DAY 11-20
Introduction
This devotional booklet, Journey of Faith: A 40-Day Devotional on Obedience and Reverence (Book 2) is a continuation of Book 1, which aims to guide teenagers in understanding the importance of cultivating good character, as emphasised in the Bible, for a purposeful and fulfilling life.
We will delve into two key virtues – obedience and reverence as mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Ephesians 4:1-4 – essential aspects of being a Christ-follower. Each devotional will explore the journeys of various individuals including contemporary people and Bible characters, in their obedience and reverence towards God and the authorities.
Following this, the Bible passage reflections will encourage you to apply these teachings to your daily life. Should you feel the need to converse with God, our prayer section provides prayers for your use, and offers space for personal or group prayers if you’re doing this with a group. Join us in this life-changing exploration of character development and spiritual growth.
DAY11 Following The Leader
Today’s Bible Reading
Luke 9:21–24
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23
In the sky over our house, three fighter jets scream through the sky—flying in formation so close together they appear to be one. “Wow,” I say to my husband, Dan. “Impressive,” he agrees. We live near an Air Force base and it’s not unusual to see such sights.
Every time these jets fly over, however, I have the same question: How can they fly so close together and not lose control? One obvious reason, I learned, is humility. Trusting that the lead pilot is traveling at precisely the correct speed and trajectory, the wing pilots surrender any desire to switch directions or question their leader’s path. Instead, they get in formation and closely follow. The result? A more powerful team.
It’s no different for followers of Jesus. He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
His path was one of self-denial and suffering, which can be hard to follow. But to be His effective disciples, we too are invited to put aside selfish desires and pick up spiritual burdens daily—serving others first instead of ourselves, for example—as we closely follow Him.
It’s quite a sight, this humbling, close walk with God. Following His lead, and staying so close, we can appear with Christ as one. Then others won’t see us, they’ll see Him. There’s a simple word for what that looks like: “Wow!”
By Patricia Raybon
Questions:
1. What did Jesus instruct His disciples not to tell anyone (Luke 9:20-21)? What reason or reasons might He have to keep this information secret?
2. What did Jesus come to do (Luke 9:22)? What does this mean for those of us who are Christians, followers of Jesus (Luke 9:23-24)?
3. What is one thing that God is calling you to do or stop doing this week in order to better obey His call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him? Will you do it?
Prayer:
Please, God, draw us close to You. Fill us with Your Spirit of love and joy and peace. Enable us to be a shining light in our world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY12 Wait
Today’s Bible Reading
1 Samuel 13:7-14
“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.” - 1 Samuel 13:13
A man tried to beat the traffic by swerving around a lane of cars that had come to a stop. However, the lane he pulled into had just been laid with fresh cement, and his Porsche got stuck. This driver paid a high price for his impatience.
The Bible tells us about a king who also paid a high price for his impatience. Eager for God to lead the Israelites in their battle against the Philistines, Saul acted far too quickly. When Samuel did not arrive at the time Saul expected to offer a sacrifice to God’s, Saul became impatient and did it himself, disobeying God’s command (1 Samuel 13:8-9,13). Impatience led Saul to think he was above the law and to do things he was not allowed to do. He thought he could disobey God without getting into trouble. He was wrong.
When Samuel arrived, he forced Saul to face up to his disobedience and promised that Saul would lose the kingdom (vv.13-14). Saul’s refusal to wait for God’s timing caused him to lose his way (see Proverbs 19:2). His impatience showed he didn’t really trust God enough to wait for Him. God will provide, just at the right time, as we wait patiently for Him to bring about His plans.
By Mike Wittmer
Questions:
1. Why did some Hebrews cross the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, and why were King Saul’s troops quaking with fear (1 Samuel 13:7)?
2. Why did Saul offer up the burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive (1 Samuel 13:89,11-12)? Why was he wrong to do that (1 Samuel 13:13-14)?
3. Imagine having to wait for something you really, really want. What makes waiting easier or harder for you? If you were in Saul’s shoes, would you have made the sacrifice, or would you have waited for Samuel? Why?
