Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 15

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV).

From: November 15, 2020

PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE

Those who are at peace with God through faith in Jesus are to “pursue peace with all people.” Peace is the third member of the first triad of the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22). Therefore, peace is one of the key attributes of those who are filled with the Spirit. It is a mark of the “holiness,” or sanctification, that we have received salvation through Christ and that the Spirit of Christ abides in us.

Although we have peace with God, we must pursue it with others. For the world is not at peace with God, therefore it wars against Him and even against itself. We should not be surprised that wars and rumors of wars are the news of the day. For hearts of those in the world are filled with internal strife.

So, how do we pursue peace with all people? By being ministers of the “gospel of peace” (Eph.6:15). For God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and He has “given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor.5:18).

Are you pursuing peace with all people today? Especially those who are enemies?

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us where we have been caught up in the warfare of the world. The media constantly reports on bad news and our ears are filled with it. Yet, we would have our hearts and our mouths filled with Your good news and peace. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit today that we might pursue peace with all people. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking.” (Hebrews 12:25 ESV).

From: November 15, 2019

DO YOU LISTEN TO THE ONE WHO IS SPEAKING?

Have you ever refused to listen to the Spirit of Christ? Has He knocked at your heart’s door and been refused entrance? Consider those in the Old Testament who refused to obey God when He spoke. What became of them? And now, Jesus, the One who mediates the new covenant between God and man, speaks of even better things. Do not refuse Him.

Or have you received Him, but yet refused to obey the last word He gave you? Think back to the moment when you stopped hearing from Him and you’ll remember your heart’s refusal. Perhaps it was only a small nudge to talk to a stranger or to turn back to a store clerk and smile, but that was the moment Christ’s gentle voice went silent. Walk in obedience to His every call that you might continually hear “the One who is speaking.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we have Your written Word, so we are always able with the help of the Spirit to read and know Your promises and purpose for us. We also have Your Spirit to guide us throughout our days. Help us to always listen to Him and obey His voice. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For our God is a devouring fire” (Hebrews 12:29 NLT).

From: November 15, 2018

THE GOD OF THE OLD IS THE GOD OF THE NEW

The apostle quoted Moses, “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24), clearly showing that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The image of God as a devouring ( KJV “consuming”) fire is one that seeks to reveal the strictness of his justice, the purity of his holiness and the passion of his love for us. We may boldly approach him through Christ, our Great High Priest, yet we do so reminded of how Moses approached the mountain of God with fear and trembling.

“Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him: ‘You are like a young lion among the nations, And you are like a monster in the seas, Bursting forth in your rivers, Troubling the waters with your feet, And fouling their rivers.” (Ezekiel 32:2 NKJV).

From: November 15, 2017

The Lord told Ezekiel to write a funeral dirge for Pharaoh. This was not meant to comfort him, but to warn him of the Lord’s coming judgment against Egypt. Why? Because Pharaoh had acted as a “young lion,” going out from Egypt in violence and troubling other nations.

God is still sovereign over men and nations. He is not absent, but He is patient. As the psalmist declared, “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne” (Psa. 47:8). The power of nations is nothing to the Lord. They are as a “drop in the bucket” to Him (Isa. 40:15-17). Yet, Jesus has sent us to the nations, saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). For the Lord would have those from every tongue and tribe represented in the body of Christ, which He has planned from eternity past.

“See that you do not refuse him who is speaking” (Hebrews 12:25 ESV)

From: November 15, 2016

Have you ever said “No” to Christ? Has He knocked at your heart’s door and been refused entrance? Consider those in the Old Testament who refused to obey God’s Word. What became of them? And now, the blood of Christ “speaks a better word.” Do not refuse Him. Or have you received Him, but yet refused to obey the last word He gave you? Think back to the moment when you stopped hearing from Him and you’ll remember your heart’s refusal. Perhaps it was only a small nudge to talk to a stranger or to turn back to a store clerk and smile, but that was the moment Christ’s gentle voice went silent. Walk in obedience to His every call that you might continually hear “Him who is speaking.”

“to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24 NKJV)

From: November 15, 2015

Not only is the “new covenant” sacrifice of Jesus better than the old one instituted under Moses, it is also “better” than the blood sacrifice offered by Abel. While Abel and Jesus have in common that both offered sacrifices acceptable by God and both were killed by their brothers, Christ’s sacrifice is better because both it and the One offering it are better. Jesus is the fulfillment of both Abel’s sacrifice and Moses’ mediation. Without His sacrifice, theirs would be without merit, for theirs is merely a check awaiting His deposit. It is this Jesus that you come “to” when you answer God’s call of salvation.

“For our God is a devouring fire” (Hebrews 12:29 NLT)

From: November 15, 2014

The image of God as a devouring ( KJV “consuming”) fire is one that seeks to reveal the strictness of his justice, the purity of his holiness and the passion of his love for us. We may boldly approach him through Christ, our Great High Priest, yet we do so reminded of how Moses approached the mountain with fear and trembling.

“Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” (Psalm 113:5-6)

From: November 15, 2013

A rhetorical question that begs the answer, “None!” The Psalmist uses this question to intensify the praise of those who worship the Lord. It causes us to shout out in response, “None is like our God!!!” The Lord is here described as “seated on high,” showing His lofty position over and above creation. Yet, the following verses detail His interest in the “poor” and the “barren woman.” God is both transcendent and immanent. His position is higher than all, yet He stoops to help the least of these. Who is like Him?

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person” (Proverbs 27:19)

From: November 15, 2012

The heart is the seat of the intellect, passion and will. It is the motive behind every action. You can hide your heart from other people for a season, but ultimately some circumstance will expose it’s true nature. Only God can give you a new heart. What does your heart reveal about you?

“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks” (Hebrews 12:25)

From: November 15, 2011

Have you said ‘No’ to God? Think back to the moment when you stopped hearing from God and you’ll remember your heart’s refusal. Perhaps it was only a small nudge to talk to stranger or to turn back to a store clerk and smile, but that was the moment God’s gentle voice went silent. Don’t refuse the God who speaks. Say ‘Yes!’