Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for September 15

A HIGHWAY OF BLESSING

From: September 15, 2023

“In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isaiah 19:23-24 NLT).

The Lord spoke through Isaiah concerning a day when the rivalry between Egypt and Assyria would end, and Israel would no longer be the battleground between them. This must have been an astounding prophecy for that time. For Egypt and Assyria had been sworn enemies and Israel suffered between them in a brutal tug-of-war. Yet, the Lord said a day was coming when a “highway” would connect them.

There have been partial fulfillments of this prophecy since Isaiah’s time. Under Cyrus, the Persian king, there was peace between the three countries. And again, under Alexander, the three were under one banner for a brief time. Yet, it seems most likely that it was the time of the Romans that Isaiah foresaw. For it was during the time of Roman rule that there was peace between the three and more than that, it was the time when Christ Jesus appeared.

When Jesus began His public ministry, He made the Jewish town of Capernaum His base of operations. Strategically located on the North shore of the Sea of Galilee, the highway that connected Egypt to Syria, called the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”), passed through Capernaum. During this time, the “blessed” message of Jesus was soon carried on this highway and every other highway in the Roman Empire and beyond–”a blessing within the land.”

However, today we see that Israel is again the battleground between the countries of the Middle East. Surely, the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise awaits Christ’s return.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Your promises. He is the true and only Highway to peace and blessing. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Strengthen us to carry the gospel on every highway throughout the world until His soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law” (Galatians 2:16a NLT).

From: September 15, 2022

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE

Justification is the doctrine that God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be just, “made right with God,” on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from any works of our own.

Paul was concerned that the Christians at Galatia, who had received salvation by faith in Christ, were exchanging their faith for a focus on law-keeping. Those saved by faith are to live by faith, not by works. Yet this tendency still befalls many believers today. We recognize our sin and total dependence on Jesus for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life in our own strength. A focus on law-keeping leads to self-righteousness, pride and an inordinate comparing of ourselves to others.

Living by faith in Jesus, we work, but we do so according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is found in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.

PRAYER: Our Father, thank You for making us right with You through our faith in Christ. Yet even our faith is from You, so that we are in awe of Your grace towards us. We rejoice in hope now that we know we have peace with God and not only that, but we have been changed from foes to friends because of Jesus. We therefore come to You as Your children, entering into Your throne room in Christ. We rest in You and depend on You for all things today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. .. and Egypt will worship with Assyria. On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing within the land.” (Isaiah 19:23-24 HCSB).

From: September 15, 2021

A HIGHWAY OF BLESSING

The Lord spoke through Isaiah concerning a day when the rivalry between Egypt and Assyria would end, and Israel would no longer be the battleground between them. This must have been an astounding prophecy for that time. For Egypt and Assyria had been sworn enemies and Israel suffered between them in a brutal tug-of-war. Yet, the Lord said a day was coming when a “highway” would connect them.

There have been partial fulfillments of this prophecy since Isaiah’s time. Under Cyrus, the Persian king, there was peace between the three countries. And again, under Alexander, the three were under one banner for a brief time. Yet, it seems most likely that it was the time of the Romans that Isaiah foresaw. For it was during the time of Roman rule that there was peace between the three and more than that, it was the time when Christ Jesus appeared.

When Jesus began His public ministry, He made the Jewish town of Capernaum His base of operations. Strategically located on the North shore of the Sea of Galilee, the highway that connected Egypt to Syria, called the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”), passed through Capernaum. During this time, the “blessed” message of Jesus was soon carried on this highway and every other highway in the Roman Empire and beyond–”a blessing within the land.”

However, today we see that Israel is again the battleground between the countries of the Middle East. Surely, the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise awaits Christ’s return.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Your promises. He is the true and only Highway to peace and blessing. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Strengthen us to carry the gospel on every highway throughout the world until His soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16 NKJV).

From: September 15, 2020

DO YOU WAKE UP SINGING PRAISES TO GOD?

David wrote this psalm during the time when he was being pursued by Saul and his men. David expressed his determination to begin each day singing of God’s power and mercy. For he saw that the Lord was his defense and refuge during his time of trouble. But David wasn’t planning to just hum hymns quietly each morning, no, he had decided to “sing aloud” to the Lord, so that all could hear.

