Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 13

FINDING THE LORD AND LOSING OUR FEAR

From: February 13, 2024

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 ESV).

David wrote this psalm while he was on the run from King Saul. He had even tried to gain favor with a foreign king named Abimelech, but became afraid and feigned insanity to escape him. So at a time when David couldn’t go home, nor even find a safe place among his enemies, he “sought the Lord.”

Have you ever felt like David? Surrounded by fears? Overcome by anxiety? Not knowing which way to turn? Why not turn to the Lord as David did? Seek the Lord. As the Lord told the prophet Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

Sometimes it seems that the only way we can truly seek the Lord with all our hearts is to have everything else that our heart seeks stripped away. Yet, finding the Lord, we will also find, as David did, that He delivers us from all our fears. Because “where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we seek You today. Answer us as we seek You with all our hearts. For where You are, there is no fear. Your perfect love drives out fear. Thank You for hearing our prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

CHRIST FORSAKEN FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE

From: February 13, 2023

‘At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”’ (Matthew 27:46 NLT).

This is one of the seven last sayings of Jesus from the cross. The apostle Matthew recorded them in the original Aramaic that Jesus spoke, followed by its translation. Perhaps he recorded the actual words because they were so emotionally heart rending. Or perhaps it was because Jesus repeated David’s haunting words verbatim from Psalm 22:1.

For the first time in eternity, fellowship between the Father and the Son was interrupted. Jesus who knew no sin, became our sin. Jesus who is the Life, took our death. Jesus the eternal Son of God, took our separation. So, we might receive His righteousness, life and sonship by believing in Him.

What was Jesus’ seventh saying? “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus accomplished His mission for our salvation. Now because of Jesus, we can place our trust in Him to be made right with the Father. Christ was forsaken that we might be accepted. For now the Father has said to those who believe: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at Your love for us. That You would forsake Your own Son in order to accept us. Yet by Your great power You have raised Jesus from the grave, so that He lives, always interceding for us. Strengthen us this day by Your Spirit that we might always live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Lord has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary” (Exodus 36:1 NLT).

From: February 13, 2022

RECOGNIZING THE SACREDNESS OF OUR WORK

The modern separation between the sacred and the secular is not the wholistic view of faith and vocation that is seen in the Bible. Consider these two men whom Moses named in Exodus because of their God-given talent as craftsmen. He described Bezalel as being “chosen” (Ex.35:30) by the Lord to work as the lead craftsman in building the tabernacle. Both he and Oholiab were similarly gifted by and called by God to do this highly skilled work. Moses even described Bezalel as being “filled with the Spirit” (Ex.35:31), not only to do all kinds of specialized work as a craftsman, but also as one whom God “inspired to teach” (Ex.35:34) others his craft.

All work is sacred when it is done for the Lord. As the apostle Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col.3:23).

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to see our work as more than necessary drudgery, but divine calling. And help us to do it with all of our heart and passion, knowing that we are ultimately serving you. Let our work be a platform for sharing the gospel with those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 HCSB).

From: February 13, 2021

FINDING THE LORD AND LOSING OUR FEAR

David wrote this psalm while he was on the run from King Saul. He had even tried to gain favor with a foreign king named Abimelech, but became afraid and feigned insanity to escape him. So at a time when David couldn’t go home, nor even find a safe place among his enemies, he “sought the Lord.”

Have you ever felt like David? Surrounded by fears? Overcome by anxiety? Not knowing which way to turn? Why not turn to the Lord as David did? Seek the Lord. As the Lord told the prophet Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

Sometimes it seems that the only way we can truly seek the Lord with all our hearts is to have everything else that our heart seeks stripped away. Yet, finding the Lord, we will also find, as David did, that He delivers us from all our fears. Because “where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we seek You today. Answer us as we seek You with all our hearts. For where You are, there is no fear. Your perfect love drives out fear. Thank You for hearing our prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” (Exodus 36:1 ESV).

