Journey of Faith: Book 4 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Introduction

This devotional booklet, Journey of Faith: A 40-Day Devotional on Obedience and Reverence (Book 4) is a continuation of Books 1, 2 and 3, 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 lifechanging exploration of character development and spiritual growth.

DAY31 Breath of Life

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 2:4–8

Then the Lord God . . . breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. -

Genesis 2:7

On a cold and frosty morning, as my daughter and I walked to school, we enjoyed seeing our breath turn to vapor. We giggled at the various steamy clouds we could each produce. I received the moment as a gift, reveling in being with her and being alive.

Our breath, which is usually invisible, was seen in the cold air, and it made me think about the Source of our breath and life—the Lord our Creator. For He who formed Adam out of the dust of the ground, giving him the breath of life, also gives life to us and to every living creature (Genesis 2:7). All things come from Him—even our very breath, which we inhale without even thinking about.

We may be tempted, living with today’s conveniences and technology, to forget our beginnings and that God is the one who gives us life. But when we pause to remember that God is our Creator, we can build an attitude of thankfulness into our daily routines. We can ask Him for help and acknowledge the gift of life with humble, thankful hearts. May our gratitude spill out and touch others, so that they also may give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness.

By Amy Boucher Pye

Questions:

1. Before this, there has already been an account of how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1:1-2:3). In your opinion, why are we given another account of creation here (2:4)?

2. How did God create Adam (2:7)? Was there anything unique about what He did, compared with how He made the land animals (1:24)?

3. What does 2:7 teach us about ourselves? Knowing this, how should we respond to God?

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, what an awesome and powerful God You are! You created life by Your very breath. We praise You and stand in awe of You. Thank You for Your creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY32 Respect

Today’s Bible Reading

Esther 1:1-5,9-12

You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. - Psalm 8:5

In 1967, American vocalist Aretha Franklin topped the charts with her hit single “Respect.” The song became an inspirational anthem for the civil rights movement and for others who demanded to be treated with respect.

Long before Aretha’s hit record, Queen Vashti topped the Persian charts with her own version of “Respect.” The book of Esther begins with King Ahasuerus hosting a great celebration. In addition to displaying his wealth and power, he also wanted to showcase his wife’s beauty. So he commanded that Queen Vashti be brought before him and his guests.

If she obeyed, she would have allowed the king to degrade and disrespect her. If she refused, she risked losing her life. She refused. What courage! Vashti didn’t want to compromise her character by being reduced to a piece of property. Her desire for respect led to her banishment. We have no record that Vashti feared the Lord. But her courage shows that she understood the God-given dignity accorded to every human being.

God created us in His image and crowned us with glory and honor, having made us “a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:5). Out of love and reverence for Him, let us treat ourselves and others with honor, dignity, and respect.

By Marvin Williams

Questions:

1. How many parties are mentioned here, and how long did each one last (Esther 1:4-5, 9)?

2. Why did the King summon Queen Vashti, and why did she refuse to appear before him (1:11-12)?

3. Is there any inner attitude or outer action that you have to change in order to treat others, not as objects or tools for you to use or benefit from (like how the King treated Queen Vashti), but instead as fellow human beings with dignity, honour, and respect?

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to remember that even the most difficult people I know bear Your image. Help me to resist the temptation to insult and manipulate them to get my way, and help me instead to love and honour them out of love and reverence for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

DAY33 Honouring God

Today’s Bible Reading

John 15:1-5

[Jesus said,] “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. - John 15:5

The church service was still in progress, and we had some visitors there that morning. The speaker was only halfway through his sermon when I noticed one of our visitors walking out. I was curious and concerned, so I walked out to talk with her.

“You’re leaving so soon,” I said, approaching her. “Is there a problem I can help with?” She was frank and forthright. “Yes,” she said, “my problem is that sermon! I don’t accept what the preacher is saying.” He had said that no matter what we accomplish in life, the credit and praise belong to God. “At least,” the woman moaned, “I deserve some credit for my achievements!”

