Daily Devotion

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"Jesus answered, 'The most important [commandment] is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" - Mark 12:29-30

With All Your Heart
March 31, 2016

To love God with all your heart means to love God with all of your feelings, with all of your emotions and with all your passion. Now, passion is a very hot term in our contemporary culture. People ask, “What’s your passion?” What they’re asking you is what is it that really gets your juices flowing? It could be a certain ideology, social cause, or politics. Perhaps it’s a passion about the theater, movies, or music. Or It could be making money, physical fitness, or watching college football. You can be passionate about a lot of things, but the number one passion of your life should be your relationship with God.

Think about your relationship with God this way. When you first came to Christ there was no problem in feeling passionate about God. You had a hunger for the Word, to be in worship, and to tell others about Christ. You were excited about it and there was a very real passion there! But then as time went by and life presented its many challenges and opportunities, it became easy for other things to become a higher priority. And if we’re more passionate about anything else than our relationship with God, our priorities are simply out of whack.

Jesus reminds us that when you give your heart to God, you want to maintain that passion and love Him with all your heart.

 

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Too Close
April 2, 2016

Read: Proverbs 3:1-18 | Bible in a Year: Judges 16–18; Luke 7:1-30
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

I grew up in Oklahoma where severe weather is common from early spring through the end of summer. I recall one evening when the sky boiled with dark clouds, the TV weather forecaster warned of an approaching tornado, and the electricity went out. Very quickly, my parents, my sister, and I climbed down the wooden ladder into the storm cellar behind our house where we stayed until the storm passed by.

Today “storm chasing” has become a hobby for many people and a profitable business for others. The goal is to get as close as possible to a tornado without being harmed. Many storm chasers are skilled forecasters with accurate information, but I won’t sign up for a tornado tour anytime soon.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
In moral and spiritual areas of my life, however, I can foolishly pursue dangerous things God tells me to avoid because of His love for me, all the time believing I won’t be harmed. A wiser approach is to read the book of Proverbs, which contains many positive ways to elude these snares of life.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” Solomon wrote. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Our Lord is the master of the adventure of living, and following His wisdom leads us to fullness of life.

Father, Your wisdom leads us along the path of life. Help us to follow Your guidance today.

How can you trust the Lord today?

Share with us at odb.org

Every temptation is an occasion to trust God.

INSIGHT:


The Hebrew word translated “teaching” in Proverbs 3:1 is torah. Torah is most often translated “law” in the Old Testament, but it can also be translated “instruction” or “guidance.” The father in Proverbs 3 is not just advising his son to obey rules. He is urging him to internalize loving and helpful instructions: “Do not forget my teaching [instruction, guidance], but keep my commands in your heart.” Dennis Moles

 

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"Jesus answered, 'The most important [commandment] is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your STRENGTH.'" - Mark 12:29-30

With All Your Strength
April 3, 2016

The last in this little devotion series is, we need to love God with all of our strength. That means all of our energy. It’s interesting that the word the gospel of Mark uses for “strength” also means “ability.” I love that. Because what does that tell us about loving God? It means that God has given all of us talents and abilities. And when we use those talents and abilities in church, or in vocation, or in relationships with others, we can approach it one of two ways: we can seek glory for ourselves or look to glorify God.

You see, to love God with all of our energy, with all of our abilities, with all of our spiritual gifts, means serving the Lord in ministry. It’s a way of expressing our love to Him. It means holding nothing back when it comes to our energy level in showing our love for God. It means that when we’re using all that energy in our vocation, or in school, we’re doing it because it is pleasing to God to make the most of our abilities for Him. We are loving God with all of our strength, with all of our being.

 

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"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy." - 1 Timothy 6:17

HE WILL ALWAYS MEET YOUR NEEDS
April 4, 2016

If you are wealthy, which God defines as having more than the absolute necessities, don’t adopt the hyper-spiritual mindset that material things are bad. That is just not biblical! God wants us to enjoy the wealth He has blessed us with and to use this wealth wisely. But God also reminds us that we should not shift our faith in Him to seeking security through our acquisition of things. He wants you to trust that He will continue to meet your future needs. He will continue to give you those blessings.

