Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for January 1

THE REVELATION AND BLESSING OF REST

From: January 1, 2024

“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:3 ESV).

Nearly every measurement of time was set in motion by God from the beginning. Our clocks and calendars are only manmade tools to mark the “signs, seasons, days, and years” (Gen. 1:14), which God ordained from the start. The 24-hour day and the 365-day year are set by the sun. The months are marked by the moon and the seasons by the tilt of the Earth on its axis as it orbits the sun.

But God established the seven-day-week by revelation. The week was given to us by His Word. For His Word teaches that God worked six days to create the heavens and earth and on the seventh day He rested. So, He “blessed” the seventh day and declared it holy, which means set apart for special use, namely, rest.

So, with this in mind, let us begin this new year by following not only God’s rhythm of creation, but also His rhythm of revelation. Working and resting by faith in the One who made us in His image and for Himself. Our Lord Jesus leads us in this saying, “Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19). Our Lord Jesus is our revelation of rest, for He is our Sabbath Rest.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for this rhythm of rest that You have laid out for us. Help us to work out of Your rest, depending on Your Spirit to energize us and to lead us to do the work You have ordained for us. And help us to rest in Jesus. For in Him, we can do all things. In His name we pray, amen.

A PROVERB A DAY…

From: January 1, 2023

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair” (Proverbs 1:1-3 NLT).

The Book of Proverbs contains the God-given wisdom of Solomon. It promises to teach people “wisdom, discipline and understanding.” But not only wisdom to think rightly, but to do “what is right, just and fair.” Wisdom has the good judgment to rightly apply knowledge and experience. Discipline has the insight to be led by wisdom rather than desire. Understanding has a deeper comprehension of knowledge, so that it is able to know and explain a thing simply.

Conveniently, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, so if one reads a chapter a day, it can be read through 12 times a year. That’s 12 times closer to being wise than when the year began!

Yet, the deepest wisdom is to know Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to live by Your wisdom, rather than our own. For Your wisdom leads to life and blessing. Help us to grow in wisdom this year as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For it is in His name we pray, amen.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NLT).

From: January 1, 2022

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS

It’s a new year and it can be a new “beginning” for us too. For the God that “created the heavens and the earth” is the same God today as He was yesterday. Just as He created all things in the beginning, so He can make us a new creation in Christ and give us a new beginning in 2022.

It’s a new year, so why not join us each day as we read through the Bible together? We call it the “OYB Bus” (“One Year Bible”) because we’re taking a tour through the Scriptures together in a year. There are many apps for reading through the Bible, but the one we use can be found at: https://oneyearbibleonline.com

Plus, you can read my daily devotions from the OYB to see what verse I felt led to focus on that day by following my blog (Click on the link below). This year I will be using the NLT (New Living Translation) for my daily readings for its ease of reading.

So, all aboard for a new beginning! The OYB Bus is pulling out of the station! Let’s go! New Year, new beginning!

PRAYER: Dear Father, a new year begins today. Help us to begin it with You and Your Word. We want to begin this day, and every day this year, by seeking Your face and listening to Your voice. We need a fresh start, Lord. Strengthen us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 HCSB).

From: January 1, 2021

NEW BEGINNINGS

It’s a new year and it can be a new “beginning” for us too. For the God that “created the heavens and the earth” is the same God today as He was yesterday. Just as He created all things in the beginning, so He can make us a new creation in Christ and give us a new beginning in 2021.

It’s a new year, so why not join us each day as we read through the Bible together? We call it the “OYB Bus” (“One Year Bible”). There are many apps for reading through the Bible, but the one we use can be found at: oneyearbibleonline.com

Plus, you can read my daily devotions to see what verse I felt led to focus on that day by following my blog (Click on the link below). This year I will be using the HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) for my daily readings.

So, all aboard for a new beginning! The OYB Bus is pulling out of the station! Let’s go! New Year, new start!

PRAYER: Dear Father, a new year begins today. Help us to begin it with You and Your Word. We want to begin this day, and every day this year, by seeking Your face and listening to Your voice. We need a fresh start, Lord. Strengthen us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years” (Genesis 1:14 NKJV).