From: February 13, 2020

RECOGNIZING THE SACREDNESS OF OUR WORK

The modern separation between the sacred and the secular is not the wholistic view of faith and vocation that is seen in the Bible. Consider these two men whom Moses named in Exodus because of their God-given talent as craftsmen. He described Bezalel as being “called by name” (Ex.35:30) by the Lord to work as the lead craftsman in building the tabernacle. Both he and Oholiab were similarly gifted by and called by God to do this highly skilled work. Moses even described Bezalel as being “filled with the Spirit” (Ex.35:31), not only to do all kinds of specialized work as a craftsman, but also as one whom God “inspired to teach” (Ex.35:34) others his craft.

All work is sacred when it is done for the Lord. As the apostle Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col.3:23).

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to see our work as more than necessary drudgery, but divine calling. And help us to do it with all of our heart and passion, knowing that we are ultimately serving you. Let our work be a platform for sharing the gospel with those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.” (Exodus 35:21 NLT).

From: February 13, 2019

EQUAL SACRIFICE, NOT EQUAL GIFTS

God is honored when His people worship Him with “stirred” hearts and “moved” spirits. The first has to do with the emotion and the other the will. One with a stirred heart is filled with passion for God’s kingdom work. They enthusiastically bring their offering of praise. One who is moved with a willing spirit serves God, not out of duty, but out of desire. They want to serve and give. God cares more for the condition of our heart in giving, than in the content of our gifts. Equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we thank You for the gifts and blessing You have bestowed on us. We are forever grateful. We are stirred and moved to sacrificially give back to You in gratitude and worship. All that we are and all that we have are from You and belong to You. Help us to grow in our gratitude and generosity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3 NLT).

From: February 13, 2018

A CALL TO WORSHIP

David invited others to come with him to worship the Lord. He wanted to hear testimonies of the Lord’s greatness and he wanted to sing songs praising the Lord’s name. It is good to praise the Lord alone. Yet, it is even better to praise the Lord together with other believers.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).

From: February 13, 2017

We say, “Bless you!” when someone sneezes, meaning “I wish you good health.” But what does it mean to “bless the Lord?” David answers this question for us, when he further stated, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The word “praise” is a synonym for “bless,” which can also include the meaning, “to worship,” or “to glorify.”

The Jewish prayer before the breaking of bread at mealtime begins with this word, “bless” (“baruch”). However, rather than asking God to bless the food, their prayer blesses the Lord Himself for giving them bread. The prayer in Hebrew is: “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amein.” (“Blessed art Thou O Lord, our God, King of the Universe who bringeth forth bread from the earth. Amen”).

In this psalm, David declared his intent not only to “bless” and “praise” the Lord, but to do it “continually” and “at all times.” In other words, he declared his resolve to bless the Lord not only when he had bread to eat, but also when he was hungry and no bread could be found. Or as Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).

What kind of day are you having today? Are you blessing the Lord in it regardless?

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” (Exodus 36:1 ESV)

From: February 13, 2016

The modern separation between the sacred and the secular is not the wholistic view of faith and vocation that is seen in the Bible. Consider these two men whom Moses named in the Exodus story because of their God-given talent as craftsmen. He described Bezalel as being “called by name” (Ex.35:30) by the Lord to work as the lead craftsman in building the tabernacle. Both he and Oholiab were similarly gifted by and called by God to do this highly skilled work. Moses even described Bezalel as being “filled with the Spirit” (Ex.35:31), not only to do all kinds of specialized work as a craftsman, but also as one whom God “inspired to teach” (Ex.35:34) others his craft.
All work is sacred when it is done as “unto the Lord” (Col.3:23).

“Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle” (Exodus 35:21 NKJV)

From: February 13, 2015

God is honored when His people worship Him with “stirred” hearts and “willing” spirits. The first has to do with the emotion and the other the will. One with a stirred heart is filled with passion for God’s kingdom work. They enthusiastically bring their offering of praise. One with a willing spirit serves God, not out of duty, but out of desire. They want to serve and give. God cares more for the condition of our heart in giving, than in the content of our gifts.