Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 5

DO YOU KNOW THE SCRIPTURES AND GOD’S POWER?

From: March 5, 2024

‘Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?”‘ (Mark 12:24 ESV).

Jesus gave a devastating critique of the Sadducees’ theology, saying that they were ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God. The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism that affirmed only the books of Moses and denied the resurrection of the dead. Jesus declared them wrong on both. And since they didn’t recognize the authority of all the Scriptures, he quoted from the book of Exodus, which they did affirm, how God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex. 3:9). Reminding them of this, Jesus said, “For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong” (Mark 12:27).

There are many today who claim to be teachers and theologians that Jesus would rebuke because they dismiss the Bible’s authority and deny the power of God.

Do you know the Scriptures and the power of God?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we read and study Your Word that we might not only know it, but that we might be obedient to it and empowered by it according to Your Spirit. For Your words are life to us. Now strengthen us this day to do Your will according to Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MEDITATING ON GOD’S LOVE

From: March 5, 2023

“O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple” (Psalm 48:9 NLT).

Meditation in the Bible is not an emptying of the mind as the Eastern religions teach. Rather, it is a focusing of the mind on God and His Word. Here, the Psalmist focused the thoughts of his mind on God’s character, specifically, His “unfailing love,” which is God’s “chesed” love, His covenantal love.

We are called to meditate on God’s character and God’s Word. Yet, we are so busy and our world is so loud and chaotic. And meditation requires quiet and focused reflection. Meditating is like chewing every bite of a meal well, so that its flavor is savored and its nutrients fully digested. Meditation is feasting on God’s word. As Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

Are you meditating on God’s love today?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your unfailing love, which sent Jesus to die for our sins that we might live eternally as Your children. Such love is difficult to fathom. It is higher, deeper, longer, and wider than any we can see in this world. We see glimpses of it in our family relationships, but Your love is the source even of it. We love You Lord because You first loved us. Help us grow in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“O God, we meditate on your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9 NLT).

From: March 5, 2022

MEDITATING ON GOD’S LOVE

Biblical meditation is not an emptying of the mind as the Eastern religions teach. Rather, it is a focusing of the mind on God and His Word. Here, the Psalmist focused the thoughts of his mind on God’s character, namely, His “unfailing love.”

We are called to meditate on God’s character and God’s Word. Yet, we are so busy and our world is so loud and chaotic. And meditation requires quiet and focused reflection. Meditating is like chewing every bite of a meal, so that its flavor is savored and its nutrients fully digested.

The Hebrew word translated, “unfailing love,” is “chesed.” It describes the unconditional and covenantal love of God. Meditating on God’s unconditional love, we compare it to our own and grow in both understanding and desire.

Today as believers, we are able to meditate on God’s love with greater illumination and understanding. For we have God’s greatest expression of chesed love in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (Jn.3:16). The Greek word translated, “so loved,” is “agape.” It describes God’s kind of love, the kind of love that gives sacrificially. If the Old Testament word, chesed, expresses the promise of God’s covenantal love, then the New Testament’s agape expresses its fulfillment in Christ.

Let us meditate on this great love today. As the apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 John. 3:1).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your unfailing love, which sent Jesus to die for our sins that we might live eternally as Your children. Such love is difficult to fathom. It is higher, deeper, longer, and wider than any we can see in this world. We see glimpses of it in our family relationships, but Your love is the source even of it. We love You Lord because You first loved us. Help us grow in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple” (Psalm 48:9 NKJV).

From: March 5, 2020

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED GOD’S LOVINGKINDNESS?

Again we return to one of the favorite themes of the Psalmist, namely, the “lovingkindness” of God. This attribute in the Hebrew is called “chesed.” It describes the unconditional and covenantal love of God. The Psalmist wrote that they had “thought on” this Divine attribute in the temple. In other words, they had “meditated on” God’s lovingkindness, literally, likening or comparing it to what they knew, in order to understand it and appreciate it better.

Today as believers, we are God’s holy temple. When we gather as the church, we encourage one another to “think on” God’s lovingkindness just as the saints of old, yet with greater illumination and understanding. For we have God’s greatest expression of “chesed” love in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (Jn.3:16). The Greek word translated, “so loved,” is “agape.” It describes God’s kind of love, the kind of love that gives sacrificially. If the Old Testament word, “chesed,” expresses the promise of God’s covenantal love, then the New Testament’s “agape” expresses its fulfillment in Christ.

Let us meditate on this great love today. As the apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 Jn. 3:1).

