Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for August 15

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

From: August 15, 2024

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV).

This verse from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is often misquoted. Well meaning people misquote it when they seek to comfort those grieving the loss of a loved one or suffering a severe illness, or some other difficulty. They say, “Now remember, God has promised that he won’t allow more to come on you than you can bear.”

But this verse is not about the endurance of suffering. It is about temptation, and how to overcome it with God’s help. Paul was correcting the false notion that we have no choice but to give into temptation, or that our sin is somehow God’s fault. As James taught, it is not God who tempts us, “but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:13-14). So, when we are tempted, rather than blaming God, or feeling that it is impossible to resist, we can call on Him to help us escape temptation’s trap.

We can pray as Jesus taught us, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” In this way, we look to the Father to lead us on a path that stays well clear of those temptations that would overcome us and to provide a way of escape.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we often give into temptation, claiming that we can’t help it or blaming You for giving us the desire for it. Forgive us. Lead us away from such temptation and such thinking. Show us a way of escape that we might live lives pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

SEEKING COMMON GROUND

From: August 15, 2023

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT).

The apostle Paul described his approach to sharing the gospel as becoming “a slave to everyone, in order to win more people” (1 Cor. 9:19). In other words, he sought to find common ground with his hearers when sharing the good news.

When Paul was in Athens, he used their monument to the “unknown god” to help illustrate the gospel to them. When talking to a Jewish audience he quoted the Mosaic Law. When speaking to the Greeks he quoted their Greek philosophers. Paul shared the gospel in the language and culture of his hearer, rather than expecting the hearer to adapt to his culture and language. However, in doing so, he never changed the truth of the gospel. He adapted his methods, but not the gospel message. Paul was a servant both to the hearer and to the Lord Jesus, whose gospel he preached.

Paul’s mindset was the same as the servant mindset of Christ Jesus. For it was the Spirit of Christ that motivated him. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he encouraged believers to have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus.” He said that those who had this mindset would “value others above themselves, not looking to their own interests but each to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).

When we put others interests ahead of our own, really listening to them and caring for them, they are more apt to hear us when we share the gospel with them. And when we listen to them with spiritual ears, asking for the Holy Spirit’s help, we will often hear them express a need that we can meet in the name of Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Father, it was Your great love that moved You to send Jesus to us. He came not to be served, but to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for us. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit that we might have the mindset of Christ. For we want to live as the body of Christ in this world until You call us home. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT).

From: August 15, 2022

CHRIST, OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD AND DRINK

Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of the Exodus story. He recalled how all the Israelites ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water, which in both cases, were typical of Christ. For as the manna was daily bread from heaven, so Christ is the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). And as the water from the rock gushed forth, so Christ is the Rock and the source of the “living water” (John 7:38-39), which fills those who receive Him.

Paul said that this spiritual rock traveled with them, yet not the rock itself, but that which sprang forth from the rock, namely, “spiritual water.” In the same way, it is the Spirit of Christ that “travels with” believers today. For Christ abides in those who receive Him.

Paul recounted the Exodus story to remind the Corinthians that although all the Israelites had received every spiritual benefit, God was “not pleased with most of them” (1 Cor. 10:5). For they continued to “crave evil things” (1 Cor. 10:6).

Therefore, let us look unto Christ in all things. For He is both our Lord and our life. And when we read the Scriptures, whether old or new, let us always look for Christ. For Christ is the Living Word of God.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to always turn from our former way of life and to continually depend on the Spirit of Christ as our spiritual food and drink. Strengthen us to always abide in Christ, so that we please You in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 HCSB).

From: August 15, 2021

SERVANT EVANGELISM

The apostle Paul described his approach to sharing the gospel as becoming “a slave to everyone, in order to win more people” (1 Cor. 9:19). In other words, he sought to find common ground with his hearers when sharing the good news.

When Paul was in Athens, he used their monument to the “unknown god” to help illustrate the gospel to them. When talking to a Jewish audience he quoted the Mosaic Law. When speaking to the Greeks he quoted their Greek philosophers. Paul shared the gospel in the language and culture of his hearer, rather than expecting the hearer to adapt to his culture and language. However, in doing so, he never changed the truth of the gospel. He adapted his methods, but not the gospel message. Paul was a servant both to the hearer and to the Lord Jesus, whose gospel he preached.

Paul’s mindset was the same as the servant mindset of Christ Jesus. For it was the Spirit of Christ that motivated him. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he encouraged believers to have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus.” He said that those who had this mindset would “value others above ‘themselves,’ not looking to your ‘their own’ interests but each of ‘them’ to the interests of the others” (Phil 2:3-4).