Why do many believers today wake up complaining rather than singing praises to God? Isn’t it because we have forgotten to depend on God’s power and mercy? We wake up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. We have nothing to sing about because we have been trying to live according to our own strength and then judging ourselves harshly for coming up short. But God is able. He is ready to empower us by His Spirit. And He does not judge us for our weakness, but shows us mercy, defending us in our day of trouble.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to depend on Your power for living today. Our bodies are weak, but Your Spirit is full of power. Strengthen us. And Lord, help us to receive Your mercy and grace. For we often judge ourselves and others harshly, rather than seeing ourselves and others through the lens of love as You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law” (Galatians 2:16a NLT).

From: September 15, 2019

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE

Justification is the doctrine that God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be just, “made right with God,” on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from works.

Paul was concerned that the Christians at Galatia, who had received salvation by faith in Christ, were exchanging their faith for a focus on law-keeping. Those saved by faith are to live by faith, not by works. Yet this tendency still befalls many believers today. We recognize our sin and total dependence on Jesus for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life in our own strength. A focus on law-keeping leads to self-righteousness, pride and an inordinate comparing of ourselves to others. Living by faith in Jesus, we work, but we do so according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is us in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.

PRAYER: Our Father, thank You for making us right with You through our faith in Christ. Yet even our faith is from You, so that we are in awe of Your grace towards us. We rejoice in hope now that we know we have peace with God and not only that, but we have been changed from foes to friends because of Jesus. We therefore come to You as Your children, entering into Your throne room in Christ. We rest in You and depend on You for all things today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isaiah 19:23-24 NLT).

From: September 15, 2018

A BLESSING IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH

The Lord spoke through Isaiah concerning a day when the rivalry between Egypt and Assyria would end, and Israel would no longer be the battleground between them. This must have been an astounding prophecy for that time. For Egypt and Assyria had been sworn enemies and Israel suffered between them in a brutal tug-of-war. Yet, the Lord said a day was coming when a “highway” would connect them.

There have been partial fulfillments of this prophecy since Isaiah’s time. Under Cyrus, the Persian king, there was peace between the three. And again, under Alexander, the three were under one banner for a brief time. But then, after Alexander’s death, his empire was divided into four. The Ptolemaic Empire was over Egypt and the Seleucid Empire was over what was formerly Assyria. Again, the land of Israel was the battleground between them until the time of Roman rule, when peace once again prevailed for a time.

Perhaps it was the Roman period that Isaiah foresaw. For it was during that time that Christ came and the “blessed” message of the cross was carried on Roman “highways” throughout the empire and beyond. Yet, surely there is a Day coming when the ultimate fulfillment will take place.

“And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain” (Galatians 2:2 NKJV).

From: September 15, 2017

This was a pivotal meeting in the history of the Christian Church. The apostle Paul was moved both by a revelation from God and by his desire for unity with the other apostles concerning the matter of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Certain people had come behind Paul into Galatia teaching that the Gentile believers should essentially become Jewish, following Jewish laws and customs. Paul was confident that the gospel the Lord had given him by revelation was not just a reform movement for Judaism, but good news for the whole world. One could come to Christ without becoming Jewish. The apostles in Jerusalem affirmed Paul’s gospel as the same gospel that Christ had given them. The gospel was for every nation, tribe and tongue. It was for the whole world. And it still is!

“O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” (Psalm 59:17 ESV)

From: September 15, 2016

David loved to write and sing praises to the Lord. Can you think of a better reason to sing? Get your praise on today and watch your worries slip away. Let God be your fortress and strength. For He loves you with a “steadfast love.”

“…a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ..” (Galatians 2:16 NKJV)

From: September 15, 2015

Paul was concerned that the Christians at Galatia, who had received salvation by faith in Christ, were exchanging their faith for a focus on law-keeping. Those saved by faith are to live by faith, not by works. Yet this tendency still befalls many believers today. We recognize our sin and total dependence on Jesus for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life in our own strength. A focus on law-keeping leads to self-righteousness, pride and an inordinate comparing of ourselves to others. Living by faith in Jesus, we work, but we do so only according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is us in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.

“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law” (Galatians 2:16a NLT)

From: September 15, 2014

Paul was concerned that the Christians at Galatia, who had received salvation by faith in Christ, were exchanging their faith for a focus on law-keeping. Those saved by faith are to live by faith, not by works. Yet this tendency still befalls many believers today. We recognize our sin and total dependence on Jesus for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life in our own strength. A focus on law-keeping leads to self-righteousness, pride and an inordinate comparing of ourselves to others. Living by faith in Jesus, we work, but we do so only according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is us in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.