Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for April 7

‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.”‘ (Deuteronomy 31:7 NKJV).

From: April 7, 2020

THE LAW LEADS BUT ONLY GRACE SAVES

Moses was 120 years old when he passed the reins of leadership to Joshua. He was forty years a prince of Egypt, forty years a shepherd of Midian and forty years leading Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Now his job was finished. Moses, the Levite lawgiver, had led Israel to the Promised Land, but Joshua, the faithful servant of Moses, from the tribe of Judah, was the one to “cause them to inherit it.”

Two spiritual types are seen in these two men. Moses represents God’s law. And Joshua, whose name means, “Jehovah’s salvation,” represents Jesus (essentially the same name in Hebrew: Joshua – “Yehoshua” and Jesus – “Yeshua”). The law can only lead one to salvation, but is powerless to save. Whereas, Jesus by grace through faith is able to save.

The apostle Paul described this relationship between law and grace. He said that the law was like a “tutor” leading us to our need for Christ (Gal. 3:24), but was “powerless” to save us. Therefore, God sent Jesus. “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering” (Rom. 8:3).

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your grace, Your free unmerited favor that You have extended to us through Jesus, Your Son. We are so blessed. For your favor is more than enough to save us to the uttermost. Now strengthen us to declare Your praise and gospel to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15 NLT).

From: April 7, 2019

HOW DO YOU MEASURE LIFE?

How do you measure life? Jesus warned the man who asked him to act as judge in settling his father’s estate that such things were not so important. Too many families have been divided over the disposition of their parents belongings. How sad that a time of mourning is further multiplied with the greed of sibling selfishness. Everyone should beware! None are immune to the flesh’s desire. Yet, a good strategy for guarding against greed is generosity. Give things away and watch their power over you diminish. Make Jesus the object of your very great desire and be set free from worldly greed. Let the abiding Christ in you be the measurement of your life.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we have often pursued worldly goods as a measurement of success in life. Yet, the more we have, the more we want. Forgive us our greed. Teach us to be generous and to be content in You. For you have said that all of our needs are met in Christ Jesus. Today, we want to pursue Jesus first in all things. In His name we pray, amen.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT).

From: April 7, 2018

WHAT MAKES THE FATHER HAPPY?

Giving. That’s what make the Father happy. He loves to give. Jesus told His “little flock” of disciples not to worry nor be afraid about material things. For the Father loves to give.

So, don’t concern yourself with food and clothes, houses and wealth. The Father “will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Why would He withhold anything from us since He has already given us His Son? As the apostle Paul wrote, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).

For the sake of God’s great love, He gave us His Son, King Jesus. For the sake of God’s great happiness, He gives us the Kingdom. How do you seek the Kingdom? Seek the King. How do you experience the Father’s happiness? Receive His Kingdom by receiving King Jesus.

‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.”‘ (Deuteronomy 31:7 NKJV).

From: April 7, 2017

Moses was 120 years old when he passed the reins of leadership to Joshua. He was forty years a prince of Egypt, forty years a shepherd of Midian and forty years leading Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Now his job was finished. Moses, the Lawgiver and the Levite, had led Israel to the Promised Land, but Joshua, the faithful servant of Moses, from the tribe of Judah, was the one to lead them into it.

Two spiritual types are seen in these two men. Moses represents God’s law. And Joshua, whose name means, “Jehovah’s salvation,” represents Jesus (essentially the same name in Hebrew: Joshua – “Yehoshua” and Jesus – “Yeshua”). The law can only lead one to salvation, but is powerless to save. Whereas, Jesus saves.

The apostle Paul described this relationship between law and Christ (i.e. “grace”). He said that the law was like a “tutor” leading us to our need for Christ (Gal. 3:24), but was “powerless” to save us. Therefore, God sent Jesus.

“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering” (Rom. 8:3).

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8-9 NKJV)

From: April 7, 2015

The gospel moves us from a religious response to a relational one. The question it asks is not ‘have you been a good person,’ but ‘have you acknowledged Jesus as the Christ?’ This acknowledgement is not only internal, but external, causing us to confess Christ as Lord and Savior before men. How we decide to treat Jesus on earth affects His response to us in eternity.

“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15 NLT)

From: April 7, 2014

How do you measure life? Jesus warned the man who asked him to act as judge in settling his father’s estate that such things were not so important. Too many families have been divided over the disposition of their parents belongings. How sad that a time of mourning is further multiplied with the greed of sibling selfishness. Everyone should beware! None are immune to the flesh’s desire. Yet, a good strategy for guarding against greed is generosity. Give things away and watch their power over you diminish. Make Jesus the object of your very great desire and be set free from worldly greed. Let the abiding Christ in you be the measurement of your life.

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8 ESV)

From: April 7, 2013

The gospel moves us from a religious response to a relational one. The question it asks is not ‘have you been a good person,’ but ‘have you acknowledged Jesus as the Christ?’ This acknowledgement is not only internal, but external, causing us to confess Christ as Lord and Savior before men. How we decide to treat Jesus on earth affects His response to us in eternity.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:31)

From: April 7, 2012

On this 7th day of Passion Week, we remember that Christ rested in the tomb, His work on the cross finished. Tomorrow, we remember that He conquered death and the grave. Yet, we still worry about lunch. Stop worrying. Seek Him with first priority. Rest in Jesus.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34)

From: April 7, 2011

What do you treasure most? House, car, clothes, jewelry, computer, or money in the bank? Do your possessions possess you? Or do you use your possessions to win friends for the Kingdom? What you value reveals your heart condition.