ODJ: a leaning faith
I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief! (v.24). READ: Mark 9:14-29 When I was 6 years old, I stood atop the neighborhood pool’s 12-foot high dive while my parents tried to coax me to take the plunge. I was afraid of heights, and they wanted me to face my fears. So they had encouraged [...]
ODB: a last farewell
July 18, 2010
READ: 2 Timothy 4:6-22
I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. —2 Timothy 4:6
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, 47-year-old Randy Pausch returned to Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a final lecture to colleagues, students, and friends. The professor of computer science thought that perhaps 150 people might show up. Instead the 400-seat auditorium was packed. For an hour, Randy opened his heart to them in a humorous, insightful, and moving farewell that was focused more on living than dying. Within weeks, the videotaped lecture had been seen by millions on the Internet and later became the seed of a bestselling book. Those facing death often have an unusually clear perspective on what is truly important in life.
The apostle Paul’s last farewell has inspired countless followers of Christ through the centuries. “The time of my departure is at hand,” wrote Paul. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:6-7). Paul’s instruction to Timothy spans the ages to challenge us as well. The letter begins and ends with God’s grace (1:2; 4:22) and in between is a celebration of the unceasing faithfulness of God.
A message from the dying can give purpose to the living. Paul’s triumphant finale, “To Him be glory forever and ever” (4:18), is a message we can all live by. —David McCasland
If we are ready to die, we are ready to live.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Loading ...ODJ: disappointed
So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat! (v.4).
READ: 1 Kings 21:1-16
Scanning my e-mail inbox, I stopped in excitement when I saw a particular name. As I opened the e-mail, I held my breath in anticipation of what I would see. Waiting to hear about a manuscript I had sent in, I read through the e-mail quickly looking for the publisher’s response. Disappointment flooded my thoughts, however, when I read the letter. While the assessment had been accurate—the manuscript still needed a lot of work—I couldn’t stop the tears from falling from my eyes. I had significant work to do if I intended to proceed further.
Disappointment is a normal, human reaction to an unmet desire. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” We were intrinsically designed for hope, but living in a fallen world means facing disappointment. What we do with it makes all the difference.
When Ahab didn’t get the vineyard he wanted, his disappointment took over his emotions—and his life (1 Kings 21:4). Mired in his own frustration, Ahab didn’t look to the Lord for his answer. He had a pity party. Furthermore, his disappointment didn’t affect only him. Vineyard owner Naboth paid a dear price (v.13). Anytime we let disappointment rule our emotions and lives, we’re believing that what we want is more important than anything—or anyone—else. God wants to bring good things into our lives. As proof, He has offered Himself as the unfailing hope (Romans 10:11). The problem comes when:
• We think we deserve something.
• We make our happiness dependent on whether we get what we want.
In contrast, God asks that we live a life surrendered to and dependent on Him (Psalm 37:3-5). —Regina Franklin
How can disappointment affect our relationships with others? What disappointment is troubling you?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: allergic to…
July 17, 2010
READ: Titus 3:3-11
Abstain from every form of evil. —1 Thessalonians 5:22
One of our grandchildren is aller- gic to several kinds of foods. Milk, cheese, eggs, and ice cream are among the items she has to avoid. Even a small amount of these things is detrimental to her health.
She’s not alone in being required to avoid certain things in life. While her allergies are related to her physical well-being, each of us as believers in Jesus has dangers we need to stay away from to maintain spiritual health. Scripture gives us a clear indication of what we are “allergic to” spiritually.
Every kind of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). This should cause us to think about the choices we make, because taking part in what is clearly evil is not good for our spiritual vitality.
Foolish disputes and arguments (2 Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:9). This takes discernment, for some arguments have merit in defending the faith. But those for which there is no answer or which have no bearing on truth only cause dissension.
Sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3). The Bible says that any sexual activity outside the boundaries of a marriage between a man and a woman is immoral (Gen. 2:24; Ex. 20:14; 1 Cor. 7:2; Heb. 13:4).
Are we willing to make the effort to steer clear of things we are spiritually “allergic to”? —Dave Branon
To avoid sin, nip it in the bud of temptation.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: community or clique?
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? (v.1).
READ: James 2:1-9
Birds of a feather flock together. That’s why you never see a robin flying wingman in a “V” formation of geese or a crow hanging out with hummingbirds (actually, crows are mean enough that they don’t even like the company of other crows).
But we who are filled with the Holy Spirit are empowered to buck this law of nature and follow the example of Jesus. He shared His life with an unusual group of guys who were not like Him or even each other. What do the Son of God, a tax collector, an anti-government zealot, and a handful of fishermen have in common?
This kind of community was not natural, and—sadly—the first generation of Christians began separating over class and racial differences. Jews looked down on Gentiles, masters thought less of slaves, and the wealthy abused the poor. James ordered the church to stop giving preferential treatment to the rich (James 2:1-9) and Paul admonished the Corinthians to eat together rather than divide by class (1 Corinthians 11:33-34). He reminded the Galatians that “there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Henri Nouwen defined community as “the place where the person you least want to live with always lives.” Philip Yancey explains: “Often we surround ourselves with the people we most want to live with, thus forming a club or a clique, not a community. Anyone can form a club; it takes grace, shared vision, and hard work to form a community.”
Do you start conversations at church with those who are different from you? Do you invite people to dinner that you don’t particularly like? This kind of community is not natural. But it changed the world once, and it can do so again. —Mike Wittmer
When did you last share a meal or some time with a Christian individual or family from a different race or social or economic status? Who might God want you to invite into your world? Why?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: judge not!
