ODB: Just Do What’s Right
November 28, 2011 READ: Philippians 2:12-18 That you may become . . . children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. —Philippians 2:15 On a trip out of the country, I happened to meet an attorney who was from my hometown in New Jersey. We were surprised at how [...]
ODB: Singing Bowl
November 26, 2011
READ: Deuteronomy 4:32-40
We therefore ought to . . . become fellow workers for the truth. —3 John 1:8
Artist and scientist Michael Flynn designed a singing bowl for display in ArtPrize, an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The bowl requires no electricity but it does require something that is in short supply: cooperation.
As I observed people trying to make the bowl sing, I was surprised that none of them bothered to read the directions about rocking it gently. Instead, impatient to make music, they kept trying their own ideas. After a few minutes they walked away frustrated and disappointed, as if the bowl was defective.
How many times, I wonder, do we become frustrated that life isn’t working the way we think it should? We keep trying ways that seem right, but things keep turning out wrong. Instead of following God’s Word, we continue trying to find our own way.
The singing bowl reminds us that we can’t expect life to go well if we ignore the instructions of the Designer (Deut. 4:40). Failing to obey divides us from one another and separates us from God. To fulfill His plan for the world and make the way of salvation known (Ps. 67:2), we need to follow His instructions about living and working peacefully together. When life doesn’t go well, it may be that we’ve stopped following God’s plan.
— Julie Ackerman Link
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
Loading ...ODB: Staying Clean
November 1, 2011
READ: Psalm 119:9-16
Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. —Psalm 119:11
During a business trip to Philadelphia, I walked down Broad Street toward City Hall each morning to catch the subway. Each day I passed a long line of people waiting for something. They were a cross-section of humanity in age, ethnic origin, and appearance. After wondering about it for 3 days, I asked a man on the sidewalk why all those people were standing in line. He told me that they were on probation or parole after breaking the law and had to take a daily drug test to show that they were staying clean.
This struck me as a vivid illustration of my need to stay spiritually clean before God. When the psalmist pondered how he could live a pure life, he concluded that the key was to consider and obey God’s teaching. “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. . . . I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word” (Ps. 119:11-12,16).
In the light of God’s Word, we see our sin, but we also see God’s love in Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
By His grace . . . staying clean.
— David C. McCasland
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...Tame That Tongue
By Jireh Victor Dela Cruz, Philippines We communicate primarily with spoken words. The tongue, which comprises of 16 muscles, is the main organ responsible for our speech. Though it is small, its function affects a great deal of one’s life. James 3:2-8 compares the tongue to a small spark that can set a great forest [...]
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Is God Obligated?
August 14, 2011
READ: Jeremiah 7:1-11
Amend your ways and your doings. —Jeremiah 7:3
A friend sent me photographs of 20 beautiful churches in the world. Located as far apart as Iceland and India, each of them is architecturally unique.
The most beautiful place of worship in Jeremiah’s day was the temple in Jerusalem, which King Josiah had recently repaired and restored (2 Chron. 34–35). The people were fixated on the magnificent building (Jer. 7:4), and they foolishly thought that having the temple there meant that God would protect them from their enemies.
Instead, Jeremiah pointed out the sin in their lives (vv.3,9-10). God is not impressed by beautiful buildings constructed in His name if there is no inward beauty in the hearts of those who go there. He is not interested in an outward legalistic worship that is not matched by inward holiness. And it is wrong to think that God protects people just because of the religious things they do.
Just because we’re reading the Bible, praying, and fellowshiping with other believers doesn’t mean that God is somehow then obligated to do something for us. He cannot be manipulated. The purpose of those external activities is to develop our relationship with the Lord and to help us live differently than those in the world around us.
— C. P. Hia
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Fear Factor
July 19, 2011
READ: Genesis 20:1-13
Abraham said, “. . . surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.” —Genesis 20:11
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you know that his heroes always have a serious character flaw. It makes for a good story and teaches some important lessons. The same is true of our Bible hero Abraham. His flaw? Fear.
Twice Abraham succumbed to his fear that a ruler would kill him and steal his wife (Gen. 12:11-20; 20:2-13). Fearing for his life, he deceived both Pharaoh and King Abimelech by saying, “She is my sister”—in essence welcoming the king to take Sarah into his harem (20:2). With fear dictating his actions, he put at risk God’s plan that through him and Sarah a great nation would arise (12:1-3).
But before we judge Abraham, we should ask ourselves a few questions. For fear of losing our job, would we compromise our integrity? For fear of appearing old-fashioned, would we set aside our values? For fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood, would we neglect sharing the gospel and put someone’s eternity at risk? Only one thing will conquer our fears: tenacious faith in God’s presence, protection, power, and promises.
If your fear is putting God’s wonderful plans for you at risk, remember that He will never ask you to do anything He can’t bring to completion, even if it requires miraculous intervention on His part.
— Joe Stowell
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...True Reliance
By Wulan Grace, Indonesia Earlier this year, the Lord reminded me to seek Him and rely on Him in all things. I was shown these verses during my quiet time: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen [...]
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Work Work Work
Studies have shown that sitting down for more than 8 hours a day increases a person’s chances of getting heart disease. How can you actively reach for rest today?
(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 ...Song Review: Refiner’s Fire by Brian Doerksen
By Seth Tan, 17, Singapore Purify my heart Let me be as gold and precious silver Purify my heart Let me be as gold, pure gold Refiner’s fire My heart’s one desire Is to be holy Set apart for You, Lord I choose to be holy Set apart for You, my Master Ready to do [...]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
