ODJ: small sins
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. . . . Now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart” (vv.13-14). READ: 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Fish farmers in the southern U.S. had a small problem. Algae was filling their ponds, [...]
A Christmas Rose
By David C. McCasland The message of the cradle proclaims the mission of the cross. READ: Matthew 1:18-25 The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 In contrast to many of the resounding carols proclaiming the Savior’s [...]
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Loading ...ODB: Newgrange
December 19, 2010
READ: Romans 5:12-21
If by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive . . . the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. —Romans 5:17
Newgrange is a 5,000-year-old burial passage tomb in Ireland. Built by the members of a farming community in Ireland’s Boyne Valley, this magnificent structure covers more than an acre of land. It was a place where people went to struggle with the issue of death. It is best known for the beam of sunlight that moves through the chamber for 17 minutes each day from December 19 to 23 during the winter solstice, the shortest days of the year. Some say it serves as a powerful symbol of the victory of life over death.
Ever since death entered the human experience in Genesis 3, it has been life’s one great inevitability, and many people’s chief fear. It need not be so, however. The apostle Paul wrote, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17).
From that moment in the Garden of Eden with the sin of our first parents, sin and death reigned. Yet we need not fear death or its consequences. Because of Christ, we can have confident hope—His victory of life over death has given us eternal life.
Have you received Him?
- Bill Crowder
Christ’s empty tomb guarantees our victory over death.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: the fight for marriage
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude (v.8).
READ: 1 Peter 3:1-12
The fight for godly marriages has raged since the fall in Eden, but in the past few years, my husband and I have become increasingly aware that the battle lines begin at our doorstep. Seeing some of our friends divorce and others separate has left us wishing for the innocence of days gone by. As we prepare to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary, we are so grateful for the work God has done in our marriage—for the gift we’ve been given.
God established marriage as a means of procreation (1:28), companionship (2:18), and as a reflection of God’s selfless love (1 Peter 3:8; Ephesians 5:25). In short, it’s so much deeper than anything this world can demonstrate to us.
We can feel dismay when we see what is taking place in the political and public arena regarding the state of marriage. When we see friends and family members struggle in their marital relationships, it can grieve us. And we’re left with this vital question: How are we passionately protecting our own marriages?
To keep our marital bonds strong, we should: • Invest - The greatest amount of time and investment should be in our relationship with God. Then, our relationship with our spouse must receive the second most investment—more than other relationships (1 Peter 3:1-2). • Trust - We must trust God with changes we desire to take place in our spouse (v.5,7-8). It’s vital that we place our life on the altar and focus on how He wants us to change. • Guard - Our interactions with members of the opposite sex must be pure and holy (vv.11-12). Unity in marriage means no hidden places.
Let’s honor God by protecting our marriages. They’re worth the fight. —Regina Franklin
If you’re married, how can you strengthen the condition of your marriage? If you’re single, how can you strengthen your relationship with your first love—God?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Jesus at the Center
December 18, 2010
READ: Zechariah 12:10-14
Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. —Zechariah 12:10
Have you heard of the “Christocentric Principle” of biblical understanding? Simply put, it means that everything we know about God, angels, Satan, human hopes, and the whole universe is best understood when viewed in relationship to Jesus Christ. He is at the center.
Recently, I discovered that one of the less familiar Old Testament books, Zechariah, is one of the most Christocentric. This book is a good example because it speaks of Christ’s humanity (6:12), His humility (9:9), His betrayal (11:12), His deity (12:8), His crucifixion (12:10), His return (14:4), and His future reign (14:8-21).
One especially meaningful passage is Zechariah 12:10, which says, “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” The piercing refers to Israel’s historic rejection of Jesus as Messiah— resulting in His crucifixion. But this verse also predicts a future generation of Jews who will accept Him as their Messiah. At the second coming of Jesus, a remnant of Israel will recognize the crucified One and turn to Him in faith.
This marvelous book should encourage us to look for more Christ-centered truths—both in other parts of the Bible and in all of life. Keep Jesus in the middle of everything. Live a Christocentric life.
- Dennis Fisher
Jesus Christ is the Key that unlocks the Word of God.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: why study?
I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11).
READ: Luke 2:41-50
Why do I have to study?” declared the high school student. “Life is an open-book test!” He was bright, bored, and oh-so-much-more-interested in the vital things of life—like playing online games and texting his “gf.” His assertion holds a certain appeal, doesn’t it? After all, information is just a mouse-click away. The problem is, he’s failed to draw the distinction between knowledge and wisdom—the accurate and timely application of information.
