ODB: completely clean
October 31, 2010 READ: Hebrews 10:1-18 It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. —Hebrews 10:4 Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me-ee. Happy birthday to me. . . . Happy bir . . . After humming the “birthday song” a second time, [...]
ODJ: whose job is it?
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (v.16).
READ: Ephesians 4:1-16
The story is told about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to do and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
Sound familiar? Sadly, this scenario is lived out in many churches today. Most people in the pews think that the ministry of the church belongs to someone else.
But that isn’t God’s intent. According to Ephesians 4, the works of ministry (contact with the world) and building up of the body of Christ (maintaining the health of the church) belong to all believers in Jesus! It isn’t solely the job of the pastors or the hired staff. The whole congregation is supposed to minister and serve. Anything less than that is a distortion of what God intended the church to be.
“He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). God has gifted each of us uniquely to make sure that “the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (v.16). In other words, there are no spectators in church. Every person
has a part to play.
With hundreds of millions of Christians in the world today, that makes for hundreds of millions of opportunities for the wonderful, life-changing power of Jesus Christ to be presented to people of all levels and classes of society. Let’s all do our part in the body of Christ today. It’s our job. —Poh Fang Chia
How has God gifted you? How can you use your spirtual gifts in ministry and in the building up of the body of Christ?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
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Loading ...ODB: lingering damage
October 30, 2010
READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-14
The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite. —2 Samuel 12:10
Ayoung teen who was constantly getting into trouble always apologized when his parents confronted him. No matter how much he hurt his parents with his previous wrong-doing, he would soon turn around and do something else wrong—knowing he would be forgiven.
Finally, his dad took him out to the garage for a talk. Dad picked up a hammer and pounded a nail into the garage wall. Then he gave his son the hammer and told him to pull out the nail.
The boy shrugged, grabbed the hammer, and yanked out the nail.
“That’s like forgiveness, Son. When you do something wrong, it’s like pounding in a nail. Forgiveness is when you pull the nail out.”
“Okay, I get it,” said the boy.
“Now take the hammer and pull out the nail hole,” his dad replied.
“That’s impossible!” the boy said. “I can’t pull it out.”
As this story illustrates and King David’s life proves, sin carries consequences. Even though David was forgiven, his adultery and murder left scars and led to family problems (2 Sam. 12:10). This sobering truth can serve as a warning for our lives. The best way to avoid the lingering damage of sin is to live a life of obedience to God. —Dave Branon
Our sins can be forgiven and washed away, but their consequences are ours to pay.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: going to great lengths
He had to go through Samaria on the way (v.4).
READ: John 4:1-26
Bill Adams, CEO of a large hospital in Virginia, received a frantic call from a woman whose mother had died a few days earlier at the medical center. Prior to her death, the woman had lost her wedding ring somewhere in the hospital. The grieving daughter explained that her parents had been married for 50 years, and that her dad wanted to slip the ring back on his wife’s finger before they buried her.
Moved by the woman’s story, Bill promised to do all he could to help. The staff did a thorough search, but came up empty. Restless, Bill went to the basement of the hospital and climbed into a bin—amid wet, soggy, dirty laundry. Amazingly, there he found the ring! Bill’s up close and personal leadership yielded great fruit.
In John 4, out of divine necessity, Jesus got up close and personal and sorted through some of the cultural “dirty laundry” of His day. He crossed cultural barriers by going through Samaria (Jews considered Samaritans half-breeds) and talking to a woman (it was forbidden for a man, especially a rabbi, to talk to a woman in public). He did this because His mission was to seek and save the lost.
He established common ground with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7), piqued her spiritual interest and curiosity (vv.9-14), was gracious and sensitive as He confronted her sin (vv.17-18), kept the conversation centered on the main issue (vv.19-25), and revealed Himself as Messiah (4:26). Jesus’ up close and personal style of evangelism yielded a great harvest of Samaritans who believed in Him as their Savior.
Jesus is calling each of His followers to go to great lengths to help those who are lost in the “dirty laundry” of our culture. He wants us to introduce them to the only One who can satisfy their deepest longings. —Marvin Williams
To what lengths have you gone to reach someone who was far from God? What steps are you taking right now to reach others with the gospel?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: truth or error
October 29, 2010
READ: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God. —2 Timothy 2:15
Steve often witnesses to his co- workers. But when he mentions something directly from the Bible, someone frequently responds: “Wait! That was written by men, and it’s full of errors just like any other book.”
The following letter to the editor in our local newspaper expresses a similar thought: “Believers cite that the Word of God is infallible, but I see no apparent reason to believe that the words written in the Bible by man are any more infallible than the words written in a science journal by man.”
How do we respond when the Scriptures are so readily dismissed as being just man’s words with errors? Most of us aren’t biblical scholars and may not have an answer. But if we do some reading (2 Tim. 2:15), we’ll find the evidence that it’s God-inspired (3:16) and therefore trustworthy.
For example, consider this: Over a period of 1,600 years, 40 different authors wrote the 66 books of the Bible. There were 400 silent years between the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 of the New Testament. Yet, Genesis to Revelation tell one unified story.
While we accept the Bible by faith, there’s plenty of evidence that it’s true. Let’s be diligent to study and share what we learn with others. —Anne Cetas
In a skeptical world you can trust God’s reliable Word.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: turning losses into gain
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded (v.7NIV).
