Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 19

‘And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord”‘ (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV).

From: July 19, 2020

THREE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES AND ONE PROMISE

David gave his son, Solomon, instructions on how to build the Lord’s Temple. Along with the building instructions, David gave him three important spiritual leadership principles and one promise. This three-part instruction with a promise is found throughout Scripture (See Joshua 1:9, Haggai 2:4-5).

THE THREE PRINCIPLES:

1. “Be strong.” This is a matter of your will. Be firm and resolute in determination. When fear comes and it will, be strong and do not fear.

2. “Be courageous.” This is a matter of your passion. Stay alert and be brave. Be stout and do not be dismayed. For the one who is dismayed has lost all hope.

3. “Do it.” This is a matter of your activity. Get busy until you have finished the work the Lord has for you. Long before Nike, David said, “Just do it!”

THE PROMISE

The promise supports the three leadership principles, promising the Lord’s continuous and powerful presence. For we can do nothing without the Lord. Yet with the Lord, we can do all things.

David told Solomon that the Lord would never leave, nor forsake him until he had finished the work assigned to him. This promise was not only for David’s son, Solomon, but for the Son of David, Jesus Christ. Who after completing the work the Father had assigned to Him on the cross, declared, “It is finished!” And so He became the Chief Cornerstone of God’s holy temple and we are being built into this spiritual house like living stones through Him (See Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-5).

PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us by Your real presence in our lives. Help us to be strong and courageous and to do the work for which You have called us. For You are faithful and all Your promises are true. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).

From: July 19, 2019

LOVE SHOWN IS GREATER THAN LOVE SPOKEN

Yes, love demonstrated is greater than love spoken. Yet, God has done both through Christ Jesus. He is the Logos, the greatest and fullest communication of God and God’s love to us. He is love in the flesh. He is Love come down from heaven to become one of us, so that He might die for us. He did all of this not because we were deserving of love, but because He is love. God’s character of love intersected His character of holiness in Christ at the cross making a way for us to know and love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the love You have shown towards us in Jesus. And for the ongoing love You show through Your provision and the giving of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to be conduits of Your love to others in this world as we serve in love and give out the gospel in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone” (Romans 5:18 NLT).

From: July 19, 2018

CONDEMNATION OR JUSTIFICATION?

If Adam’s one sin was enough to bring condemnation upon all, then how much more will Christ’s one act of righteousness result in justification and eternal life for all who believe? Being born to Adam’s line, we are already sinful and under the condemnation of death. But believing in Jesus Christ, we are born again by the Spirit, so that we are justified, made right with God, and given eternal life.

Why would you remain under condemnation when justification is available through Christ?

“Chasten your son while there is hope” (Proverbs 19:18 NKJV).

From: July 19, 2017

There is a short window of time for teaching children obedience. During this time there is hope that parental discipline might become the child’s own self-discipline. It may seem a lot of work to discipline a child of ages 2 through 6, but it becomes nearly hopeless for the parent who waits until they are 12 through 16 before starting to correct their behavior. Chasten a child while they are young and when they are older, they will have learned to respect and obey. And be certain to aim past the behavior to the heart. For the child is more tenderhearted than the teen. Teach the child about sin, repentance, and forgiveness through Jesus. For the child is more receptive to spiritual things than the adult. Do this important parental work while there is still hope.

“But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” (Romans 5:15 ESV)

From: July 19, 2016

If the sin of the one man, Adam, was sufficient to bring death to all humanity, then so much more shall the righteousness of Christ bring life. For Christ is in a sense, the second Adam. We are all born into sin by the first Adam, but only those born again by the second have received His gift of grace. The death and suffering that entered the world through Adam are plain to see. And so too, is the grace of God which was revealed in Jesus to those who believe.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

From: July 19, 2015

Love demonstrated is greater than love spoken. Yet, God has done both through Christ Jesus. He is the Logos, the greatest and fullest communication of God and God’s love to us. He is love in the flesh. He is love that left heaven to become one of us, so that He might die for us. He did all of this not because we were deserving of love, but because He is love. And His character of love intersected His character of holiness in Christ at the cross making a way for us to know and love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT)

From: July 19, 2014

What David taught Solomon is what every father and mother should teach their children: How to know God. Notice the verbs: “Learn, worship, serve.” This is a great 3-part course in training your child to know God. Also notice the way that David wants Solomon to act on these three imperatives: 1) know God “intimately,” 2) worship God “whole heartedly,” and 3) serve God “willingly.” Are you teaching your children these things? Have you learned them yet?

“Who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us” (1 Chronicles 29:14)

From: July 19, 2012

David’s prayer as he donated his wealth to the building of the temple. He recognized that even our ability to give comes from God. Like David, when we recognize God’s ownership and our stewardship, we are found trustworthy to manage God’s resources.

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (1 Chronicles 28:19)

From: July 19, 2011

How David described God’s inspiration of the temple plans. God gave him both the vision and the understanding. I pray that we have such for our church!