Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 17

THE WIDOW WHO WAITED

From: March 17, 2024

“And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38 ESV).

In the gospel of Luke, an 84 year old widow named Anna came up to the Temple at the same time that Mary and Joseph came to present the infant Jesus to the Lord. She arrived just as a man named Simeon was moved by the Spirit to take Jesus up in his arms and prophecy over him. Both she and Simeon were described as those who were “waiting” on God’s redemption. Simeon’s words were recorded by Luke in some detail, but Anna’s words were simply summarized saying that she gave thanks and spoke of Jesus to all were “waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Anna’s waiting was finally rewarded. For the Lord answered her longing for redemption by letting her see her Redeemer. She may have seemed an unimportant widow to the priests and leaders who saw her every day at the Temple. But the Spirit revealed the Savior to her and made sure that Luke was inspired to include her name in his gospel.

Now we are those who wait on our redemption. For the Lord has come and is coming again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, it amazes us that You care for those that others overlook. You care for the widow and for the orphan. You care for the least of these. And You reveal Yourself to those who wait for Your redemption. Thank You for revealing Jesus to us. In His name we pray. Amen.

FOUR AREAS OF HEALTHY CHRISTIAN GROWTH

From: March 17, 2023

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52 NLT).

Luke is the only gospel that describes how Jesus grew up. The story of twelve year old Jesus talking with the teachers in the Temple, while His family was looking for Him, is a very interesting glimpse into His youth. And it begs the question, “What did it look like for the Son of God to grow up?” Luke summarized Christ’s growing years in a four part description. This description is helpful for those who want to grow in maturity as they follow Jesus:

The four ways that Jesus grew were:
1) Mentally “wisdom”
2) Physically “stature”
3) Spiritually “favor with God”
4) Socially “favor with people”

These four areas of growth provide a way of considering our own growth. After all, as Christ followers, shouldn’t we desire to grow in these same areas?

I try to set one or two goals at the first of the year in each of these same four areas, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. I call them my Luke 2:52 goals. For instance, I might have a goal under mental growth like “Read 2 books a month,” or “Learn to play the banjo.” Under physical growth, I might say, “Lose 15 pounds,” or “Join a gym.”

What would your “Luke 2:52” goals look like?

PRAYER: Our Father, we want to grow up like Jesus. Your Spirit empowers us and Your Son leads us in this. We want to cooperate in the work of sanctification that you have begun in us, knowing that you will complete what you have begun on that day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions” (Luke 2:46 NLT).

From: March 17, 2022

HOW LONG BEFORE MISSING JESUS?

Twelve year old Jesus traveled with his family to Jerusalem for the Passover festival as they did every year. They traveled with a large entourage of friends and family from Nazareth. It was a wonderfully joyous annual holiday. Yet, after traveling a day’s journey on the way back home, they realized that Jesus wasn’t with them.

Can you imagine the frantic one day journey back to Jerusalem to look for him? Finally, on the third day (One day out, one day back, discovered on the third day), they found him in the Temple courts talking with the religious teachers.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of life that we go through a whole day or more without realizing we’re not walking with Jesus. How long must we go before missing His presence? How anxious and weary must we become before recognizing that we have been trying to handle things without Him?

Let us run back to Jesus. Let us learn to stop running ahead without looking for Him. We want to learn to follow. We want to grow in our spiritual awareness of His presence, so that we never move without Him. Let us grow in our love and awareness of Jesus, so that we never go even three seconds, much less three days, without Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for those days when we head out without talking to Jesus and asking for His direction. We want to always follow Him in everything. Strengthen us for today’s journey. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”'(Luke 2:49 HCSB).

From: March 17, 2021

HAVE YOU HEADED OUT WITHOUT JESUS?

After a frantic, three day search, Mary and Joseph found twelve year old Jesus with the teachers in the temple. Mary asked why He had done this to them, causing them such worry, searching for Him. They didn’t understand Jesus’ reply at the time, but Mary continued to ponder such things in her heart.

Mary and Joseph and their entourage hadn’t even noticed that Jesus was missing from their company until they had gone well down the road to Nazareth. They went a whole day’s journey before they missed His presence. Then, they panicked as they looked for Him.

How many times have you headed out without Jesus? How many times have you gone a whole day without even missing Him? Where can we find Jesus? Where do we seek? Look to the Father’s business. You will find Him there. Wherever the Father is at work, Jesus will be at work with Him. Those who would be with Jesus, will follow Him in the Father’s work.

