Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 21

FAITH OVER FEAR

From: February 21, 2025

‘But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”’ (Mark 5:36 ESV).

A synagogue ruler named Jairus came to Jesus, begging him to come and heal his sick daughter. Jesus went with him. As they were on the way, messengers came to inform them that she had died. In response, Jesus told Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus often put fear and faith as opposite choices that people could choose as an act of the will. When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house, He raised his daughter from the dead.

Fear seems like an automatic response rather than an act of the will. But Jesus teaches that we can learn to choose faith over fear. Is this possible? That we can learn to replace our fear with faith?

I suppose it’s about what or who you believe. If you believe the voice of the crowd or of the world, it produces doubt. And doubt produces fear. But if you believe in God’s Word, if you believe in His Son, Jesus, that faith overcomes fear.

Remember, such fear does not come from God. As the apostle Paul wrote in his second epistle to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

So let us recognize the “spirit of fear” as something contrary to God’s will for us. Let us depend on His Spirit to replace our fears with His power, love, and a sound mind filled with faith in Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe, help us with our unbelief. For when we doubt, we become anxious and fearful. We therefore choose to believe Your promises and Your Word. We choose faith in You over fear, knowing that You will give us peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.

CHRIST BECAME POOR THAT WE MIGHT BE RICH

From: February 21, 2024

“And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering” (Leviticus 12:8 ESV).

The law for the purification of a woman who had given birth to a male child called for the child to be circumcised on the eighth day. After the circumcision of her son, she was to wait thirty-three more days to complete her time of purification. Then, she was to bring with her to the Temple a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon for a sin offering. Yet, the law further stated that another pigeon might be substituted for the lamb if the mother could not “afford a lamb.”

Centuries later, this provision for the poor was utilized by Mary and Joseph when they brought baby Jesus from Bethlehem to Jerusalem after the time for purification. For the gospel of Luke reported that they brought “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” according to the Law of the Lord (Luke 2:24).

That this provision was utilized by Mary and Joseph points to the poverty of the young couple to whom Jesus was born. For as the apostle Paul told the believers at Corinth, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

Isn’t it wonderful that God’s law made provision for the poor and especially for the Son that became poor for our sakes, that we might become rich in Him?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the grace You have shown us through Christ Jesus. For we were spiritually impoverished and morally bankrupt, but for our sakes Jesus took on our situation that we might be made whole and right with You. Now strengthen us by Your grace to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

OVERWHELMED WITH GUILT?

From: February 21, 2023

“My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.” (Psalm 38:4 NLT).

David wrote this psalm of despair over the weight of his guilt. He described his sins as having broken his health. He said they were like a burden too heavy for him to bear. He confessed his sin, but was still anxious about his guilt. So he cried out to the Lord to hurry to help him.

Have you ever felt as if you were drowning because of your sin? As if the weight of wrong-doing had become too heavy to bear? It’s rare these days for someone to admit such a feeling. People today are more apt to excuse or attempt to cover-up transgression. Yet their guilt remains.

There is only One who has been able to bear the heavy weight of our sin. Not only ours, but the sins of all the world. Therefore, there is only One who is able to rescue us from the weight of sin. His name is Jesus. Cry out to Him. Confess your sins and believe. Jesus will set you free.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our sin to You. For you are faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus. Thank You, dear Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John” (Mark 5:37 NLT).

From: February 21, 2022

CHRIST’S METHOD OF LIFE-ON-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP

When Jesus went into the home of the synagogue ruler whose daughter had died, He only permitted three of the Twelve to follow inside. Peter, James and John were often singled out for such occasions. They were witnesses on that day of Jesus raising the synagogue ruler’s daughter up from the dead. At other times, they were privileged to witness the Transfiguration and were humbled to be invited into Christ’s inner circle in the Garden of Gethsemene, even if they couldn’t stay awake for the prayer time.

Why were these three given such special consideration? The Scripture doesn’t answer this “why” question (It rarely does), but perhaps the influence they had after Christ’s ascension might be a clue. For Peter was the Rock who preached the first sermon on Pentecost, James was the first of the Twelve martyred and John was the last living apostle, the one to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mother.

Christ’s ministry involved working with various numbers of people. He fed and preached to 5,000. He appeared to 500 at one time after His resurrection. He called 120 to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. He sent 70 out two by two. He called 12 to follow and be with Him. And from the Twelve, He called 3 to be His closest followers. Christ’s ministry involved working with different numbers of people, but His method of discipleship was always life-on-life.

We can only truly invest our lives into a few people at a time. The truth is that life transformation happens in relationship, in community, not in a classroom. We can minister to a multitude, but making disciples requires a life-on-life approach.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we have heard Christ’s invitation to be His disciples. We have answered this call by faith. Now strengthen us not only to follow Jesus, but to also be busy making disciples as He has commanded. May we always follow Christ’s method of life-on-life discipleship. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For my sins have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear” (Psalm 38:4 HCSB).

