Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 4

THE FIRSTBORN ARE THE LORD’S

From: March 4, 2026

“For all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD” (Numbers 3:13 ESV).

In the book of Numbers, Moses recorded the Lord’s words to Israel in the wilderness as they were being organized for worship and service around the tabernacle. Speaking to a redeemed people, the Lord reminded them that their firstborn sons belonged to Him. This claim was historically grounded in the Exodus. On the night when He struck down Egypt’s firstborn in judgment, He spared Israel’s firstborn through the blood of the Passover lamb. Because He had redeemed them, He consecrated them as His own.

The verse declared both God’s sovereignty and His gracious claim. “They shall be mine: I am the LORD.” The covenant name of Yahweh underscored His absolute authority and faithful character. He had the right to claim the firstborn not only as Creator, but especially as Redeemer. This claim resulted in substitution. Rather than requiring every firstborn son to serve at the tabernacle, the Lord appointed the tribe of Levi to stand in their place. The Levites became living reminders that the redeemed belong to God.

Yet this arrangement foreshadowed something greater. The pattern of redemption and substitution ultimately pointed forward to Christ—the true Firstborn—who would fully consecrate a people to God through His own redeeming work.

We, too, have been spared through redemption, not by the blood of a lamb on our doorposts, but by the blood of Christ on the cross. If God claimed Israel’s firstborn because He redeemed them, how much more does He rightly claim us who have been bought with such a price?

We do not belong to ourselves. Our lives, gifts, families, and futures are His. And just as the Levites stood as substitutes, Jesus Christ stood in our place as the greater Substitute. In Him, we are both redeemed and consecrated. Let us live as those who gladly confess that Christ is “the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18), and because we are redeemed in Him, we are the Lord’s too.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we praise You for Your loving mercy in redeeming us. Thank You that You did not leave us under judgment but provided a Substitute in Christ. Teach us to live as those who belong wholly to You, set apart, grateful, and devoted. May our lives declare that we belong to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

HAVE YOU NOT READ THE SCRIPTURES?

From: March 4, 2025

“Have you not read this Scripture…?” (Mark 12:10 ESV).

Jesus questioned whether the religious leaders and teachers had read a particular Scripture from Psalm 118 concerning the stone the builders rejected. Even as they rejected Jesus, His question pointed them to the biblical prophecy which predicted their rejection. Shouldn’t biblical evidence have changed their view of Him? It should have, but it didn’t. Their view of Jesus was not based on a study of the Scriptures, but on their own political interests.

Believers today, especially those that are called to be teachers and preachers of the Bible, must be careful to base their lives, teachings and sermons on the Bible itself. Human opinion has no authority or power. Only God’s Word can be trusted. But it must be read, studied and taught with the illumination of the Holy Spirit in order to be understood and applied.

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul recognized the importance for the believer to read and study the Bible.

In an age when most of us have a Bible in every room and access to dozens of translations online, what an embarrassing question it would be to hear from the lips of Jesus! “Have you not read the Scriptures?”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. We pray for the illumination of the Spirit as we read it that we might know You better. Strengthen us to apply it to our lives. Help us to declare it to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.

OUR MARVELOUS MESSIAH

From: March 4, 2024

‘Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him”‘ (Mark 12:17 ESV).

Even Christ’s enemies “marveled at Him” when He answered their question about paying taxes. Jesus displayed amazing wisdom with such brevity and fulness. He wasted not a single word, yet fully responded to their complex question.

Reading the gospels, one cannot help but realize the otherworldliness of Jesus. Both His humanity and divinity are on full display. There is no other like Jesus. Whether one believes or rejects Him, no one who encounters the Jesus of the Bible can help but “marvel at Him.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we marvel at Your Son, for He is wonderful. Yet we no longer do so at a distance. For we have believed Him and received Him as our Lord and Savior. Now He lives within us by His Spirit. Empower us with Your wisdom and grace to boldly proclaim Jesus to the world, so that everyone who hears not only marvels, but believes. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE LION OF JUDAH LEADS THE WAY

From: March 4, 2023

“The divisions of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun are to camp toward the sunrise on the east side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners” (Numbers 2:3 NLT).

Of the twelve tribes of Israel, Judah was given first position in the tribal encampment. They were to camp under their “family banners” emblazoned with a lion. This image came from Jacob, the father of the tribes, who had spoken over his sons, saying that Judah was like a “lion” (Gen.49:9). He further prophesied over Judah saying, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor” (Gen. 49:10).

This was a clear prophecy of the coming royal line of David that would arise in Judah. But more than that it was a Messianic prophecy predicting the coming of the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, whom all nations will one day honor.

The tribe of Judah was situated due east, so that they rose with the sun and led the way when the tribes broke camp. Yet, their first position is a foreshadowing of Jesus, who is “the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

Does the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, lead the way in your life?

