees (v.3). He knows my actions even before I think to do them (v.2). My most private thoughts echo in God’s ears. God hears “what I am going to say even before I say it” (v.4) There isn’t a single thing we can hide from God, no matter how hard we try.
Knowing this could make me fall down and cower before God. If God sees all my impure motives and my lustful thoughts and my shadowy desires, surely He finds me despicable. Surely God will push me aside with disgust. Stunningly, David says just the opposite. “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!” (v.17).
God’s kindness toward us flows with pure, undeserved generosity. We are free to come out of the dark because God already sees and knows us—and loves us anyway. —Winn Collier
What are you attempting to hide from God? How would you find freedom by shining God’s loving light in your dark places?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The day God growled at me
By Jonathan Berman, Sri Lanka It’s been too long since I’d been on a family vacation to a place other than our little “retreat cottage” in the hills. The last time we left the comfort of our home and went on the road was nearly four years ago. Sure, we spend ample amount of time [...]
(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: paul’s heart
June 29, 2010
READ: Philippians 1:12-21
With all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. —Philippians 1:20
According to a long-held Christian tradition, the apostle Paul was beheaded and buried in Rome around ad 67. In 2009, scientists conducted carbon dating tests on what many believe to be his remains. While these tests on the bone fragments confirmed that they date from the first or second century, positive identification re-mains in question. But no matter where Paul’s bones rest, his heart lives on through his letters in the New Testament.
While imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Philippi about his purpose in life. He spoke of his “earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:20-21).
As we read Paul’s words today, they challenge us to examine our own hearts. Are we as passionate as he was about Jesus Christ? Is it our goal to honor Him in our everyday life?
Long after we’re gone, those who knew us will remember our hearts. May we, like Paul, create a legacy of hope and encouragement centered around Jesus Christ. —David McCasland
We are Christ’s “letters of recommendation” to all who read our lives.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...The Final Goal: Perspective
Read: Exodus 20:1-7 You must not have any other god but Me. – Exodus 20:3 What do Paris in 1998, Rio de Janeiro in 2002 and Rome in 2006 have in common? Of course, they were all places of wild celebrations as their national teams lifted the World Cup. Parties lasted long into the night [...]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: worn out?
As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage (v.11).
READ: Exodus 17:8-16
I’m just so tired.” It’s a common phrase that I’ve heard from people in my counseling office over the years. Sometimes they say the words to play the “pity me” card. Others are unknowingly lying to themselves—falling deeper into discouragement and depression. But in many cases, they’re voicing a legitimate cry of an exhausted heart.
At a time when Israel was still growing as a nation, Moses found himself going through a difficult situation where he was physically and emotionally spent (Exodus 17:8-16). Journeying through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, the newly freed slaves came under attack by an experienced army of desert nomads known as the Amalekites.
During the battle, God instructed Moses to stand on top of a hill and hold up his staff (a symbol of God’s power). As long as Moses held the staff high, the Israelites won. When the staff became heavy and his arms started to lower, the Amalekites got the upper hand.
Over the course of the day, Moses started to tire. So the people rolled a rock underneath him to provide some support. A couple of men also stood next to Moses and held his weary arms up in the air until the battle was won (v.12).
As the story unfolds, it’s almost as if God intentionally put Moses in an impossible situation to teach him some important lessons. He and the people still had a lot to learn about living a new life of freedom. One of the things God wanted Moses to understand is this: When we run out of gas, we need help from others to get through.
Are you tired? Do you feel worn out? Learn from Moses and seek help from God and an earthly ally or two. —Jeff Olson
Who are the allies you can turn to when you feel worn out? How has God given you hope today?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
