ODB: The Cost of Fighting
October 9, 2011 READ: James 4:1-10 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? —James 4:1 During a documentary on World War I, the narrator said that if Britain’s casualties in “the war to end all wars” were marched four [...]
ODB: The Story of a Wall
September 29, 2011
READ: Ephesians 2:11-22
He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. —Ephesians 2:14
While visiting the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England, I reflected on the fact that this may be the most remembered achievement of the Roman emperor who came to power in ad 117. As many as 18,000 Roman soldiers manned this 80-mile-long barrier, built to keep the northern barbarians from invading the south.
Hadrian is remembered for building a physical wall to keep people out. In contrast, Jesus Christ is remembered for tearing down a spiritual wall to let people in.
When the early church experienced tension between believers of Jewish and non-Jewish birth, Paul told them that, through Christ, they stood equally in the family of God. “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation . . . so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace . . . . For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:14-15,18).
One of the most beautiful aspects of the Christian faith is the unity among those who follow Jesus. Through His death on the cross, Christ has removed the barriers that so often separate people and has drawn us together in true friendship and love.
— David C. McCasland
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Loading ...ODB: The Dividing Wall
April 19, 2011
READ: Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-3
He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. —Ephesians 2:14
November 9, 2010, marked the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. On that day in 1989, an announcement over East German TV informed people that they were free to travel to West Germany. A day later, East German bulldozers began to dismantle the wall that for 28 years had divided East and West Germany.
Jesus Christ “has broken down the middle wall of separation” between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14). But there was an even more impenetrable barrier that separated man from God. Jesus’ death and resurrection made the reconciliation between man and man and between man and God possible (v.16).
All believers are now “members of the household of God” (v.19). Together, we are to grow into “a holy temple in the Lord” (v.21) with God’s Holy Spirit living among and within us (v.22).
But sadly, Christians often re-erect walls between one another. That is why Paul urges us to “walk worthy of the calling . . . , bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:1-3). Rather than building walls, let’s work to dismantle what separates us. Let the world see that we are indeed of the same household.
— C. P. Hia
Unity among believers comes from their union with Christ.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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February 6, 2011
READ: Colossians 3:8-17
There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, . . . slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. —Colossians 3:11
A Washington Post article reported that recent studies into the nature of prejudice found that almost everyone harbors biases, and these attitudes affect even those who actively resist them. A University of Kentucky psychologist says that much of our self-esteem comes from feeling better about ourselves than about others because of the group we belong to. Prejudice is not easy to overcome, even within the family of God.
Paul’s words to the believers at Colosse instruct us today, saying that our speech and behavior toward fellow Christians should reflect our oneness in Christ. “[You] have put on the new man,” Paul said, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col. 3:10-11). Instead of superiority and favoritism, we should demonstrate compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience toward each other (v.12). And above all, we are to “put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (v.14).
In the body of Christ, no race, nationality, or class is better than another. Through the cross, Christ has made us one, and we are to treat each other with honesty, dignity, and love.
— David C. McCasland
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODJ: dismembered
If you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another (v.15).
READ: Galatians 5:13-26
Because my husband and I live in the “Bible Belt” (historically, the South and parts of the Midwest of the US), we can drive for miles around town with at least one church always in view. While the variations of buildings and denominations can be seen as a demonstration of the diversity within the body of Christ, sadly we can also mark far too many of them as divisions from another body. Having experienced a major split in our own church almost 4 years ago, I’m still trying to process the complexity of the situation and the resulting hurt and disillusionment. Scripture clearly indicates that there are times and seasons when God works within the factions of man. In the Old Testament, God specifically told Rehoboam and his people not to pursue the tribes that were leaving to follow Jeroboam, for their departure was “[the Lord’s] doing” (1 Kings 12:24). Later in the New Testament, irreconcilable differences brought Paul and Barnabas to the point of separation (Acts 15:39). However, in a world where human trafficking, slavery, and destitution still exist and believers around the world suffer death for the gospel, I often wonder what God thinks of our church disagreements. When we enjoy prosperity, we can forget that church is not really about us. While there are justifiable reasons to rebuild and tear down (Eccl. 3:3), we must realize the high level of accountability in such decisions. Ultimately, the justification should not be our comfort, but God’s Word. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the sinister and divisive powers of the enemy. When our feelings are hurt and our frustration level runs high, it’s a difficult truth to remember. May we live watchful of the hour, so that we might be a pure bride ready for the Bridegroom’s return and not a bride dismembered by factions. —Regina Franklin
How have you allowed a personal hurt to shape your view of the church or others within the church? Why is Jesus so insistent that we understand that the true measure of our discipleship is our love for one another?
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(No Ratings Yet) 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?
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October 24, 2010
READ: Psalm 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! —Psalm 133:1
I can still remember what it was like to take our family on vacation, only to have the kids in the backseat mar the joy of it all by their bickering and complaining. Who doesn’t remember the disruptive effects of “Dad, she touched me!” or “Mom, he won’t give me a turn!”