Prayer:
God, please help us to trust in your goodness and love, and wait for your timing rather than rushing ahead of You and getting into trouble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY13 The Real Thing
Today’s Bible Reading
1 John 2:3-11
If anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know that we are in him. - 1 John 2:5
When was the last time you bought something that looked good, even though you knew it wasn’t the real thing? How about ‘top-brand’ sunglasses that are really just knock-off fashion lenses (without any ability to protect from the sun)? Or ‘designer’ clothes that are actually impressive (and cheap!) fakes?
John wrote his first letter in the Bible to encourage Christians not to just look like real Christians, but to prove they are genuine by how they live. The evidence that our trust in Jesus is real is not found in some mystical experience with God. The proof that we truly know and love God is that we follow Him, spend time with Him and read the Bible. John writes, “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6).
If we say that we have been transformed by the gospel and know and love God, we should show it to be the real thing by our obedience to the Bible.
By Mike Wittmer
Questions:
1. What is the first test for Christian authenticity found in 1 John 2:3-6?
2. What is the second test for Christian authenticity found in 1 John 2:9-11?
3. Evaluate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 according to these two tests. Are you closer to a real (10/10) or fake (1/10) Christian? How can you become more real and less fake in the coming week?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to take in Your Word by hearing, reading, studying, memorising, and meditating on it. Help me to love you and obey your Word, to become more and more real as a Christian. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY14 Night Crew
Today’s Bible Reading
Colossians 3:22-25
Obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. - Colossians 3:22
Pat’s first job was working on the night shift at a supermarket. After closing time, he and the other staff stocked the shelves. Pat’s boss had told them to always turn the soup cans forward so that the label could be read easily. Also he had gone a little further by saying, “Make sure that they’re facing forward—three cans back.” One night as Pat was arranging the shelves, his co-workers began to get lazy, “Just make sure the front can is turned the right way. Who’s going to know?”
It was a moment of decision for the teenager. Should he do what his boss had asked him to do, or just do what was easy?
We’ve all been in similar situations where we’ve had to make a choice. Paul encouraged his fellow Christians to be obedient even when no one was watching: “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (Colossians 3:22, NKJV).
Doing the right thing should not be dependent on whether if anyone else is watching. It’s not always easy or straightforward to live a God-pleasing life. Yet it’s right.
Remember, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17).
By Cindy Hess Kasper
Questions:
1. What should Christian slaves do, and when should they do it (Colossians 3:22-23)?
2. Why should Christian slaves do that (Colossians 3:22-25)? List two reasons.
3. We are not slaves. How, then, do these verses apply to us? Is there any area of your life where you, like Pat working the night shift in the supermarket, feel tempted not to apply these verses?
Prayer:
Father, please help me to follow Jesus and obey Him each day, even when doing my own thing would be easier. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY15 The Upright Thumb
Today’s Bible Reading
Genesis 6:11-22
Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. - Genesis 6:8
In an old African story, four fingers and a thumb lived together on a hand. They were best friends. One day, they saw a gold ring lying next to them and wanted to take it. The thumb said it would be wrong to steal the ring, but the four fingers called him a coward and stopped being his friend. That was just fine with the thumb; he didn’t want to be a part of their plan. This is why, the story goes, the thumb still stands apart from the other fingers.
This story makes me think of the times we may feel we’re standing alone when our friends are doing wrong things and we hang back, not wanting to join in. When Noah was alive, the earth was filled with violence; every thought in every mind was “only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). Yet “Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord” (v.8). Noah loved God and obeyed Him by building the ark. God, in His love, kept Noah and his family alive in the flood.
God has shown us grace too by His Son Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We have lots of reasons to love Him and stand up for Him every day. He is always with us, so we never really stand alone. His “ears are attentive to [our] cry” (Psalm 34:15).
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Questions:
1. What did God decide to do, and why (Genesis 6:11-14, 17-20)?
2. How did Noah respond to God’s warning and instructions (Genesis 6:22)? Do you think it was easy or difficult for him to do this, and why?
3. In what ways is God commanding you to be different from everyone else around you, like Noah was in his day? How have you responded, or how will you respond to God’s command?
Prayer:
Father, it’s hard to stand up for what’s right when my friends all want to do something wrong. Please help me to be brave and remind me that You are always standing with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY16 Saying Goodbye
Today’s Bible Reading
Luke 9:57-62
No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62
Saying goodbye is hard—to family and friends, to a favorite and familiar place, to an occupation or livelihood.