Don’t shift your need for security from God’s hands to trusting in your financial portfolio, or your bank account, or your collection of real estate. All those things can be easily lost and offer no real security. The very God that brought you all those blessings can take them all away. But He does promise He’ll never leave you and will meet all your needs.

Put your trust in a God who will never let you down, and recognize that He will always meet your needs.

 

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“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” - James 3:5-6

THE POWER OF OUR WORDS
April 5, 2016

When I was a kid I learned this line, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The problem with this catchy saying is nothing could be further from the truth. Words can hurt! They have tremendous power and can cause real and lasting damage. I would go so far as to say that words are far more painful than sticks and stones and broken bones! As you are reading this there may be words popping into your mind that have hurt you deeply or caused tremendous pain in your life.

The tongue is a small member of our body that is no small matter at all! Our words may seem like no big deal but they carry with them tremendous power. Please don’t miss this. The most powerful weapon that you will ever hold is resting in your mouth every single day. The words that you use carry with them tremendous weight and are not to be taken lightly. You are walking around with a loaded gun that can either be a source of great protection and encouragement or a source of great destruction and pain.Whether we realize it our not we are known for what we say. The way people view you as a person is directly connected to what they hear you say and how they hear you say it. The words that come forth from your mouth have the ability, as James so wisely proclaims, to set on fire the entire course of life.

Just let that sink in for a moment. Your words can literally alter the course of someone’s life.

So here is the question; how can we use words in a way that they build up instead of tear others down?

1. Think before you speak: Choosing your words wisely and learning when to keep your mouth shut can transform the impact of what you say.
2. Guard how you speak: The tone and the delivery just might be as important as the words we say.
3. Reconcile: A desire to reconcile is a defining characteristic of a follower of Jesus.

May we who are followers of Christ live as those who have been reconciled and may we be active ministers of reconciliation so that others can see the beauty of God’s love and grace alive in us. Sticks and stones may break my bones, and words may cause great damage, but the word of the cross has the power to heal and set us free when we recognize the love and grace that has been proclaimed through Jesus Christ.

*Taken from a sermon preached by Geor

 

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“After that Jesus went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi [aka Matthew] sitting in the tax booth, and He said to Levi, “Follow Me.” And Levi left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Jesus in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.” - Luke 5:27-29

DON’T FORGET YOUR FRIENDS!
April 7, 2016

I think it’s correct to assume that many folks today are not fond of the IRS. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but the resentment of the IRS has increased over their misuse of power. Yet, we don’t have it nearly as bad as people did in Jesus’ day. Back then, the tax collectors could collect more than a person owed and pocket the difference! Jewish tax collectors who collected from the Jews for Rome were seen as traitors of their own people, and they were despised. So, in Capernaum, Jesus’ adopted home town, when He walks right over to this despised tax collector, Matthew, and asks him to be one of His followers…can you imagine how appalled the people were? And no one was more shocked than Matthew! He was not welcome in the synagogue and was despised by his fellow Jews, but, contrary to what he knew about himself, Matthew was chosen by Jesus as one of the original apostles.

What followed was a big reception for Jesus at Matthew’s house, where he invited other tax collectors and his sinful friends. Why would he do this? Well, Matthew was so moved that Christ had called Him to be a follower, He wanted his friends to meet Jesus and recognize how this Jesus could change their lives, too. So, he invited them all to his party to meet Him.

The Jewish religious leaders were appalled by that. They thought it was ridiculous that this man Jesus, who called Himself a man of God, would mingle with the sinners like that. See how Jesus responded in Luke 5:31:

It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

It’s no different today. When a person comes to know Jesus, it’s party time. Time to invite people over and share with them how Jesus has changed their life.

Matthew got it right. It’s my hope and prayer that all of us will get it right, as well.

 

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"...Jesus said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God.'" - Mark 10:27

ARE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH GOD?
April 10, 2016

One of the greatest verses in the Bible is, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Do you believe it? It’s what the angel told Mary, the mother of Jesus, when he announced that she would give birth to God’s son as a virgin.

If you are facing a particularly tough challenge where you need strength and wisdom beyond yourself, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are in a season of grief and not sure you can make it, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are facing discouragement, disappointment, depression, or despair, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are struggling in your family, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

Mary did and because she did, Jesus came to be our Savior. He died and rose, conquering sin and death for you and me. The story of Jesus continually reminds us of how nothing will be impossible with God.

