ODJ: day of the Lord
The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! (v.15).
READ: Obadiah 1:15-21
In The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien wrote: “There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.”
In Obadiah 1, the day of the Lord is like the “white star” (v.15). It reminds us that our current pains and hardships are but shadows. They will soon pass. In that day, God will bring full justice to the oppressed and punishment to the oppressors, and it will be the onset of a universal kingdom in which He will rule over all nations.
One major aspect of the day of the Lord will be judgment upon the people who did not obey God. They “will drink and stagger and disappear from history” (v.16). They will drink of God’s wrath.
The other major aspect of the day of the Lord is the final deliverance of those who trust God and await His eternal kingdom. On that day, “the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance” (v.17) and the “Lord Himself will be King!” (v.21).
As we read these prophetic words in Obadiah, let’s remember that prophecy is not just important information about what God has done and what He will do in the future. Prophecy is also good for our hearts. It gives us hope that our God is in control, as He says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:20). —Poh Fang Chia
How would keeping the day of the Lord in view change the way you handle today’s trials? What is the source of your hope?
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Loading ...ODB: sphere of influence
July 24, 2010
READ: Acts 25:1-12
He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before . . . kings. —Acts 9:15
The book The Preacher and the Presidents chronicles the ministry of evangelist Billy Graham. Spanning presidents from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush, Graham often had an open door to the White House. Yet despite his unusual sphere of influence, Graham repeatedly credited the grace of God working through him for his influence—not any personal talent he might possess.
The apostle Paul was another believer who was called to witness to people in high authority. Christ said of Paul, “He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
In Acts, we read that Paul’s sphere of influence included rulers such as Felix, Festus, Herod Agrippa, and perhaps Caesar himself (Acts 24–26). But as Billy Graham would do centuries later, Paul pointed to the grace of God working through him: “Not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).
You may not be called to proclaim the gospel to heads of state, but God has placed people in your life with whom He wants you to share His message of hope. Why not pray for opportunities for God’s grace to flow through you as a witness to someone in your sphere of influence? —Dennis Fisher
The best place to witness is where God has placed you.
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