In Luke 9:57-62 our Lord describes the cost of being His disciple. A wouldbe follower says to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus responds, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (vv. 61-62). Is He asking His followers to say goodbye to everything and every relationship considered precious?
In the Chinese language there is no direct equivalent of the English word goodbye. The two Chinese characters used to translate this word really mean “see you again.” Becoming a disciple of Christ may sometimes mean others will reject us, but it does not mean we say goodbye to people in the sense that we are to forget all our past relationships. Saying goodbye means that God wants us to follow Him on His terms—wholeheartedly. Then we will see people again from the right perspective.
God wants the best for us, but we must allow Him to take priority over everything else.
By Chek Phang Hia
Questions:
1. What did Jesus say to reject the first potential follower (Luke 9:58)? What might it mean for us today?
2. What did Jesus say to reject the second potential follower (Luke 9:60)? What might it mean for us today?
3. What did Jesus say to reject the third potential follower (Luke 9:62)? What might it mean for us today?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I want to follow You wholeheartedly. Help me not to place anything or anyone before You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY17 Rejecting Rationalization
Today’s Bible Reading
Mark 7:6–13
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. - Mark 7:8
An Atlanta police officer asked a driver if she knew why he’d stopped her. “No idea!” she said in bewilderment. “Ma’am, you were texting while driving,” the officer gently told her. “No, no!” she protested, holding up her cell phone as evidence. “It’s an email.”
Using a cell phone to send an email doesn’t grant us a loophole from a law that prohibits texting while driving! The point of the law isn’t to prevent texting; it’s to prevent distracted driving.
Jesus accused the religious leaders of His day of creating far worse loopholes. “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God,” He said, quoting the command to “Honor your father and mother” as evidence (Mark 7:9–10). Under the hypocritical cloak of religious devotion, these wealthy leaders were neglecting their families. They simply declared their money as “devoted to God,” and voila, no need to help Mom and Dad in their old age. Jesus quickly got to the heart of the problem. “You nullify the word of God by your tradition,” He said (v. 13). They weren’t honoring God; they were dishonoring their parents.
Rationalization can be so subtle. With it we avoid responsibilities, explain away selfish behavior, and reject God’s direct commands. If that describes our behavior, we’re merely deceiving ourselves. Jesus offers us the opportunity to exchange our selfish tendencies for the guidance of the Spirit behind His Father’s good instructions.
By Tim Gustafson
Questions:
1. What did Jesus call the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Mark 7:6)? Why did He call them that (Mark 7:6-8)?
2. What was wrong with the traditions of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Mark 7:913)?
3. Think about the traditions which you and your family follow. Are they in alignment with God’s commandments? In today’s devotional write-up, “rationalisations” are explanations that we give to justify ourselves when we do wrong. What are one or two rationalisations that you are tempted to give for your bad behaviour?
Prayer:
God, I need Your wise discernment. Rescue me from my denial of my own guilt. Help me live in step with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY18 Like Our Great Teacher
Today’s Bible Reading
Luke 6:37–42
The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. - Luke 6:40
In a viral video, a three-year-old white belt karate student imitated her instructor. With passion and conviction the little girl said the student creed with her leader. Then, with poise and attentiveness, the little ball of cuteness and energy imitated everything her teacher said and did—at least she did a pretty good job!
Jesus once said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40). He told His disciples that to imitate Him included being generous, loving, nonjudgmental (vv. 37–38), and discerning about whom they followed: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (v. 39). His disciples needed to discern that this standard disqualified the Pharisees who were blind guides—leading people to disaster (Matthew 15:14). And they needed to grasp the importance of following their Teacher. Thus, the aim of Christ’s disciples was to become like Jesus Himself. So it was important for them to pay careful attention to Christ’s instruction about generosity and love and apply it.
As believers striving to imitate Jesus today, let’s give our lives over to our Master Teacher so we can become like Him in knowledge, wisdom, and behavior. He alone can help us reflect His generous, loving ways
By Marvin Williams
Questions:
1. What is the main point that Jesus is making in today’s reading (Luke 6:37)?
2. Jesus gave three reasons to support His main point. Write down two below (Luke 6:38, 39 and 41-42a, as well as 40 and 42b).
