Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 10

WEALTH WON’T MATTER ON JUDGMENT DAY

From: March 10, 2024

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4 ESV).

Wealth is useful when facing human justice. It pays for attorneys and even judges of a certain type. Yet, riches do not profit when we face the judgment seat of God. All the treasure in the world is useless on that day. As one has said, “You never see a hearse towing a UHaul.” However, this is not a diatribe against affluence, but a warning against short term thinking. Worldly wealth only gives the illusion of security, the instant we breath our last, that fantasy evaporates. Worldly currency has no value in heaven.

But righteousness, or “godliness” as the apostle Paul calls it, “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Therefore, pursue righteousness, which is only found in Christ Jesus. For God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

How do we exchange our sin for this heavenly currency of righteousness? Believe. Believe in what God has done for you in Christ. As as it was said of Abraham, “He believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” So shall it be for us. Only the righteousness that comes from believing in Christ delivers from the final death sentence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are glad to have our hope in Christ, rather than worldly wealth, as we face the Day. For Christ is our hope. Help us to delight ourselves in You alone, knowing that You will give us the desires of our heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ATHEISM IS NOT A CONDITION OF THE HEAD BUT THE HEART

From: March 10, 2023

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!” (Psalm 53:1 NLT).

The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to support their unbelief. However, the Bible says that atheism is not a condition of the head, but the heart. Indeed, their claim to an enlightened reason is only an excuse to hide a darkened heart. And the heart affects the head.

It isn’t really the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. He foolishly constructs an intellectual self-deception. And having refused God’s existence, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So the darkened heart leads to a darkened and debased mind. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22).

Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. For those who seek Him are truly wise. And those that seek God will surely be found by Him. Being found in Him, we receive new hearts and new minds.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our tendency to deny You, so that we can put ourselves in Your place. Forgive us. For our hearts were made for You. We surrender our wills afresh to You today. Give us Your heart and Your mind for all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“When you finally settle in the land I am giving you, you will offer special gifts as a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Numbers 15:2-3 NLT).

From: March 10, 2022

FIRST GIFTS ARE SPECIAL GIFTS TO THE LORD

The Lord gave Moses specific instructions for the people of Israel concerning the offering of gifts. The gifts were to be brought from each persons own possessions, whether from their herds or flocks. When Israel offered their gifts according to God’s instruction, He promised that He would be pleased with their aroma.

This instruction seems somewhat out of place in the story, as the people had just turned back in fear from entering the Promised Land. Yet, the Lord’s instruction was for the day when they would finally act in faith and settle in the land He was giving them.

After some 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the people finally entered the Promised Land. Their first gifts in the land the Lord had given them were certainly special both to them and to the Lord.

This coming Sunday is the three year anniversary of the special first gifts that we gave at our church for the Rise Up generosity initiative. We made a three-year faith commitment to give above and beyond our normal giving in order to make room for more people to come as they are and be forever changed by the love of Jesus. This coming Sunday we’ll be celebrating how God has made our faithfulness to give possible. God is good!

PRAYER: Lord, everything we have You have given us. What we offer back to You in thanksgiving, You have given. May our attitude of generosity make our offerings a pleasing aroma unto You. We offer our gifts as representative of all that we are and all that we have back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death” (Proverbs 11:4 HCSB).

From: March 10, 2021

WORLDLY WEALTH WON’T HELP ON THAT DAY

Wealth is useful when facing human justice. It pays for attorneys and even judges of a certain type. Yet, riches do not profit when we face the judgment seat of God. All the treasure in the world is useless on that day. As one has said, “You never see a hearse towing a UHaul.” However, this is not a diatribe against affluence, but a warning against short term thinking. Worldly wealth only gives the illusion of security, the instant we breath our last, that fantasy evaporates. Worldly currency has no value in heaven.

But righteousness, or “godliness” as the apostle Paul calls it, “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Therefore, pursue righteousness, which is only found in Christ Jesus. For God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

How do we exchange our sin for this heavenly currency of righteousness? Believe. Believe in what God has done for you in Christ. As as it was said of Abraham, “He believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” So shall it be for us. Only the righteousness that comes from believing in Christ delivers from the final death sentence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are glad to have our hope in Christ, rather than worldly wealth, as we face the Day. For Christ is our hope. Help us to delight ourselves in You alone, knowing that You will give us the desires of our heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4 NKJV).

From: March 10, 2020

HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST?

Wealth is useful when facing human justice. It pays for attorneys and even judges of a certain type. Yet, “riches do not profit” when we face the judgment seat of God. All the treasure in the world is useless on that day. As one has said, “You never see a hearse towing a UHaul.” However, this is not a diatribe against affluence, but a warning against short term thinking. Worldly wealth only gives the illusion of security, the instant we breath our last, that fantasy evaporates. Worldly currency has no value in heaven.