I explained to her what the pastor meant. People do deserve recognition and appreciation for what they do. Yet even our gifts and talents are from God, so He gets the glory. Even Jesus, the Son of God, said, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing” (John 5:19). He told His followers, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5).

We acknowledge the Lord as the one who helps us to accomplish everything.

By Lawrence Darmani

Questions:

1. What will happen to branches which do not bear fruit (John 15:2)? What does this metaphor mean (15:5)?

2. What will happen to branches that bear fruit (15:2)? What does this metaphor mean?

3. What does it mean to bear fruit, and what do we have to do in order to bear fruit (15:2,4-5)?

Prayer:

Lord, let me not forget to acknowledge You for all that You do for me and enable me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY34 Facing the Future

Today’s Bible Reading

James 4:13-17

If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. — James 4:15

While going through some old files, I came across a 1992 special issue of TIME magazine titled “Beyond the Year 2000: What To Expect in the New Millennium.” It was fascinating to read the predictions made 2 decades ago about what the future would hold. Some general observations were on target, but no one foresaw many of the events and innovations that have radically changed our lives. The most telling statement to me was, “The first rule of forecasting should be that the unforeseen keeps making the future unforeseeable.”

James reminds us that any view of the future that omits God is foolish and proud. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. . . . Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).

Many people used to begin their statement of plans with, “Lord willing.” The phrase may have become trite, but the acknowledgment of God’s overruling hand is not.

As we look ahead with God firmly in view, we can face the future with confidence in His loving plan.

By David C. McCasland

Questions:

1. What are two reasons why we should not be overconfident or arrogant in making future plans (James 4:14)?

2. How should we plan for the future instead? What are two things we should do in this regard (4:15-16)?

3. What are some of your cherished hopes, ambitions, and plans for the future? Where is God in the midst of all this? Will you submit your future plans to Him?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I offer my life and my future to you. I give you my hopes and plans for what is to come. I consecrate my future plans and submit them to your will. No matter what may happen, I choose to put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY35 Wind and Fire

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:9-17

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor. - 1 Peter 2:17

Sometimes when I want to start a fire, the wind puts it out. But when I try to keep a fire burning, wind keeps it going. So, in the first case, I call wind ‘bad’ because it stops my plans; in the other, I call it ‘good’ because it helps me out.

This example shows how we judge things by the way they affect us. We call circumstances or people ‘bad’ if they get in our way or annoy us. We call circumstances or people ‘good’ if we agree with them and they do what we want.

But God is the One who really decides what is actually good or bad, and He does so not by how it affects our plans but by whether or not it works with His. His plan is that we would be “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation”. And His purpose for us is to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

To live by God’s good purpose, we are to respect all people, love others, put God first and pray for those who teach or lead us—even when something doesn’t seem good to us (v.17). These kinds of actions may challenge people who see us. When we react to ‘bad’ things by trusting God, they may well want to get to know Him too.

By Ames Chen

Questions:

1. How does Peter describe our identity as Christians (1 Peter 2:911)? Choose three descriptions that sound interesting to you or resonate with you and explain. what they mean to you.

2. Knowing our identity, who we are as Christians, how then should we live? Briefly list down the things that Peter exhorts us to do (2:11-17).

3. From the list above, focus on “show[ing] proper respect to everyone” and one other item of your choice. How can you apply these two things practically and live them out in the coming week?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the Bible that teaches me to love You and others, even those I wouldn’t normally respect or care about. Please help me to view all people as You do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY36 Reconciling Relationships

Today’s Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:22–32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

My sister and I clashed frequently when we were younger, but one time especially stands out in my memory. After a bout of yelling back and forth where we’d both said hurtful things, she said something that, at the moment seemed unforgivable. Witnessing the animosity growing between us, my grandmother reminded us of our responsibility to love each other: “God gave you one sister in life. You’ve got to show each other a little grace,” she said. When we asked God to fill us with love and understanding, He helped us acknowledge how we’d hurt each other and to forgive one another.

