Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 18

LEAD ME TO THE ROCK!

From: March 18, 2024

“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2 ESV).

This is a prayer of David crying out to God for His heavenly perspective and protection. “Lead me to the high rock.” He cried. He wanted to see what was coming in the distance. He wanted his feet, which were sinking in mud, to be on something firm. He wanted his overwhelmed heart and mind raised above the daily distractions to see things from the Lord’s heavenly heights. He called on the Lord to be his refuge and strong tower.

We can pray like David today. For the Lord is our Rock.

PRAYER: Dear Father, raise our hearts to a place of shelter from life’s storms. For we are overwhelmed. Protect us from that which would overwhelm or destroy us. Lead us to look to the true Rock. For there is only One who is “the” Rock and that is Jesus the Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Help us to always look to Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.

DON’T SKIP THE NAMES!

From: March 18, 2023

“It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness” (Luke 3:1-2 NLT).

Do you skip over names and places in your Bible reading? If so, you’re missing one of the richest parts of the Bible, namely, its historical and geographical rootedness. In these two verses, we see Luke’s careful research and historical accuracy on display. Wherever skeptics have cast doubt at the Bible’s historicity, it has stood the test of comparison to extra-biblical sources and to archaeological discoveries. The gospel of Luke is a historical masterpiece of its time.

Here’s an assignment for today: Look up all of the names, titles and places found in these two verses. Let your own research give color and shape to the time and setting of John the Baptist’s appearance on the scene. As you do this, ask the Lord to speak to you in your study and deepen your faith and understanding. The Word of God is true and powerful!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have a tendency to skip over anything that requires effort to understand. Yet, Your Word includes details that certify its authenticity and we don’t want to miss these details that strengthen our faith. Help us to “study to show ourselves approved” unto You as we study Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Luke 3:22 NLT).

From: March 18, 2022

THE FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE AND JOY

Consider the boundless love and unconquerable joy of God the Father for His Son, Jesus. Notice how the curtains of heaven were parted as the Father’s voice declared His divine approval at Christ’s baptism. Such love and joy is the eternal state of the Godhead. It was this love that moved God to give His Son for us (John 3:16). It was this joy that moved the Son to “endure the cross” (Heb. 12:2) that He might obtain our salvation.

Now, Christ invites us to enter into the fellowship that He has with the Father, to know the divine love and great joy they share. Listen to how Jesus prayed concerning us: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. …May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:21-23).

Now consider the new reality of those who have believed in Jesus and been adopted into God’s family as His children. They have not only passed from death to life. They have entered into the fellowship of love and joy that is theirs in Christ Jesus.

Put your name in the blank below to understand what Christ has made possible for God the Father to now say to us: “__________, you are my dearly loved child, and you bring me great joy.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your children. We have received Your Son, therefore we have been adopted into Your family. Fill us afresh today with Your Spirit that we might experience Your great love and joy. Strengthen us to walk in love and joy today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1-2 HCSB).

From: March 18, 2021

DON’T SKIP THE NAMES!

Do you skip over names and places in your Bible reading? If so, you’re missing one of the richest parts of the Bible, namely, its historical and geographical rootedness. In these two verses, we see Luke’s careful research and historical accuracy on display. Wherever skeptics have cast doubt at the Bible’s historicity, it has stood the test of comparison to extra-biblical sources and to archaeological discoveries. The gospel of Luke is a historical masterpiece of its time.

Here’s an assignment for today: Look up all of the names, titles and places found in these two verses. Let your own research give color and shape to the time and setting of John the Baptist’s appearance on the scene. As you do this, ask the Lord to speak to you in your study and deepen your faith and understanding. The Word of God is true and powerful!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have a tendency to skip over anything that requires effort to understand. Yet, Your Word includes details that certify its authenticity and we don’t want to miss these details that strengthen our faith. Help us to “study to show ourselves approved” unto You as we study Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2 NKJV).

