Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for April 13

DO YOU HAVE A PUBLIC PERSONA?

From: April 13, 2024

“You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15 ESV).

Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites. They liked to appear as righteous in public, but privately their true nature was revealed. Jesus saw through their public persona. He saw their true nature. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

One of the amazing gifts of salvation is our sanctification. We are being made holy. We are already counted as righteous the moment we receive Christ’s righteousness as our own. This is justification. Yet, our public and private lives are still in process. Part of being made holy is being made whole. So that we are the same through and through. Our public and private selves become indistinguishable. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a new heart and a new life that are in alignment with God’s.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to experience the wholeness of abundant life through Jesus our Lord. As Christ-followers we want to become more and more like our Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURE READING

From: April 12, 2023

“Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them” (Joshua 8:34-35 NLT).

Moses gave Israel the Word that the Lord had given to him. And Joshua, after Moses had died, gave the people the Word that Moses had passed to him. Joshua did not leave out a single word, but passed it on whole to all of Israel, even to the “children” and “foreigners” living with them. It was the Word of God that shaped their language and their beliefs. It shaped them personally and gave them a unity greater than any nation before them.

We are called to make the Scriptures known today. As the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.” (1 Tim. 4:13). The Scripture is like the anvil and the Spirit is like the hammer that reshapes our thinking. We need both.

Today, we have access to multiple English translations and versions of the Bible. We have them leather bound and digitally searchable. We can read it from a book or from our smart phones. We can even listen to it as we drive. Yet our generation is one of the most biblically illiterate in America’s history. Why? Because we have forsaken our responsibility to read and teach the Bible to everyone.

The key to passing the faith on to the next generation is that we are faithful to give them the Word that was given to us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. It is precious to us. Forgive us for not immersing ourselves in it more fully and giving it out more broadly. We see the result of our neglect. Help us to get the Word out to everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 NLT).

From: April 13, 2022

ARE YOU FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE THINGS?

People are often heard saying, “If I had more, I’d start giving, but I’m just too broke to give right now.” Yet, Jesus taught that faithfulness in large things begins with faithfulness in little things. Stop waiting for a better job, more money, a bigger house, or a nicer car before you being faithful with what you have. Having more and bigger things won’t change you. You’ll still be unfaithful until you start putting God first. Be faithful with the little things and trust God for the rest.

Don’t “despise the day of small beginnings” (Zech. 4:10), but rejoice that you can begin being faithful with the time, talent and treasure God has entrusted to you right now. Faithful micro habits yield mega results over time.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us that we are often selfish in our stewardship. Today, we ask you to fill us with your generosity as we give you this day and surrender all that we are and all that we have to you afresh. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who were with them” (Joshua 8:35 HCSB).

From: April 13, 2021

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURE READING

Moses gave Israel the Word that the Lord had given to him. And Joshua, after Moses had died, gave the people the Word that Moses had passed to him. Joshua did not leave out a single word, but passed it on whole to all of Israel, even to the “little children” and “foreigners” living with them. It was the Word of God that shaped their language and their beliefs. It shaped them personally and gave them a unity greater than any nation before them.

We are called to make the Scriptures known today. As the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.” (1 Tim. 4:13). The Scripture is like the anvil and the Spirit is like the hammer that reshapes our thinking. We need both.

Today, we have access to multiple English translations and versions of the Bible. We have them leather bound and digitally searchable. We can read it from a book or from our smart phones. We can even listen to it as we drive. Yet our generation is one of the most biblically illiterate in America’s history. Why? Because we have forsaken our responsibility to read and teach the Bible to everyone.

The key to passing the faith on to the next generation is that we are faithful to give them the Word that was given to us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. It is precious to us. Forgive us for not immersing ourselves in it more fully and giving it out more broadly. We see the result of our neglect. Help us to get the Word out to everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 NLT).

From: April 13, 2019

People are often heard saying, “If I had more, I’d start giving, but I’m just too broke to give right now.” Yet, Jesus taught that faithfulness in large things begins with faithfulness in little things. Stop waiting for a better job, more money, a bigger house, or a nicer car before you start being faithful with what you have. Having more and bigger things won’t change you. You’ll still be unfaithful until you start putting God first. Be faithful with the little things and trust God for the rest.

So, don’t “despise the day of small beginnings” (Zech. 4:10), but rejoice that you can begin being faithful with the time, talent and treasure God has entrusted to you.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us that we are often selfish in our stewardship. Today, we ask you to fill us with your generosity as we give you this day and surrender all that we are and all that we have to you afresh. In Jesus’ name, amen.

FAITHFUL IN A LITTLE, FAITHFUL IN MUCH

“You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts” (Luke 16:15 NLT).

From: April 13, 2018

DO YOU HAVE A PUBLIC PERSONA?

Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites. They liked to appear as righteous in public, but privately their true nature was revealed. Jesus saw through their public persona. He saw their true nature. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

One of the amazing gifts of salvation is our sanctification. We are being made holy. We are already counted as righteous the moment we receive Christ’s righteousness as our own. This is justification. Yet, our public and private lives are still in process. Part of being made holy is being made whole. So that we are the same through and through. Our public and private selves become indistinguishable. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a new heart and a new life that are in alignment with God’s.

“There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them” (Joshua 8:35 NKJV).

From: April 13, 2017

The key to passing the faith on to the next generation is that we are faithful to give them the Word that was given to us.

Moses gave Israel the Word that the Lord had given to him. And Joshua, after Moses had died, gave the people the Word that Moses had passed to him. Joshua did not leave out a single word, but passed it on whole to all of Israel, even the “little ones” and “strangers” living with them.

We are called to do the same. As the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture…” (1 Tim. 4:13).

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13 NKJV)

From: April 13, 2015

Many have started out loving God, but when resulting blessings come, switch allegiance. Rare is the rich man who holds wealth with an open hand, serving God with it. However, one doesn’t have to be rich to love money. The poor man can struggle as severely with the covetous love for the riches he does not have, as the rich man struggles with his unquenchable desire for more. Serving mammon never satisfies. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Yet, those who serve and love God are fully satisfied. Who have you chosen to serve: God or mammon?

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 NLT)

From: April 13, 2014

People are often heard saying, “If I had more, I’d start giving, but I’m just too broke to give right now.” Yet, Jesus taught that faithfulness in large things begins with faithfulness in little things. Stop waiting for a better job, more money, a bigger house, or a nicer car before you start being faithful with what you have. Having more and bigger things won’t change you. You’ll still be unfaithful until you start putting God first. Be faithful with the little things and trust God for the rest.

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3 ESV)

From: April 13, 2013

Words have power. So, the wise person will “guard” what they say. Read Eph.4:29 to receive instruction on what kind of words to say and to avoid. Your words should “preserve life” giving grace and edifying the hearer. Ask the Lord to help you guard your tongue because only His power can help us “tame” it (James 3:8).