ODJ: glory and grace
Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16). READ: Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is a relational prayer. And, though it might surprise you, it reveals a lot about our relationship with [...]
ODB: don’t just retire
July 22, 2010
READ: Numbers 8:23-26
They may minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs. —Numbers 8:26
The first people to climb Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Hillary was just 33 years old. His feat afforded him fame, wealth, and the realization that he had already lived a remarkable life.
So, what did Hillary do for the next 55 years? Did he retire and rest on his laurels? Absolutely not.
Although Hillary had no higher mountains to climb, that didn’t stop him. He achieved other notable goals, including a concerted effort to improve the welfare of the Nepalese people living near Mt. Everest—a task he carried on until his death in 2008.
Did you know that God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50? (Num. 8:24-25). But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that they should “minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs” (v.26). We cannot take this incident as a complete teaching on retirement, but we can see a godly implication that continuing to serve others after our working days are over is a good idea.
Many people find that when they retire they have nothing meaningful to do with their time. But as the Levites and Sir Edmund Hillary did, we can refocus when we retire—giving of our time to help others. —C. P. Hia
Life takes on new meaning when we invest ourselves in others.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
Loading ...ODJ: cleansing
They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord—or they will die! (v.20).
READ: Exodus 30:17-21
Every 12 years, millions of Hindus flock to Allahabad, India, to take a dip in the Ganges River. Scores get hurt as bathers rush to the water. The solution: purification by proxy. A popular Web site, webdunia.com, offers virtual cleansing. “Pilgrims” who want to avoid crowds, chaos, and travel costs can send a passport-size photo to the site, which then provides virtual absolution.
The Old Testament priests who ministered at the Tabernacle couldn’t cleanse themselves by proxy or through a dot.com company. They had to physically wash at the bronze laver or basin, which was positioned between the altar and the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:8-19).
The priests were required to cleanse themselves by washing their hands and feet. Only then would they be holy and prepared to minister before the Lord and the people. The laver was made of polished bronze (38:8), so the priest could see his reflection in it. This helped him make sure that he had washed away all the blood and dirt. More than likely, the priests washed off the blood that was on their hands and feet from sacrificing at the altar, along with dirt they had picked up from walking from the Tent of Meeting to minister at the altar.
The priests washing at the basin symbolized the removal of ceremonial uncleanness and provided the means to holiness that was required. Like the priests, every Christian should be characterized by holiness. Self-reflection before God helps us to grow in it. For we are cleansed by God through being washed at the laver of the Word (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26), confessing our sins to Him (1 John 1:9), confessing our sins to one another (James 5:16), and turning from anything that is contrary to God and His commands (Proverbs 28:13). —Marvin Williams
In the last week, as you ministered before God and people, were you clean or dirty? Why? From what sin(s) do you need to be cleansed today?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Why Lord?
By Benedict, 19, Singapore “Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You; A sojourner, as all my fathers were. Remove Your gaze from me, that I may Regain strength, Before I go away and am no more.” —Psalms [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: bridging the gap
July 21, 2010
READ: John 1:10-18
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:14
When my kids were young, I thought they would be impressed with what few accomplishments I may have had—that they would read my books and be impressed by my speaking engagements. But then I discovered that they hadn’t read any of my books and had no idea where I had been on a speaking gig. When my oldest son finally read one of my books, he told me that the only reason he read it was so that I would stop telling people that my children have never read my books!
Let’s face it—for the most part, kids are not impressed with our accomplishments. So the only way to bridge the gap is to meet them where they are, to get into their world—like getting into a game of Chutes and Ladders or playing catch in the backyard.
Jesus did this with us. John said of Jesus, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). In other words, He stooped down to our level when He came to this earth, which led to His greatest accomplishment of all: bridging the gap between His world and ours once and for all. Only then could we begin to understand how worthy He is of our utmost adoration and praise! —Joe Stowell
Jesus bridged the gap between the infinite God and finite man.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: give me wisdom
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you (v.8).
READ: Proverbs 4:1-9
While driving Ian and Wasswa (the 6-year-old Ugandan orphans I’m helping to raise) to school one morning, the discussion turned to the boys’ future jobs.
Quickly chiming in with his career choice, Ian said, “Me, I’m going to be a doctor!” When I asked Wasswa what he’d like to do, he replied, “Auntie Rox, me, I’m going to ask God to give me wisdom.”
Since then, nightly and of their own accord, the boys have prayed out loud, “Dear Jesus, please give us wisdom.” Each time they do so, I’m filled with a deep sense of comfort, knowing that their request is preparing them to better know God and what He wants for their lives.
The ultimate example of a child longing for godly wisdom is found in the book of Luke where we’re given a glimpse of Jesus’ adolescent years. It was then, while living with his parents in Galilee, that Jesus began to stand out from the other boys and girls his age. He would do unusual things, like the time when he was 12 and slipped away from his parents for three days to sit “among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions” (Luke 2:46).