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Resisting the Trap
April 12, 2016

Read: Genesis 4:1-8 | Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 19–21; Luke 11:29-54

Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7

A Venus flytrap can digest an insect in about 10 days. The process begins when an unsuspecting bug smells nectar on the leaves that form the trap. When the insect investigates, it crawls into the jaws of the plant. The leaves clamp shut within half a second and digestive juices dissolve the bug.

This meat-eating plant reminds me of the way sin can devour us if we are lured into it. Sin is hungry for us. Genesis 4:7 says, “If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you.” God spoke these words to Cain just before he killed his brother Abel.

Relying on God’s Spirit supplies the power to live for Him and others.
Sin may try to entice us by tempting us with a new experience, convincing us that living right doesn’t matter, or appealing to our physical senses. However, there is a way for us to rule over sin instead of letting it consume our lives. The Bible says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). When we face temptation, we don’t face it alone. We have supernatural assistance. Relying on God’s Spirit supplies the power to live for Him and others.

Dear God, at times I let down my guard and indulge in sin. Please help me to listen to Your warnings and obey Your Word. Protect me from my own impulses and conform me to Your image. Thank You for Your work in me.

We fall into temptation when we don’t flee from it.

INSIGHT:


There has been much theological debate as to why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s (Gen. 4:4–5). One popular theory is that Abel’s sacrifice mirrored God’s act in the garden of Eden that provided covering for Adam and Eve—by means of an animal’s death—after they disobeyed God (3:21). Another view is that Cain’s offering of what he had grown by his own efforts pictured works, but Abel’s offering of a lamb pictured God’s ultimate sacrifice of grace. It seems that these brothers must have been given some idea of what was—and was not—considered an acceptable offering. Bill Crowder

 

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"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

THREE DEFINITIONS
April 13, 2016

What is your definition of being good? What would you say if asked? Years ago, a great Jewish prophet gave the answer. He said, “God has shown you what is good, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Let’s look at those more specifically:

• To act justly. We need to be honest and fair with every person, and seek to bring justice for those who are mistreated or taken advantage of.
• To love mercy. We all mess up, and when we do we sure appreciate someone who is compassionate and forgiving. Forgiveness doesn’t mean consequences are removed. Forgiveness, though, doesn’t seek revenge. Compassion is an attitude of the heart.
• Walk humbly with your God. When a person has no fear of God, that person makes himself God and will rationalize all kinds of evil. But to live in a way to please God, Who is seen perfectly in Jesus, is a good way to live.

To act justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with God – that’s God’s answer as to what is good.

 

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“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness.’” - Genesis 1:26


THE FULL PICTURE OF GOD
April 19, 2016


One of the most mysterious and difficult doctrines to understand in the Bible is that we have a God who is three persons in one – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three completely separate persons with different ways of manifestation, yet the Bible also says that they are all one God!


So, here are a couple of ways people try and explain the inexplicable concept of the Trinity:

• Water has three states. It is liquid. It is gas. It is solid. We know that the liquid aspect as water. We know the gas is steam. We know the solid is ice. Yet, they are all the same compound H2O. It’s fascinating that the solid version of H2O will actually float in the liquid version of H2O water. People offer this up as an understanding of the trinity…but it is totally inadequate; because the trinity is about three persons not three chemical elements.
• I am the father of my three sons. They know me one way. I am the son of my parents. They have known me another way. I am the husband of my wife, Anne. She knows me another way. I am the same person, but three different roles. Some will use an analogy like that to help us understand the trinity of God in three persons, but it is totally inadequate, as well. How is it that God the Son could pray to God the Father in heaven? Really, the doctrine of the trinity, to the human finite mind, is inexplicable. The doctrine of the trinity is taught in Scripture from the very first verse in the Bible, and it is central in understanding the fullness of God, the greatness of God, and the uniqueness of God.

Right from the beginning, we realize that the God of Scripture is not Allah of the Quran. He is not the God you read about in the Book of Mormon. He is not one of the thousands of gods that you find in Hinduism, because, the God of Scripture is three persons in one. That is blasphemy in Islam. The One True God is blasphemy in Hinduism. The God that we see described in the trinity is completely contrary to the god you read about in cults like Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness. This is not to be critical of other religions. It’s simply a statement of fact. Because we live in a culture today where often very highly educated people say, “Really all religions are about believing in one god, the same god. They just have different ways of getting to him.” But that is a statement of astounding ignorance because of what the Scriptures tell us about God. If you and I are to have the full picture of God, we must understand there is one God in three persons.


