Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for April 17

THE CURRENCY OF THE KINGDOM IS ASKING

From: April 17, 2024

‘And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight”’ (Luke 18:41 ESV).

When a blind man begging on the roadside near Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he commanded that the blind man be brought to Him. Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Why would Jesus ask this? Couldn’t He tell that the man was blind? Wasn’t the blind man’s need obvious? Yet, Jesus insisted on having the blind man give a specific request. When the man responded that he wanted to receive his sight, the Lord healed him, commending his faith.

The currency of the kingdom is asking. “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-12), this is the teaching of Jesus. Asking the Lord in prayer is an exercise of our faith. Do you have the faith to ask God for help? Get specific with God. Ask.

PRAYER: Dear Father, have mercy on us. Bend your ear to us and hear our prayer. We are Your children and we put our great expectation upon You. Where we are hurting, heal us. Where we are anxious, give us Your peace. Where we are striving, give us rest. Where we are forgetful, remind us. Where we are selfish and blind, open our eyes. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

PRAYING LIKE A CHILD TO HIS FATHER

From: April 17, 2023

“Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help” (Psalm 86:1 NLT).

David sought the Lord in prayer. He cried out to God like a child to his father, asking Him to bend down His ear to hear his prayer. He admitted his need for help, expecting God to answer.

Can you see David looking up and the Lord bending down to answer? For David approached the Lord like a child to his father.

There is much to learn about prayer in the psalms, but perhaps the greatest lesson is this: Humble yourself like a child before the Father. As Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:3).

Have you learned to become like little children before the Father in prayer?

PRAYER: Dear Father, Abba, we come before You today asking for Your help. For we are poor and in need. We are small and You are great and mighty. Heal us. Protect us. Provide for us. We look to You as Your children. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But on the third day he will rise again” (Luke 18:33 NLT).

From: April 17, 2022

HE HAS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

Jesus told His disciples that they were going up to Jerusalem where the prophecies concerning His death and resurrection would be fulfilled. He had told them this on many occasions, but now the time was near. Yet, His disciples didn’t seem to understand.

Jesus had spoken of this not only to His disciples, but even to those who rejected Him. When they asked for a sign to prove He was the Messiah, the only sign He offered them was the “sign of Jonah” (Matt. 12:39), who was in the belly of the fish for three days. When they asked for a sign of His authority, He told them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19).

And then the day came when they turned Him over to the Romans, mocked Him, beat Him, and crucified Him, just as He said. Yet, three days later, an angel told the women visiting His tomb, “He is not here; he has risen, just as He said” (Matt. 28:6).

Who is this man who predicted the very manner of His death and kept His promise to conquer sin, death, and the grave? He is Jesus the Christ and He has risen just as He said!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Jesus! His victory over death has become our victory. For we have received Him and believed in Him as our Lord and Savior. He is risen just as He said! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41 HCSB).

From: April 17, 2021

THE CURRENCY OF THE KINGDOM IS ASKING

When a blind man begging on the roadside near Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he commanded that the blind man be brought to Him. Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Why would Jesus ask this? Couldn’t He tell that the man was blind? Wasn’t the blind man’s need obvious? Yet, Jesus insisted on having the blind man give a specific request. When the man responded that he wanted to receive his sight, the Lord healed him, commending his faith.

The currency of the kingdom is asking. “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-12), this is the teaching of Jesus. Asking the Lord in prayer is an exercise of our faith. Do you have the faith to ask God for help? Get specific with God. Ask.

PRAYER: Dear Father, have mercy on us. Bend your ear to us and hear our prayer. We are Your children and we put our great expectation upon You. Where we are hurting, heal us. Where we are anxious, give us Your peace. Where we are striving, give us rest. Where we are forgetful, remind us. Where we are selfish and blind, open our eyes. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41 NKJV).