From: February 21, 2021

SIN TOO HEAVY TO BEAR

David wrote this psalm of despair over the weight of his sin. He described his sins as having “flooded over” his head. He said they were like a “burden” too heavy for him to bear. He confessed his sin, but was still anxious about his guilt. So he cried out to the Lord to hurry to help him.

Have you ever felt as if you were drowning because of your sin? As if the weight of wrong-doing had become too heavy to bear? It’s rare these days for someone to admit such a feeling. People today are more apt to excuse or attempt to cover-up transgression. Yet their sin remains.

There is only One who has been able to bear the heavy weight of our sin. Not only ours, but the sins of all the world. Therefore, there is only One who is able to rescue us from the weight of sin. His name is Jesus. Cry out to Him. Confess your sins and believe. Jesus will set you free.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our sin to You. For you are faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus. Thank You, dear Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James” (Mark 5:37 NKJV).

From: February 21, 2020

CHRIST’S METHOD OF LIFE-ON-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP

When Jesus went into the home of the synagogue ruler whose daughter had died, He only permitted three of the Twelve to follow inside. Peter, James and John were often singled out for such occasions. They were witnesses on that day of Jesus raising the synagogue ruler’s daughter up from the dead. At other times, they were privileged to witness the Transfiguration and were humbled to be invited into Christ’s inner circle in the Garden of Gethsemene, even if they couldn’t stay awake for the prayer time.

Why were these three given such special consideration? The Scripture doesn’t answer this “why” question (It rarely does), but perhaps the influence they had afterward Christ’s ascension might be a clue. For Peter was the Rock who preached the first sermon on Pentecost, James was the first of the Twelve martyred and John was the last living apostle, the one to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mother.

Christ’s ministry involved working with various numbers of people. He fed and preached to 5,000. He appeared to 500 at one time after His resurrection. He called 120 to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. He sent 70 out two by two. He called 12 to follow and be with Him. And from the Twelve, He called 3 to be His closest followers. Christ’s ministry involved working with different numbers of people, but His method of discipleship was always life-on-life.

We can only truly invest our lives into a few people at a time. We can minister to a multitude, but making disciples requires a life-on-life approach.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we have heard Christ’s invitation to be His disciples. We have answered this call by faith. Now strengthen us not only to follow Jesus, but to also be busy making disciples as He has commanded. May we always follow Christ’s method of life-on-life discipleship. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”’ (Mark 5:36 NLT).

From: February 21, 2018

FEAR OR FAITH?

Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter when messengers came to inform them that she had died. In response, Jesus told Jairus to have faith rather than fear. Jesus often put fear and faith as opposite choices that people could make as an act of the will. When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house, He raised his daughter from the dead.

Fear seems like an automatic response rather than an act of the will. But Jesus teaches that we can learn to choose faith over fear.

Is this possible? That we can learn to replace our fear with faith?

“And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Leviticus 12:8 NKJV).

From: February 21, 2017

The law for the purification of a woman who had given birth to a male child called for the child to be circumcised on the 8th day. After the circumcision of her son, she had to wait thirty-three more days to complete her time of purification. Then, she was to bring with her to the Temple a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon for a sin offering. Yet, the law further stated that another pigeon might be substituted for the lamb if the mother “is not able to bring a lamb.” This provision for the poor was utilized by Mary and Joseph when they brought baby Jesus from Bethlehem to Jerusalem on the 8th day to be circumcised. And Mary brought “two turtledoves or pigeons” as an offering as they presented Jesus to the Lord (Luke 2:21-24). They did this that all the law might be fulfilled concerning Jesus.

That this provision was utilized points to the poverty of the young couple to whom Jesus was born. This took place after the visit of the shepherds, but before the visit of the Magi, for their gifts would have made the purchase of a lamb possible for the couple.

Isn’t it wonderful that God’s law made provision for the poor and especially for the Son that became poor for our sakes, that we might become rich in Him (2 Cor. 8:9)?

“If I touch even his garments, I will be made well” (Mark 5:28 ESV)

From: February 21, 2016

This with today’s reading in Leviticus 11-12 makes for a revealing juxtaposition. The law details how touching a dead body or a bleeding woman makes one unclean. Mark shows how a touch from the holy Jesus has the reverse affect: The bleeding woman is healed and the dead girl rises again.

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment” (Mark 5:27 NKJV)

From: February 21, 2015

This with today’s OT reading in Leviticus 11-12 makes for a revealing juxtaposition. Leviticus details how touching a dead body or a bleeding woman makes one unclean. Mark shows how a touch from the holy Jesus has the reverse affect: The dead girl rises again and the bleeding woman is healed. Their impurity did not make Jesus unclean, but His holiness was transmitted to them making them whole.