Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for April 21

WILL YOU FINISH WELL?

From: April 21, 2024

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14 ESV).

Joshua, sensing that he was at the end of his days, called all the Israelite leaders from every tribe together to hear his final words. He and Caleb were the last of those who remembered their slavery in Egypt. He had witnessed the ten plagues. He knew the meaning of Passover first hand. He had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. His thirst had been quenched with water from the Rock and his hunger satisfied for 40 years with a daily provision of manna from heaven. Some in their midst may have been children during those days, but Joshua and Caleb alone had experienced it as grown men.

Joshua had been faithful as a servant to Moses, faithful to spy out the land and give a good report, and faithful to lead Israel after Moses’ death. Now Joshua was faithfully preparing to take the next step in his journey, he was going the “way of all the earth,” namely, he was about to die. Yet, his final words were to encourage his people to remain faithful to the Lord, just as the Lord had been faithful to them.

Joshua is an example to all who would be faithful to the end. His last words were like the first words that the Lord had given him as Israel’s new leader, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Joshua finished well with God. Will you finish well?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks for our salvation and for Your Spirit. Strengthen us this day to walk according to Your will. Help us as we grow older to finish well for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

GOD’S UNBREAKABLE NEW COVENANT THROUGH JESUS

From: April 21, 2023

“No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun” (Psalms 89:34-36 NLT).

Men may break their covenants, but God never will. He is a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. The covenant spoken of here is not the one made at Sinai, but the one made through Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of God. This is an unconditional covenant of grace, based on God’s sworn testimony by His own holiness. Therefore, not only will He not break it, He will not alter it in any way, neither adding nor subtracting, nor failing to keep even one detail of it.

We who have trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have entered into this new covenant. As Jesus told His disciples as the sat together at the last supper, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). This new covenant is based on Christ’s holiness, not ours. At the cross Christ took our sin and offers His righteousness. He took our death and offers His eternal life. He took our separation from the Father and offers His sonship.

What is our part? To trust in Jesus, the Mediator of God’s new covenant. For it is His Kingdom that will go on forever. When we trust in Him, know this: God will not ever break His covenant with us. It is based on His holiness, not ours.

PRAYER: Dear Father, centuries before our birth, You prepared a way for our salvation through Jesus. We are amazed! Thank You for this great and wonderful new covenant. We are weak and we often break our own word, but You never break Your Word. Therefore we rely on Your Word and Your new covenant in Jesus for our salvation. We rest in this promise from You, knowing that You will always keep it and us, forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.” (Luke 20:38 NLT).

From: April 21, 2022

JESUS CORRECTS THOSE WHO DENY THE RESURRECTION

The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and only accepted the five books of Moses, came to Jesus presenting a question that they thought would make the idea of the resurrection seem ridiculous. However, Christ’s response made their question seem ridiculous instead. After dismissing their multiple wives premise in only a few words, He used the burning bush story from the book of Exodus (one of the few books they accepted) to show them proof of the resurrection; namely, that God identified Himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Jesus demolished their anti-resurrection argument and left them silent.

But Jesus wasn’t finished. He backed up His words with action, becoming the firstborn from among the dead and guaranteeing the resurrection of all those who believe when He was raised on the third day. “He is risen just as He said” (Matt. 28:6).

The resurrection of Jesus is the most profound fact in history and the foundation of Christianity. Christ is alive and those who place their faith in Him have been made alive with Him.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Your amazing grace and mercy, that You would defeat sin, death and the grave for us. You have replaced our fear and dread of death with hope and eternal life. We worship You with all of our heart this day! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“David calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son?” (Luke 20:44 HCSB).

From: April 21, 2021

THE DIVINITY AND PREEXISTENCE OF CHRIST

Jesus asked the Jewish leaders this question not to suggest that the Messiah wouldn’t be born into the line of David, but rather to show them that he would be the Son of God. It was a well known doctrine among the Jews that the Messiah would be born into the lineage of David. But they emphasized his human side and missed the divine. Jesus sought to correct their misunderstanding with a question, “Why did David call the Messiah, Lord?” Jesus was teaching them that the Messiah would be both a Son of David and Son of God. He would be born into David’s lineage, but would be greater than David. Thus, David himself would bow to the Messiah as Lord.

Humanly speaking, Jesus was born into the line of David. Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David and therefore had to return to the Town of David, Bethlehem, for the Roman census. Mary’s line established His human lineage and Joseph’s, His legal one. Yet, as the Son of God, there never was a time that Christ was not. He is the preexistent One, existing before creation because He is Lord of creation. He is God of very God. He is not only greater than David, He is greater than all.

When the Jewish leaders questioned Him saying, “Are you greater than our father, Abraham?” (John 8:53). Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we not only meditate on the wonder of Jesus, but we bow at His feet as our Lord and Savior. For through Him You have saved us and adopted us as Your own children. We praise You and declare our love and loyalty to You afresh this day. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to live for You fully this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalms 89:34 NKJV).

From: April 21, 2020

GOD’S UNBREAKABLE NEW COVENANT THROUGH JESUS

Men may break their covenants, but God never will. He is a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. The covenant spoken of here is not the one made at Sinai, but the covenant of grace made with Christ. For the Lord is speaking here through the psalmist, describing the new covenant to be revealed in Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of God. This is an unconditional covenant, not based on our condition, but on God’s sworn testimony by His own holiness. Therefore, not only will He not break it, He will not alter it in any way, neither adding nor subtracting, nor failing to keep even one detail of it.

