ODJ: let it (all) go
[Abraham] tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood (v.9). READ: Genesis 22:1-14 Karl Rabeder is an Austrian millionaire, but not for much longer. He’s giving away his entire fortune, more than 3 million pounds. His 3,455-square-foot villa overlooking the Alps, his six gliders, his expensive Audi A8, his [...]
ODB: The Outcast
January 22, 2011
READ: James 2:1-9
If you show partiality, you commit sin. —James 2:9
His face was grimy, his hair long and dirty. Beer stained his clothing and perfumed the air around him. When he stepped into the church building, the Sunday worshipers ignored him. They were stunned when the man approached the pulpit, took off his wig, and began preaching. That’s when they realized he was their pastor.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to be friendly and shake hands with the people I know and those who pre-sent themselves well.
James issued a serious warning for people like me. He said, “If you show partiality, you commit sin” (2:9). Favoritism based on appearance or economic status has no place in God’s family. In fact, it means we have “become judges with evil thoughts” (v.4).
Fortunately, we can guard against preferential treatment by loving our neighbor as ourselves—no matter who our neighbor may be. Reaching out to the homeless man, the hungry woman, or the heartbroken teen means we “fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture” (v.8).
In a world that keeps the outcast at arm’s length, let’s show the love of Christ and embrace the one who needs our care the most.
— Jennifer Benson Schuldt
True Christian love helps those who can’t return the favor.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...ODJ: get low
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God (v.16 NIV).
READ: 2 Chronicles 26:1-23
Evangelist D. L. Moody once said, “When a man thinks he has a good deal of strength, and is self-confident, you may look for his downfall. It may be years before it comes to light, but it is already commenced.” This was definitely true of King Uzziah. Everything seemed to be going so well in the monarch’s life. He lived in covenant obedience to the Lord and he sought God’s guidance during most of his reign. As long as he asked God for guidance and help, God gave him great success. His success was evidenced by his many accomplishments (2 Chronicles 26:2,7-15). In fact, Uzziah’s life could be considered a human success story—until he became blinded by his power and success, which caused him to be filled with pride. Uzziah’s pride was evidenced in several ways: He challenged God’s holiness by trespassing into the temple and presuming upon a position he would never be able to have (v.16); he viewed God’s power as nice but not absolutely necessary for his leadership and life (vv.5,16); when confronted with his pride, he refused godly correction and counsel; he refused to repent, and he ignored—instead of feared—the consequences of his sin (vv.18-19). Uzziah’s pride motivated him to glorify himself and contend for God’s supremacy. What a tragic ending to a promising life. The story of Uzziah teaches us several important lessons on how to break the pride cycle and start the humility cycle in our lives: View God’s help as absolutely necessary, remember the Source of all our blessings, thank God regularly for those blessings, and accept godly and worthwhile counsel. May we choose, as William Penn says, a “low and level dwelling!” For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). —Marvin Williams
How is pride a contention for the supremacy of God? How has it manifested itself in your life lately? Humility attracts the gaze and grace of God. What is your personal plan for seeking humility?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Nature Abhors a Vacuum
January 21, 2011
READ: Ephesians 3:14-21
Be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:19
According to the ancient philosopher Aristotle, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Aristotle based his conclusion on the observation that nature requires every space to be filled with something, even if that something is colorless, odorless air.
The same principle is at work in our spiritual lives. When the Holy Spirit begins to convict us of sin, the idea of starting a self-improvement plan immediately comes to mind. We put forth our best effort to defeat our worst habits. But every attempt to get rid of unclean thoughts, attitudes, and desires is destined to fail because getting rid of one creates a vacuum in our souls. As soon as we empty ourselves of one vice, others move in to take its place, and we end up just as bad or worse than when we started.
Thinking about vacuums helps us to understand the importance of what Paul was saying to the Ephesians when he prayed that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith and that they would “know the love of Christ . . . that [they] may be filled with all the fullness of God” (3:19).
The only permanent solution to the problem of sin in our lives is to replace it with the love of Jesus, which fills the vacuum. The more we are filled with His love, the less room there is for any evil thing.
— Julie Ackerman Link
We don’t need to put our house in order before Jesus comes in; He puts it in order after we let Him in.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: the oprah effect
Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? (v.26)
READ: 2 Kings 5
While managing media and public relations for a handful of leading Washington, DC-based nonprofits, I found that nearly every organization I worked for craved recognition on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Their aspiration came as no surprise. Oprah Winfrey, after all, is “The queen of talk, a cultural and financial icon and her impact on business (and charities) is worth billions,” according to CNBC host Carl Quintanilla. “Oprah Winfrey is the most influential woman in America—maybe in the world.” Experts have coined the term “The Oprah Effect” to describe her unparalleled ability to boost companies’ bottom lines and to take organizations from no name to brand name. Some of us would love to benefit from the Oprah Effect, or most any other “rainmaker.” We can readily imagine what we would do with the potential added resources. Many of us would likely give more to the poor, expand our influence, and live more comfortably. Scripture states, however, that there are times when we must refrain from pursuing or receiving material gifts. In the case of the prophet Elisha, for example, it would have been wrong for him to request or accept gifts for the healing of Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:15-16). Elisha knew that if he accepted Naaman’s “thank you” gift, the army commander would credit man, not God, for his healing. So even when Naaman persisted, Elisha stood firm, saying, “As surely as the Lord lives . . . I will not accept any gifts” (v.16). I know a sports chaplain who refuses to accept gifts from the professional athletes he works with because he doesn’t want them to question his motives. He simply wants to teach them the Word of God. Today, consider when you should refuse a gift in order to point someone to God. —Roxanne Robbins
List some instances where you might miss God’s blessings by accepting material gifts. When is it appropriate to give and receive material gifts?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Escape From Reality
By Josh Yap, 22, Australia Feeling down, I reached for my handy music player, hoping for some music therapy. Then Boston by Augustana popped up in my playlist. The chorus echoed my melancholic thoughts: You don’t know me And you don’t even care, oh yeah And you said, you don’t know me And you don’t [...]
