Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for May 25

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

From: May 25, 2025

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” (Psalm 119:37 ESV).

The psalmist pleads with God to redirect his focus. He recognizes the danger of being drawn to “worthless things”—empty pursuits, fleeting pleasures, and distractions that dull our hearts and steal our attention. In contrast, he longs for life that comes from walking in God’s ways. The request is not merely for moral discipline but for spiritual renewal through divine help. This verse highlights a tension we all face: the pull of the world versus the path of life that God offers.

We are constantly surrounded by “worthless things”—entertainment that numbs our souls, achievements that do not last, and desires that pull us away from God. Left unchecked, our eyes and hearts drift toward what is temporary and hollow. But Jesus calls us to something far greater. In Him, we find life, purpose, and lasting joy.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:1–4 that since we have been raised with Christ, we are to seek the things above, where Christ is seated. Our lives are hidden with Him, and when He appears, we will appear with Him in glory. We are called to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow His ways, trusting that what He offers is far better than anything this world can give. Let us ask God to turn our eyes daily from what is worthless and set our gaze on Christ, who gives true and eternal life.

As a beloved hymn reminds us:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess that we are often distracted by things that are worthless in Your sight. Our eyes are easily drawn to what is temporary and hollow. Please turn our eyes away from these things. Fix our gaze on Jesus, who is our life. Teach us to desire Your ways and to walk in them with joy. Give us the wisdom to recognize what truly matters and the strength to follow Your path. May we seek the things that are above and live as those whose lives are hidden with Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE PEACE OF CHRIST JESUS

From: May 25, 2024

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27 ESV).

The peace that Jesus gives is true and real peace. It is not only a true cessation of hostility between God and man, but a real sense of well-being and serenity of soul. For Christ’s peace comes in a Person. For the peace that Jesus gives, abides in believers by the indwelling of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which the Father has sent in the name of Jesus.

The peace of Christ is not as the “world” gives. For the people of the Middle East and other parts of the world offer their words of “shalom” and “salam,” which are the Hebrew and Arabic words for “peace.” Its salutations and benedictions are generally matters of custom and polite ceremony and as such are nothing more than empty wishes or expressions of a thoughtless habit. And even they say it with real intent, what power or authority do they have to procure it for themselves or to distribute it to others?

Yet Jesus has procured peace with God for us through His sacrificial death on the cross. As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:13-14). Jesus is our peace.

Jesus is able to distribute His peace, His shalom, to us by abiding in us by His Spirit. It is this peace of Christ that calms our troubled and fearful hearts. According to Strong’s Concordance, true “shalom” means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” This is the peace that Jesus offers. He doesn’t offer this peace as the world does. His peace is perfect and eternal. Those that receive His peace have put away worry and fear.

PRAYER: Dear Father, fill us afresh this day with the peace of Christ. Help us to abide in Him. For we are often troubled and afraid. We worry and we doubt. Help us to see these as signs that we are not abiding. Fill us afresh by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILT THROUGH DAVID’S SEED

From: May 25, 2023

“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son…” (2 Samuel 7:12-14 NLT).

When David’s kingdom was established and he had built a house for himself in Jerusalem, he wanted to build a house for the Ark of the Lord. He told the prophet Nathan, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

Yet later that night the word of the Lord came to the prophet Nathan, telling him that David was not the one to build him a temple, but that his son would be. This prophecy had both an immediate and an ultimate fulfillment. It was immediately fulfilled through David’s son, Solomon, who built a glorious temple for God. However, this temple was ultimately destroyed.

Centuries later, another One was born to the line of David. He is the promised “seed” of David. He is the ultimate fulfillment of this Davidic promise. His name is Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, the Christ. And He is both the Chief Cornerstone and the Builder of this eternal temple, which is the Church of the living God and the Body of Christ.

PRAYER: Dear Father, Your promises are wonderful! We are astounded by Your plans and provision for us. Such things are too awesome for us to consider. We bow down in worship to You today. We are so thankful that we are adopted into Your family by faith in Your Son, Jesus. It’s in His name we pray, amen.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:16-17 NLT).

