Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for May 2

IF GOD LEFT YOU, WOULD YOU NOTICE?

From: May 2, 2025

“And he awoke from his sleep and said, ‘I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” (Judges 16:20 ESV).

Samson had grown so used to God’s blessing and power that he took it for granted. Time after time, he had defeated his enemies and escaped danger. But his strength was not his own. It came from the Lord, who had set him apart for a holy purpose. By continuing in disobedience and giving himself over to Delilah, Samson finally broke the last visible sign of his vow to God. His hair was shaved, and the Lord departed from him.

The most tragic part of this story is not just that Samson lost his strength. It is that he did not even know the Lord had left him. He assumed God was still with him simply because God had always been with him before. He mistook God’s past faithfulness as a guarantee of His present power. That is a dangerous place for anyone to be.

Samson’s story serves as a warning for us. We too can drift from God gradually and not even realize how far we have gone. We can get so comfortable with outward success that we forget to look to God as the source of our blessing. We stop praying as we should. We stop listening for His voice. We begin to trust in our own wisdom and effort. Then when the pressure hits, we find ourselves weak, wondering where God has gone.

The good news is that even when we forget God, He is still near to all who call on Him. As Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” We don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to seek the Lord. We can return to Him now. For the Lord says He will never leave nor forsake us, but sometimes He lets us experience life on our own to remind us to come running back to Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for the times we have moved forward without seeking You first. We confess that we have often relied on ourselves and forgotten how much we need You. Thank You for Your mercy and Your patience with us. Help us to remain close to You, to listen for Your voice, and to walk in step with Your Spirit. Keep us from drifting. Teach us to live each day in full dependence on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DO YOU SEEK A SIGN OR THE SAVIOR?

From: May 2, 2024

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25 ESV).

In John’s gospel, the miracles performed by Jesus are called “signs.” For John understood the miracles of Jesus to be confirming signs that pointed to Him as the Son of God. This is an important distinction. For men often seek God’s miracles but fail to believe His message.

After witnessing many signs in Jerusalem, many claimed to believe in Jesus, but He did not “entrust” Himself to them. Why? He knew what was in their hearts. They sought more signs, but not the Savior. Therefore, He did not commit His gospel and His true identity to them.

At another time, after Jesus had fed over 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, many followed Him. Yet, He knew their hearts, saying, “You only seek Me because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). The crowd sought more bread, but failed to recognize Jesus as the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

What’s in your heart? Do you seek a sign or the Savior? Are you always looking for more evidence, never fully committing yourself to Jesus? For if you will commit yourself to Him, He will surely entrust Himself to you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we do not seek miracles, but the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ. We seek His face, not His hands. For we want Him to know that we believe in Him and are committed to Him. For He has committed Himself to us. Having Jesus, we need nothing else. For He is our all in all. Help us to see Him today, so that we might follow Him in all things. In His name, we pray, amen.

HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO MOVE WITHOUT GOD?

From: May 2, 2023

‘When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him’ (Judges 16:20 NLT).

Samson took God’s presence and power for granted, but when Delilah shaved off his seven locks, the power of the LORD left him. Samson didn’t even notice, until it was too late.

We shouldn’t wonder at Samson’s shortcomings. We can be just like him. When we step on the slippery slope of sin, we slowly slide away from God so gradually that we barely notice. We become so accustomed to God’s blessings that we forget their source. We get so busy with doing that we stop praying and asking God for power and direction. Then one day, we wake up and find ourselves in trouble, asking God where He’s gone!

He hasn’t really left us. We’ve left Him. We’ve forgotten Him. Yet, God is only a prayer away. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we attempt to move without You. We want to learn to wait on You and depend on You for all things. We know that You will never leave nor forsake us, but You will let us experience the pain of trying to live on our own. When we do, we realize our deep need for Your presence. Lead us this day and strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11 NLT).

From: May 2, 2022

DO YOU SEEK THE SIGNS OR THE SAVIOR?

This was the first of seven “signs” that the apostle John recorded in his gospel. John calls them signs and not miracles because signs point to something other than themselves.

On a trip a few years ago to see the Grand Canyon, I noticed “Grand Canyon” road signs all along the way as we drove up from Phoenix. Yet, we didn’t travel from NC to AZ to see these signs. We didn’t stop driving until we stood before the Canyon itself!

Many during Jesus’ day were attracted to his miracles, but his true disciples saw them as signs that pointed to Him. Jesus turned the water into wine at a wedding in Cana. The master of the feast and the wedding guests were enthralled with the taste of the new wine that Jesus had made, but the disciples were focused on the wine’s Maker. The whole creation is a miraculous sign pointing to the Creator, yet many worship the former without recognizing the latter (Rom. 1:19-25).

PRAYER: Dear Father, the miraculous signs that point to Your Son are in plain view if only we would look with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears. Yet, help us not to seek the signs, but to seek the Savior to whom they point. For Christ alone is worthy of our worship and praise. We focus our hearts and minds on Him today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But he did not know that the LORD had left him.” (Judges 16:20 HCSB).

From: May 2, 2021

HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO MOVE WITHOUT GOD?

Samson took God’s presence and power for granted, but when Delilah shaved off his seven locks, the power of the LORD left him. Samson didn’t even notice, until it was too late.

