Our Daily Bread Today | 21 January 2022 | ODB Devotional Message By John Blase(Our Daily Bread Ministries)
Our Daily Bread | 21 January 2022 | ODB Devotional Today
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TOPIC: Give While You Live
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: John 9:1–12
KEY VERSE: As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.- John 9:4
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 1–3; Matthew 14:1–21
TODAY’S INSIGHT: In John 9, we sense a great divide. Most of the religious leaders were in the process of rejecting Jesus. He wasn’t what they expected the Messiah to be. The man born blind, however, would become a genuine believer in Christ. The religious leaders indignantly argued over technicalities of the law, saying, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath” (v. 16). In contrast, the man who received his sight understood that the One who’d healed him must come from God (vv. 30–33). Soon he would tell Jesus, “Lord, I believe” (v. 38).
Our Daily Bread Today | 21 January 2022 | MESSAGE
A successful businessman spent the last few decades of his life doing all he could to give away his fortune. A multibillionaire, he donated cash to a variety of causes such as bringing peace to Northern Ireland and modernizing Vietnam’s health care system; and not long before he died, he spent $350 million to turn New York City’s Roosevelt Island into a technology hub. The man said, “I believe strongly in giving while living. I see little reason to delay giving. . . . Besides, it’s a lot more fun to give while you live than to give while you’re dead.” Give while you live—what an amazing attitude to have.
In John’s account of the man born blind, Jesus’ disciples were trying to determine “who sinned” (9:2). Jesus briefly addressed their question by saying, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned . . . but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me” (vv. 3–4). Though our work is very different from Jesus’ miracles, no matter how we give of ourselves, we’re to do so with a ready and loving spirit. Whether through our time, resources, or actions, our goal is that the works of God might be displayed.
For God so loved the world that He gave. In turn, let’s give while we live.
REFLECT: When it comes to giving, what’s one thing you’ve been delaying? What would it mean for you to give while you live?
PRAY: Giving God, please show me places where I can give today. Read Celebrating God’s Generosity.
Our Daily Bread Today | 21 January 2022 | ODB Devotional Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread