Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 17

“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin” (Romans 4:8 NLT).

From: July 17, 2019

IS YOUR RECORD CLEARED?

Paul quoted David’s psalm (Psa. 32:1-2) to support his explanation about how being made right with God is not by works, but by faith alone. When we place our faith in Christ and receive forgiveness and salvation, His blood not only covers our sin, it washes it away. Our “record” is “cleared.” The Lord did not clear our sins by merely erasing them. This would not satisfy His justice. No. He cleared our record by charging our sin to Jesus’ record, so that God’s wrath and justice was poured out on Christ. There is now no condemnation left for us who believe (Rom. 8:1). What joy! Our record is cleared of sin!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for clearing our record of sin through the redemption paid for by Jesus Christ. Thank You for setting us free not only from sin’s penalty, but also giving us Your Holy Spirit to set us free to live in a way that pleases You. Strengthen us this day to walk in the Spirit and the joy of our salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” (Romans 4:3 NLT).

From: July 17, 2018

FAITH COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Paul explained that Abraham, the human founder of Judaism, was not considered righteous by his circumcision, but by his faith. Paul quoted Moses, who wrote of Abraham, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). So, faith has always been the only way to please God. And what is the object of that faith? The object of our faith is the Lamb of God. Abraham believed that God would provide the Lamb. And God did, replacing Abraham’s son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.

Now, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world has already come. He is Jesus, the object of our faith, the One in whom we believe, so that God counts us as righteous because of our faith in Jesus.

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5 NKJV).

From: July 17, 2017

Our best attempts at being righteous through religiosity, self-denial and good works cannot justify us before God. This takes away all human boasting, for humanity is steeped in sin and beyond saving itself. Yet, God has provided a Savior, which is Christ Jesus the Lord. The one who “believes on Him” is made just in God’s sight. The believer’s faith is counted as righteousness by God, for it depends on the righteousness of Christ, rather than his own.

Stop working and believe. Rest in Christ’s work.

“David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1 ESV)

From: July 17, 2016

When the warrior poet David became king, he set apart musicians and singers for the worship of the Lord. As an accomplished player of the lyre and a writer of psalms, his love of music was apparent. He elevated music to a regular feature of worship. Prior to this we have little record of music’s place in Jewish worship. We know that Moses set apart priests from the tribe of Levi to serve in the temple worship and that he wrote and performed at least three worship songs (Ex. 15, Deut. 32, and Psa. 90). But David was the first to “set apart” musicians from the Levites to join their brothers in worship. God gifted them, so that they “prophesied” with musical instruments and singing. This is the highest purpose of both spoken and musical language, that it would forth-tell (“prophesy”) the Word of God. And so, believing humanity joined the angels and the stars (Job 38:7) in the heavenly chorus of praise to God.

“I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6 NKJV)

From: July 17, 2015

David didn’t think it unmanly to sing to God. This warrior/poet/king was a worshiper. The shepherd king who slew a giant is also the author of most of the psalms. His harp playing and singing were so Spirit-filled that they calmed king Saul’s disturbed soul. David was once accused of being undignified in his worship. To which he replied, “I will become even more undignified than this!” Real men of God are worshipers. They sing!

“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin” (Romans 4:8 NLT)

From: July 17, 2014

Paul quoted David’s psalm (Psa. 32:1-2) to support his explanation about how being made right with God is not by works, but by faith alone. When we place our faith in Christ and receive forgiveness and salvation, His blood not only covers our sin, it washes it away. Our “record” is “cleared.” The Lord did not clear them by merely erasing them. This would not satisfy His justice. No. He cleared our record by charging our sin to Jesus’ record, so that God’s wrath and justice was poured out on Christ. There is now no condemnation left for us who believe (Rom. 8:1). What joy! Our record is cleared of sin!

“I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me” (Psalm 13:6)

From: July 17, 2012

A psalm of David. He didn’t think it unmanly to sing to his God. This warrior/poet/king was a worshiper. The shepherd king who slew a giant is also the author of most of the psalms. His harp playing and singing were so spirit-filled that they calmed king Saul’s disturbed soul. David was once accused of being undignified in his worship. To which he replied, “I will become even more undignified than this!” Real men of God worship!

“How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?” (Psalm 13:2)

From: July 17, 2011

David brought his own thoughts and emotions to the Lord for understanding. He knew that God knew him better than he knew himself. Ask God to examine your thoughts. Allow His Spirit to bring your thinking into alignment with His and give you self-control.