From: May 25, 2022

ANOTHER ADVOCATE

Jesus sought to comfort His disciples by explaining that although He must return to the Father, He would send “another Advocate” to be with them always. The Greek word translated, “Advocate,” is “Paraklētos,” which literally means, “one called alongside.” It might also be translated, “Helper” or “Comforter.” Jesus identified this “Advocate” as the Holy Spirit.

If the Greek word “Paraklētos” is revealing, then the Greek word translated “another” is perhaps even more so. For there are two words translated “another” in the Greek. The first word is “eteros,” which has the meaning of “another” that is similar, but of different character (i.e., “May I have ‘another’ piece of fruit, maybe an apple instead of an orange?”). But the Greek word used by Jesus was “allos,” which means “another” of the same kind (i.e., “May I have ‘another’ apple?”).

Why is this significant? Because Jesus was making the point that the Advocate is “another” of the same character as He. Jesus, the Son of God, was sent by the Father. Now, as He returned to the Father, He would ask the Father to send “another Advocate” like Himself to be with His disciples. The Father, the Son and the Spirit are equally one in essence, yet three in persons. As the hymn declares, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.”

This is why the apostle Paul referred to the Holy Spirit as both the “Spirit of God” and the “Spirit of Christ” in the same verse (Rom. 8:9). For if we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we have received His Spirit, which is “another” of the same kind. So, we are able to say along with the apostle Paul, “Christ in us, the hope of glory!” (Col. 1:27). For the Spirit of Christ lives in us!

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us Your Holy Spirit to live in us as our Advocate, our Helper, and our Comforter. He never leaves us. It is by Your Spirit that we call you, Abba, Father. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Because I live, you will live too. ” (John 14:19 HCSB).

From: May 25, 2021

BECAUSE HE LIVES

Jesus encouraged His disciples with the promise of His resurrection life. For in His coming resurrection, He would provide for them both proof and pledge of their own resurrection and life.

Because He lives we have proof that Christ is the Victor over sin, death and the grave. The tomb is empty. Christ was raised from the dead and appeared to His disciples and even to “over 500 brothers at one time” (1 Cor. 15:6). Our faith rests on the fact of Christ’s resurrection. It is the proof that we too shall be raised.

Because He lives we have His pledge that all who believe in Him shall be saved. For He has ascended to the Father and continually intercedes for us. And because He has given us the Holy Spirit, we are able to abide in Christ and He in us. Our lives are forever united. For when we trusted Christ, our former life died, and our new “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

This Scripture reminds me of a song I grew up singing entitled “Because He Lives,” by Bill Gaither. The chorus goes like this:

“Because he lives

I can face tomorrow

Because he lives

All fear is gone

Because I know he holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because he lives”

Because Christ lives, we have both proof and pledge that we too shall also live.

PRAYER: Our Dear Father, thank you that nothing in this world can separate us from Your love. For our life is hidden with Christ in You. As Christ lives, we shall live. This is both our hope and assurance. It is our comfort and surety. Help us to truly live today knowing that as Christ lives, we live. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son…” (2 Samuel 7:12-14 NKJV).

From: May 25, 2020

THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILT THROUGH DAVID’S SEED

When David’s kingdom was established and he had built a house for himself in Jerusalem, he wanted to build a house for the Ark of the Lord. He told the prophet Nathan, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

But later that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, telling him that David that was not the one to build him a temple, but that his son would be. This prophecy had both an immediate and an ultimate fulfillment. It was immediately fulfilled through David’s son, Solomon, who built a glorious temple for God. Yet, this temple was ultimately destroyed.

Yet centuries later, another One was born to the line of David. He is the promised “seed” of David. He is the ultimate fulfillment of this Davidic promise. His name is Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, the Christ. And He is both the Chief Cornerstone and the Builder of this eternal temple, which is the Church of the living God.