When we put others interests ahead of our own, really listening to them and caring for them, they are more apt to hear us when we share the gospel with them. And when we listen to them with spiritual ears, asking for the Holy Spirit’s help, we will often hear them express a need that we can meet in the name of Jesus. This is the way of servant evangelism.

PRAYER: Dear Father, it was Your great love that moved You to send Jesus to us. He came not to be served, but to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for us. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit that we might have the mindset of Christ. For we want to live as the body of Christ in this world until You call us home. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“…we will not neglect the house of our God” (Nehemiah 10:39 NKJV).

From: August 15, 2020

REVIVAL AND REPAIRED WALLS

After the rebuilding of the walls surrounding Jerusalem there was great enthusiasm for God’s Word and for the giving of tithes and offerings. The people willingly and joyfully entered into a covenant to be faithful in these things. Yet, before the walls were rebuilt, the people were filled with doubt and fear, resulting in neglect of God’s house.

How are broken walls and neglect of God’s house connected? Neglect of God leads to neglect of other things, which leads to brokenness. Where are the broken walls in our city and nation today? How can they be repaired?

The prophet Jeremiah gives the answer: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (Jer. 7:14).

PRAYER: Dear Father, the walls of our families and nation are breaking down. We have pulled them down with our own hands by turning from You. We humble ourselves and seek Your face today. We repent of our wicked ways and listen for Your voice. Come, Lord Jesus, come and heal our land. In Your name we pray, amen.

“All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT).

From: August 15, 2018

CHRIST, OUR ALL IN ALL

Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of the Exodus story. He recalled how all the Israelites ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water, which in both cases, were typical of Christ. For as the manna was daily bread from heaven, so Christ is the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). And as the water from the rock gushed forth, so Christ is the Rock and the Spirit, the “living water” (John 7:38-39), which fills those who receive Christ. Paul said that this spiritual rock “traveled with them,” yet not the rock itself, but it was the spiritual water from the rock that traveled with them. In the same way, it is the Spirit of Christ that travels with believers today.

Paul recounted the Exodus story to remind the Corinthians that although all the Israelites had received every spiritual benefit, God was “not pleased with most of them” (1 Cor. 10:5). Therefore, let us look unto Christ for our salvation. And when we read the Scriptures, whether old or new, let us always look for Christ. For Christ is the Living Word of God.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV).

From: August 15, 2017

Is it true that “God won’t allow more to come on you than you can bear?”

This verse from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is often misquoted. Well meaning people misquote it to others when they see them grieving the loss of a loved one or suffering a severe illness. But this verse is not about the endurance of suffering. It is about temptation, and how to overcome it with God’s help. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Paul was taking away the false notion that we have no choice but to give into temptation, or that our sin is somehow God’s fault. As James taught, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God;” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:13-14). So, when we are tempted, rather than blaming God, we should trust Him to help us escape sin’s trap.

As for the first question, life often puts much more on us than we can bear, but at those times we can answer Christ’s invitation to “Come unto Me” (Matt. 11:28-30).

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3 ESV)

From: August 15, 2016

David’s psalm invites us to worship the Lord with him. This is a wonderful call to worship. Are you part of a fellowship that will answer this call with you? This is a call that you cannot answer alone. You will need brothers and sisters who love the Lord as you do. Private devotions are life-giving, but they create a longing for worshiping together with others. Isn’t this the goal of the gospel? That there would be worshipers called out from every tongue and tribe?

“…we will not neglect the house of our God” (Nehemiah 10:39 NKJV)

From: August 15, 2015

After the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem there was great enthusiasm for God’s Word and for the giving of tithes and offerings. The people willingly and joyfully entered into a covenant to be faithful in these things. Yet, before the walls were rebuilt, the people were filled with doubt and fear, resulting in neglect of God’s house. What was it about the broken down wall that caused their neglect? And what was it about the rebuilt wall that helped them refocus their priorities, putting God first?

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT)

From: August 15, 2014

Some have referred to this as the Pauline Principle, the strategy being to adapt methods to the hearer while maintaining the integrity of the message. When Paul was in Athens he used their monument to the “unknown god” to help illustrate the gospel to them. When talking to a Jewish audience he quoted the Mosaic Law. When speaking to the Greeks he quoted their Greek philosophers. Paul shared the gospel in the language and culture of his hearer, rather than expecting the hearer to adapt to his culture and language. The Gospel MESSAGE is never-changing and must be guarded. But Gospel METHODS should be flexible to reach this ever-changing world.