Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for January 29

DO YOUR POSSESSIONS OWN YOU?

From: January 29, 2024

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24 ESV).

After a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what good thing he must do to have eternal life, the Lord told him to sell his possessions, give them to the poor and come follow Him. But the young man went away sorrowful, for he was very wealthy. As the rich young ruler walked away, Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom.

Jesus used a greater to lesser hyperbole to illustrate the problem. The camel represents the rich man and his possessions, oversized and burdened with a load, while the eye of a needle represents the narrow gate that leads to the kingdom of God. Some have suggested that the “eye of the needle” referred to a small, narrow door within a city gate used for foot passengers, which even a man would need to bow low to enter. However, the metaphor still holds true. A large camel would not be able to enter through either a small door nor a needle’s eye.

Riches have a way of owning us, rather than us owning them. To rely on worldly wealth, rather than God’s provision is idolatry. The rich young ruler who claimed to be a keeper of the commandments had actually failed to keep the first, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so easily distracted and enamored with the things of this world. Forgive us. Help us to take our eyes off of worldly wealth and to fix our eyes on things above. For You have made us coheirs with Christ and all things are ours through Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM OF GOD

From: January 29, 2023

“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then” (Matthew 19:30 NLT).

After a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what good thing he must do to have eternal life, the Lord told him to sell his possessions, give them to the poor and come follow Him. But the young man went away sorrowful, for he was very wealthy. As the rich young ruler walked away, Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom.

Jesus went on to explain that a day was coming when those who we esteem as the greatest and most important in this world now, will be the least. And those who seem the least will be seen as the greatest. The economy and values of this world will one day be turned upside down, so that the love of God is valued most.

As the apostle Paul wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God” (Rom. 14:17-18).

However, we must be aware that those of this world will not understand us. They will respond as the people of Thessalonica did when Paul and Silas came preaching about the kingdom of God, saying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we willingly put You above all things, loving You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We pull our affections off the things of this world and worship Your Son, Jesus, above all. Strengthen us to live for You as we await the Day of Christ’s return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him” (Psalm 24:1 NLT).

From: January 29, 2022

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS OWNER OR STEWARD?

This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff.

One of the great sins of Christians in America is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. Always wanting more and never being content with what we have.

What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we acknowledge You as Creator and Owner of all things. We are Yours. And through faith in Jesus, You are ours. Empower us to live as faithful stewards with that you have entrusted to us until Your Son’s return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV).

From: January 29, 2020

ARE YOU OWNER OR STEWARD?

This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we acknowledge You as Creator and Owner of all things. We are Yours. And through faith in Jesus, You are ours. Empower us to live as faithful stewards with that you have entrusted to us until Your Son’s return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior” (Psalm 24:5 NLT).

From: January 29, 2019

THE BLESSING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

What is this righteousness? It is to have a “right relationship with God.” Yet this right relationship cannot be earned nor acquired by human effort. It is a blessing from God that must be received by faith. For Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God to all those who believe (Rom. 3:22). He is the Savior who offers us the blessing of eternal life.

Have you received the blessing of righteousness? You have if you have received Jesus as Savior and Lord.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessing of righteousness that you have given in the person of Jesus Christ to all who believe. We confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and believe in our hearts that You have raised Him from the dead. Thank you for saving us and accounting unto us the righteousness of Christ Jesus. We are adopted in Your family and accepted in Your courts as sons. We worship You and give You glory and praise! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth” (Exodus 9:16 NLT).

From: January 29, 2018

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE TEN PLAGUES

The Lord warned Pharaoh that He could have easily wiped them off the face of the earth for holding his chosen people in slavery. But instead he spared them, using the ten plagues to reveal His power and spread His fame in the earth. There were many ways the Lord could have chosen to free the Israelites, but the ten plagues were given to reveal His power over every aspect of life.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24 NKJV).

From: January 29, 2017

After a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what good thing he must do to have eternal life, the Lord told him to sell his possessions, give them to the poor and come follow Him. But the young man went away sorrowful, for he was very wealthy. As the rich young ruler walked away, Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. He then used a greater to lesser hyperbole to illustrate the problem. The camel represents the rich man, oversized and burdened with a load, while the eye of a needle represents the narrow gate that leads to the kingdom of God. Some have suggested that the “eye of the needle” referred to the small, narrow door within a city gate used for foot passengers, which even a man would need to bow low to enter. However, the metaphor still holds true. A large camel cannot enter through a small door nor a needle’s eye. It would need to shrink to enter either.

Riches have a way of owning us, rather than us owning them. To rely on worldly wealth, rather than God’s provision is idolatry. The rich young ruler who claimed to be a keeper of the commandments had actually failed to keep the first, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 ESV)

From: January 29, 2016

This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV)

From: January 29, 2015

This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14)

From: January 29, 2014

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat children. If they are patient and fun with little ones, it reveals something about their heart. If they are nervous and frustrated, this too shows. Jesus loved little children. He always made time for them. I’ve observed that most people who come to Christ, do so before adulthood. The older we get, the more our hearts harden. Yet, it’s never too late to see Jesus with childlike eyes and receive Him with a childlike faith.