Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 25

DO YOU SORROW FOR LOST FAMILY MEMBERS?

From: July 25, 2024

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:2-3 ESV).

The apostle Paul was continually filled with sorrow and anguish because of the Jews rejection of Christ. His grief moved him even to the point of wishing that he could switch places with them, so that they were accepted and he accursed. Everywhere he carried the gospel, he always started with the Jew and then the Greek, preaching first in the synagogues and then the marketplace. Paul burned with passion for the souls of his people. Yet, only a few believed.

Is there someone in your family that is far from God? Are you in sorrow and anguish for them as you pray for them and share the gospel with them? Have you ever felt as Paul did about your loved ones who have not received Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for our family members who are far from God. Soften their hearts and open their ears to hear the good news. Strengthen our voices and give us boldness to share the gospel with them. Stretch forth Your hand to move in their lives that they might believe. In Jesus’ name, amen.

CREATION PROCLAIMS THE CREATOR

From: July 25, 2023

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” (Psalm 19:1-2 NLT).

When David looked at the sun and blue sky by day or the moon and stars at night, he did not worship them. No, he saw how they bore witness of God’s glory and the wonder of His creation. For David, the sun, moon and stars were not objects to be worshiped, but visible heralds of the invisible Creator. They were proof not only of God’s existence, but of His great glory.

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul also wrote about the witness of creation. He wrote, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Rom. 1:20).

Yet God not only gave us evidence of His existence and glory through the general revelation of creation. He gave us an even greater revelation through His written Word and ultimately through the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Bible contains the very Word of God to us. And more than that, Jesus is the Living Word of God. For as John wrote in his gospel, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

So God has given us many witnesses of His glory and power. Creation is the first witness. Yet the last and greatest revelation of God is His Son, Jesus Christ. Do you bear witness to this?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we agree with David that the heavens declare Your glory and wonder of Your creation. Yet even more wonderful to us is the witness of Your Son, Jesus. For He has revealed Your mercy and grace and love to us. Now help us to be Your witnesses today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT).

From: July 25, 2022

ARE YOU FULLY COMMITTED TO THE LORD?

King Asa started well but finished poorly. Born in the line of David, king of Judah, he tore down the high places and Asherah poles, deposed his evil grandma, and overcame the million man army from Ethiopia with God’s help. Yet later in life, he trusted his accumulated wealth and tried to bribe a foreign king to help him. God rebuked him for this, but he was unrepentant. In the end, he died with a bitter heart and bad feet.

What went wrong in his old age? Instead of depending on God, he depended on the temple treasury and an alliance with an enemy king. When he had nothing, he depended on God. When he was old and had gold and silver, he depended on worldly wealth.

Where is your trust today? God is looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to finish well. We want to always be fully committed to You. Strengthen us to walk in the Spirit and to depend on You for all things. Protect us from the temptation to depend on the things of this world rather than You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1 HCSB).

From: July 25, 2021

THE WITNESS OF CREATION

When David looked at the sun and blue sky by day or the moon and stars at night, he did not worship them. No, he saw how they bore witness of God’s glory and the wonder of His creation. For David, the sun, moon and stars were not objects to be worshiped, but visible heralds of the invisible Creator. They were proof not only of God’s existence, but of His great glory.

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul also wrote about the witness of creation. He wrote, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Rom. 1:20).

Yet God not only gave us evidence of His existence and glory through the general revelation of creation. He gave us even greater specific revelation through His written Word and ultimately through the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Bible contains the very Word of God to us. And more than that, Jesus is the Living Word of God. For as John wrote in his gospel, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

So God has given us many witnesses of His glory and power. Creation is the first witness. Yet the greatest revelation of God is His Son, Jesus Christ. Do you bear witness to this?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we agree with David that the heavens declare Your glory and wonder of Your creation. Yet even more wonderful to us is the witness of Your Son, Jesus. For He has revealed Your mercy and grace and love to us. Now help us to be Your witnesses today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT).

From: July 25, 2019

WILL THE LORD FIND YOU FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM?

King Asa started well but finished poorly. He trusted God early in his reign and overcame a million man army. Later, he trusted his accumulated wealth and bribed a foreign king to help him. God rebuked him for this, but he was unrepentant, ending his life with a bitter heart and bad feet. Where is your trust today? God is looking for those whose hearts are fully trusting Him.

PRAYER: Father, search our hearts and show us wherever we may not be fully committed to You. For we would be wholehearted in our commitment to You always. And Lord, help us to finish better than we started for You, so that our lives bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it” (Romans 9:16 NLT).

From: July 25, 2018

GOD’S MERCY AND MAN’S WILL AND WORKS

God shows mercy according to His own will and according to His own character. It is not in response to man’s will and works, yet this does not negate man’s responsibility. God shows mercy, not out of obligation, nor any indebtedness to humanity. For God’s mercy is an attribute of God’s character and is directed by God’s perfect will.

God’s mercy is on display in the cross of Christ. For God demonstrated His love and mercy toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). So, God did this not in response to us, but according to His own love and mercy. However, this message of the cross, which is the gospel, still requires a faith response from us in order to be recipients of God’s mercy.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1 NKJV).

From: July 25, 2017

How many have been “led astray” by alcohol? The one who is normally thoughtful and well-spoken becomes a “mocker” when intoxicated. The peaceful one becomes a “brawler” when under the influence. How many families have been torn apart, how many friendships broken, how many fortunes lost because of alcohol? Be wise. “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:2-3 ESV)

From: July 25, 2016

The apostle Paul was continually filled with sorrow and anguish because of the Jews rejection of Christ. His grief moved him even to the point of wishing that he could switch places with them, so that they were accepted and he accursed. Everywhere he carried the gospel, he always started with the Jew and then the Greek, preaching first in the synagogues and then the marketplace. Paul burned with passion for the souls of his people. Yet, only a few believed. Is there someone in your family that is far from God? Are you in sorrow and anguish for them as you pray for them and share the gospel with them? Have you ever felt as Paul did about your loved ones who have not received Christ?

“And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV)

From: July 25, 2015

King Asa started well but finished poorly. He trusted God early in his reign and overcame a million man army. But later, he put his trust in his accumulated wealth and tried to bribe a foreign king to help him. God rebuked him for this, but he was unrepentant, ending his life with a bitter heart and bad feet. Where have you placed your trust? God is looking for those whose hearts are fully trusting Him. Will you finish well?

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

From: July 25, 2012

King Asa started well but finished poorly. He trusted God early in his reign and overcame a million man army. Later, he trusted his accumulated wealth and tried to bribe a foreign king to help him. God rebuked him for this, but he was unrepentant, ending his life with a bitter heart and bad feet. Where is your trust today? God is looking for those whose hearts are fully trusting Him.