Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 18

“Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, ‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” (Luke 3:4)

From: March 18, 2014

The coming of John, son of Zechariah, had not only been announced by the angel Gabriel, it had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist was the Messianic Forerunner, coming in the spirit of Elijah, he was the Preparer of the Way. Every king must have a herald to go before him announcing his arrival. John was Christ’s herald. His job was to prepare the soil of the people’s hearts for the Seed of God’s Word. His message was to proclaim, “People get ready! The King is coming!”

“So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him” (Numbers 27:18 ESV)

From: March 18, 2013

The continuity of leadership is an often overlooked step by the senior leader. But Moses prayed that the Lord would not leave the Israelites without a shepherd after his passing. The Lord answered Moses’ prayer and instructed him to lay hands on Joshua, setting him apart and investing him with authority. In this way, the people learned to follow Joshua as they had Moses and there was no breakdown in leadership nor unity. A great leader not only leads well himself, he also trains up and lays hands on the next generation of leaders.

“At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2)

From: March 18, 2012

Luke wrote his gospel so that it’s historical context was clear. He named the Roman Caesar, the Judean king, even the Jewish high priest at the time when John the Baptist started preaching. This does not read like myth, as some suggest. It is true history. We can depend on God’s Word.

“His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17)

From: March 18, 2011

Have you gone down to the threshing floor to lay at Christ’s feet? This is what Ruth did for her kinsman-redeemer. Your redemption is in Christ alone.

Joshua set apart.

From: March 18, 2009

When God informed Moses that it was time to leave this world, Moses asks for no personal favor. His only request was that God might appoint a new shepherd to lead Israel, so that the people wouldn’t be “like sheep without a shepherd.” So, God has Moses set apart Joshua (Yeshua.. Jesus) son of Nun, of the tribe of Judah, as the new leader. When I visited Jordan in 2005, I stood on Mount Nebo, the place where Moses stood and looked into the Promised Land before God took him. It was overwhelming, standing there looking down on Israel, the Jordan River, the Mount of Olives in the distance.