Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for May 18

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

From: May 18, 2025

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14–15 ESV).

Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd, setting Himself apart from the unfaithful leaders of Israel who failed to care for God’s people. His goodness is revealed in two key ways: He knows His sheep intimately, and He lays down His life for them.

The knowledge Jesus speaks of is both personal and relational. It is not simply awareness but deep familiarity. He knows His sheep and is known by them. Astonishingly, Jesus compares this relationship to the knowledge shared between Him and the Father. This points to a profound, spiritual union that believers share with Christ.

Jesus also states that He lays down His life for the sheep. This is not a tragic accident or the result of external forces. He willingly gives His life to save and secure His people. In contrast to hired hands who abandon the flock in danger, Jesus sacrifices Himself out of love and commitment. His death is the defining mark of His shepherding care.

We are not just anonymous followers. Jesus knows us fully and personally. His knowledge includes our weaknesses, struggles, and sins, yet He still chose to give His life for us. This truth invites us to rest in His love and walk closely with Him.

We live in a world filled with competing voices. Some promise quick fixes or worldly gain, but they lead us away from Christ. As His sheep, we must learn to recognize and follow His voice by spending time in His Word, relying on His Spirit, and trusting His leading.

We can draw near to our Shepherd with confidence. His care is constant, His knowledge of us is perfect, and His sacrifice is more than sufficient. Let us follow Him with renewed devotion.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us Jesus, our good Shepherd. We praise You that He knows us and laid down His life for us. Help us grow in our knowledge of Him and trust His voice above all others. Keep our hearts soft and our ears open to His leading. Teach us to walk closely with Him each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

ARE YOU LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE?

From: May 18, 2024

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV).

Jesus came that we might have life. The Greek word here for “life” is “zóé” (ζωή), which speaks of both physical and spiritual life. This life originates with, and is sustained by Jesus, who is life itself.

This “zoe” life of Jesus is described in the gospels both by its quantity (eternal), and here, its quality (abundant). To say that Jesus offers abundant life is to say that he offers life beyond measure, full and overflowing. Many focus on the eternal nature of this life, but miss Christ’s emphasis on its “abundance” for the present. In Christ we are to thrive, living life to the full, bearing fruit, and exploding with vibrance all around!

Are you experiencing this abundant life that Christ promised? It is found only in Jesus. He is the only source of abundant and everlasting life. If you want to live your best life now, look to Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we look to Your Son, Jesus for abundant life. Forgive us for looking for life in this world apart from Him. Satisfy our souls today with the Bread of Life. Quench our thirst in the River of Life. Fill us afresh by the Spirit of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

TWO FOLDS BECOME ONE FLOCK WITH ONE SHEPHERD

From: May 18, 2023

“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:16 NLT).

Jesus infuriated the Jewish leaders with His dual claim to be the only Door by which the true sheep of Israel might enter God’s Kingdom, and the “Good Shepherd,” whom only the true sheep of Israel would follow. Jesus called those who claimed to be shepherds of Israel, “hired hands” who only cared for themselves. In contrast, Jesus said, “I AM the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know Me and I sacrifice My life for the sheep.”

So being born into the Jewish fold wasn’t enough. Jesus was calling out the true sheep from the Jewish fold who would be spiritually born again by believing in Him.

Then, Jesus shocked them further by announcing that He had other sheep not in the Jewish sheepfold. Who are these sheep? They are those who would believe in Jesus among the Gentiles. This is the “mystery” of the Church that the apostle Paul described in Ephesians, saying, “the Gentiles are fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6).

The implications of this were not missed by the Jewish leaders. They had the circumcision, the Torah, the Temple and the traditions, but Jesus was saying it wasn’t sufficient. Their religious works would not save them. Only faith in Him would save. Even the Gentiles who had none of these things would be able to be saved by simply believing in Jesus as the Christ. It was through Jesus that the promise to Abraham would be kept, that “all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his Seed” (Gen.22:18). That Seed, that Shepherd, is Jesus. He is the One who calls His sheep from two folds to become one flock with one Shepherd.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for Jesus, our Shepherd. For we are members of His flock. We are Your children by His blood. We hear His voice and He knows us by name. Hallelujah! We praise You, Father, for so great a salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi” (1 Samuel 23:29 NLT).

From: May 18, 2022

GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS

David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of deep spiritual growth and preparation for David as the future king. Many of David’s psalms were written during this time.

En Gedi is situated near the Western border of the Dead Sea. It’s cliffs, caves and springs continue to be home to the Nubian Ibex, a type of mountain goat from which the area gets its name “En Gedi,” which means “spring of the young goat.” It is an oasis in an otherwise desolate wilderness.

Has the Lord ever allowed you a season in the wilderness for spiritual preparation? Did you learn to trust His provision during these desolate times? Even Jesus was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. God often uses wilderness experiences to teach us to trust His provision and to prepare us for ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we would not willingly choose to live in the wilderness, yet You sometimes lead us there for our sanctification. Thank you that even in the wilderness You are an Oasis of provision for us. We thank you that You are at work in us conforming us to the image of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.” (1 Samuel 23:29 HCSB).

From: May 18, 2021

GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS

David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of deep spiritual growth and preparation for David as the future king. Many of David’s psalms were written during this time.