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, O how great is your lovingkindness! We love You because You have first loved us. Your love expressed itself most fully in that You gave us Jesus. We lovingly offer our whole heart and lives back to You in praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“O God, we meditate on your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9 NLT).

From: March 5, 2019

MEDITATING ON GOD’S LOVE

Biblical meditation is not an emptying of the mind as the Eastern religions teach. Rather, it is a focusing of the mind on God and His Word. Here, the Psalmist focused the thoughts of his mind on God’s character, namely, His “unfailing love.”

We are called to meditate on God’s character and God’s Word. Yet, we are so busy and our world is so loud and chaotic. And meditation requires quiet and focused reflection. Meditating is like chewing every bite of a meal well, so that its flavor is savored and its nutrients fully digested. Meditation is feasting on God’s word. As Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your unfailing love, which sent Jesus to die for our sins that we might live eternally as Your children. Such love is difficult to fathom. It is higher, deeper, longer, and wider than any we can see in this world. We see glimpses of it in our family relationships, but Your love is the source even of it. We love You Lord because You first loved us. Help us grow in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“O God, we meditate on your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9 NLT).

From: March 5, 2018

MEDITATING ON GOD’S LOVE

Meditation is not an emptying of the mind as the Eastern religions teach. Rather, it is a focusing of the mind on God and His word. Here, the Psalmist focused the thoughts of his mind on God’s character, namely, His “unfailing love.”

We are called to meditate on God’s character and God’s word. Yet, we are so busy and our world is so loud and chaotic. And meditation requires quiet and focused reflection. Meditating is like chewing every bite of a meal well, so that its flavor is savored and its nutrients fully digested. Meditation is feasting on God’s word. As Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

How long can we chew on God’s “unfailing love?” I imagine it will sustain us for time eternal.

“We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple” (Psalm 48:9 NKJV).

From: March 5, 2017

Again we return to one of the favorite themes of the Psalmist, namely, the “lovingkindness” of God. This attribute in the Hebrew is called “chesed.” It describes the unconditional and covenantal love of God. The Psalmist wrote that they had “thought on” this Divine attribute in the temple. In other words, they had “meditated on” God’s lovingkindness, literally, “likening or comparing” it to what they knew, in order to understand it and appreciate it better.

Today as believers, we are God’s holy temple. When we gather as the church, we encourage one another to “think on” God’s lovingkindness just as the saints of old, yet with greater illumination and understanding. For we have God’s greatest expression of chesed love in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us meditate on this great love today. As the apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).

‘And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man’s wife goes astray and breaks faith with him’ (Numbers 5:11-12 ESV)

From: March 5, 2016

The test for adultery found in Numbers 5 is a troubling passage to modern ears. But before considering its spiritual meaning, we must first remember that the Mosaic law was given to expose our sinfulness and to point towards our need for a Savior to rescue us from the curse of sin. Second, we must remember that marriage is a picture of the covenant relationship that God desires with His people, so adultery also points to how we have broken that covenant with God. In Deut. 27, Moses instructed the people that as they entered the Promised Land, they were to stand and repeat aloud the curses that would fall on them if they broke the laws of the covenant with God. In similar manner, the wife suspected of adultery was to repeat the curses prescribed in Numbers 5 before the Lord. If she was indeed guilty of adultery, then she would be accursed. But if she was innocent, she would be free. Unlike the other laws that required human involvement in carrying out penalties (i.e. “stoning), this law required divine action.
Similarly, our sinfulness today is as adultery against God. We have all gone “astray.” We have all “broken faith” with God. If we were to take this adultery test, every one of us would stand accursed. However, those who have trusted Christ, will not face condemnation, for He has already drank from this bitter, accursed cup. He drained it to the bottom, swallowing the dregs of our sin whole, becoming accursed for us. Christ took the adultery test in our place, so that we might be set free.

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?'” (Mark 12:24 NKJV)

From: March 5, 2015

This was a devastating critique of the Sadducees’ theology by Jesus. They affirmed only the books of Moses and denied the resurrection of the dead. Jesus declared them wrong on both. There are many today who claim to be teachers and theologians that Jesus would stand against because they dismiss the Bible and deny the resurrection. Do you know and believe the Bible? Do you look forward to the resurrection? What would Jesus think of your theology?

“Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?'” (Mark 12:24 ESV)

From: March 5, 2013

This was a devastating critique of the Sadducees’ theology by Jesus. They affirmed only the Torah and denied the resurrection of the dead. Jesus declared them wrong on both. There are many today who claim to be teachers and theologians that Jesus would stand against because they dismiss the Bible and deny the resurrection. Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe in the resurrection? What does Jesus think of your theology?