ODB: Bad Choice
May 31, 2011 READ: Revelation 20:11-15 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. —Daniel 12:2 An elderly TV star was asked by talk-show host Larry King about heaven. King prefaced his question by referring to Billy Graham, who had [...]
ODJ: convinced
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life (John 3:6).
READ: James 2:17-24
Someday I want to go skydiving. While I’m not overly fond of heights, I think there’s something incredible about jumping out of an airplane with a parachute (and an instructor soaring tandem with me!). As kids, my sister and I would jump off our second-story deck into the huge mounds of snow that covered our front yard in the dead of winter. One time I even jumped off the roof of a friend’s house (single story) into the deep end of a pool. As a general rule, though, I don’t jump off buildings. I’m convinced that gravity is real.
When it comes to spiritual things, we can’t separate what we believe is real from the way we act. John 3:16 is priceless in communicating the truth of God’s love for us. Our beliefs are not measured by our mental assent to Jesus being the Lord of our lives, but by the actions we live out in submission to Him.
John 3:33 says, “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true” (NASB). Those who believe put their confidence in the reality that God—and His Word—are true. Because they understand the connection between belief and obedience (Joshua 22:5; John 3:36), they are convinced to the point of action.
Jesus paid the price so we could have the abundant, free life He promises (John 8:31-32, 10:10). To choose Christ is to become a new creation, not by our own works but by His grace—the same grace that empowers us to act in accordance with our belief (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:9).
We cheapen the cross when our Christianity goes no deeper than to acknowledge in our minds that Jesus is the Son of God. Even the demons recognized as much (Luke 4:33-35; James 2:19). May our actions reflect our belief in Jesus. —Regina Franklin
Can those who know you see a difference between the “old” and “new” you? (John 3:21). How has your belief in the Word of God penetrated your life to the point of changing your actions?
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Loading ...ODB: Let Honor Meet Honor
May 30, 2011
READ: Matthew 6:1-6
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. —Matthew 6:1
I’ve always been impressed by the solemn, magnificent simplicity of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The carefully choreographed event is a moving tribute to soldiers whose names—and sacrifice—are “known but to God.” Equally moving are the private moments of steady pacing when the crowds are gone: back and forth, hour after hour, day by day, in even the worst weather.
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel was bearing down on Washington, DC, and the guards were told they could seek shelter during the worst of the storm. Surprising almost no one, the guards refused! They unselfishly stood their post to honor their fallen comrades even in the face of a hurricane.
Underlying Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1-6, I believe, is His desire for us to live with an unrelenting, selfless devotion to Him. The Bible calls us to good deeds and holy living, but these are to be acts of worship and obedience (vv.4-6), not orchestrated acts for self-glorification (v.2). The apostle Paul endorses this whole-life faithfulness when he pleads with us to make our bodies “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).
May our private and public moments speak of our devotion and wholehearted commitment to You, Lord.
— Randy Kilgore
The more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: no satisfaction
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (v.5).
READ: Psalm 103
In May of 1965, The Rolling Stones recorded the song I Can’t Get No Satisfaction. Shortly after its release, the tune rose to the No. 1 song in the United States. How right they were. No matter how much we try and try and try, satisfaction seems to slip through our fingers.
But is it true that satisfaction is impossible to find in this life? Or could it be that we tend to look for it in all the wrong places? Maybe the true source of satisfaction is right under our noses, but we don’t see it because we’re trying so hard to obtain it on our own.
Consider these words from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah as he declared the words of the coming Messiah: “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to Me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food” (Isaiah 55:1-2). Souls delighting in the “finest of food,” hmm—sounds pretty fulfilling to me.
Jesus would later illustrate this reality another way when He spoke these words to a woman who had a history of turning to men to find satisfaction: “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:13-14).
Jesus didn’t say we can’t find satisfaction in our relationships, work, or hobbies. But He did say that without finding it first in Him, it won’t be complete.
So, where are you trying to find your satisfaction? —Jeff Olson
How does Jesus satisfy us completely? What will you do with the parts of your life that leave you feeling dissatisfied?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Beyond the Hills
By Trevor Shockey, 20, Indiana USA Even when I can’t see Beyond the valley Of my finite world You still love me Your love reaches me From beyond the hills You see me Even when I cannot see You You tend to me Even when I don’t know that’s true Beyond the hills You stretch [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: Keeping the Wonder
May 29, 2011
READ: 2 Peter 1:2-11
If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 1:8
On a recent trip, my wife was seated near a mother with a young boy on his first flight. As the plane took off, he exclaimed, “Mom, look how high we are! And everything’s getting smaller!” A few minutes later he shouted, “Are those clouds down there? What are they doing under us?” As time passed, other passengers read, dozed, and lowered their window shades to watch the in-flight video. This boy, however, remained glued to the window, absorbed in the wonder of all he was seeing.
For “experienced travelers” in the Christian life, there can be great danger in losing the wonder. The Scriptures that once thrilled us may become more familiar and academic. We may fall into the lethargy of praying with our minds but not our hearts.
Peter urged the early followers of Christ to continue growing in their faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). He said, “If these things are yours and abound [or are increasing], you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.8). Without them we become blind and forget the marvel of being cleansed from our sins (v.9).
May God grant us all grace to keep growing in the wonder of knowing Him.
— David C. McCasland
Source: Our Daily Bread
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: divine-human partnership
“How much bread do you have?” He asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish” (v.38).