3. “Do not judge” doesn’t mean that we don’t differentiate right and wrong or that we accept or condone evil; for just after today’s reading, Jesus says that “each tree is recognised by its fruit” (Luke 6:44). When you see someone do something wrong, what should you do? How can you handle the situation without judging them?
Prayer:
Jesus, my Great Teacher, help my discipline and attentiveness to be worthy of You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY19 Stand or Go?
Today’s Bible Reading
Exodus 14:5-22
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. - Exodus 14:13
The Israelites were trapped. Soon after leaving slavery and Egypt behind, they looked up and saw a terrifying sight. A cloud of dust was moving their way, and in that dust was a massive army. Pharaoh had changed his mind and wanted to kill God’s people (Exodus 14:8). He sent his chariots after Moses and his people.
Once the Egyptian army caught up with the Israelites, all seemed lost. They were trapped between a wall of soldiers and a sea of water. In panic, they cried out to both Moses and God.
Both of them answered with instructions. Moses said, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (14:13, NKJV). God told them, “Go forward” (v.15, NKJV). While that may seem to be opposites, both commands were from God and right. Firstly, the people had to “stand still” long enough to get instructions from God. What if they had rushed headlong into the Red Sea without talking to God? In standing still, they heard God’s instructions, which included both what they were to do—move on; and what Moses was to do—stretch out his hand over the sea in obedience and God would part the waters.
Do you feel trapped right now? Stand still. Take time to talk to God and read the Bible. Then, using His instructions, move ahead and let God guide you.
By Dave Branon
Questions:
1. Why did Pharaoh change his mind about letting the Israelites go (Exodus 14:5, 8)?
2. What did Moses tell the Israelites to do (Exodus 14:13-14), and what did God tell Moses to do (Exodus 14:15-16)?
3. Are there any areas in your life where you feel trapped, stuck, or unsure how to move forward? What are three principles you can learn from God telling Moses, and Moses telling the Israelites?
Prayer:
Father, thank You that I don’t have to walk through life’s struggles alone. You are always with me to guide me and strengthen me for the road ahead. Please help me to take a step back and listen to You when things seem too much. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAY20 Not the One
Today’s Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 17:1–4, 16–25
Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. - 1 Chronicles 17:23–24
David had drawn up the plans. He designed the furniture. He collected the materials. He made all the arrangements (see 1 Chronicles 28:11–19). But the first temple built in Jerusalem is known as Solomon’s Temple, not David’s.
For God had said, “You are not the one” (1 Chronicles 17:4). God had chosen David’s son Solomon to build the temple. David’s response to this denial was exemplary. He focused on what God would do, instead of what he himself could not do (vv. 16–25). He maintained a thankful spirit. He did everything he could and rallied capable men to assist Solomon in building the temple (see 1 Chronicles 22).
Bible commentator J. G. McConville wrote: “Often we may have to accept that the work which we would dearly like to perform in terms of Christian service is not that for which we are best equipped, and not that to which God has in fact called us. It may be, like David’s, a preparatory work, leading to something more obviously grand.”
David sought God’s glory, not his own. He faithfully did all he could for God’s temple, laying a solid foundation for the one who would come after him to complete the work. May we, likewise, accept the tasks God has chosen for us to do and serve Him with a thankful heart! Our loving God is doing something “more obviously grand.”
By Poh Fang Chia
Questions:
1. What was David planning to do, and why (1 Chronicles 17:1-4)?
2. What did God say to David about this, and how did David respond (1 Chronicles 17:4, 16-25)?
3. Have you ever had an experience like David’s, where you wanted to do something good for God, but were rejected? Or you aspired to a certain post or position, but you were not chosen for it? Share your experience with the group, and share how David’s response to God could help you to obey Him in such situations.
Prayer:
Father, we want our hopes, dreams and hearts to align with Yours. Teach us to praise You when we are tempted to doubt Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Acknowledgments
This book is a collaboration between Our Daily Bread Ministries Malaysia and The Boys’ Brigade in Malaysia.
Editorial: Celine Heo, Kiew Sieh Jin & Lim Wan Phing
Graphic Designer: Samuel Goh
Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 2024 Our Daily Bread Ministries® odb.org • malaysia@odb.org
Produced in Malaysia.