Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for October 30

THE LORD HIMSELF IS OUR INHERITANCE

From: October 30, 2023

“I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:24 NLT).

The prophet Jeremiah cried out to God for the fallen city of Jerusalem, and for his own homelessness and suffering. Yet, in the midst of this sorrowful lament, Jeremiah looked to God for his inheritance. Rather than look to worldly things, he looked to the Lord Himself as his reward. Jeremiah’s hope was in God.

We can know this hope. And we can know it with even better understanding because of Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom.8:32). Our portion, our inheritance, is the Lord Himself!

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we worry about our future or our retirement accounts. For You are our inheritance. We set our hope on You. We are co-heirs with Christ by faith. All that is His is ours, so why should we despair. Our future is secure in Christ. Strengthen us with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit” (Lamentations 3:55 NLT).

From: October 30, 2022

PRAYERS FROM THE PIT

The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a pit because of his preaching. His own people hated the word he preached so much, that they cast him into a cistern, which “had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud” (Jer. 38:6). If it hadn’t been for Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, Jeremiah would have perished. But Ebed-melech ran to King Zedekiah when he heard of Jeremiah’s plight. And the king gave him permission to rescue the prophet. Surely, Jeremiah was thinking of this while writing about his prayers from the pit. He knew that the Lord had rescued him by sending the Ethiopian.

Have you ever prayed from a pit? You fell so far that your feet felt mired in mud, and the only thing you could do was cry out to God? For some of us, it seems to take a pit to move us to prayer. We have to hit bottom before we’ll look up. But why wait for the pit? Why not look up today? Regardless of where you are, call on the name of the Lord. For He hears and cares for you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, whether on the mountain, or in the pit, we look to You. We pray in the name of Jesus. For that is the only name under heaven by which we are saved. Rescue us and set our feet on solid ground that we might serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:2-3 HCSB).

From: October 30, 2021

OUR SUPREME PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING

This Hebrews passage has been called one of the four pillars of Christology. The other three are found in John 1, Philippians 2, and Colossians 1. Together, these four passages reveal much of what theologians consider central to the study of Christ.

Hebrews makes much of the supremacy of Christ. For He is the supreme expression and holder of the threefold office of prophet, priest and king:

1) Prophet. The Scripture says that in these last days God has “spoken to us by His Son.” He is God’s ultimate prophet. It further says that He is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature.” He makes the invisible God, visible. He is God’s ultimate, supreme and final revelation. If you want to know God, look to His Son.

2) Priest. The Scripture says that He made “purification for sins.” This is a priestly role. Yet Jesus is both God’s great high priest and the perfect sacrifice. As John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

3) King. The Scripture says that Christ is the “heir of all things” and that He is seated at “the right hand of the Majesty on high.” He has been appointed King of all by the Father. For being very God of very God, He was both the agent of creation and is its present sustainer. For not only did God make “the universe through Him,” He is also “sustaining all things by His powerful word.”

This is whom we have believed and received. This is our Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. There is no name higher. There is no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12). Let us worship Him!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are moved to worship as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus our Lord and Savior. We are overwhelmed at Your great love in giving Him to us. Now we offer ourselves afresh to you this day. Direct us and strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice” (Lamentations 3:55-56a NKJV).

From: October 30, 2020

HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED FROM A PIT?

The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a pit because of his preaching. His own people hated the word he preached so much, that they cast him into a cistern; “it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud” (Jer. 38:6). If it hadn’t been for Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, Jeremiah would have perished. But Ebed-melech ran to King Zedekiah when he heard of Jeremiah’s plight. And the king gave him permission to rescue the prophet. Surely, Jeremiah was thinking of this while writing, “O Lord, from the lowest pit, You heard my voice.” He knew that the Lord had rescued him by sending the Ethiopian.

Have you ever prayed from a pit? You fell so far that your feet felt mired in mud, and the only thing you could do was pray? For some of us, it seems to take a pit to move us to prayer. We have to hit bottom before we’ll look up. But why wait for the pit? Why not look up today? Regardless of where you are, call on the name of the Lord and He will hear.

PRAYER: Dear Father, whether on the mountain, or in the pit, we look to You. We pray in the name of Jesus. For that is the only name under heaven by which we are saved. Rescue us and set our feet on solid ground that we might serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:24 NLT).

From: October 30, 2019

THE LORD HIMSELF IS MY INHERITANCE

The prophet Jeremiah cried out to God for the fallen city of Jerusalem, and for his own homelessness and suffering. Yet, in the midst of this sorrowful lament, Jeremiah looked to God for his inheritance. Rather than look to worldly things, he looked to the Lord Himself as his reward. Jeremiah’s hope was in God. We can know this hope. And we can know it with even better understanding because of Christ. We can set our hope fully on Jesus (1 Pet. 1:13).

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we worry about our future or our retirement accounts. For You are our inheritance. We set our hope on You. We are co-heirs with Christ by faith. All that is His is ours, so why should we despair. Our future is secure in Christ. Strengthen us with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline” (Lamentations 3:27 NLT).

From: October 30, 2018

DON’T WASTE YOUR YOUTH

There is a worldly saying that has destroyed many which says, “Sow your wild oats before settling down.” But the Bible says the opposite. The prophet Jeremiah must have observed many a young person who wasted his life following after the flesh. He saw the Babylonians come and either kill or enslave the youth of Judah. So he encouraged young people to follow the Lord early.

Those who submit their lives to the Lord while they are still young avoid many a needless hurt. I have never heard an older person wish they had been more worldly when young, but I have heard many express regret at having waited so long to follow Christ. Don’t waste your youth on yourself. Choose to follow the Lord from an early age.

“The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body” (Proverbs 26:22 NKJV).

From: October 30, 2017

Do you know a “talebearer?” They always know the latest gossip and rumor. They speak with a wink and a whisper. Their words never elevate your estimation of others, but always tend towards disunity and strife. Yet, their news seems irresistible to the ears, like the “tasty” morsels of Turkish Delight were to Edmund’s stomach. Their words “go down” sweet, but sour your heart towards others. If you know a talebearer, rebuke them. And if they continue, avoid them. Watch out! Their next tale will be about you!

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” (Lamentations 3:40 ESV)

From: October 30, 2016

Jeremiah’s lament for Israel’s condition turned from complaint to calling. He invited his people to join him in repentance. “Test” your motives. “Examine” your actions. Where either are out of alignment with the Lord’s, let us “return!” Our criterion is Christ and His Word. Wherever we have moved or acted contrary to Christ, let us repent and return to Him!

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV)

From: October 30, 2015

This Hebrews passage is one of the four pillars of Christology (John 1, Phil. 2, and Col.1 are the other three). Here, we see His threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King revealed.
1) Prophet: “spoken to us by His Son.” He is God’s ultimate, supreme and final revelation.
2) Priest: “purged our sins.” He is both God’s great high priest and perfect sacrifice.
3) King: “heir of all… made the worlds… brightness of His glory… express image… upholding all… right hand of Majesty.” He is owner, creator, God of very God, sustainer and king.
This is whom we have believed and received. This is our Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. There is no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12). Worship Him!

“I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:24 NLT)

From: October 30, 2014

The prophet Jeremiah cried out to God for the lost city of Jerusalem, and for his own homelessness and suffering. Yet, in the midst of this sorrowful lament, Jeremiah looked to God for his inheritance. Rather than look to worldly things, he looked to the Lord Himself as his reward. Jeremiah’s hope was in God. We can know this hope. And we can know it with even better understanding because of Christ. We can set our hope fully on Jesus (1 Pet. 1:13).