When God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” The word for God is “Elohim,” which, in Hebrew, means ‘God in plurality.’ One God in three persons, in perfect harmony, completing and fulfilling the will of God.


I hope you believe in this one true God.

 

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The Spirit Delivers
April 22, 2016

Read: Romans 8:19-27 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 14–15; Luke 17:1-19


The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

Until recently, many towns in rural Ireland didn’t use house numbers or postal codes. So if there were three Patrick Murphys in town, the newest resident with that name would not get his mail until it was first delivered to the other two Patrick Murphys who had lived there longer. “My neighbors would get it first,” said Patrick Murphy (the newest resident). “They’d have a good read, and they’d go, ‘No, it’s probably not us.’ ” To end all this mail-delivery confusion, the Irish government recently instituted its first postal-code system which will ensure the proper delivery of the mail.

Sometimes when we pray we feel like we need help delivering to God what is on our heart. We may not know the right words to say or how to express our deep longings. The apostle Paul says in Romans 8 that the Holy Spirit helps us and intercedes for us by taking our unspeakable “groanings” and presenting them to the Father. “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (v. 26). The Spirit always prays according to God’s will, and the Father knows the mind of the Spirit.

God hears us when we pray and He knows our deepest needs.
Be encouraged that God hears us when we pray and He knows our deepest needs.

Thank You, Father, for giving me Your Spirit to help me when I pray. Thank You for hearing my prayers and for loving me.

What are you praying for today? Share it with us at Facebook.com

When you can’t put your prayers into words, God hears your heart.

INSIGHT:
Teaching on the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit is scattered throughout the New Testament, but much of it comes from two places: Romans 8 and Jesus’s Upper Room Discourse in John 14–16. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is a Helper like Himself (14:16) who will never leave us. This Helper is the Spirit of truth and has a special relationship with the follower of Christ (v. 17). In John 16 Jesus returns to the subject of the Spirit saying that He will convict the world of our need for Christ (vv. 8–11), guide us into all truth (v. 13), and glorify Jesus (v. 14). Bill Crowder

 

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Greater than the Mess

April 25, 2016

Read: 2 Samuel 22:26-37 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 21–22; Luke 18:24-43





You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29


A major theme of the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel could easily be “Life is a mess!” It has all the elements of a blockbuster TV miniseries. As David sought to establish his rule as king of Israel, he faced military challenges, political intrigue, and betrayal by friends and family members. And David himself was certainly not without guilt as his relationship with Bathsheba clearly showed (chs. 11–12).

Yet near the end of 2 Samuel we find David’s song of praise to God for His mercy, love, and deliverance. “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light” (22:29).

Life is messy, but God is greater than the mess.
In many of his difficulties, David turned to the Lord. “With your help I can advance against a troop [run through a barricade]; with my God I can scale a wall” (v. 30).

Perhaps we identify with David’s struggles because he, like us, was far from perfect. Yet he knew that God was greater than the most chaotic parts of his life.

With David we can say, “As for God, his way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him” (v. 31). And that includes us!

Life is messy, but God is greater than the mess.

Lord, we cannot read about the failures and difficulties of others without being reminded of our own. We bring them all to You, seeking forgiveness and Your power for a fresh start.

It’s not too late to make a fresh start with God.

INSIGHT:
In 2 Samuel 22 David celebrates the faithfulness of God. Many of the same ideas and some of the same words are found in Psalm 18. The superscription to Psalm 18 says: For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. These words were so important to David that he reflected on them often. Bill Crowder

 

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Meant to Be Understood
April 26, 2016

Read: Romans 15:1-6 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 23–24; Luke 19:1-27

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Romans 15:4

I enjoy visiting museums such as the National Gallery in London and the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. While most of the art is breathtaking, some of it confuses me. I look at seemingly random splashes of color on canvas and realize I have no idea what I am seeing—even though the artist is a master at his craft.