But righteousness, or “godliness” as the apostle Paul calls it, “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Therefore, pursue righteousness, which is only found in Christ Jesus. For God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). How do we exchange our sin for this heavenly currency of righteousness? Believe. Believe in what God has done for you in Christ. As as it was said of Abraham, “He believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness,” so shall it be for you. Only the righteousness that comes from believing in Christ delivers from the final death sentence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for accounting the righteousness of Christ to us when we believed the gospel. For You have given us a new heart and have sealed us with the Holy Spirit, so that there is no condemnation on those who are in Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to proclaim this message to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“When you finally settle in the land I am giving you, you will offer special gifts as a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Numbers 15:2-3 NLT).

From: March 10, 2019

FIRST GIFTS ARE SPECIAL GIFTS TO THE LORD

The Lord gave Moses specific instructions for the people of Israel concerning the offering of gifts. The gifts were to be brought from each persons own possessions, whether from their herds or flocks. When Israel offered their gifts according to God’s instruction, He promised that He would be pleased with their aroma.

This instruction seems somewhat out of place in the story, as the people had just turned back in fear from entering the Promised Land. Yet, the Lord’s instruction was for the day when they would finally act in faith and settle in the land He was giving them.

After some 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the people finally entered the Promised Land. Their first gifts in the land the Lord had given them were certainly special both to them and to the Lord.

PRAYER: Lord, everything we have You have given us. What we offer back to You in thanksgiving, You have given. May our attitude of generosity make our offerings a pleasing aroma unto You. We offer our gifts as representative of all that we are and all that we have back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“You have all heard his blasphemy” (Mark 14:64 NLT).

From: March 10, 2018

WHY WAS JESUS ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY?

The high priest asked Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61). Why was it blasphemy for Jesus to answer the high priest’s question in the positive? Didn’t the question itself reveal the first century expectation that the Messiah would also be called the Son of God? It has been well documented from the Dead Sea Scrolls that many first century Jews and rabbis thought the Messiah would be called the Son of God. So, why was it blasphemy for Jesus to reply, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62)?

They called Him a blasphemer because they rejected His claim. They saw Him as a challenger to their position and power. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they were so concerned with the great crowds following Jesus, that they called a special council meeting, concluding, “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:48).

Yet, calling him a blasphemer was a stretch. The law concerning blasphemy states, “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death” (Lev. 24:16). Notice that the law concerning blasphemy makes no mention of claiming to be the Messiah or Son of God.

Jesus was not a blasphemer because He did not “blaspheme the name of the Lord,” nor did He make a false claim by answering the high priest in the positive. I can find no other instance in history when Jewish authorities accused and executed a so-called Messiah. And there have been many. Jewish author, Jerry Rabow, wrote a book entitled, “Fifty Jewish Messiahs.” None of them endured the rejection and accusation that Jesus did. Why?

It was always God’s plan for His Son to come as Messiah, to be rejected and killed and on the third day to be raised again, so that we might be saved.

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4 NKJV).

From: March 10, 2017

Wealth is useful when facing human justice. It pays for attorneys and even judges of a certain type. Yet, “riches do not profit” when we face the judgment seat of God. All the treasure in the world is useless on that day. As one has said, “You never see a hearse towing a UHaul.” However, this is not a diatribe against affluence, but a warning against short term thinking. Worldly wealth only gives the illusion of security, the instant we breath our last, that fantasy evaporates. Worldly currency has no value in heaven.

But righteousness, or “godliness” as the apostle Paul calls it, “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Therefore, pursue righteousness, which is only found in Christ Jesus. For God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). How do we exchange our sin for this heavenly currency of righteousness? Believe. Believe in what God has done for you in Christ. As it was said of Abraham, “He believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness,” so shall it be for you. Only the righteousness that comes from believing in Christ delivers from the final death sentence.

‘The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good” (Psalm 53:1 ESV)

From: March 10, 2016

The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to defend their unbelief. However, the Bible says that their true problem is not reason, but a lack of righteousness. It isn’t the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. And having refused God entrance, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So, atheism is really humanism at heart. Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. Who will open both their hearts and minds to Him? Those that truly seek God will find Him. This is wisdom.

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good” (Psalm 53:1 NKJV)

From: March 10, 2015

The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to support their unbelief. However, the Bible says that their true problem is not reason, but a lack of righteousness. It isn’t the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. And having refused God entrance, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So, atheism is really humanism at heart. Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. Who will open their hearts and minds to Him? Those that truly seek God will find Him. This is wisdom.