Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 19

THE LISTENING PRINCIPLE

From: February 19, 2024

‘And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you”‘ (Mark 4:24 ESV).

Jesus instructed His disciples to “pay attention” to His teachings. For the greater the measure of their concentration on listening to Him, the greater their understanding would be. This principle might be restated as “Listen and learn.” And with greater listening there will be greater understanding.

Yet, there is a spiritual component. For Christ is making a promise to those that pay close attention to His teachings that they will be given more and more understanding. For the Word of God applied by the Spirit of God transforms the mind of the hearer, so that they might know and live by the will of God.

Let us respond to the Word of the Lord as the young prophet Samuel was taught to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:9).

Do you have ears to hear?

PRAYER: Dear Father, speak to us today for we are listening. Give us spiritual ears to hear Your voice. Instruct us and encourage us by Your Word. Transform our thinking, so that we have the mind of Christ on all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

SPRINKLE OR POUR?

From: February 19, 2023

“Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, anointing him and making him holy for his work” (Leviticus 8:12 NLT).

Moses consecrated the Tabernacle with all its implements, “sprinkling” them with the special anointing oil as the Lord commanded. Then, he washed Aaron and his sons with water, clothed him in priestly garments, and “poured” the anointing oil on his head to consecrate him as high priest.

David wrote of the copious amount of oil poured on Aaron’s head, comparing it to the luxurious fragrance of unity among God’s people, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” (Psalm 133:1-2).

There is much symbolism to consider in the consecration of Aaron and his sons. For as believers, our sins are “washed” away by the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice (Heb. 10:19-22, 1 John 1:7). We are clothed in new clothes of righteousness, putting off the old man and putting on the new in Christ (Col. 3:1-15). And we have been anointed with the “oil” of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

Yet, Aaron the high priest, who had the anointing oil “poured” on him, is a foreshadowing of Christ, the Anointed One, our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-15).

And in Christ, the Spirit has been given to us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Not only sprinkling, but pouring out Your Spirit upon us. Anoint us to do Your work and to follow Your Son, becoming like Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.” (Mark 4:18-19 NLT).

From: February 19, 2022

THE THORNY SOIL OF THE AMERICAN HEART

Jesus told a parable about a sower who sowed seed that fell on four types of soil. Some seed fell on a path, some in rocky soil, some fell in soil overgrown with thorns and some fell on good soil. Jesus later explained the parable to His disciples. He said the seed represented God’s Word and the soil represented the spiritual receptivity of the human heart.

Certainly, one can see all four heart conditions among Americans and their spiritual receptivity to the Word. But the third condition, the thorny soil condition, seems the most prolific. Americans are usually open to receiving God’s Word. Yet, the fruitfulness of their lives is often stunted. Why? Jesus explained it. They are troubled by the “worries of this life” or they are ensnared by “the lure of wealth.” The “desire for other things,” meaning worldly, rather than spiritual things, has choked the fruitfulness of the Word in them. As a result, they never really grow to spiritual maturity and fruitfulness.

What is your heart’s receptivity to the Word? Have you allowed the thorny vines of worry about the pandemic or politics to choke your spiritual growth? Have you become entangled and seduced by the pursuit of wealth and the desire for worldly things, which has choked your enthusiasm for God’s Word?

Or is your heart good soil? Are you receptive to God’s Word? Does the Word take root in you and bear good fruit?

PRAYER: Dear Father, none of us have pure hearts, but You have promised to give us a new heart. Help us to disentangle ourselves from the love of money and worldly things, so that Your Word can take deep root and be fruitful in us. We want hearts that love You and Your Word above all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19 HCSB).

From: February 19, 2021

THE THORNY SOIL OF THE AMERICAN BELIEVER

Jesus told a parable about a sower who sowed seed that fell on four types of soil. Some seed fell on a path, some in rocky soil, some fell in soil overgrown with thorns and some fell on good soil. Jesus later explained the parable to His disciples. He said the seed represented God’s Word and the soil represented the spiritual receptivity of the human heart.