Sometimes we can feel the same way about the Scriptures. We wonder, Is it even possible to understand them? Where do I start? Perhaps Paul’s words can give us some help: “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

God has given us the Scriptures for our instruction and encouragement. He has also given us His Spirit to help us to know His mind. Jesus said that He was sending the Spirit to “guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13). Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:12, saying, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

With the help of the Spirit, we can approach the Bible with confidence, knowing that through its pages God wants us to know Him and His ways.

Father, thank You for giving us Your Son to bring us into relationship with You. Thank You for giving us the Scriptures so that we can know You better. And thank You for giving us Your Spirit to guide us into the truth of what we need to know about You and Your great love.

Read the Bible to get to know its Author.

INSIGHT:
One of the great truths of Scripture is that it is timeless. All of the stories and instructions of the past were written for our benefit. While this applies to all of the Old Testament, here in Romans it specifically applies to the example of Christ’s life. Verse four of today’s text tells us that what was written about Christ was written to teach us. J.R. Hudberg

 

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An Amazing Love
April 28, 2016

Read: Malachi 1:1-10; 4:5-6 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 3–5; Luke 20:1-26

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. Malachi 1:2

The final major historic acts of the Old Testament are described in Ezra and Nehemiah as God allowed the people of Israel to return from exile and resettle in Jerusalem. The City of David was repopulated with Hebrew families, a new temple was built, and the wall was repaired.

And that brings us to Malachi. This prophet, who was most likely a contemporary of Nehemiah, brings the written portion of the Old Testament to a close. Notice the first thing he said to the people of Israel: “ ‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord.” And look at their response: “How have you loved us?” (1:2).

Those who put their trust in Jesus will have eternal life.
Amazing, isn’t it? Their history had proven God’s faithfulness, yet after hundreds of years in which God continually provided for His chosen people in both miraculous and mundane ways, they wondered how He had shown His love. As the book continues, Malachi reminds the people of their unfaithfulness (see vv. 6-8). They had a long historical pattern of God’s provision for them, followed by their disobedience, followed by God’s discipline.

It was time, soon, for a new way. The prophet hints at it in Malachi 4:5-6. The Messiah would be coming. There was hope ahead for a Savior who would show us His love and pay the penalty once and for all for our sin.

That Messiah indeed has come! Malachi’s hope is now a reality in Jesus.

Thank You, Father, for the story You told in Your Word of the people of Israel. It reminds us to be grateful for what You have done for us. Thank You for loving us so much You sent us Jesus.

Those who put their trust in Jesus will have eternal life.

 

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Shine Through
May 2, 2016

Read: Matthew 5:13-16 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 12–13; Luke 22:1-20

Let your light shine before others. Matthew 5:16

A little girl wondered what a saint might be. One day her mother took her to a great cathedral to see the gorgeous stained-glass windows with scenes from the Bible. When she saw the beauty of it all she cried out loud, “Now I know what saints are. They are people who let the light shine through!”

Some of us might think that saints are people of the past who lived perfect lives and did Jesus-like miracles. But when a translation of Scripture uses the word saint, it is actually referring to anyone who belongs to God through faith in Christ. In other words, saints are people like us who have the high calling of serving God while reflecting our relationship with Him wherever we are and in whatever we do. That is why the apostle Paul prayed that the eyes and understanding of his readers would be opened to think of themselves as the treasured inheritance of Christ and saints of God (Eph. 1:18).

Cleanse me today so that I may let Your light shine through.
So what then do we see in the mirror? No halos or stained glass. But if we are fulfilling our calling, we will look like people who, maybe even without realizing it, are letting the rich colors of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control of God shine through.

Lord, You are the light of the world. Thank You for wanting to shine that light in our lives. Cleanse me today so that I may let Your light shine through.

Saints are people through whom God’s light shines.

INSIGHT:
In John’s gospel we see that Jesus often refers to Himself as “light.” In John 8:12 and 9:5 He calls Himself “the light of the world.” He also uses this light language to talk about the kingdom of God He came to establish. In John 3:19 Jesus tells Nicodemus, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” When Jesus tells believers that they are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14), He is in a sense issuing an invitation to Christlikeness. As followers of Jesus we have been given the opportunity to shine the light of His love into the dark and dying world.