From: March 18, 2020

LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I

This is a prayer of David crying out to God for His heavenly perspective and protection. “Lead me to the high rock.” He cried. He wanted to see what was coming in the distance. He wanted his feet, which were sinking in mud, to be on something firm. He wanted his overwhelmed heart and mind raised above the daily distractions to see things from the Lord’s heavenly heights.

We can pray like David today.

PRAYER: Dear Father, raise our hearts to a place of shelter from life’s storms. For we are overwhelmed. Protect us from that which would overwhelm or destroy us. Lead us to look to the true Rock. For there is only One who is “the” Rock and that is Jesus the Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Help us to always look to Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.

“Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, ‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” (Luke 3:4).

From: March 18, 2019

HOW IS YOUR VOICE KNOWN?

The coming of John, son of Zechariah, had not only been announced by the angel Gabriel, it had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist was the Messianic Forerunner, coming in the spirit of Elijah, he was the Preparer of the Way. Every king must have a herald to go before him announcing his arrival. John was Christ’s herald. His job was to prepare the soil of the people’s hearts for the Seed of God’s Word. His message was to proclaim, “People get ready! The King is coming!”

PRAYER: Lord, may our voices be known as John’s was, as those who proclaim the coming of the Lord Jesus. Help us to choose our words wisely. We confess our wasting of words on many worthless things. We ask you to strengthen our voices to speak words of life and hope in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Luke 3:22 NLT).

From: March 18, 2018

THE FATHER’S LOVE AND JOY FOR THE SON

Consider the boundless love and unconquerable joy of God the Father for Jesus, HIs Son. See how the curtains of heaven were parted as the Father’s voice declared His divine approval at Christ’s baptism. Such love and joy is the eternal state of the Godhead. It was this love that moved God to give His Son for us (John 3:16). It was this joy that moved the Son to “endure the cross” (Heb. 12:2) that He might obtain our salvation.

Now, Christ invites us to enter into the fellowship that He has with the Father, to know the divine love and great joy they share. Listen to how Jesus prayed concerning us: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. …May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:21-23).

Try putting your name in the blank below to experience what Christ has made possible for God the Father to now say to us:

“__________, you are my dearly loved child, and you bring me great joy.”

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:1-2 NKJV).

From: March 18, 2017

Do you skip over names and places in your Bible reading? If so, you’re missing one of the richest parts of the Bible, namely, its historical and geographical rootedness. In these two verses, we see Luke’s careful research and historical accuracy on display. Wherever skeptics have cast doubt at the Bible’s historicity, it has stood the test of comparison to extra-biblical sources and to archaeological discoveries. The gospel of Luke is a historical masterpiece of its time.

Here’s an assignment for today: Look up all of the names, titles and places found in these two verses. Let your own research give color and shape to the time and setting of John the Baptist’s appearance on the scene. As you do this, ask the Lord to speak to you in your study and deepen your faith and understanding. The Word of God is true and powerful!

“So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him” (Numbers 27:18 ESV)

From: March 18, 2016

The continuity of leadership is an often overlooked step by a senior leader. But Moses prayed that the Lord would not leave the Israelites without a shepherd after his passing. The Lord answered Moses’ prayer and instructed him to lay hands on “Joshua the son of Nun,” setting him apart and investing him with authority. God’s answer to Moses’ prayer that his people not be left “like sheep without a shepherd,” foreshadows its true fulfillment in Jesus (Hebrew: “Yeshua” or “Joshua”), the Son of God.

“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2 NKJV)

From: March 18, 2015

A Davidic psalm. A prayer asking God for His higher perspective and protection. Lead me to the higher rock. Set my feet, which are sinking in mud, on something firm. Put my mind above the daily distractions to see things from your heavenly heights. Raise my soul to a place of shelter from life’s storms. Lord, I am overwhelmed, protect me from my enemies. Show me how to get to “the rock.” Not “a rock,” but “the rock.” For there is only One who is “the” Rock and He is Jesus, the Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Show me how to get to Jesus today!