En Gedi is situated near the Western border of the Dead Sea. It’s cliffs, caves and springs continue to be home to the Nubian Ibex, a type of mountain goat from which the area gets its name “En Gedi,” which means “spring of the young goat.” It is an oasis in an otherwise desolate wilderness.

Has the Lord ever allowed you a season in the wilderness for spiritual preparation? Did you learn to trust His provision during these desolate times? Even Jesus was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. God often uses wilderness experiences to teach us to trust His provision and to prepare us for ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we would not willingly choose to live in the wilderness, yet You sometimes lead us there for our sanctification. Thank you that even in the wilderness You are an Oasis of provision for us. We thank you that You are at work in us conforming us to the image of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi” (1 Samuel 23:29 NLT).

From: May 18, 2019

GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS

David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of deep spiritual growth and preparation for David as the future king.

En Gedi is situated near the Western border of the Dead Sea. It’s cliffs, caves and springs continue to be home to the Nubian Ibex, a type of mountain goat from which the area gets its name (“En Gedi” means “Spring of the young goat”). It is an oasis in an otherwise desolate wilderness.

Has the Lord ever allowed you a season in the wilderness for spiritual preparation? Even Jesus was led by the Spirit for 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we would not willingly live in the wilderness, yet You sometimes lead us there for our sanctification. Thank you that even in the wilderness You are an Oasis of provision for us. We thank you that You are at work in us conforming us to the image of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:16 NLT).

From: May 18, 2018

TWO FOLDS BECOME ONE FLOCK WITH ONE SHEPHERD

Jesus infuriated the Jewish leaders with His dual claim to be the only “Gate” by which the true sheep of Israel might be saved, and the “Good Shepherd,” whom only the true sheep of Israel would follow. Those who claimed to be shepherds of Israel, Jesus called “hired hands” who only cared for themselves. In contrast, Jesus said, “I AM the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know Me and I sacrifice My life for the sheep.”

So being born into the Jewish fold wasn’t enough. Jesus was calling out the true sheep from the Jewish fold who would be spiritually born again by believing in Him.

Then, Jesus shocked them further by announcing that He had other sheep not in the Jewish sheepfold. Who are these sheep? They are those who would believe in Jesus among the Gentiles. This is the “mystery” that the apostle Paul described, that “the Gentiles are fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6).

The mystery called the Church was being revealed by Jesus, namely, that sheep from both the Jewish and the Gentile sheepfolds would become one flock with one Shepherd.

The implications of this were not missed by the Jewish leaders. Being Jewish, having the Torah, the Temple and the traditions was not enough. Even Gentiles who had none of these things would be able to be saved by simply believing in Jesus as the Christ. It was through Jesus that the promise to Abraham would be kept, that “all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his Seed” (Gen.22:18). That Seed, that Shepherd, is Jesus. He is the One who calls His sheep from two folds to become one flock with one Shepherd.

“And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests” (1 Samuel 22:21 NKJV).

From: May 18, 2017

Abiathar, son of the high priest, Ahimelech, must have been left behind to care for the sanctuary when Saul called for his father’s attendance. When he heard that Saul had killed all the Lord’s priests, he fled to David.

Saul had falsely accused Ahimelech of “inquiring of the Lord” to aid David against him. But now by killing the Lord’s priests, he had actually driven Abiathar to David’s side, bringing the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, with him (1 Sam. 23:6).

Saul’s killing of the priests was one of the most heinous acts of any Israelite king. It revealed his heart’s rejection of the Lord. Saul’s foot soldiers, who ran beside his chariot, refused to carry out his order to murder the priests. They feared the Lord, but Saul knew one who did not. So, Saul called on Doeg the Edomite to kill them. Doeg turned and killed not only the 85 priests, but went to their city and killed every living thing including women, children and nursing infants. That Saul would stoop to instruct an Edomite, to even touch the Lord’s priests, showed the insane hatred he had for the true king, David.

Centuries later, the son of an Edomite named Herod became king over Israel as a vassal of Rome. After hearing of the birth of the prophesied Son of David from the Magi, he murdered every baby boy under 2 years of age in Bethlehem attempting to kill Jesus. But he failed, for the Lord protected Jesus, just as the Lord protected David.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b ESV)

From: May 18, 2016

Jesus came that we might have life. The Greek word here is ζωή (zóé), which speaks of both physical and spiritual life. This life originates with, and is sustained by Jesus, who is Life. “Zoe” life is described both by its quantity (eternal), and its quality (abundant). Receiving Jesus, we receive His life. Many focus on the eternal nature of this life, but miss Christ’s emphasis on its “abundance” for the present. In Christ we are to thrive, living life to the full, bearing fruit, and exploding with vibrance all around!

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV)

From: May 18, 2015

Jesus came that we might have life. The Greek word is ζωή (zóé), which speaks of both physical and spiritual life. This life originates with, and is sustained by Jesus, who is Life. “Zoe” life is described both by its quantity (eternal), and its quality (abundant). Receiving Jesus, we receive His life. Many focus on the eternal nature of this life, but miss Christ’s emphasis on its “abundance” for the present. In Christ we are to thrive, living life to the full, bearing spiritual fruit, and exploding with vibrance all around!