We shouldn’t wonder at Samson’s shortcomings. We can be just like him. When we step on the slippery slope of sin, we slowly slide away from God so gradually that we barely notice. We become so accustomed to God’s blessings that we forget from where they come. We get so busy with doing that we stop praying and asking God for power and direction. Then one day, we wake up and find ourselves in trouble, asking God where He’s gone!

He hasn’t really left us. We’ve left Him. We’ve forgotten Him. Yet, God is only a prayer away. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we attempt to move without You. We want to learn to wait on You and depend on You for all things. We know that You will never leave nor forsake us, but You will let us experience the pain of trying to live on our own. When we do, we realize our deep need for Your presence. Lead us this day and strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men” (John 2:24-25 NKJV).

From: May 2, 2020

DO YOU SEEK MORE SIGNS OR THE SAVIOR?

In John’s gospel, the miracles performed by Jesus are called “signs.” For John understood the miracles of Jesus to be confirming signs that pointed to Him as the Son of God. This is an important distinction. For men often seek God’s miracles but fail to hear His message.

After witnessing many signs in Jerusalem, many claimed to believe in Jesus, but He did not “commit” Himself to them. Why? He knew what was in their hearts. They sought more signs, not the Savior. Therefore, He did not commit His gospel and His true identity to them.

At another time, after Jesus had fed over 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, many followed Him. Yet, He knew their hearts, saying, “You only seek Me because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). The crowd sought more bread, but failed to recognize Jesus as the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

What’s in your heart? Do you seek more signs or a Savior? Are you always looking for more evidence, never fully committing yourself to Jesus? For if you will commit yourself to Him, He will surely commit Himself to you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we do not seek miracles, but the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ. We seek His face, not His hands. For we want Him to know that we believe in Him and are committed to Him. For He has committed Himself to us. Having Jesus, we need nothing else. For He is our all in all. Help us to see Him today, so that we might follow Him in all things. In His name, we pray, amen.

“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11 NLT).

From: May 2, 2019

DO YOU SEEK THE SIGNS OR THE SAVIOR?

This was the first of seven “signs” that the apostle John recorded in his gospel. John calls them signs and not miracles because signs point to something other than themselves. On a trip a few years ago to see the Grand Canyon, I noticed “Grand Canyon” road signs all along the way as we drove up from Phoenix. Yet, we didn’t travel from NC to AZ to see these signs. We didn’t stop driving until we stood before the Canyon itself! Many during Jesus’ day were attracted to his miracles, but his true disciples saw them as signs that pointed to Him. Jesus turned the water into wine at a wedding in Cana. The master of the feast and the wedding guests were enthralled with the taste of the new wine that Jesus had made, but the disciples were focused on the wine’s Maker. The whole creation is a miraculous sign pointing to the Creator, yet many worship the former without recognizing the latter (Rom. 1:19-25).

PRAYER: Dear Father, the miraculous signs that point to Your Son are in plain view if only we would look with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears. Yet, help us not to seek the signs, but to seek the Savior to whom they point. For Christ alone is worthy of our worship and praise. We focus our hearts and minds on Him today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”’ (John 2:4 NLT).

From: May 2, 2018

CHRIST’S ATTENTION TO TIMING

When Jesus’ mother brought it to His attention that there was no more wine at the wedding, He replied that it was not yet His time. She may have been His mother, but she was not aware of the details of His mission. It was not yet time to begin His public ministry. He therefore miraculously solved the wine shortage in a private manner, so that only His mother, disciples and the servants knew about it. Even the emcee didn’t know the source and gave credit to the bridegroom (v.9).

This wasn’t the only time Jesus had to correct a family member for suggesting He act before His time. It was His brothers who urged Him to go to Jerusalem and “show himself to the world” (John 7:4). But He responded, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime” (John 7:6).

When the time did come for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and to the cross, He did not hesitate. Jesus said, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory” (John 12:23). Jesus fulfilled His mission in the “fulness of time.” As the apostle Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).

Christ’s timing was perfect.

“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (Proverbs 14:17 NKJV).

From: May 2, 2017

The man who is easily offended and quick to lose his temper will continually do and say things that make him look foolish. Afterwards, he is often sorry and ashamed, so he repents of his behavior. Yet, his short fuse remains, so that he returns to his folly again and again. The foolish behavior will not stop until his angry temperament is properly dealt with.

Anger itself isn’t sin, but uncontrolled anger can lead to sin. So, we must ask the Holy Spirit to give us a long-fuse and self-control, so that Christ rules us, rather than our anger. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27).

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1 ESV)

From: May 2, 2016

This psalm of David begins with an introspective imperative that every detail of his life, both within and without, would live in a continuous state of worshiping God. Was there an area where David worshiped his own will or had found his desire focused on another? If so, he commanded himself to “let all that I am,” every part of my “heart,” be focused on praising the Lord.
Is there an area in your life today that isn’t in alignment with God’s will for you? If there is, then how can you truly worship the Lord? How can you bring only part of your heart, part of your life to Him in praise? This is half-worship, and God will not accept it. Stop being half-hearted in following Jesus. Confess your sins and “let all” that you are praise the Lord. Praise Him with your “whole heart.”