If you’ve had that kind of experience, you can imagine how God feels when His children quarrel and complain. Getting along is important to God. Jesus prayed that we would “be one” so that the world would believe He came from the Father (John 17:20-21). And to disciples who were prone to quarreling, He commanded that they love and serve one another (13:34-35; Matt. 20:20-28). It should also be noted that among the seven things God hates, He includes “one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:19).
So I’m not surprised that the psalmist tells us that when brothers dwell in unity, it’s like “the precious oil upon the head, running down on . . . the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments” (Ps. 133:1-2). In ancient times, the oil of anointing was full of fragrant spices that graced the environment wherever the anointed one went. May the unity that comes from our love and service to one another fragrantly grace our families, churches, and friendships! —Joe Stowell
Christians who get along with each other spread the sweet aroma of Jesus.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: the grapevine
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers (v.19).
READ: Proverbs 20:15-19
I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, was recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips and later by Marvin Gaye. It became one of the biggest hits on the Motown label. Its point was that while the telegraph is obsolete, the informal transmission of information, gossip, or rumor from person to person is still going strong.
Solomon said that not only is grapevine gossip wrong, it is dangerous, unwise, and ungodly. The original word for gossip meant “birds picking up seed.” When applied to a person, it meant one who was an information scavenger, picking up seeds of information (rumors or facts) about others and foolishly or maliciously spreading them around. Solomon not only called this person an information scavenger, but he also categorized him as a fool (Proverbs 10:18).
Grapevine gossip leads to disastrous effects. It separates close friends (16:28), betrays a confidence (11:13), shames and saddles him or her with a bad reputation (25:9-10), perpetually fuels the embers of a quarrel (26:20), and is an indication that the person is not walking obediently with God. Therefore, God condemned grapevine gossip and implemented a zero tolerance policy for it because it tears the fabric of holy communion with Him and holy community with others (Lev. 19:16).
In our world of email, text messaging, Instant Messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and other communication and social media outlets, it’s extremely easy for any of us to become information scavengers and grapevine gossips. We can resist these temptations by avoiding people who talk too much (Proverbs 20:19), asking God for strength to avoid sinning with our words (Proverbs 10:19; Psalm 39:1), talking to God, and saying only what will build up rather than tear down (Ephesians 4:29). —Marvin Williams
What are some ways you can prevent unwholesome talk from coming out of your mouth? What words can you use to build up and give life to another person this week?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: designed for relationship
So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them (v.27).
READ: Genesis 1:26-27
Human beings are mysteriously designed for relationship. Isolate someone in a room and eventually he or she will become stressed, and confused, and their sleep will be disturbed. The chronically isolated person will become ill more often and have a higher risk of heart disease. In fact, their genes will begin to decay—one researcher likened chronic loneliness to “premature aging.” Like flowers without sunlight, we wither without social connection. But why? Why are we so relationally wired—with food, water, and shelter insufficient to keep us healthy?
Christians believe in the triune God. Scripture stresses that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), but also reveals that this God is a community of three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. We see all three members of the Trinity present at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16-17). We are to be baptized in the name of all three (28:19). And looking back, we may even see all three present in the world’s creation—Father directing the process (Genesis 1:1), Spirit hovering over the waters (v.2), and Son as the Word of God (John 1:1) through whom creation is spoken into existence (Genesis 1:3-24).
If God Himself is a community, is it any wonder that when God makes humans in His image (1:26-27), He makes them as relational beings? Male and female unite (2:24), and the result is a family (1:28). The siblings born become supports during times of adversity (Proverbs 17:17). Friends become those who sharpen us morally (27:6,17). In origin and function, we are relational to the core.
Loneliness in our homes, churches, and neighborhoods must be remedied by Christian love. In befriending the lonely, we reveal something of the triune God who made us. —Sheridan Voysey
Do you know someone who needs a friend? What can you do today to love that person?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODJ: my friends and i
Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself (v.3).
READ: 1 Samuel 18
John Chrysostom wrote: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. . . . It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends.”
There’s no better example of the sweetness of a godly friendship than Jonathan and David’s story. The Bible records that “there was an immediate bond between them” (1 Samuel 18:1). Friends share a oneness of spirit.
The two warriors established their friendship after David had killed the giant Goliath in battle. Jonathan also overcame great odds in war (14:6). So they shared the belief that one should risk great odds for a God who could overcome any obstacle.
Their friendship was sustained by the constant renewing of their loyalty to one another (18:3; 20:16,42; 23:18), as well as nurtured by true expressions of concern. These expressions took the form of gifts as well as guidance. Jonathan shared with David gifts of prominence and practicality (18:4), and he also shielded his friend by means of warnings and acts of protection (19:1-2; 20:12-13). Friends help solve problems and share alternate solutions.
The apex of Jonathan and David’s friendship is found in these words: “Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God” (23:16).
Friends help you find strength in God during the low ebb times of life. In a world where most relationships are about what I can get, let’s be the type of friend who is focused on what I can give. Jesus, our perfect Friend, told us, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Let’s follow His example. —Poh Fang Chia
How will you selflessly serve your friends today? How does Christlike friendship bring glory to God?
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