PRAYER: Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus to establish the way for our salvation. He is the Lion of Judah, the Author of our salvation and we are forever thankful and full of praise for His work on the cross for our redemption. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices as worship to You. Do what You want in and through us. Lead the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle” (Numbers 2:2 NLT).

From: March 4, 2022

WHAT’S AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE?

The Lord instructed the Israelites to set up camp with the Tabernacle at the center. Their tents were to face inward toward the place of worship, not outward toward the world. Worship was to be the center of individual and community life. All of daily life was to revolve around the worship of God.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:23). Whether we are working or resting, eating or sleeping, whatever we do, we can do it to the glory of God, if Christ is at the center of it.

What’s at the center of your life?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we renew our praise again today. For we desire that everyday of our lives, we would offer You worship and praise in every activity we do. May You delight in us as we delight in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral houses. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it” (Numbers 2:2 ESV).

From: March 4, 2021

IS WORSHIP THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE?

The Lord instructed the Israelites to set up camp with the Tabernacle at the center. Their tents were to face inward toward the place of worship, not outward toward the world. Worship was to be the center of individual and community life. All of daily life was to revolve around worship of God.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:23). Whether we are working or resting, eating or sleeping, whatever we do, we can do it to the glory of God, if Christ is at the center of it. What’s at the center of your life?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we renew our praise again today. For we desire that everyday that our lives would offer You worship and praise in every activity we do. May You delight in us as we delight in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“… And they marveled at Him” (Mark 12:17b NKJV).

From: March 4, 2020

THE MARVELOUS MESSIAH

Even Christ’s enemies “marveled at Him” when He answered their question about paying taxes. Jesus displayed amazing wisdom with such brevity and fulness (“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”). He wasted not a single word, yet fully responded to their complex question. Reading the gospels, one cannot help but realize the otherworldliness of Jesus. Both His humanity and divinity are on full display. There is no other like Jesus. Whether one believes or rejects Him, no one who encounters the Jesus of the Bible can help but “marvel at Him.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we marvel at Your Son, for He is wonderful. Yet we no longer do so at a distance. For we have believed Him and received Him as our Lord and Savior. Now He lives within us by His Spirit. Empower us with Your wisdom and grace to boldly proclaim Jesus to the world, so that everyone who hears not only marvels, but believes.

“The divisions of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun are to camp toward the sunrise on the east side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners” (Numbers 2:3 NLT).

From: March 4, 2019

THE LION OF JUDAH LEADS THE WAY

Of the 12 tribes, Judah was given first position in the tribal encampment. They were to camp under their “family banners” emblazoned with a lion. This image came from Jacob, the father of the tribes, who had spoken over his sons, saying that Judah was like a “lion” (Gen.49:9). He further prophesied over Judah saying,

“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor” (Gen. 49:10).

This was a clear prophecy of the coming royal line of David that would arise in Judah, but more than that it was a Messianic prophecy predicting the coming of the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, whom all nations will one day honor.

The tribe of Judah was situated due east, so that they rose with the sun and led the way when the tribes broke camp. Yet, their first position is a foreshadowing of Jesus, who is “the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

PRAYER: Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus to establish the way for our salvation. He is the Lion of Judah, the Author of our salvation and we are forever thankful and full of praise for His work on the cross for our redemption. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices as worship to You. Do what You want in and through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?” (Mark 12:10 NLT).

From: March 4, 2018

HAVE YOU NOT READ THE SCRIPTURES?

Jesus questioned whether the religious leaders and teachers had read a particular Scripture from Psalm 118 concerning the stone the builders rejected. Even as they rejected Jesus, His question pointed them to the biblical prophecy which predicted their rejection. Shouldn’t biblical evidence have changed their view of Him? It should have, but it didn’t. Their view of Jesus was not based on a study of the Scriptures, but on their own political interests.

Believers today, especially those that are called to be teachers and preachers of the Bible, must be careful to base their lives, teachings and sermons on the Bible itself. Human opinion has no authority or power. Only God’s Word can be trusted. But it must be read, studied and taught with the illumination of the Holy Spirit in order to be understood and applied.

In an age when most of us have a Bible in every room and access to dozens of translations online, what an embarrassing question it would be to hear from the lips of Jesus! “Have you not read the Scriptures?”

“Sing praises to God, sing praises! …Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:6-7 NKJV).

From: March 4, 2017

Singing praises to God should engage both the heart and the mind. All kinds of singing is encouraged by God’s Word. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). Modern praise songs, with their simple repetitive phrases, help move the heart, but soon feel shallow without the rich theology found in many older hymns. Both are needed. A survey of the 150 Psalms of the Bible, reveals a wealth of songs and hymns that engage both heart and mind. We are to sing songs that stir our emotion, with an exclamation on the end! But we are also to sing songs that deepen our “understanding,” so that the Word “dwells richly” in our minds too.