Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for April 7

FEAR NOT LITTLE FLOCK

From: April 7, 2026

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 ESV).

In this passage, Jesus Christ spoke tenderly to His disciples, who were a small and vulnerable group living in a world of uncertainty and opposition. He commanded them not to fear, calling them His “little flock,” a term that revealed both their weakness and His tender care. Jesus reminded them of their relationship with God as “your Father,” emphasizing intimacy and provision. He then revealed the motivation for their security, declaring that it was the Father’s “good pleasure” to give them the kingdom. This kingdom is God’s gracious rule over His people, begun in Christ and completed and enduring forever when He returns. Jesus assured them that their future was not something to achieve but something the Father was delighted to give.

We live with many reasons to be anxious. We worry about provision, fear opposition, and try to secure our future. Yet Jesus calls us to a different posture. We do not have to fear because we belong to the Father. We do not have to strive anxiously because He delights in caring for us. We do not have to worry about tomorrow because He is already giving us His kingdom. His rule is at work in us now and will be fulfilled forever. When we remember that our Father gladly gives us what matters most, our fears begin to lose their grip. We can rest in His care, trust His provision, and walk in confidence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that You call us Your own and care for us as Your flock. Forgive us for our anxious thoughts and fearful striving. Help us to trust in Your good pleasure and rest in Your promise to give us the kingdom. Teach us to live with confidence in Your rule and provision, both now and forever. Strengthen our hearts to fear not, knowing You are our Father who delights in giving us what we need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE LAW LEADS, BUT GRACE SAVES

From: April 7, 2025

‘Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it”‘ (Deuteronomy 31:7 ESV).

Moses, at 120 years old, stood before the people of Israel one last time. He had faithfully led them through forty years in the wilderness, yet he was not permitted to bring them into the Promised Land. That responsibility fell to Joshua, his faithful assistant, who would now lead God’s people across the Jordan.

Here, we see more than just a leadership transition—we see a powerful spiritual picture. Moses, the great lawgiver from the tribe of Levi, represents the Law. Joshua, from the tribe of Ephraim (a son of Joseph), shares his Hebrew name “Yehoshua” with “Yeshua”—Jesus. And like Jesus, Joshua would lead the people into the land of promise and rest.

The Law, as Paul says, was like a tutor that could point us to Christ (Gal. 3:24), but it could not save. As Romans 8:3 tells us, “For what the law was powerless to do… God did by sending his own Son.” Moses led the people to the Promised Land, but only Joshua could bring the people in. It is not by works of the Law, but by grace through faith that we inherit salvation (Eph. 2:8–9). As the apostle John writes, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

This reminds us to stop trusting in our own performance to earn God’s promises. The Law can convict us, guide us, and show us our need—but it cannot give us the victory. Only Jesus can. Only Jesus brings us into rest, into spiritual inheritance, into freedom. Just as the Israelites had to follow Joshua’s leadership to enter the land, so we must trust Jesus’ leadership in our lives every day.

Are we trying to win God’s approval by our own effort? Or are we resting in the finished work of Jesus? Are we living by grace and drawing from the power of the Holy Spirit—or striving in our own strength?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your grace, freely given to us in Jesus. Thank You that You have not left us under the burden of the Law, but have fulfilled it in Your Son. Help us to rest in Him, trust in Him, and follow Him into all that You have promised. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to declare Your grace to a world that still tries to earn what You freely offer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHERE IS YOUR HEART?

From: April 7, 2024

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

Jesus taught his disciples not to be anxious about what they would eat or what they would wear. Neither should they seek after these things as the world does. Instead they were to seek after the Lord’s Kingdom, knowing that all these things would be given to them. For what they treasured most would reveal the spiritual condition of their hearts.

Isn’t that what the teaching of Jesus is always aimed at? He aims to reveal our heart condition to us, so that we might repent and ask him for a changed heart. A heart that seeks after eternal things rather than worldly things. A heart that prays “Thy” kingdom come prayers rather than “My” kingdom come prayers. A heart that beats for God and treasures the heart of God.

What do treasure most? Where is your heart today?

PRAYER: Dear Father, our hearts are often anxious and fearful for temporary and worldly things. Forgive us. Help us to fix our hearts and minds on You and on Your Kingdom. For Your Son is our great treasure. In Jesus name, amen.

WHAT DELIGHTS THE FATHER?

From: April 7, 2023

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

Giving. That’s what delights the Father. 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 His great love, God gave us His Son, King Jesus. For the sake of His great happiness, God 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.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us everything we need for life. Now fill us afresh today with your Holy Spirit that we might give to others as You have given to us, freely. We know that You love a cheerful giver, so fill us with Your delight as we cheerfully give from Your boundless supply. 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, 2022

HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR 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 for more. 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.

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NLT).

From: April 7, 2021

WHAT DELIGHTS THE FATHER?

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.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us everything we need for life. Now fill us afresh today with your Holy Spirit that we might give to others as You have given to us, freely. We know that You love a cheerful giver, so fill us with Your delight as we cheerfully give from Your boundless supply. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘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).