Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 25

“Jesus called his disciples and told them, ‘I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance'” (Mark 8:1-3 NLT)

From: February 25, 2014

Jesus felt compassion for the hungry. He noticed their need and then took action to address it. We don’t read that the disciples felt compassion. When faced with human need we learn to turn a blind eye. There is so much need and we are so concerned with our own. Surely the disciples themselves were hungry too. And It’s hard to feel sorry for others when your own stomach is growling. Yet, both the disciples and the crowd were fed when the disciples obeyed Jesus. Through Jesus we become aware of the needs of others. We feel His compassion flowing. When we move to meet the needs of others in His Name, we find that our own needs are met in Him as well.

“And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it” (Mark 7:36 ESV)

From: February 25, 2013

During this season of Christ’s ministry he told people to keep quiet. Some say because it wasn’t yet His time. Others say He was trying to stay off the Roman radar. But it may have been because He didn’t want undue attention on His miracles. John called Christ’s miracles “signs.” They were to point to who He was, not to what He could do. Many crowded after Him for the free bread, not because He was the Bread of Life. Our witness is to be less about the healing and more about the Healer. Less the manna and more the Son of Man. The gospel is not so much what Jesus can do for you, but what He has already done. We preach Christ crucified.

“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble” (Psalm 41:1)

From: February 25, 2012

This joy speaks of what Jesus said about giving: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Today, our church is hanging food bags to ask our neighbors to partner with us in feeding the hungry. Come experience the joy with us!

“On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work because on this day atonement will be made for you” (Leviticus 16:29-30)

From: February 25, 2011

In Hebrew, “Yom Kippur,” the Day of Atonement, when a substitute was offered for the redemption of the people’s sin. Jesus is the fulfillment of this day. And He still asks His disciples to “deny themselves” and follow Him.