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for those days when we head out without talking to Jesus and asking for His direction. We want to always follow Him in everything. Strengthen us for today’s journey. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52 NLT).

From: March 17, 2019

FOUR AREAS OF HEALTHY CHRISTIAN GROWTH

Luke is the only gospel that describes how Jesus grew up. The story of twelve year old Jesus talking with the teachers in the Temple, while His family was looking for Him, is a very interesting glimpse into His youth. And it begs the question, “What did it look like for the Son of God to grow up?” Luke summarized Christ’s growing years in a four part description. This description is helpful for those who want to grow in maturity as they follow Jesus:

The four ways that Jesus grew were:

1) Mentally “wisdom”

2) Physically “stature”

3) Spiritually “favor with God”

4) Socially “favor with men”

I set goals in my life each year in these same four areas, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. What are your “Luke 2:52” goals?

PRAYER: Our Father, we want to grow up like Jesus. Your Spirit empowers us and Your Son leads us in this. We want to cooperate in the work of sanctification that you have begun in us, knowing that you will complete what you have begun on that day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions” (Luke 2:46 NLT).

From: March 17, 2018

THREE DAYS WITHOUT JESUS

Twelve year old Jesus traveled with his family to Jerusalem for the Passover festival as they did every year. They traveled with a large entourage of friends and family from Nazareth. It was a wonderfully joyous annual holiday. Yet, after traveling a day’s journey on the way back home, they realized that Jesus wasn’t with them. Can you imagine the frantic one day journey back to Jerusalem to look for him? If they would’ve had “Amber Alerts” in those days, The search for Jesus would’ve been broadcast throughout Judea. Finally, on the third day (One day out, one day back, discovered on the third day), they found him in the Temple courts with the religious teachers.

I wonder, have you ever lost track of Jesus? How many days did you go before you noticed that you were traveling without Him? Were you frantic to find Him when you realized how long you’d gone without Him?

‘And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”'(Luke 2:49 NKJV).

From: March 17, 2017

After a frantic, three day search, Mary and Joseph found twelve year old Jesus with the teachers in the temple. Mary asked why He had done this to them, causing them such worry, searching for Him. They didn’t understand Jesus’ reply at the time, but Mary continued to ponder such things in her heart.

Mary and Joseph and their entourage hadn’t even noticed that Jesus was missing from their company until they had gone well down the road to Nazareth. They went a whole day’s journey before they missed His presence. Then, they panicked as they looked for Him.

How many times have you headed out without Jesus? How many times have you gone a whole day without even missing Him? Where can we find Jesus? Where do we seek? Look to the Father’s business. You will find Him there. Wherever the Father is at work, Jesus will be at work with Him. Those who would be with Jesus, will follow Him in the Father’s work.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52 ESV)

From: March 17, 2016

Luke is the only gospel that described how Jesus grew up. The story of twelve year old Jesus talking with the teachers in the Temple, while His family was looking for Him, is a very interesting glimpse into His youth. And it begs the question, “What did it look like for the Son of God to grow up?” Luke summarized Christ’s growing years in a four part description. This description is helpful for those who want to grow to maturity as Jesus did. The four areas of growth are: 1) Mental “wisdom” 2) Physical “stature” 3) Spiritual “favor with God” 4) Social “favor with men” I use this verse to help set goals in my life each year, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. What are your “Luke 2:52” goals?

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52 NKJV)

From: March 17, 2015

Luke is the only gospel that described how Jesus grew up. The story of twelve year old Jesus talking with the teachers in the Temple, while His family was looking for Him, is a very interesting glimpse into His youth. And it begs the question, “What did it look like for the Son of God to grow up?” Luke summarized Christ’s growing years in a four part description. This description is helpful for those who want to grow to maturity as Jesus did.
The four areas of growth are:
1) Mental “wisdom”
2) Physical “stature”
3) Spiritual “favor with God”
4) Social “favor with men”
I use this verse to help set goals in my life each year, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. What are your “Luke 2:52” goals?

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52 NLT)

From: March 17, 2014

Luke described how Jesus grew from a child to a man. This four part description is helpful for those who want to grow to maturity as Jesus did. The four areas of growth are:
1) Mental “wisdom”
2) Physical “stature”
3) Spiritual “favor with God”
4) Social “favor with all people”
I use this verse to help set goals in my life each year, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. What are your “Luke 2:52” goals?