Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 28

JESUS DRANK THE CUP MEANT FOR US

From: March 28, 2024

“They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink” (Psalm 69:21 ESV).

This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Although the ESV translates the Hebrew as “poison,” the word may also be translated “gall” as it is in other versions. This points to the drink offered Jesus on the cross. Reading the four gospels together, it appears that Jesus was offered at least two drinks and perhaps three.

The first drink offered, according to Matthew and Mark, was wine mixed with gall or myrrh. This was offered as He arrived on Golgotha to be crucified. According to tradition, a narcotic drink was offered to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain. Jesus refused this drink, choosing to suffer with complete consciousness.

The second drink was offered by the Roman soldiers in mockery when the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah (Luke 23:36). He did not drink it.

The third drink was requested by Jesus. He said simply, “I thirst” (John 19:28). And the soldiers used a branch of hyssop to lift a sponge full of sour wine or wine vinegar to His lips.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). On the cross, Jesus fulfilled His Father’s will and drank the cup. For He drank the vinegar of which David prophesied centuries before, then cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at the love and obedience of Jesus. For He drank the cup meant for sinners. He took our death that we might receive His eternal life. Help us to always love and obey You as we abide in Jesus and He in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

IS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE GETTING LOST IN THE WEEDS?

From: March 28, 2023

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT).

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who scattered seed that fell onto four types of soil. The seed represented God’s Word and the four soils represented four heart conditions of spiritual receptivity. The first was the foot path, representing a hard or closed heart that rejects the Word. The second was rocky soil, representing a heart of shallow commitment that is easily blown away by the first storm of difficulty. The third was thorny soil.

Of the soils that Jesus described, the thorny soil probably best resembles the hearts of most modern Christians. For the seed of God’s Word is readily received by this heart soil, yet it is quickly crowded out by the competing thorns, “the cares and riches and pleasures of this life”

There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, today’s believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important.

There is a fourth soil. It is good fertile soil. The heart represented by this soil is receptive to God’s Word. This heart clings to the Word and patiently allows the Word to produce a huge spiritual harvest in their life.

Which of these soils represents your heart today? Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Forgive us for taking it for granted. Help us to cling to it and grow deep spiritual roots from its study and meditation. Strengthen us to trust and obey Your Word by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT).

From: March 28, 2022

IS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE GETTING LOST IN THE WEEDS?

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who scattered seed that fell onto four types of soil. The seed represented God’s Word and the four soils represented four heart conditions of spiritual receptivity. The first was the foot path, representing a hard or closed heart that rejects the Word. The second was rocky soil, representing a heart of shallow commitment that is easily blown away by the first storm of difficulty. The third was thorny soil.

Of the soils that Jesus described, the thorny soil probably best resembles the hearts of most modern Christians. For the seed of God’s Word is readily received by this heart soil, yet it is quickly crowded out by the competing thorns, “the cares and riches and pleasures of this life”

There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, today’s believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important.

There is a fourth soil. It is good fertile soil. The heart represented by this soil is receptive to God’s Word. This heart clings to the Word and patiently allows the Word to produce a huge spiritual harvest in their life.

Which of these soils represents your heart today? Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Forgive us for taking it for granted. Help us to cling to it and grow deep spiritual roots from its study and meditation. Strengthen us to trust and obey Your Word by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21 HCSB).

From: March 28, 2021

JESUS DRANK THE CUP MEANT FOR US

This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Reading the four gospels together, it appears that Jesus was offered at least two drinks and perhaps three.

The first drink offered, according to Matthew and Mark, was wine mixed with gall or myrrh. This was offered as He arrived on Golgotha to be crucified. According to tradition, a narcotic drink was offered to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain. Jesus refused this drink, choosing to suffer with complete consciousness.

The second drink was offered by the Roman soldiers in mockery when the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah (Luke 23:36). He did not drink it.

