Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 14

THE VENOM OF INGRATITUDE

From: March 14, 2025

‘And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us”‘ (Numbers 21:7 ESV).

There are different types of snake venom. Hemotoxic venom attacks the heart and blood, neurotoxic venom affects the nervous system and brain, and cytotoxic venom destroys tissue at the site of the bite. But there is another kind of venom that does not come from snakes—it comes from within us. It is the poison of ingratitude, the toxin of grumbling, and it is far more dangerous than we often realize.

The Israelites suffered from this venom in the wilderness. They grew impatient and spoke against God, questioning His sovereignty, denying His provision, and rejecting His grace. They complained to Moses, saying, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread” (Numbers 21:5). Their grumbling was not just against their circumstances; it was against God Himself. In response, the Lord sent fiery serpents among them, perhaps as a vivid lesson to show them the deadly nature of their ingratitude.

Grumbling is more than a bad habit—it is a spiritual sickness. It blinds us to God’s blessings and poisons our hearts with discontent. The cure for ingratitude is found in the very response of the Israelites. First, they confessed their sin, recognizing the weight of their rebellion when they said, “We have sinned” (Numbers 21:7). Second, they pleaded with Moses to intercede for them, asking for God’s mercy and deliverance from the serpents. Finally, God provided a remedy—a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten could look upon it and be healed (Numbers 21:9).

In the same way, we must confess our own ungrateful hearts, pray for God’s grace to remove the venom of discontent, and fix our eyes on Jesus. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking in faith at the bronze serpent, we are made whole when we look to Christ, who was lifted up on the cross for our salvation (John 3:14-15). Gratitude is the antidote to the poison of complaining. When we choose to focus on God’s goodness, we find healing, joy, and renewed trust in His perfect plan.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times we have let ingratitude take root in our hearts. Help us to trust in Your sovereignty, be content with Your provision, and recognize Your grace in our lives. Teach us to replace grumbling with gratitude and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. In His name, Amen.

THE SYMBOL OF OUR SIN AND SUFFERING

From: March 14, 2024

“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:9 ESV).

This is one of the more bizarre stories in the Bible. The Israelites were once again grumbling against God and Moses because of the lack of water and variety of food in the wilderness, so God sent poisonous snakes among them.

God hates grumbling. Grumbling is the opposite of thankfulness. Grumbling itself is like a venom that infects everyone that hears it with a spirit of ingratitude.

When the people repented and cried out for forgiveness, God instructed Moses to make an image of a bronze serpent and to put it up on a pole for people to look upon and repent of their sin for healing. Strange that the symbol of their suffering would be God’s provision for their forgiveness and healing.

Yet, this is exactly what God did when He sent Jesus to die in our place. For on the cross we see the death that our own sin deserved. Jesus took on our sin, our separation and death on the cross. The cross is like a symbol of our sin and suffering, just as the bronze serpent was in the wilderness. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to die on our behalf. He became sin who knew no sin, so that we might become Your righteousness. We look to Him by faith and we are set free. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE

From: March 14, 2023

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said” (Luke 1:45 NLT).

After the angel Gabriel visited Mary, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s arrival, the baby within Elizabeth’s womb leaped with joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit. She immediately knew that Mary was with child and was carrying the Lord and she announced it to Mary with a glad cry. Elizabeth concluded by saying, “You are blessed because you believed.”

There is much to consider in this story, yet let us focus on this final word from Elizabeth, “You are blessed because you believed.” Believed what? For it isn’t believing itself that brings blessing. The power of believing is in its object, the something, or the someone, in which one is trusting. This is why the full quote from Elizabeth was, “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary believed the Word of the Lord. It was her faith in God’s Word that brought blessing.

Do you believe? No wait. That’s the wrong question. Do you believe what God has said about you? That’s the right question. Do you trust His promises? Do you believe God’s Word? What’s your answer? For blessing follows the one who believes what God has said.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe in You and in Your Word. We trust what You have said. And most of all, we have put our trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ. For He is our Lord and Savior. We are forever blessed because we have believed in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (Numbers 21:9 NLT).

From: March 14, 2022

THE SYMBOL OF OUR SIN AND SUFFERING

This is one of the more bizarre stories in the Bible. The Israelites were once again grumbling against God and Moses because of the lack of water and variety of food in the wilderness, so God sent poisonous snakes among them.

God hates grumbling. Grumbling is the opposite of thankfulness. Grumbling itself is like a venom that infects everyone that hears it with a spirit of ingratitude.

When the people repented and cried out for forgiveness, God instructed Moses to make an image of a bronze serpent and to put it up on a pole for people to look upon and repent of their sin for healing. Strange that the symbol of their suffering would be God’s provision for their forgiveness and healing.

Yet, this is exactly what God did when He sent Jesus to die in our place. For on the cross we see the death that our own sin deserved. Jesus took on our sin, our separation and death on the cross. The cross is like a symbol of our sin and suffering, just as the bronze serpent was in the wilderness. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to die on our behalf. He became sin who knew no sin, so that we might become Your righteousness. We look to Him by faith and we are set free. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.” (Numbers 21:9 HCSB).

From: March 14, 2021

THE SYMBOL OF OUR SIN AND SUFFERING

This is one of the more bizarre stories in the Bible. The Israelites were once again grumbling against God and Moses because of the lack of water and variety of food in the wilderness, so God sent poisonous snakes among them.