July 16, 2010
READ: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Judge not, that you be not judged. —Matthew 7:1
When Jesus commanded, “Judge not,” He was not implying that we should be naïve or imprudent. Of course we need to think critically and analytically in this world where we are often confronted with error and wrongdoing. Instead, He meant that we should not be condemning or accusing, a point Paul made eloquently: “Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Cor. 4:5).
Poet Robert Burns made a similar point, writing of those whose actions are in doubt: “One point must still be greatly dark—the [motive]. Why they do it.” No one knows another’s motives. God alone can bring to light what is hidden in darkness; He alone can expose the intentions of the heart.
Jesus knows the latent forces that motivate others: the cruel beginnings, the fear, the disappointment, the broken heart, the sin that is resisted. Moreover, He is working in every submissive heart to bring it to maturity. Thus in the end—quite often contrary to our expectations—He will bring praise to those He has brought to completion.
The Lord alone can try the heart. Until He returns, let’s ask Him to help us examine our own. —David Roper
Be slow to judge others, but quick to judge yourself.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...How To Choose Your Soccer Team
By Rachel Ang, 21, Singapore This is slightly outdated, but the girl who has never been interested in football has watched her first soccer match! Having read my previous article, my friends were ready to explain to me the rules and mechanics of the game as we sat down to watch Germany play against Argentina [...]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: power isn’t happiness
But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from Me: You will soon fall down in great torment (v.11).
READ: Isaiah 50:10-11
I recently watched Ghosts of Girlfriends’ Past. The movie (which is a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) is about a hedonistic, womanizing bachelor who despises the idea of love and marriage. The night before his younger brother’s wedding, he is visited by ghosts representing his past, present, and future girlfriends. By the next morning, he opens his broken heart to love again.
Personally, I don’t recommend the movie—except for maybe the last 10 minutes. In particular, the best man’s speech was positive:
“Someone once told me that the power in all relationships lies with whoever cares less. And he was right. But power isn’t happiness . . . happiness comes from caring more about people—rather than less.” The “power” referred to above is the power of self-protection. You know—those games we play to try not to care too much for someone. And, yes, it may keep a broken heart from getting hurt again, but there is no joy or life in it. It only ends up incarcerating the soul in a prison of fear, emptiness, and selfishness.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah described the dangers of self-protection. Figuratively speaking, he said that when we try to protect ourselves in the darkness with our own self-generated light, we will end up in torment (Isaiah 50:10-11). Protecting ourselves by deadening our hearts may seem to make sense, but it only makes things worse. It reminds me of the proverb that says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Nothing is greater than the power of love. Only the willingness to care and be cared for is what brings us true joy and life and the freedom to be who God made us to be for others. First comes love, then comes joy. —Jeff Olson
When have you tried not to care, when you really do? How has self-protection clouded your relationships?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: a man my age
July 15, 2010
READ: Psalm 71
When I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation. —Psalm 71:18
On a recent flight, I got ready to do some work. Spread out on my tray were my laptop computer, backup hard drive, iPod, and other gadgets that are part of being a 21st-century “road warrior.” As I worked, a young man seated beside me asked if he could make a comment. He told me how inspirational it was for him, a young man, to see someone my age so enthusiastically embracing modern technology. In spite of his intention to compliment me, I suddenly felt about 120 years old. What did he mean by “someone my age ”? I wondered. After all, I was “only” 57.
Then I remembered Psalm 71, the psalm for folks “my age” and beyond. It reminds us of the value of a life well lived and of the worth of lessons learned: Lessons are not just for our benefit but also for us to pass along to the next generations. The psalmist wrote, “When I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (v.18).
So, maybe being “someone my age” isn’t such a bad gig. It is the privilege of “veteran” Christ-followers to declare the strength and power of God to the younger generations. That’s how we can truly be inspirational to them. —Bill Crowder
The best gift for the younger generation is a good example from the older generation.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: memory before birth
You must not murder (v.13).
READ: Exodus 20:1-17
Got a good memory? Recent research conducted in the Netherlands and published in the medical journal Child Development reveals that babies can remember things quite well—even when they’re still in the womb! The sonogram-based study showed that at 30 weeks, babies in utero display short-term memory. By 34 weeks, they can store information and retrieve it up to a month later.
As scientists continue to study the early stages of human life, one fact shines brightly: Babies in the womb are living, growing persons. That’s why abortion is a big deal. In Exodus 20, when God gave Israel the words to help them follow His ways, He stated “you must not murder” (v.13). The wanton destruction of another human being is despised by God, for people are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6). Persons, even the tiniest ones, are precious image-bearers of Him.
The Hebrew word for murder used in verse 13 is found just 47 times in the Old Testament. Of the seven possible Hebrew words that mean “to kill,” it’s the one that speaks the strongest of premeditation and intentionality—words that describe the act of abortion.
God allows for the taking of life in certain instances such as killing an animal for food (9:2-3), the execution of murderers by the government (Genesis 9:6), the death of a burglar attempting to rob your home (Exodus 22:2), accidental killings (Deuteronomy 19:5), and certain types of war (Joel 3:9-10). Abortion is not acceptable to God, however, for it involves the killing of innocents—babies who are individual persons created in His image.
By God’s grace, those who have been involved in abortions can find forgiveness in Jesus. But today, regardless of the past, each of us should remember that even babies in the womb display memory. They are persons—made in the image of God. —Tom Felten
How has abortion affected society overall? How can we winsomely live out God’s view of protecting the life of innocent persons?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
