ODJ: the walls come tumbling down
[Jesus] broke down the wall of hostility that separated us (v.14). READ: Ephesians 2:11-18 If you perform a Google search for the Rwandan genocide, you’ll encounter thousands of disturbing stories and graphic images. The most disturbing emerge from a church building in Nyarubuye, where between five and ten thousand Tutsis were murdered. The visual [...]
Looking Beyond The Mask
By Qi Qi Kwang, 18, Singapore I was chatting with a friend recently, and she shared that at times she felt that she was just putting on a front when with friends. As I listened, I began to consider if there were many other people out there who are actually putting on a facade; wearing [...]
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Loading ...ODB: the brevity of life
June 19, 2010
READ: Psalm 90
The days of our lives are seventy years; . . . yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. —Psalm 90:10
On October 19, 2008, I heard the news that Levi Stubbs, lead singer for Motown’s vocal group The Four Tops, had died at age 72. As a boy, I enjoyed the Four Tops, especially Stubbs’ emotion-filled, passionate voice. I had never met him or heard the group in concert, yet his passing affected me at an unexpected level.
Behind my sadness, I think, was the reminder that I too am getting older. The death of someone I listened to when I was young reminded me that time isn’t marching on—it’s running out!
In the only psalm attributed to Moses, he wrote, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (90:10). Those aren’t words we want to hear. We want to remain forever young, but Scripture reminds us that the years pass and death will one day arrive.
That leaves us to wrestle with two essential questions: Am I ready to “fly away” at life’s end, having trusted Christ as my Savior? And am I using my fleeting days to please the One who loves me eternally?
How are you doing—no matter what your age—with the challenges raised by the brevity of life? —Bill Crowder
You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its depth.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...The Final Goal: Love And Vengeance
Read: Luke 6:27-31 I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. – Luke 6:27 When I played in goal at university, I had a teammate who had been the keeper on his national team in Ghana. Though he was an exceptional keeper, he was also our best player, so he became [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: a good investment
Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! (v.1).
READ: Proverbs 8
In a time when financial and housing markets around the globe have taken a beating, good investments can be hard to find. Some urge, “Buy gold. It’s an inflation beater that will always be worth something.” Others suggest that a corrected real estate market is a good place to park your money. Many recommend traditional long-term investments in mutual funds.
The book of Proverbs points us to an even better investment. It claims investing in “wisdom” is “more profitable than silver” and produces a better return than gold—figuratively speaking, of course (Proverbs 3:14). Wisdom is the exercise of good judgment and common sense. It helps us to discern the way to go and prevents us from making immature mistakes.
When God gave a young King Solomon the chance to ask for anything he wanted, he requested “a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9 NIV). Somehow, Solomon was wise enough to know he was sunk without it.
Solomon would go on to rave about the value of wisdom. In Proverbs 8, personifying wisdom, he wrote, “And so, my children, listen to me [wisdom], for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves” (vv.32-36).
Perhaps one of the best things about wisdom is that God wants to give it to us. In the New Testament, we’re told to “ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5).
We all could use more wisdom. Let’s seek it today. Past performance is indicative of future results! —Jeff Olson
What unwise decisions have you made lately? What wise words from God’s Word will you focus on today?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: what is secure?
June 18, 2010
READ: 1 Tim. 6:6-10,17-19
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God. —1 Timothy 6:17
During the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, a widow lost a third of her income when her bank stocks no longer paid dividends after her trusted bank failed. The Wall Street Journal quoted her tearful response as an example of the feelings of many people who were similarly affected: “You just think, ‘This can’t be happening.’ What is secure anymore?”
Tragedy and hard times always jolt our thinking. Our best plans and hopes can be shattered by events beyond our control. We are reminded that there is only one source of true security in a changing world. With new appreciation, we consider Paul’s words: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
When our resources diminish, we can grow richer in good works, generosity, and sharing with others. If financial stability returns, we can hold more loosely what we are given, trusting solely in God.
We are secure in Him alone. —David McCasland
In uncertain times, our security is in God alone.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...The Final Goal: Astonishing Hospitality
Read: Psalm 65:4-13 What joy for those You choose to bring near, those who live in Your holy courts. – Psalm 65:4 The World Cup is South Africa’s largest-ever sporting event. To ensure its success, the nation’s financial minister announced an astonishing budget. Much of this money built stadiums to house the vast numbers of [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: run the race
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (vv.13-14).
READ: Philippians 3:12-21
One of my favorite television programs is The Amazing Race. This reality show takes up to a dozen couples (people in pre-existing relationships) and places them in a foreign country where they race—via trains, buses, cabs, bikes, and feet—from one point to the next, gaining instructions for the next challenge. The goal is to get to the designated finishing point before everyone else. The last couple to make it to each finishing point is eliminated. And the couple who wins the race receives one million dollars.
Paul said that he was in a race too. He presented this word picture in Philippians 3. The apostle admitted that he had not fully developed as a Christian and that there was room for improvement in his walk with Jesus (v.12). He was in a race, making progress, racing toward the finish line of being conformed to the image of Jesus and having perfect fellowship with Him forever. As he ran the race, Paul didn’t allow his past failures and successes to prevent him from making progress. He didn’t let his past failures make him feel guilty or his present successes make him complacent. He didn’t look back, but he moved forward despite his failures because he knew that Jesus had forgiven him (v.13).
As believers in Jesus, we’re also running a race. We’re in process, striving to make progress in our spiritual life. If we want to make it to the finish line, we must be in a constant state of growth in Christ. We must also forget the past and focus on the future. We can move forward despite our failures, knowing that we have been forgiven.
We’re racing, not for a million dollars, but for the ultimate prize of being more like Jesus. Let’s “press on to reach the end of the race” (v.14). —Marvin Williams
How could Paul’s past failures and present successes prevent him from running a good race? What kind of race are you running for Jesus?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: why suffer?
June 17, 2010
READ: Matthew 5:1-12
Blessed are the poor in spirit. —Matthew 5:3
Jesus taught that the world seen from God’s viewpoint is tilted in favor of the oppressed. This teaching emerges in the Sermon on the Mount and other statements of Jesus: the first will be last (Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke-:30), and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11; 18:14). But why would God single out the oppressed for special attention?
1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.
2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.
3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
4. Suffering helps us respond to the call of the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.
The poor, the hungry, the mourners, and those who suffer are blessed (Matt. 5:3-6) because their lack of self-sufficiency is obvious to them every day. They must turn somewhere for strength. People who are rich, successful, and beautiful may go through life relying on their natural gifts. But people who are needy, dependent, and dissatisfied with life are more likely to welcome God’s free gift of love.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Why? Because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). —Philip Yancey
The weaker we feel, the harder we lean on God.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...The Bible
By Gideon Mutai, 18, Kenya A series of writings On paper and bindings. From start to end, It shapes life’s plans It keeps you glad When days are bad. A source of light Through dark nights. Though life may be rough, The Bible is enough. So let us not mope, For His Word gives us [...]
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