PRAYER: Dear Father, Your promises are wonderful! We are astounded by Your plans and provision for us. Such things are too awesome for us to consider. We bow down in worship to You today. We are so thankful that we are adopted into Your family by faith in Your Son, Jesus. It’s in His name we pray, amen.

“Since I live, you also will live” (John 14:19 NLT).

From: May 25, 2019

BECAUSE HE LIVES

Jesus encouraged His disciples with the promise of His resurrection life. For in His coming resurrection, He would provide for them both proof and pledge of their own resurrection and life.

Because He lives we have proof that Christ is the Victor over sin, death and the grave. Since He lives, will also shall live. Since He was raised, we also shall be raised. Our faith rests on the fact of Christ’s resurrection. It is the proof that we too shall be raised.

Because He lives we have His pledge that all who believe in Him shall be saved. Since He lives, He continually intercedes for us, that we also shall live. Since He lives, we are able to abide in Him and He in us. Our lives are forever united. For when we trusted Christ, our former life died, and our new “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

Because Christ lives, we have both proof and pledge that we too shall also live.

PRAYER: Our Dear Father, thank you that nothing in this world can separate us from Your love. For our life is hidden with Christ in You. As Christ lives, we shall live. This is both our hope and assurance. It is our comfort and surety. Help us to truly live today knowing that as Christ lives, we live. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:16-17 NLT).

From: May 25, 2018

THE SPIRIT IS ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND

Jesus sought to comfort His disciples by explaining that although He must return to the Father, He would send “another Advocate” to be with them always. In the Greek, the word “Advocate” is “Paraklētos,” which literally means, “one called alongside.” It might also be translated, “Helper” or “Comforter.” This “Advocate” is the Holy Spirit.

If the Greek word “Paraklētos” is revealing, then the Greek word translated “another” is perhaps even more so. For there are two words translated “another” in the Greek. The first word is “eteros,” which has the meaning of “another” that is similar, but of different character (i.e., “May I have ‘another’ piece of fruit, maybe an apple instead of an orange?”). But the Greek word used by Jesus was “allos,” which means “another” of the same kind (i.e., “May I have ‘another’ apple?”).

Why is this significant? Because Jesus was making the point that the Advocate is “another” of the same character as He. Jesus, the Son of God, was sent by the Father. Now, as He returned to the Father, He would ask the Father to send “another” of the same kind to be with His disciples. The Father, the Son and the Spirit are of the same kind. As the hymn declares, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.”

This is why the apostle Paul referred to the Holy Spirit as both the “Spirit of God” and the “Spirit of Christ” in the same verse (Rom. 8:9). For if we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we have received His Spirit, which is “another” of the same kind. So, we are able to say along with the apostle Paul, “Christ in us, the hope of glory!” (Col. 1:27). For in Christ, the “Paraklētos” lives in us!

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 15:33 NKJV).

From: May 25, 2017

The instruction of wisdom begins with a proper fear of the Lord. Wisdom understands that God made us, sustains us, always watches us, and will one day demand an accounting of us. Understanding the attributes and works of God, wisdom rightly has an appropriate fear of God. The fear of God goes hand in hand with humility before God. The one who bows in humility and lowers the eyes in respect, will be honored and blessed by the Lord. But the stiff-necked fool who honors himself will be opposed (James 4:6).

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18 ESV)

From: May 25, 2016

“Orphans.” The Greek word here is the origin of our English word: “ὀρφανός, orphanos.” It can mean “parentless, fatherless, bereaved” or as in the KJV, “comfortless.” Which in this context seems most fitting. Jesus will not leave us “comfortless,” for he will send a Comforter. He was letting his disciples know that he would no longer be with them bodily, but would be with them in the Spirit. The promise he made to his disciples that he would “come to you” is already being fulfilled. This is not his future return when he will come again bodily. This “coming” is already here. The Spirit of Christ, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter is present and available. We have not been left “as orphans.” He is with us.