It can be so easy to hold on to bitterness and anger, but God desires for us to experience the peace that can only come when we ask Him to help us release feelings of resentment (Ephesians 4:31). Instead of harboring these feelings, we can look to Christ’s example of forgiveness that comes from a place of love and grace, striving to be “kind and compassionate” and to “[forgive] each other, just as in Christ God forgave [us]” (v. 32).

When we find it challenging to forgive, may we consider the grace that He extends to us each day. No matter how many times we fall short, His compassion never fails (Lamentations 3:22). God can help us remove bitterness from our hearts, so we’re free to remain hopeful and receptive to His love.

By Kimya Loder

Questions:

1. What are the things we should “put off” (Ephesians 4:22-31)? List four of them below.

2. What are the things we should “put on” (4:24-32)? List four of them below.

3. Today’s devotional article focuses on reconciling relationships as a form of reverence for people, specifically applying 4:32 to our lives. Prayerfully look over the two lists above, and considering your relationships with others, choose one thing that God is calling you to “put off” and one thing that He is calling you to “put on” today. Write down one or two practical and actionable steps you can take in reverent obedience to Him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the people You’ve placed in my life. Help me to have a loving and forgiving spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY37 Loving Like Jesus

Today’s Bible Reading

1 John 3:11–18

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:18

While waiting for a train at a station in Atlanta, Georgia, a young man wearing dress pants and a button-down shirt sat on a bench. As he struggled with his tie, an older woman encouraged her husband to help. When the elderly man hunched over and began teaching the young man how to knot the tie, a stranger took a photo of the trio. When this photo went viral online, many viewers left comments about the power of random acts of kindness.

For believers in Jesus, kindness to others reflects the self-sacrificing care that He showed for people like us. It’s an expression of God’s love and what He desired His disciples to live out: “We should love one another” (1 John 3:11 emphasis added). John equates hating a brother or sister to murder (v. 15). Then he turns to Christ as an example of love in action (v. 16).

It doesn’t have to be an extravagant display of sacrifice. Selfless love simply requires us to acknowledge the value of all God’s image-bearers by placing their needs above our own . . . every day. Those seemingly ordinary moments when we care enough to notice the needs of others and do what we can to help are selfless when we’re motivated by love. When we see beyond our personal space, step out of our comfort zones to serve others, and give—especially when we don’t have to give—we’re loving like Jesus.

By Xochitl Dixon

Questions:

1. In what ways should we not be like Cain, and why (1 John 3:1215)?

2. We should not follow Cain’s negative example. Instead, whose positive example should we follow (3:16)? How should we follow that person’s example (3:16-18)?

3. Think of someone you hate. What is one thing you can do in order to not be hateful and murderous like Cain (3:11-15)? Think of someone in need. What is one thing you can do in order to love them like Jesus, as a form of reverence towards His people (3:16-18)?

Prayer:

Loving Father, please help me see people with a heart ready to extend compassion and selfless love wherever You send me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY38 It’s All About The Heart

Today’s Bible Reading

Matthew 15:7-20

Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart. —

Matthew 15:18

Every time Susan opens her mouth, it sounds like the blare of an ambulance siren. This TV commercial uses humor to indicate that a dental problem could reveal a more serious physical ailment. So she’d better see her dentist soon!

The commercial made me think about what comes out of my mouth when I open it. Jesus said that our words come from our heart (Matt. 15:18). He offended the Pharisees when He said, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (vv.11-12). They thought they were right with God because they followed strict rules, including ritual cleansing of their hands before eating and eating only “clean” foods. Jesus upset their pride.

Jesus upsets our pride too. We may think we’re godly people because we go to church regularly or pray, but then we gossip or talk about people behind their backs. James 3:9-10 says, “With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . . . . Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. . . . These things ought not to be so.”