We who have trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have entered into this new covenant. As Jesus told His disciples as the sat together at the last supper, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). This new covenant is based on Christ’s holiness, not ours. At the cross Christ took our sin and offers His righteousness. He took our death and offers His eternal life. He took our separation from the Father and offers His sonship.

What is our part? To trust in Jesus, the Mediator of God’s new covenant. When we trust in Him, know this: God will not ever break His covenant with us. It is based on His holiness, not ours.

PRAYER: Dear Father, centuries before our birth, You prepared a way for our salvation through Jesus. We are amazed! Thank You for this great and wonderful new covenant. We are weak and we often break our own word, but You never break Your Word. Therefore we rely on Your Word and Your new covenant in Jesus for our salvation. We rest in this promise from You, knowing that You will always keep it and us, forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.” (Luke 20:38 NLT).

From: April 21, 2019

JESUS EXPLAINS AND PROVES THE RESURRECTION!

The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and only accepted the five books of Moses, came to Jesus presenting a case that they thought would make the idea of the resurrection seem ridiculous. However, Christ’s response made their doubt seem ridiculous instead. After dismissing their multiple wives premise in only a few words, He used the burning bush story from the book of Exodus (one of the few books they accepted) to show them proof of the resurrection; namely, that God identified Himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Jesus demolished their anti-resurrection argument and left them silent.

But Jesus wasn’t finished. He backed up His words with action, becoming the firstborn from among the dead and guaranteeing the resurrection of all those who believe when He was raised on the third day.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you on this Easter Sunday for Your amazing grace and mercy, that You would defeat sin, death and the grave for us. You have replaced our fear and dread with hope and eternal life. We worship You with all of our hearts this day! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” (Luke 20:44 NLT).

From: April 21, 2018

THE DIVINITY OF THE MESSIAH

Jesus asked the Jewish leaders this question not to suggest that the Messiah wouldn’t be the son of David, but rather to show them that he would be the Son of God. It was a well known doctrine among the Jews that the Messiah would be born into the lineage of David. But they emphasized his human side and missed the divine. Jesus sought to correct their misunderstanding with a question, “Why did David call the Messiah, Lord?” Jesus was teaching them that the Messiah would be both a Son of David and Son of God. He would be born into David’s lineage, but would be greater than David. Thus, David himself would bow to the Messiah as Lord.

Humanly speaking, Jesus was born into the line of David. Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David and therefore had to return to the Town of David, Bethlehem, for the Roman census. Mary’s line established His human lineage and Joseph’s, His legal right. Yet, as the Son of God, there never was a time that Christ was not. He is God. He is not only greater than David, He is greater than all.

When the Jewish leaders questioned Him saying, “Are you greater than our father, Abraham?” (John 8:53). Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).

“Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14 NKJV).

From: April 21, 2017

Joshua, sensing that he was at the end of his days, called all the Israelite leaders from every tribe together to hear his final words. He and Caleb were the last of those who remembered their slavery in Egypt. He had witnessed the ten plagues. He knew the meaning of Passover first hand. He had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. His thirst had been quenched with water from the Rock and his hunger satisfied for 40 years with a daily provision of manna from heaven. Some in their midst may have been children during those days, but Joshua and Caleb alone had experienced it as grown men. Joshua had been faithful as a servant to Moses, faithful to spy out the land and give a good report, and faithful to lead Israel after Moses’ death. Now Joshua was faithfully preparing to take the next step in his journey, he was going the “way of all the earth,” namely, he was about to die. Yet, his final words were to encourage his people to remain faithful to the Lord, just as the Lord had been faithful to them.

Joshua is an example to all who would be faithful to the end. His last words were like the first words that the Lord had given him as Israel’s new leader, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14 ESV)

From: April 21, 2016

The Lord sits on His throne of “righteousness and justice,” yet He has sent Christ, so that He is able to look upon us with “steadfast love and faithfulness.” It was at the cross of Christ that both God’s justice and love were satisfied. The penalty for sin that God’s righteousness and justice demanded was meted out upon Christ. And God’s “steadfast love” (Hebrew: “chesed” – “covenantal love.” Similar to “agape” love in the NT) and “faithfulness” were expressed in that God provided a way for us to be saved through Christ’s sacrifice of love. God is seated on a throne of righteous justice, yet His faithful love has gone before His face, so that He looks upon us through Christ.

“For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him” (Luke 20:38 NKJV)

From: April 21, 2015

The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and only accepted the five books of Moses, came to Jesus presenting a case that they thought would make the idea of the resurrection seem ridiculous. However, Christ’s response made their doubt seem ridiculous instead. After dismissing their multiple wives premise in only a few words, He used the burning bush story from the book of Exodus (one of the few books they accepted) to show them proof of the resurrection; namely, that God identified Himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Jesus demolished their anti-resurrection argument and left them silent. Yet, Jesus wasn’t finished. He backed up His words with action, becoming the firstborn from among the dead and guaranteeing the resurrection of all those who believe.