 

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Out of the Ruins
May 4, 2016

Read: Lamentations 5:8-22 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 16–18; Luke 22:47-71


He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins. Ezra 9:9

In the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem you’ll find Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue. Built in the 19th century, the synagogue was dynamited by commandos during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

For years the site lay in ruins. Then, in 2014, rebuilding began. As city officials set a piece of rubble as the cornerstone, one of them quoted from Lamentations: “Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old” (5:21).

It takes time, but we can always trust Him.
Lamentations is Jeremiah’s funeral song for Jerusalem. With graphic imagery the prophet describes the impact of war on his city. Verse 21 is his heartfelt prayer for God to intervene. Still, the prophet wonders if that is even possible. He concludes his anguished song with this fearful caveat: “unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure” (v. 22). Decades later, God did answer that prayer as the exiles returned to Jerusalem.

Our lives too may seem to be in ruins. Troubles of our own making and conflicts we can’t avoid may leave us devastated. But we have a Father who understands. Gently, patiently, He clears away the rubble, repurposes it, and builds something better. It takes time, but we can always trust Him. He specializes in rebuilding projects.

Lord, You have reclaimed us, and You are remaking us. Thank You for Your love and Your care despite our self-centered and destructive ways.
Thank You for true forgiveness and unity in You.

God will one day restore all the beauty lost before.

INSIGHT:


According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, one characteristic of the book of Lamentations is the pattern of its laments. “Lamentations is a series of five laments, or funeral dirges; each chapter is a separate lament. A lament was a funeral poem or song written and recited for someone who had just died (cf. 2 Sam. 1:17–27). The song usually emphasized the good qualities of the departed and the tragedy or loss felt by those mourning his death. Jeremiah was lamenting the tragic ‘death’ of the city of Jerusalem and the results of her demise that were being experienced by the people. Thus he used the form of a funeral lament to convey the feeling of sadness and loss being experienced by the survivors.”

 

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Prayer Marathon
May 5, 2016

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 19–20; Luke 23:1-25
http://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base/assets/download.php?file=http://dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2016/05/odb-05-05-16.mp3
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Do you struggle to maintain a consistent prayer life? Many of us do. We know that prayer is important, but it can also be downright difficult. We have moments of deep communion with God and then we have times when it feels like we’re just going through the motions. Why do we struggle so in our prayers?

The life of faith is a marathon. The ups, the downs, and the plateaus in our prayer life are a reflection of this race. And just as in a marathon we need to keep running, so we keep praying. The point is: Don’t give up!

There is never a day when we don’t need to pray.
That is God’s encouragement too. The apostle Paul said, “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17), “keep on praying” (Rom. 12:12 nlt), and “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). All of these statements carry the idea of remaining steadfast and continuing in the work of prayer.

And because God, our heavenly Father, is a personal being, we can develop a time of close communion with Him, just as we do with our close human relationships. A. W. Tozer writes that as we learn to pray, our prayer life can grow “from the initial most casual brush to the fullest, most intimate communion of which the human soul is capable.” And that’s what we really want—deep communication with God. It happens when we keep praying.

Dear Father, we often struggle to spend time with You. Help us to make the time, and help us sense Your goodness and presence.

There is never a day when we don’t need to pray.

INSIGHT:


The Wycliffe Bible Commentary provides illumination on how Paul’s concluding prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 summarizes key points covered in this epistle: “Paul embraces all his exhortations in a prayer for sanctification, and assures the believers that a faithful God will answer it. . . . Though human surrender and obedience are necessary, sanctification is essentially a divine work (cf. Rom. 15:16; Eph. 5:26). Wholly (holoteleis)implies that no part is lacking; the whole person is to be kept blameless.” Every aspect of human nature is to be made whole in Christ.

 

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"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

TURN TRAGEDIES INTO OPPORTUNITIES
May 5, 2016

Winston Churchill inspired the free world as he defiantly declared, “We shall never surrender!” during England’s darkest days. History has shown that he, more than any other person, can be credited with saving Britain from an almost certain enslavement by the Nazis. Yet, as World War II ended, his beloved country unceremoniously dumped him as its prime minister. Attempting to comfort him, his wife declared that this rejection might actually be a blessing in disguise. “If it is,” he replied, “then it is very effectively disguised.”