In Luke’s account of the life of Jesus, we get a unique glimpse into the Savior’s childhood. At just 12 years old, Jesus displayed amazing knowledge of God’s Word in the temple (Luke 2:47). “That was easy for Him,” you might say. “He’s the Son of God!” But the context to me indicates that Jesus was still youthfully naïve; He couldn’t understand His parents’ concern over His absence for several days (v.48).
Years later, when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He quickly countered the devil’s insolent proposals with an ease that displayed a thorough and accurate knowledge of the Scriptures (see Luke 4:1-13).
Later, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb, He appeared to two travelers who didn’t recognize Him. Jesus observed that they were “foolish people” because of their lack of belief in the words of the prophets. But then He explained the Old Testament prophecies to them. They would say that evening: “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us?” Jesus used His knowledge to bolster the faith of two discouraged believers (see Luke 24:13-32).
The accumulation of knowledge without wisdom will make us proud and ruthless. But biblical knowledge applied with love and discernment will keep us from bad choices, and will help us serve others. —Tim Gustafson
What are your motivations for learning? What do you do with the knowledge you have gained?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: God’s Love Through Me
December 17, 2010
READ: 1 Corinthians 13
Love never fails. —1 Corinthians 13:8
During a devotional session at a conference, our leader asked us to read aloud 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and substitute the word “Jesus” for “love.” It seemed so natural to say, “Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy; Jesus does not parade Himself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek His own . . . . Jesus never fails.”
Then our leader said, “Read the passage aloud and say your name instead of Jesus.” We laughed nervously at the suggestion. “I want you to begin now,” the leader said. Quietly, haltingly I said the words that felt so untrue: “David does not seek his own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. David never fails.”
The exercise caused me to ask, “How am I hindering God from expressing His love through me?” Do I think that other expressions of faith are more important? Paul declared that from God’s perspective, eloquent speech, deep spiritual understanding, lavish generosity, and self-sacrifice are worthless when not accompanied by love (vv.1-3).
God longs to express His great heart of love for others through us. Will we allow Him to do it?
- David C. McCasland
Living like Christ is loving like God.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: waiting
Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly (v.3).
READ: Psalm 5:1-3
We have some friends, a young married couple, living with us. Finished with one part of their university studies, they’ve applied to a variety of graduate schools to continue their coursework. But they have no idea where they will end up. The possibilities are all over the map—from Boston to Vancouver to Pittsburgh to Atlanta. They’ve filled out many applications and requested numerous grants. There have also been interviews and carefully considered options as they’ve considered their future every which way. Now, all they can do is pray—and wait for the day when the postman brings news of what their future holds.
Psalm 5 begins with a straightforward request: “O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning” (v.1). The psalmist, King David, was in a gloomy place. We don’t know his situation, but David was experiencing some measure of loss, sorrow, or torment. He was in pain, “groaning.” And in his difficult place, David wanted God to hear his agony. He needed God to listen to his “cry for help” (v.2). David didn’t run to his advisors or his wife or the many wise sages of his court for aid. None of them could help him. He didn’t roll up his sleeves and pore over documents, figuring out some solution to his predicament.
David knew he couldn’t help himself. He went directly to the only One who could meet him in his darkness. “I pray to no one but You,” David said (v.2). David waited, watching for God.
David’s only work was to not work. He decided to bring his heart and his hope to God and then to “wait expectantly” (v.3). The Message puts it this way: “Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.” —Winn Collier
When have you tried to no avail to make something happen? In what specific ways do you need to wait for God instead?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Giving this Christmas: What Can We Give?
Submitted by Jasmine Priya, India
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: The Great Miracle
December 16, 2010
READ: Isaiah 6:1-8
He touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” —Isaiah 6:7
Leonard Ravenhill (1907–1994), a British evangelist, once said, “The greatest miracle God can do today is take an unholy man out of an unholy world, make that man holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.” This seems to be what God did to Isaiah when He called him to speak to His people.
Around the time of the death of Uzziah, one of Judah’s more successful kings, Isaiah had a vision of God. The prophet saw Him as the true King of the universe, sitting on a lofty throne. In the vision, Isaiah saw seraphim worshiping God with a hymn that praised His holiness, majesty, and glory.
Isaiah’s vision of God led to a true vision of himself as unholy and broken before God. “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Isaiah said (6:5). This recognition of sin led him to a need for and the reception of God’s cleansing grace (v.7). Newly cleansed, Isaiah was commissioned to spread God’s message (v.9). The Lord sent Isaiah into an unholy world, not only to live a holy life but also to tell an unholy people about a holy God.
The Lord wants to show Himself to us, thus giving us a truer vision of ourselves, a deeper need for His grace, and a greater commitment to live and speak for Him. What a miracle!
- Marvin Williams
Amid the darkness of sin, the light of God’s grace shines brightest.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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