READ: 2 Chronicles 15:1-7
One of the tremendous privileges I’ve had as a believer in Jesus was serving as an official chaplain for athletes competing in the Olympic Games. Ministering inside the Olympic Village was exciting, but it presented unique challenges. Many times I struggled to find the right words to say as I sat with medal contenders who—away from the glare of spectators and cameras—broke down in tears following disappointing performances.
Losing is difficult. No one wants to experience defeat, especially when we’ve made great sacrifices and exerted strenuous effort to excel. Ultimately, however, we can respond to loss by seeking God’s wisdom and courage to proceed in a manner that brings Him glory. The bitter alternative is to blame God and go our own separate way. (Personally, I’ve responded both ways on different occasions and can attest, the latter is a miserable way to go.)
In 2 Chronicles 14-17, there’s a gripping tale of a father and son, King Asa and King Jehoshaphat, and their respective walks with God. The father, Asa, had run a remarkable race for the Lord until the final 2 years of his 41-year-reign. Sadly, within sight of the finish line, Asa’s faith faltered. At that point, even when he developed a serious foot disease, the king who had once walked with God “did not seek the Lord’s help” (16:12).
King Jehoshaphat chose not to repeat his father’s grievous mistakes. Instead, Jehoshaphat was “deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” all the days of his life (17:6). And “the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years” (v.3).
How about you? Will you let losses prompt you to turn your back on God, or will you choose to seek Him even in your disappointment? —Roxanne Robbins
Go to God and tell Him about a loss you’ve experienced. What does His Word tell you about how He views you despite the disappointing outcome?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...34 Days of Humdrum
By Tracy Phua, 23, Singapore routine | roo-teen | Noun Definition: a regular course of procedure That’s probably the only word that rightly represents my life this past month. I’ve been going through the motions with each day presenting itself the same way as the last. Like a hamster on the wheel, I’ve been running [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: emergency kit
October 28, 2010
READ: Ephesians 6:10-18
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. —Ephesians 6:13
For a dozen years, I took an auto emergency kit on every long driving trip but never had to use it. It became such a familiar item that on the night we really needed it, I forgot it was there. But fortunately my wife remembered.
After hitting a deer on a dark rural highway, our van was completely disabled. While I fumbled with a small flashlight to assess the damage and call a tow truck, my wife opened the emergency kit, set out a reflective warning marker, then turned on the bright flashlight, much to my surprise. Later we talked about how a crisis can cause us to forget the resources we have, just when we need them most.
Paul urged the Ephesians to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). This protective covering includes truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and prayer (vv.14-18). Although these spiritual resources guard us each day, we need to remember them when disaster strikes and the enemy tries to undermine our confidence in God’s love and care.
Use the kit. “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (v.13). —David McCasland
God provides the armor, but we must put it on.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: vipers
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God (v.8).
READ: Luke 3:1-18
Last year, Tiger Woods’ public persona unraveled as one moral failure after another rushed to light. While this sad occasion offers us another opportunity to critique the feeding frenzy of pop journalism as well as the idol status we offer our celebrities (a status they could never live up to), it also provides each of us a sober reminder. If we’re honest, the image we present to others is often at odds with the life we actually live.
When John the Baptist appeared, traipsing around in the wild in camel-hair clothes and eating a strange diet, he preached one steady refrain. Change your behavior—Jesus is coming (v.4). For their entire history, Israel had looked for the Messiah to come and rescue them. Now, John announced that it was actually happening—the Rescuer was on His way. Israel, however, was in bad shape. They had forgotten God; and if Israel wanted to be ready for Jesus, they had a lot of cleaning up to do.
John wasn’t one to mince words. In one instance, he called the gathered crowd a “brood of vipers” (v.7 NIV). A viper was a dangerous, poisonous snake, and John wanted the people to hear plainly that the path they were on (spurning God), was a dangerous way to live. Many heard John’s sobering words and asked the most sensible question: “What should we do?” (v.10). John’s response was direct:
• If you have extra coats or food, give to those in need (v.11).
• If you’re a tax collector, don’t cheat anyone (v.13).
• If you’re a soldier, don’t use your power unjustly (v.14).
John spoke to everyone, from the common person to those with power, and told them to live truthfully, honestly, justly. God is coming, and He is bringing justice with Him. Are we ready? —Winn Collier
If John were speaking to you, what would he encourage you to change? Why do you resist change in that area of your life?
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: a lock of hair
October 27, 2010
READ: Judges 16:4-17
The Lord . . . [shows] Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. —2 Chronicles 16:9
After his return from the moon, Neil Armstrong was often plagued by the media. Seeking greater privacy, he moved his family into a small town. But notoriety was a nuisance even there. Armstrong’s barber found out that people would pay good money to get a lock of his hair. So after giving the space hero several haircuts, he sold the clippings to a buyer for $3,000! Armstrong was shocked at the barber’s disloyalty.
The Scriptures tell of another story of disloyalty and a haircut. As a symbol of God’s calling of Samson as a Nazirite, he was never to cut his hair (Judg. 13:5). When the Spirit of God came upon him, he was given super-human strength over his enemies (15:14). Wanting to overpower him, the Philistines hired Delilah, a woman who had a relationship with him, to find out the secret of that strength. He foolishly told her that his power would be gone if his hair were cut. She lulled him to sleep and had him shorn (16:5,19).
Greed can drive us to be disloyal to others and to God, causing us to make sinful choices. Our desire should be to exhibit a heart that is fully committed to love the Lord and others. He shows “Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9). —Dennis Fisher
Loyalty is the test of true love.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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