As extraordinary as His behavior may have seemed, by opening His young heart and mind to God’s Word, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52).
Asking for wisdom pleases the Lord (1 Kings 3:9-11). Receiving wisdom helps us draw nearer to God. This most practical gift also helps us determine the prudent actions we should take to ensure positive outcomes in life.
Let’s keep these wise words in mind, “If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer” (Proverbs 9:12).
—Roxanne Robbins
Do three things today that will help in your pursuit of wisdom. (For example: pray, open your Bible to passages about “wisdom,” talk to a friend or mentor about steps they’ve taken to gain Godly wisdom.) Why can God’s wisdom be trusted?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: grace, mercy and peace
July 20, 2010
READ: 2 Timothy 1:1-10
Bless the Lord, ... who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. —Psalm 103:1,4
The words grace and peace are found in all of Paul’s greetings in his New Testament letters to the churches. And in his letters to Timothy and Titus, he also includes mercy: “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:2). Let’s examine each of these words.
Grace is what our holy God gives that we, as sinful people, don’t deserve. In Acts 17:25, we learn that “He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” His gifts include our very next breath. Even in our darkest hour, strength is given by God so that we can endure.
Mercy is what God withholds that we do deserve. In Lamentations 3:22, we read, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed.” Even when we’re wayward, God gives time and help for us to turn back to Him.
Peace is what God brings to His people. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). Even in the worst of times, we have inner tranquillity because our God is in control.
We can be encouraged that throughout our lives the Lord will give us the grace, mercy, and peace we need to live for Him. —Albert Lee
God’s grace is immeasurable, His mercy is inexhaustible, His peace is inexpressible.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: the holy riddler
I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world (v.35).
READ: Matthew 13:24-52
Mighty, majestic, awesome. Gracious, loving, kind. Such descriptors for God are common, and rightly so. But how many of us would add “playful” to the list? How many of us think of God as the One who toys with us—the holy riddler?
“Son of man,” God commands Ezekiel, “give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel” (Ezekiel 17:2). What follows is a warning of judgment couched in a tale of two eagles. “My loved one had a vineyard,” sings the prophet Isaiah, with a description of Israel’s fruitlessness following (Isaiah 5). The prophet Nathan, led by God, told King David a story about a “little ewe lamb” that exposed the shame of David’s infidelity (2 Samuel 12:1-10). The meaning behind such riddles may be dire, but the method is playful—God being coy and indirect with us, using puzzles and parables to see if we have “ears to hear.”
“The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed . . . like a mustard seed . . . like a treasure . . . like a fishing net” (Matthew 13:24-52). When the holy riddler took on flesh, He came telling tales of farmers and fishermen, of lamps and tenants (Mark 4:21-23, 12:1-12), of salt and children (Luke 14:34-35; Mark 9:36-37). Jesus taught little without using such riddles (Matthew 13:34) and while His audience was often let in on the riddle’s meaning, the practice often frustrated His disciples! (John 16:29).
But the holy riddler delivers His puzzles with a purpose. He speaks in parables to reveal spiritual truth (Matthew 13:35), but also to weed out those who don’t truly want to hear (vv.11-15). He throws out a hook to see if we’ll bite. Our response to God’s riddles shows how much we really want to know of Him. —Sheridan Voysey
How quick are you to read over Jesus’ “riddles” and parables without really reflecting on them? Which of the parables hold particular significance for you right now?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: hope
July 19, 2010
READ: Psalm 23
You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. —Psalm 71:5
The ancient road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a narrow, treacherous path along a deep gorge in the Judean wilderness. Its name is Wadi Kelt, but it’s known as the valley of the shadow, for this is the location that inspired David’s 23rd Psalm. The place itself offers little reason to compose such a hopeful poem. The landscape is bleak, barren, and perilously steep. It’s a good place for thieves, but not for anyone else.
When David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (v.4), he was in a place where evil was an ever-present reality. Yet he refused to give in to fear. He wasn’t expressing hope that God would abolish evil so that he could pass through safely; he was saying that the presence of God gave him the confidence to pass through difficult places without fear of being deserted by Him. In another psalm, David said that the Lord was his hope (71:5).
Many claim to have hope, but only those whose hope is Christ can claim it with certainty. Hope comes not from strength, intelligence, or favorable circumstances, but from the Lord. As Maker of heaven and earth, He alone has the right to promise hope and the power to keep the promise. —Julie Ackerman Link
Hope for the Christian is a certainty— because its basis is Christ.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Space
By Eugene Seah, 22, Singapore “C’mon, you’ve got to give him some space to breathe.” “I need to have some alone-time please.” “Perhaps we should both take some time off, give ourselves space to think things over.” Do these phrases sound familiar? We often have to worry about intruding the invisible personal bubble surrounding loved [...]
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