Despite this humbling rejection, Churchill went on with his life. In fact, the following year he made the “Iron Curtain” speech, upon which the free world based its policy during the Cold War. He also wrote a six-volume history of World War II (winning a Pulitzer Prize) and published the classic, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. Add all that to another term as prime minister and many years as the elder statesman of the free world.

Jesus promises us, “…in this world, you will have tribulation.” You will face many rejections, roadblocks, and even land mines in your life. Sometimes God puts these challenges there to teach you, to test you, or even to redirect you. Learn to view these tragedies as opportunities to make yourself stronger and to uncover greater opportunities. You just might discover that Mrs. Churchill was right! Remember, Jesus says, “…but take courage, I have overcome the world.” With that knowledge, we can answer any challenge with, “Surrender? Never!”

 

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“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin (if you don’t do it). But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” - Deuteronomy 23:21

YOU CAN’T BARGAIN WITH GOD
May 10, 2016

In the first century, people began began viewing God as someone they could bargain with. So they would say, ‘How about this, God? If I do this, then you’ll do this.’ And today, we still say, ‘God, if you’ll get me that, I’ll do this.’ ‘God if you get me this job, I’ll do that.’ Well, I’m sorry to tell you that it just doesn’t work that way.

What kind of God would do that, anyway? What if you and I were both bargaining God for the same thing and you had more of whatever the bargaining chips were than I did? I would lose. And how consistent of a God would that be if you could bargain with Him? Man, that’s an emotional, wishy-washy, inconsistent God. That’s a God who is uncertain about the future, who may not even be in control of it.

No, we have a God who – if you’ve ever had a kid grab onto your ankle and you end up dragging him across the floor – appreciates that kind of persistence, where you reach on and you hang on to Him and say, “God, I need an answer. I need your help.” Not a God to whom you say, “God, if you’ll give me an answer, I’ll do this or do that.” We have a God who simply wants that kind of communication with us, wants our dependence on Him. We have a God you can beg and ultimately – as we beg and we plead our case with Him – come to rest when we finally submit to His plan.

It’s so wonderful we don’t have a God you can bargain with. Be thankful we have a God who is strong and consistent and sees into the future. A God who is in charge of the future and has plans for us that are great and wonderful and best for His glory. So, we can beg and plead with Him, but ultimately, when we submit to His plan for our lives, we know He’s giving us His best.

 

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“When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying,“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith;" - Matthew 17:14-19

PRESENT FAITH OR PAST FAITH?
May 11, 2016

One of the sayings my wife and I learned early on in our parenting years is—a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child. Any of you who are parents, you understand that.

With that in mind, in the first verse of today’s Scripture reference, it’s easy to see this father was an extremely unhappy man. His son was very sick. To no avail, he had used all of his resources, even telling Jesus he had taken his son to His disciples and they couldn’t help. He was probably exhausted, living with constant anxiety from having no idea when another seizure might occur. He came and fell to his knees in front of Jesus—frantically looking for someone to help.

Surprisingly, the first thing Jesus did was to address His disciples. He had given them the authority to heal the sick and raise the dead, yet here was undeniable proof that they had failed. After reprimanding them, Jesus said, “Bring the boy to me.” Then, He healed the boy immediately. Imagine the relief and gratitude of this dad. But, the disciples were confused and asked why they had not been able to cure this man’s son. Jesus said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith…”

What had happened? I have a feeling what occurred with the disciples is, over time, they began to shift from a total trust in Christ to a sense of self confidence. It was a shift from a ‘God confidence’ to ‘self-confidence.’ They probably began to use the name of Jesus just like some magic wand. Because the name of Jesus had worked in the past, it surely would work with this boy. Yet, they didn’t realize that, ever so subtly, they had begun to just have confidence in their abilities rather than total dependence on Christ. God’s power is not experienced in the present because you had faith in the past. God’s power is experienced in the present when you have faith in thepresent.

Don’t forget this paradoxical truth – when we come to the end of ourselves is when real faith begins. We see that happen in this desperate father’s life when he fell to his knees before Jesus, the Great Physician. We see it happen in the lives of the disciples, as they began to understand how they had shifted their faith in Jesus into faith in themselves.

What about you? Is yours a “present” faith, or are you trying to be fueled by your “past” faith? My prayer is that we will always stay in such close communion with God that our faith will always be a “present” faith. And may that faith give you the power to live a victorious life!