If a siren blares from our mouth when we open it, we need to examine our heart and ask the Lord to forgive us and to help us be a blessing to others.

By Anne Cetas

Questions:

1. How did Jesus describe the Pharisees and teachers of the law (Matthew 15:7-9, 13-14)? List down four of the descriptions below.

2. What are some dietary restrictions that other religions have? What about Christians, do we have any dietary restrictions? Why or why not (15:11, 17-20)?

3. How can we avoid being like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, and keep ourselves pure? What is the key point that we must not miss in these 14 verses (15:7-20) to keep ourselves reverent to God and people?

Prayer:

Lord, cleanse our hearts so what we speak will be reflective of Your grace; And help us to control our tongues so we’ll not bring on You disgrace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY39 All for Jesus

Today’s Bible Reading

Colossians 3:15–24

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. - Colossians 3:17

When Jeff was fourteen, his mom took him to see a famous singer. Like many musicians of his era, B. J. Thomas had gotten caught up in a selfdestructive lifestyle while on music tours. But that was before he and his wife were introduced to Jesus. Their lives were radically changed when they became believers in Christ.

On the night of the concert, the singer began to entertain the enthusiastic crowd. But after performing a few of his well-known songs, one guy yelled out from the audience, “Hey, sing one for Jesus!” Without any hesitation, B. J. responded, “I just sang four songs for Jesus.”

It’s been a few decades since then, but Jeff still remembers that moment when he realized that everything we do should be for Jesus—even things that some might consider to be “nonreligious.”

We’re sometimes tempted to divvy up the things we do in life. Read the Bible. Share our story of coming to faith. Sing a hymn. Sacred stuff. Mow the lawn. Go for a run. Sing a country song. Secular stuff.

Colossians 3:16 reminds us that the message of Christ indwells us in activities like teaching, singing, and being thankful, but verse 17 goes even further. It emphasizes that as God’s children, “whatever [we] do, whether in word or deed, [we] do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

We do it all for Him.

By Cindy Hess Kasper

Questions:

1. What are the general instructions Paul gives to the Colossians (Colossians 3:15-17)? Which instruction do you feel is most relevant to you, and why?

2. What are the specific instructions Paul gives to each member of the Colossian household (3:18-25)? Which of these do you feel is most relevant to you, and why?

3. Look at the general instruction and the specific instruction that you have chosen as most relevant to yourself in Question 1 and Question 2. What will you do in the coming week in order to live out these instructions with reverent obedience?

Prayer:

Loving God, help me to surrender every one of my activities and words to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY40 The BeginsJourney

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:5-11

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Eighty-one years ago, a nine-year-old boy prayed to ask Jesus to be the Saviour of his life. His mom wrote these words in a memory book: “Jon made a start today.”

Jon—my dad—has now walked with Jesus for nearly eight decades. He marks the day when he made his decision to follow Jesus as the beginning of his journey. Growing with God is a lifelong process—not a one-time event.

My dad is a good example of how to grow in faith. He reads the Bible regularly to increase his understanding of God and has made prayer a daily part of his life. Bible reading and prayer help us grow closer to God and not give into temptation (Psalm 119:11; Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2). The Holy Spirit began to develop the “fruit of the Spirit” in him as he surrendered his life in faith and obedience (Galatians 5:22-23). We show God’s love as we live for Him and talk about Him with the people we meet.

My dad’s journey with God continues and so does ours. What an amazing thing it is to have a relationship in which we can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

By Cindy Hess Kasper

Questions:

1. What are the seven qualities listed down by Peter that we should grow in as followers of Jesus (2 Peter 1:5-7)?

2. You chose one of these qualities to grow in on Day 23. How have you grown in it? Which one would you like to develop more of, moving forward?

3. What benefits will we reap from developing these Christlike qualities (1:8-11)?

Prayer:

Father, I want to get to know You better every day. Please keep me going on this journey with You and help me stay close to You always. 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®

odb.org • malaysia@odb.org

Produced in Malaysia.