The third drink was requested by Jesus. He said simply, “I thirst” (John 19:28). And the soldiers used a branch of hyssop to lift a sponge full of sour wine or wine vinegar to His lips.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). On the cross, Jesus fulfilled His Father’s will and drank the cup. For He drank the vinegar of which David prophesied centuries before, then cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at the love and obedience of Jesus. For He drank the cup meant for sinners. He took our death that we might receive His eternal life. Help us to always love and obey You as we abide in Jesus and He in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalms 69:30 NKJV).

From: March 28, 2020

CHOOSING TO PRAISE AND MAGNIFY THE LORD

The inscription to this psalm attributed it to David, who gave it to his Chief Musician with the instruction that it be set to the tune of “The Lilies.” David was a prolific song writer and gifted musician. As a young man, he played the harp to ease the troubled spirit of King Saul. When David became king, he established a large number of musicians to serve in the Temple. David loved worshiping the Lord with music.

In Psalm 69:30, David declared his intent to praise the “name” of God with a song. This indicated his desire to write and sing a song that lifted up the wonderful character of God’s name. This brings to mind Handel’s “Messiah,” which put to music the words of Isaiah, “And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

David also declared his intent to magnify God with thanksgiving. How can one “magnify” or enlarge the One who is already greater than all? One can’t. Yet, one can enlarge one’s own perspective of God by thanking Him for His many blessings. David meant to sing a song of such thanksgiving to God that his own view of God would be magnified.

How can we praise and magnify the Lord with a song today? We can’t all be gifted musicians like David, but all of us can “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psa.100:1). We can decide in advance that in spite of today’s circumstances, we will praise the name of the Lord in song and magnify Him with thanksgiving!

PRAYER: Dear Father, our love for You is so beyond speaking that only singing will suffice. Forgive our faltering voices, for Your ears must be accustomed to the angelic choir of heaven. Yet, we sing to You as Your children, adopted into the family of God by our faith in Your Son, Jesus. So we have hope that our singing will please You, as the singing of a child pleases a parent. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“His disciples asked him what this parable meant” (Luke 8:9 NLT).

From: March 28, 2018

JESUS EXPLAINS HIS TEACHING TO HIS DISCIPLES

After Jesus taught His parable of the four soils to the crowds, His disciples asked Him to explain its meaning. Imagine how wonderful this would be to have Jesus personally explain His Word. Don’t you wish you could have been there?

Remember how Jesus explained the Scriptures to His disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection? Luke wrote, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). No wonder their “hearts burned” while learning from Him.

Does Jesus still explain His Word to His followers?

“They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:21 NKJV).

From: March 28, 2017

This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Reading the four gospels together, it appears that Jesus was offered at least two drinks and perhaps three.

The first drink offered, according to Matthew and Mark, was wine mixed with gall or myrrh. This was offered as He arrived on Golgotha to be crucified. According to tradition, a narcotic drink was offered to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain. Jesus refused this drink, choosing to suffer with complete consciousness.

The second drink was offered by the Roman soldiers in mockery when the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah (Luke 23:36). He did not drink it.

The third drink was requested by Jesus. He said simply, “I thirst” (John 19:28). And the soldiers used a branch of hyssop to lift a sponge full of sour wine or wine vinegar to His lips.

Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, endured the thirst and drank the vinegar of which David prophesied centuries before. Then, He cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).

“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14 ESV)

From: March 28, 2016

Of the four soils that Jesus described in his parable about receptivity to God’s Word, the thorny soil probably best resembles modern hearts. There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, today’s believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important. Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. …Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity” (Luke 8:11, 14 NKJV)

From: March 28, 2015

Of the four soils that Jesus described in his parable about receptivity to God’s Word, the thorny soil probably best resembles American hearts. There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, American believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many worldly things that they fail to focus on the eternal. Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?

“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots” (Proverbs 12:3 NLT)

From: March 28, 2014

The wicked man is like a plant without roots. It will wither in drought and be blown away by storms. But the godly are like a plant that draws water from deep roots during dry spells and clings to the rocky soil during storms. Both plants look similar in good weather, but bad weather reveals them. What do dry spells and storms reveal about you? Repent and sink your roots down into the Living Water and around the Rock of God’s Word.