Certainly, one can see all four heart conditions among Americans and their spiritual receptivity to the gospel. But the third condition, the thorny soil condition, is the most prolific. Americans, especially in the South, are usually very open to receiving God’s Word. Yet, the fruitfulness of their lives is often stunted. Why? Jesus explained it. They are troubled by the “worries of the age” or they are ensnared by “the seduction of wealth.” The “desire for other things,” meaning worldly, rather than spiritual things, has “choked” the fruitfulness of the Word in them. As a result, they never really grow to spiritual maturity.

What’s your heart’s receptivity to the Word? Have you allowed the thorny vines of worry about the pandemic or politics to choke your spiritual growth? Have you become entangled and seduced by the pursuit of wealth and the desire for worldly things, which has choked your enthusiasm for God’s Word? Or is your heart good soil? Does the Word take root in you and bear good fruit?

PRAYER: Dear Father, none of us have pure hearts, but You have promised to give us a new heart. Help us to disentangle ourselves from the love of money and worldly things, so that Your Word can take deep root and be fruitful in us. We want hearts that love You and Your Word above all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more” (Mark 4:24 NLT).

From: February 19, 2018

THE LISTENING PRINCIPLE

Jesus instructed His disciples to “pay close attention” to His teachings. For the “closer” they listened, the more they would receive understanding from His Word. This principle seems obvious: “listen and learn.” Yet, there is a spiritual component. For Christ is making a promise to those that pay close attention to His teachings that they will be given more and more understanding. This is why we love God’s Word. We read it everyday and everyday it brings new meaning to our lives.

“And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him” (Leviticus 8:12 NKJV).

From: February 19, 2017

Sprinkle or pour?

Moses consecrated the Tabernacle with all its implements, “sprinkling” them with the special anointing oil as the Lord commanded. Then, he washed Aaron and his sons with water, clothed him in priestly garments, and “poured” the anointing oil on his head to consecrate him as high priest. David wrote of the copious amount of oil poured on Aaron’s head, comparing it to the luxurious fragrance of unity among God’s people, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” (Psalm 133:1-2).

There is much symbolism to consider in the consecration of Aaron and his sons. For as believers, our sins are “washed” away by the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice (Heb. 10:19-22, 1 John 1:7). We are clothed in new clothes of righteousness, putting off the old man and putting on the new in Christ (Col. 3:1-15). And we have been anointed with the “oil” of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22). Yet, Aaron the high priest, who had the anointing oil “poured” on him, is a foreshadowing of Christ, the Anointed One, our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-15). “For in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Col. 2:9).

And it was Christ, who has “poured” out His Spirit upon us!

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives” (Psalm 27:21 ESV)

From: February 19, 2016

Righteous hearts have generous hands. How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less giving to others. You have received Christ’s generous gift of salvation in your hearts, but has it affected the generosity of your hands?

“The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives (Psalm 37:21 NKJV)

From: February 19, 2015

How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has believing in Christ affected how you handle money?

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23 NLT)

From: February 19, 2014

I miss my mother, especially on Friday mornings. I used to phone her around 10 AM every Friday. She would have received my weekly sermon tape in the mail by then and would have already listened to it. I would call and she would answer, usually by the second ring. Then, she would begin to tell me how good the sermon was, how proud she was of me and ask a thousand questions about every detail of my life, about my wife, my kids and me since the previous week. Who else but your mom has such an interest in you? I’ll tell you who… the Lord. “He delights in every detail” of your life. And I don’t have to phone or wait until Friday. I can tell Him every detail at any time and He always hears me.

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives (Psalm 37:21 ESV)

From: February 19, 2013

How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The one with integrity not only repays their debts, but gives generously to those in need. The one with a wicked heart avoids even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has your heart’s believing in Christ affected your hand’s behavior as regards money? Integrity is having your heart and hands in agreement.