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Fear and Love
January 20, 2011
READ: Deuteronomy 10:12-17
What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear [Him] . . . and to love Him. —Deuteronomy 10:12
Someone shared with me her observation about two bosses. One is loved but not feared by his subordinates. Because they love their boss but don’t respect his authority, they don’t follow his guidelines. The other boss is both feared and loved by those who serve under him, and their good behavior shows it.
The Lord desires that His people both fear and love Him too. Today’s Bible passage, Deuteronomy 10, says that keeping God’s guidelines involves both. In verse 12, we are told “to fear the Lord your God” and “to love Him.”
To “fear” the Lord God is to give Him the highest respect. For the believer, it is not a matter of feeling intimidated by Him or His character. But out of respect for His person and authority, we walk in all His ways and keep His commandments. Out of “love,” we serve Him with all our heart and with all our soul—rather than merely out of duty (v.12).
Love flows out of our deep gratitude for His love for us, rather than out of our likes and dislikes. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our fear and love for God enable us to walk willingly in obedience to God’s law.
— Albert Lee
If we fear and love God, we will obey Him.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: sin and self-worth
God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
READ: 2 Samuel 16:5-14
A youth pastor avoids telling his teenagers that they’re sinners because he doesn’t want to leave the impression that they “suck” (that they’re bad or worthless). A popular author denies that infants are born with a sin nature because that would mean that “babies suck.” And a friend who confessed to an especially offensive sin said, “I guess this means I suck.” Despite their juvenile descriptions of sin, notice that each person confuses sin with self-worth. They assume that sin means they no longer matter, when in fact their sin matters only if they do. Sin is rebellion, and rebellion is a problem only when the rebel carries some weight. If we really were worthless, our sin wouldn’t count for much. When King David was fleeing Jerusalem, he met Shimei, an enraged loner from Saul’s dethroned family who hurled stones and insults at the king’s entourage (2 Samuel 16:9). David’s men wanted to crush Shimei, but David told them to leave him alone, in part because he was not a threat (v.10). Far different was David’s response to Absalom’s army. He knew that those men could destroy him and his kingdom, and so David threw all of his weapons at them in the fight of his life (18:1-2). God isn’t threatened by our rebellion, but the cross informs us that He takes us and our sin seriously. If we had no value, would God have given His life to save us? The cost of our salvation reminds us that we and our sin matter to God. If we minimize our sin, we also minimize ourselves and the salvation which rescues us. The surest way to tell someone they’re worthless is to ignore their sin. Treat them like a Shimei whose rebellion is of no account. If you want them to know they matter, you’re going to have to talk about sin. —Mike Wittmer
Which is the best version of the hymn “At the Cross?” The original line that Jesus died “for such a worm as I” or the revised “for sinners such as I”?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: When Someone Falls
January 19, 2011
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. —1 Corinthians 10:12
It has become so commonplace to hear of the misconduct of a respected public figure that even though we may be deeply disappointed, we are hardly surprised. But how should we respond to the news of a moral failure, whether by a prominent person or a friend? We might begin by looking at ourselves. A century ago, Oswald Chambers told his students at the Bible Training College in London, “Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back . . . . Unguarded strength is double weakness.”
Chambers’ words echo Paul’s warning to be aware of our own vulnerability when we see the sins of others. After reviewing the disobedience of the Israelites in the wilderness (1 Cor. 10:1-5), Paul urged his readers to learn from those sins so they wouldn’t repeat them (vv.6-11). He focused not on past failings but on present pride when he wrote, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (v.12).
The head shaken in reproach is a common response to public sin. More helpful is the head that nods, “Yes, I am capable of that,” then bows in prayer for the one who has fallen and the one who thinks he stands.
— David C. McCasland
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. —Proverbs 16:18
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: investment advice
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it (v.24).
READ: Luke 9:23-25
A stock market consultant recently suggested, “People should always sell when they have a better place to put their money.” While true, the challenge is recognizing when one place is better than another, which, of course, no one can identify with any level of certainty. I typically respond to this sort of financial advice with a resounding “Duh! No kidding?” It’s like telling investors to buy low and sell high. Please tell us something we don’t already know. Jesus once gave a crowd of people some fresh “advice.” He said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it” (Luke 9:24). I doubt there were few, if any, in the crowd who said. “Well, duh.” Instead, most stood there scratching their heads, thinking, Huh? Although Jesus drove home this thought on more than one occasion (Matthew 16:25; Luke 17:33), it’s not exactly the kind of advice people hear every day. And while it caused them to stop and think, those who truly heard Him understood He wasn’t talking about holding on to our physical life. The word Jesus used for “life” is the word psyche, which is the Greek word for the soul. He was referring to our inner life and clinging solely to our own efforts and plans to secure it. In essence, Jesus was saying that without Him, joy and meaning will slip through our fingers. Self-reliance is a poor investment to hold on to because it never works out the way we think it should. And it prevents us from discovering the life our souls crave in a friendship with Jesus and living for His purposes (John 15:15). What might you be hanging on to that you need to “sell” in order to find your life in Him? —Jeff Olson
As we surrender all we have and are to Jesus, what happens? How do we then view the stuff of this world?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
