24 Nov, 2008

British teen, Kwame Boyce-Deacon, branded with the face of U.S. President Elect, Barack Obama. The young man decided to show off his enthusiasm for the newly elected president by having Obama's face shaved into the back of his head. He has also sported the faces of Bob Marley and Tupac Shakur in the past, and it appears as though Kwame is the first ever to display the face of Obama.

Find the story and picture at www.telegraph.co.uk

Branded

Excuse me, um, is that Obama on your head?

Proverbs 3:1-4

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man. (ESV)

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about how we should respond to God's Word?

I'm always amazed at the lengths people will go, the things they will do, and the ways they will sacrifice themselves, when it comes to passion! What a creative way for Kwame to show his support and enthusiasm for Barack Obama. In fact, it's not all that far off from what God wants us to do when it comes to His Word and commands. But rather than branding God's face, or His promises, on our heads, He tells us to "bind them around your neck," and "write them on the tablet of your heart."

God wants us to: 1) Cling to His teachings - attach or bind them to us, put them into practice so that we will remember them and others will see/experience God through us; 2) Show our love and faithfulness to God by loving others; 3) Memorize His Word - allow it to make an imprint on our lives and hearts.

If we are passionate about Christ and the Word of God others will see His brand on our lives, as clearly as they might see Obama's face on the head of a teenage boy.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • As you spend time in Gods' Word this week, don't just read it and put it away. Instead, pray for God to show you how to apply His teachings in your life today. Before ending your time with God, jot down 2-3 ways you can personalize and implement His commands/teachings.
  • Pray and ask God to show you some specific ways you can learn to love Him better this week . . . then do it!
  • Pick a scripture each week to memorize. Write it on a couple note cards then place them in places where you will see it throughout the day, as a reminder and to help you learn it.

How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?

  • Share today's story with a friend and ask what he/she is passionate about . . . that if he/she were to have something "branded" on his/her head, what would it be? Talk about it and be willing and ready to share yours.
  • Find a new and creative way to show your love for others this week and to let them see of your faithfulness to Christ.
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Ornament

The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.