READ: Mark 6:30-44
A farmer’s crop is a provision from God (Deut. 16:15), yet the farmer is required to harvest it. Each child born is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), yet no pregnancy takes place without a man and woman’s union. Israel’s wars were won by God (Deut. 20:4; Joshua 10:42), but Israel was still called to fight. In work, procreation, and the battles of life, God works with us in divine-human partnership. The same is true of the miraculous.
When Jesus was surrounded by an enormous crowd at Bethsaida, a practical matter arose about catering. The tired disciples who were originally brought there for some R&R (v.31) panicked when Jesus told them to feed the masses (v.37). They had just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, but Jesus miraculously fed the stadium-sized crowd with the meager morsels.
Now, notice a few things about the story:
Who was to feed the crowd? The disciples. Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll feed them,” but “You feed them” (v.37). Whose food was used? Whatever the disciples could scrounge up. Jesus didn’t make fish and bread fall from the sky; He used what they had (v.38).
Who arranged the people? Distributed the food? Cleaned up afterwards? The disciples (vv.39,41,43). But who did the miracle? Jesus. He directed the whole event (v.41).
God can harvest a field or win a battle without human involvement. He once arranged a virgin birth! But, in general, He performs miracles as humans act. Paul received his sight when Ananias prayed (Acts 9:17-18). A crowd was fed when the disciples distributed the bread.
Expect God’s blessings to flow through human hands, and offer Him the little you have for His miraculous use. —Sheridan Voysey
Have you been hoping for a miracle or provision from God without human involvement? How have you been guilty of viewing your gifts, talents, and resources as too small for God to use?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: Are You Listening?
May 28, 2011
READ: Numbers 20:1-13
Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water. —Numbers 20:8
He was frustrated. He was angry. He was tired of being blamed for everything that went wrong. Year after year, he had gotten them through one disaster after another. He was continually interceding on their behalf to keep them out of trouble. But all he got for his efforts was more grief. Finally, in exasperation, he said, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Num. 20:10).
That suggestion might sound preposterous, but it wasn’t. Forty years earlier, the previous generation had the same complaint: no water. God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff (Ex. 17:6). When he obeyed, water gushed out—plenty of water. When the grumbling started again so many years later, Moses did the thing that worked before. But this time it was the wrong thing to do. What Moses told the Israelites to do—to listen—he himself had not done. God had told him to speak to the rock this time, not strike it.
Sometimes in exhaustion or exasperation, we don’t pay close attention to God. We assume He will always work the same way. But He doesn’t. Sometimes He tells us to act; sometimes He tells us to speak; sometimes He tells us to wait. That is why we must always be careful to listen before we take action.
— Julie Ackerman Link
Listen—then obey.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: no escape
I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! (vv.1-2).
READ: Revelation 3:1-6
Last year a couple in South Korea chose to escape the discouragement of unemployment by playing a virtual reality game at a local Internet café. The game provided faux careers and even a virtual child they named Anima. The problem was, while they were playing online, their real, human baby was left at home. Daily, they would give the baby some powdered milk mixed with water and then head to the café. One day, after a 12-hour virtual game session, they came home and found their 3-month-old baby had died . . . of malnutrition. The little girl had never even been named.
This tragic account of escapism (and neglect) reminds me of the church at Sardis (Revelation 3). Most of the believers in the church were spiritually “dead” (v.1). William Barclay writes: “Sardis was a city of peace, not the peace won through battle, but ‘the peace of the man whose dreams are dead and whose mind is asleep, the peace of lethargy and evasion.’” Many believers in Sardis had left behind living boldly for Jesus and had escaped to what was cozy and convenient.
Sardis had once been a commercially and politically powerful center. But twice in its history, Sardis’ seemingly impregnable walls had been breached and the city had been taken by enemies. Now its church was falling asleep and falling into sinful pursuits (v.2).
In contrast to the watchmen who had let down their guard and allowed the city to be sacked, God called His drifting people to “go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again” (v.3).
God’s solemn words might be just the wake-up call we need to turn from our escapism and begin living for Christ again. There’s no escaping our need for pure, victorious faith (v.5). —Tom Felten
How have you been trying to escape from truly living for Jesus? What do you need to let go of in order to pursue Christ more passionately?
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(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: The Pilot’s Rutter
May 27, 2011
READ: Psalm 119:129-136
Direct my steps by Your Word. —Psalm 119:133
During the era of great sea exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, sailing ships traversed vast, hazardous oceans and navigated dangerous coastlines. Pilots used various navigation techniques—including a book called a “rutter” (not the “rudder,” the ship’s steering device). This was a log of events kept by earlier voyagers who chronicled their encounters with previously unknown and difficult waters. By reading the sailing details in a rutter, captains could avoid hazards and make it through difficult waters.
In many ways, the Christian life is like a voyage, and the believer needs help in navigating life’s perilous seas. We have that help because God has given us His Word as a “spiritual rutter.” Often when we reflect on a meaningful passage, we can recall God’s faithfulness through trying circumstances. As the psalmist suggests, perils are found not only in life situations but also in our inner tendency toward sin. Because of these dual concerns, he wrote, “Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me” (119:133).
As you reflect on the teaching in the Bible, you’ll be reminded of God’s past care, assured of the Lord’s guidance in trying circumstances, and warned against sinfulness. That’s the advantage of having a “spiritual rutter.”
— Dennis Fisher
With God’s Word as your map and His Spirit as your compass, you’re sure to stay on course.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