From: April 17, 2020

THE CURRENCY OF THE KINGDOM IS ASKING

When a blind man begging on the roadside near Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he commanded that the blind man be brought to Him. Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Why would Jesus ask this? Couldn’t He tell that the man was blind? Wasn’t the blind man’s need obvious? Yet, Jesus insisted on having the blind man give a specific request. When the man responded that he wanted to receive his sight, the Lord healed him, commending his faith.

The currency of the kingdom is asking. “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-12), this is the teaching of Jesus. Do you have the faith to ask God for help? Get specific with God. Ask.

PRAYER: Dear Father, have mercy on us. Bend your ear to us and hear our prayer. We are Your children and we put our great expectation upon You. Where we are hurting, heal us. Where we are anxious, give us Your peace. Where we are striving, give us rest. Where we are forgetful, remind us. Where we are selfish and blind, open our eyes. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor” (Joshua 15:13 NLT).

From: April 17, 2018

GOD HONORS THOSE WHO HONOR HIM

After the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He followed the Lord’s instruction in assigning the land to his people. The lands were allotted according to the twelve tribes with one exception, the land allotted to Caleb. Caleb was one of the two men who had given a faithful report when Moses had sent twelve men into the land to spy it out. He and Joshua were the only two who returned with a good report, while the other ten gave a fearful one, causing the people to turn away and wander in the wilderness for the next 40 years. Caleb and Joshua were the only men still left alive from that whole generation. And God did not forget Caleb. The Lord “commanded” Joshua to assign land from Judah’s allotment to Caleb and in a fashion true to his character, the 85-year old Caleb chose the mountains where the giants of Anak dwelled.

So, Caleb was given the town of Hebron, the place where Abraham and the patriarchs had been buried in the Cave of Machpelah. For the Lord did not forget Caleb. As the Lord has said, “those who honor me I will honor” (1 Sam. 2:30).

‘Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”’ (Luke 18:18 NKJV).

From: April 17, 2017

Many come to Jesus, attracted to His person, but unwilling to admit their own spiritual bankruptcy. So it was for the RYR (“Rich Young Ruler”). He thought to add Jesus to his portfolio of good works. Yet, Jesus saw his heart. Jesus challenged him to die to his former life and leave everything behind to follow Him. This filled the RYR with sorrow, for he had great worldly wealth. It also revealed his failure to keep even the first of the ten commandments, putting his love of money ahead of his love of God.

The invitation to follow Christ is not a call to religious effort (i.e. “What shall I do?”), but a call to come and die, that you might be born again in newness of life in Christ Jesus (Rom.6:4, 11).

“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41 NKJV)

From: April 17, 2015

When a blind man begging on the roadside near Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35). So, Jesus stopped and asked him the above question. Why would Jesus ask this? Couldn’t He tell that the man was blind? Wasn’t the blind man’s need obvious? Yet, Jesus insisted on him making a specific request. When the blind man responded that he wanted to receive his sight, the Lord healed him, commending his faith. The currency of the kingdom is asking. “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-12), this is the teaching of Jesus. Do you have the faith to ask God for help? Get specific with God. Ask.

“Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, ‘Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true'” (Luke 18:31 NLT)

From: April 17, 2014

As Jesus and his disciples traveled the road from Jericho up to Jerusalem, he once again spoke to them concerning his impending death. They didn’t understand the significance of these predictions until after Jesus was raised. Yet, Jesus was very specific in these predictions. He was fully aware of his identity, taking the Messianic title “Son of Man” and claiming to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Anointed One. He was also specific in the details of how the Jews and Romans would conspire to kill him and the means thereof. Knowing what was awaiting him, Jesus continued “going up to Jerusalem” and finally up Calvary’s hill. After all, this was why he came into the world.

“For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25 ESV)

From: April 17, 2013

A person rich in worldly things doesn’t easily recognize their own spiritual poverty. And if they do get an inkling, then they seek to add some Jesus stock to their already fat portfolio, hoping to diversify and cover all bases. But the kingdom of God cannot be earned, it can only be received. It only comes to those who declare spiritual bankruptcy. It requires surrender of ownership and control, confessing Jesus as both Savior and Lord. The kingdom demands not part, but all of us.