God hates grumbling. Grumbling is the opposite of thankfulness. Grumbling itself is like a venom that infects everyone that hears it with a spirit of ingratitude.

When the people repented and cried out for forgiveness, God instructed Moses to make an image of a bronze serpent and to put it up on a pole for people to look upon and repent of their sin for healing. Strange that the symbol of their suffering would be God’s provision for their forgiveness and healing.

Yet, this is exactly what God did when He sent Jesus to die in our place. For on the cross we see the death that our own sin deserved. Jesus took on our sin, our separation and death on the cross. The cross is like a symbol of our sin and suffering, just as the bronze serpent was in the wilderness. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to die on our behalf. He became sin who knew no sin, so that we might become Your righteousness. We look to Him by faith and we are set free. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalms 57:1 NKJV).

From: March 14, 2020

DO YOU FEEL LIKE HIDING IN A CAVE?

David wrote this psalm regarding the time he was hiding in a cave while fleeing from Saul. Even though the king of Israel sought to kill him, David trusted in the Lord. And even though he hid in a cave, he was confident that the day of calamity would soon pass by. In the meantime, rested in the shadow of the Lord’s wings as his refuge.

With all the worldwide fear concerning the pandemic, many of us may feel like hiding in a cave. Yet, we too can put our trust in the Lord. We can pray for God’s mercy on this who are already sick and for his mercy on us as we live to serve Him. We can pray for His protection and care. We do not have to be afraid because the Lord is our refuge until this calamity has passed by.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we cast our care upon You. We pray for those who are sick with the Coronavirus. Comfort and heal them, for You are the Great Physician. We pray for protection for our elderly and others at risk. We pray for our local, state, and national leaders, that You will give them wisdom to guide us through these days. We pray for Your Church that we will be the Body of Christ, offering both physical and spiritual help to those in need. May there be an increase of gospel receptivity during these days. And may we be strengthened to share the hope of Jesus with everyone. For it is in His precious name that we pray, amen.

“So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (Numbers 21:9 NLT).

From: March 14, 2019

LOOKING UPON THE SUFFERING SAVIOR WITH FAITH

This is one of the more bizarre stories in the Bible. The Israelites were once again grumbling against God and Moses because of the lack of water and variety of food in the wilderness, so God punished them with poisonous snakes. God hates grumbling. Grumbling is the opposite of thankfulness. Grumbling itself is like a venom that infects everyone that hears it with a spirit of ingratitude. When the people repented and cried out for forgiveness, God instructed Moses to make an image of a Bronze Serpent and to put it up on a pole for people to look upon and repent of their sin for healing.

Strange that the symbol of their suffering would be God’s provision for their forgiveness and healing. Yet, this is exactly what God did when He sent Jesus to die in our place. For on the cross we see the image of what our own sin deserved. Jesus became the symbol of our suffering. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as the provision for our sin. The cross is the picture of what it took to pay for our sin. It is the illustration of how great is your love for us. We are loved. We are forgiven. We are set free and choose to follow you for all our days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey” (Psalms 57:4 NLT).

From: March 14, 2018

RESCUED FROM MAN-EATING LIONS
David wrote this psalm asking for the Lord’s protection and rescue from his enemies who were like “fierce,” man-eating lions. This reminds me of how the Lord rescued David and centuries later, Daniel, who was thrown into the lion’s den by King Darius the Mede (Dan. 6).

Lions are often used both literally (Daniel) and symbolically (David) in the Bible to describe the enemies of God and of His people. The apostle Peter described Satan as being like a lion, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). So, “stay alert” and don’t be afraid for though the lion may be the king of the jungle, Christ is the King of Kings! He has overcome sin, Satan, death and the grave!

‘Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people’ (Numbers 21:7 NKJV).

From: March 14, 2017

Have you been snake bit?

There are three types of snake venom: Hemotoxic, which acts on the heart and cardiovascular system; Neurotoxic, which acts on the nervous system and brain; and Cytotoxic, which has a localized action at the site of the bite.

But there’s another kind of venom that works on the spirit. It comes not from snakes, but from other people. It’s the venom of ingratitude. It’s the poison of grumbling. And it is more dangerous than most people realize.I think that the venomous nature of complaining must’ve been the reason the Lord sent serpents among the Israelites. He wanted to show them the dangers of ingratitude.

What is the anatomy of ingratitude?
– A heart that won’t wait on God.
– A mouth that speaks against God.

Why is grumbling against God?
– It questions God’s sovereignty (“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” v.5)
– It denies God’s provision (“For there is no food and no water” v.5)
– It rejects God’s grace (“Our soul loathes this worthless bread” v.5)

What is the cure for ingratitude?
1) Confess it as sin. (“We have sinned” v.7)
2) Pray that God would remove the venom of ingratitude. (“pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents” v.7)
3) Focus on God’s provision and be thankful. (“if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” v.9).

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38 ESV)

From: March 14, 2016

Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel that she would bear the Christ child was a wonderful expression of submission to God’s will. Her faithful response stands in contrast to Zechariah’s doubtful one. Of course, Mary questioned the angel too, but her request was not for certification, but for clarification. Zachariah wanted proof that his barren wife would have a child. Mary wanted to understand the means of conception since she was a virgin. She asked for clarification, not confirmation. Mary’s response stemmed from her faith; Zachariah’s stemmed from his lack of faith.