From: January 1, 2020

GOD’S PROVISION TO HELP US MARK OUR TIME ON EARTH

Nearly every measurement of time was set in motion by God from the beginning. Our clocks and calendars are only manmade tools to mark the “signs and seasons” which God ordained from the start. The 24-hour day and the 365-day year are set by the sun. The months are marked by the moon and the seasons by the tilt of the Earth on its axis as it orbits the sun. Even the timing of the Bethlehem Star that appeared to announce the birth of Jesus Christ was precisely set in motion at the time of God’s creation.

However the 7-day week is an exception. Although some attribute its origin to the ancient Babylonians, the 7-day week finds its true origin explained in the Bible. For it comes not by observing God’s creation, but by following God’s revelation. As we read in Genesis 2, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Gen. 2:1-3). Thus, the 7-day week is our “weekly” reminder of God’s revelation to us.

As we begin a new year, let us heed the instruction from God’s Word that says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psa. 90:12). And let us be wise as we live this new year, “redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16), so that we are ready for the Day of the Lord’s return, which is already set in the mind of God.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your provision to help us mark our time on earth. It causes a longing in our hearts for You and for eternity. For time slips by so quickly. Yet, we are not afraid, for we know that Your Son has prepared a place for us to live forever with Him in Your presence. In the meantime, teach us to “number our days” and live with our minds and hearts set on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” (Genesis 2:3 NLT).

From: January 1, 2019

THE REVELATION OF REST

God created many “signs to mark the seasons, days, and years” (Gen.1:14). But He established the seven-day-week by revelation. For God worked six days to create the heavens and earth and on the seventh day He rested. So, He declared the seventh day “holy,” which means set apart for special use— in this case— rest.

The interaction between the earth, sun and moon were put in motion to run like a clock and a calendar, establishing our days, months and years. But our weeks are lived by faith, for no other sign but God’s Word reveals the seven-day-week.

So, with this in mind, let us begin this year with the goal of following not only God’s rhythm of creation, but also His rhythm of revelation. Working and resting by faith in the One who made us in His image and for Himself. Our Lord Jesus leads us in this saying, “Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19). Our Lord Jesus is our revelation of rest, for He is our Sabbath Rest.

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise” (Proverbs 1:1-2 NLT).

From: January 1, 2018

The Book of Proverbs contains the God-given wisdom of Solomon. It promises to teach people “wisdom, discipline and understanding.” Wisdom has the good judgment to rightly apply knowledge and experience. Discipline has the insight to be led by wisdom rather than desire. Understanding has a deeper comprehension of knowledge, so that it is able to know and explain a thing simply.

Conveniently, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, so if one reads a chapter a day, it can be read through 12 times a year. That’s 12 times closer to being wise than when the year began!

Yet, the deepest wisdom is to know Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24).

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV).

From: January 1, 2017

“Blessed” (Happy, fulfilled, completely satisfied) is the one who doesn’t follow the counsel and way of the world, but instead finds direction from God’s Word. The person who follows the “law of the Lord,” which is the Word of God, follows a narrow path that few find, yet is available to all who would delight in it. This blessed life is marked by meditating on the Word, moving it from the head to the heart through reading, studying and internalizing it day and night. This life is like a “tree planted by streams of water,” drawing on the life from the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, who is revealed by the written Word.

How will you begin this new year 2017? Whose counsel will you follow?

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

From: January 1, 2016

“Blessed” (Happy, fulfilled, satisfied) is the one who doesn’t follow the counsel and way of the world, but instead finds direction from God’s Word. The person who follows the “law of the Lord,” which is the Word of God, follows a narrow path that few find, yet is available to all who would delight in it. This blessed life is marked by meditating on the Word, moving it from the head to the heart through reading, studying and internalizing it day and night. This life is like a “tree planted by streams of water,” drawing on the life from the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, who is revealed by the written Word.
How will you begin this new year 2016? Whose counsel will you follow?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)

From: January 1, 2015

It’s a new year and it can be a new “beginning” too. Because the God that “created the heavens and the earth” is the same God today as He was yesterday. He can make us a new creation in Christ. He is the Creator God. He stands outside of time, space and matter. He is the wholly Other. But He is also the God that took on human flesh and died for us. He is both transcendent and immanent. He can change your life. He is the Author, not only of this Book, but of our salvation.
Welcome aboard another journey on the Bible Bus. All aboard for a new beginning! This year I will be using the NKJV (New King James Version) for my daily readings. Let’s go… New Year, new start!