Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 6

HAVE YOU PLEDGED YOUR LIFE TO KING JESUS?

From: March 6, 2024

‘And the Lord said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar”’ (Numbers 7:11 ESV).

The leaders of the twelve tribes were instructed to bring their dedication offerings to the Tabernacle, one each on twelve consecutive days. The chief of the tribe of Judah brought his gifts on the first day. For the tribe of Judah led the way when the tribes marched and when they camped (See Num. 2).

The tribes camped in groups of three under four banners and they brought their gifts in the same order:
1) Judah (banner with lion image) was followed by the princes of Issachar and Zebulon in bringing their gifts.
2) Reuben (banner of a man) was followed by Simeon and Gad.
3) Ephraim (banner of an ox) was followed by Manesseh and Benjamin, and
4) Dan (banner of an eagle) was followed by Asher and Naphtali.

Like princes bringing their gifts of homage to their king, the twelve tribal leaders brought their expensive gifts to the Tabernacle. For the LORD God was their King. Each leader brought the same gifts, raised up from their individual tribes, which must have been requested by the Lord. In this way, each tribe showed its recognition of the LORD as King.

Has the leader of your family bowed the knee in homage to King Jesus? Whose banner do you and your family live under? To whom do you pay homage? Why not declare the Lord your King? As Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Have you pledged yourself and all that you have to King Jesus?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to march under the banner of Your Son, King Jesus. He is the Lion of Judah. He offered Himself first, so that we are able to offer ourselves to You as His followers. Strengthen us for the good work today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

UNTIL EVERY NATION HEARS THE GOOD NEWS

From: March 6, 2023

“For the Good News must first be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10 NLT).

This was one of the eschatological signs that Jesus gave the disciples in response to their question about the end times. It is both sign and instruction.

Are you involved in helping proclaim the gospel to all nations? Those who are obedient are involved in praying, sending, or going, or all three. Proclaiming the gospel to every nation is Christ’s commission to us as His ambassadors. For when the Good News has been declared to all, then the coming of the Lord Jesus is soon to follow.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we proclaim the Good News about Jesus to all out of love and obedience to Him. Yet, we also proclaim Him as the soon and coming King. May we be found faithful when He calls our name. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money” (Mark 12:41 NLT).

From: March 6, 2022

JESUS WATCHES OUR GIVING

Jesus sat near the Temple collection box so that He might watch who was giving and how much they were giving. He did this to teach a lesson to His disciples. As they witnessed the rich tossing handfuls of coins into the Temple treasury, the heavy coins made a loud metallic sound as they rattled down the trumpet-like opening of the collection box. Surely everyone nearby could hear when the rich gave. Then, a poor widow carefully dropped in two small coins. They barely made a sound as they rolled into the treasury.

Christ’s teaching on this scene was that while the rich seemed to be giving a lot, it was in fact only a tiny part of their surplus. But the poor widow quietly gave all that she had. Jesus took notice of the widow’s gift not for the amount, but for what it cost her to give it.

Yet, there is another lesson here that Christ gave not by words, but by behavior. Christ is interested in our giving. He watches our generosity. He cares about our giving, how much we give and what motivates our giving. Therefore, when we give, we shouldn’t care whether others are watching, only that Jesus is watching.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You are so generous and giving to us. Thank You for the many blessings. Everything we have, You have given us. Help us to respond by giving back to You and being a blessing to others. We want to be generous like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘The Lord told Moses, “Each day have one leader present his offering for the dedication of the altar”’ (Numbers 7:11 HCSB).

From: March 6, 2021

HAVE YOU PLEDGED YOUR LIFE TO KING JESUS?

The twelve tribal leaders were instructed to bring their dedication offerings to the Tabernacle, one each on twelve consecutive days. The prince of the tribe of Judah brought his gifts on the first day. For the tribe of Judah led the way when the tribes marched and when they camped (See Num. 2).

The tribes camped in groups of three under four banners and they brought their gifts in the same order:

1) Judah (banner with lion image) was followed by the princes of Issachar and Zebulon in bringing their gifts.

2) Reuben (banner of a man) was followed by Simeon and Gad.

3) Ephraim (banner of an ox) was followed by Manesseh and Benjamin, and

4) Dan (banner of an eagle) was followed by Asher and Naphtali.

Like princes bringing their gifts of homage to their king, the twelve tribal leaders brought their expensive gifts to the Tabernacle. For the LORD God was their King. Each leader brought the same gifts, raised up from their individual tribes, which must have been requested by the Lord. In this way, each tribe showed its recognition of the LORD as King.

Has the leader of your family bowed the knee in homage to King Jesus? Whose banner do you and your family live under? To whom do you pay homage? Why not declare the Lord your King? As Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Have you pledged yourself and all that you have to King Jesus?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to march under the banner of Your Son, King Jesus. He is the Lion of Judah. He offered Himself first, so that we are able to offer ourselves to You as His followers. Strengthen us for the good work today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Why should I fear in the days of evil…?” (Psalms 49:5 NKJV).

From: March 6, 2020

ARE YOU WALKING IN FEAR OR BY FAITH TODAY?

We live in a day of national fear. Political disorder in an election year, the economy moving wildly up and down like a roller-coaster, and news of a pestilence called the coronavirus, all these and more are elevating our anxiety. Yet the Psalmist asks, “Why should I fear in the days of evil?” His focus was not on the evil around him, but on the Lord above him. Even death itself had lost its sting for him, for he believed that the Lord would “redeem his soul from the power of the grave” (15).

Are you walking in fear of that which surrounds, or walking by faith in the Lord who is above?

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we look up to You for our provision and protection. You hold our todays and our tomorrows. Even the grave is under Your control. Therefore we will not fear. We will walk by faith in Your Son, in whose name we pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money” (Mark 12:41 NLT).

From: March 6, 2018

JESUS WATCHES THE OFFERINGS

Jesus sat near the Temple collection box so that He might watch who was giving and how much they were giving. He did this to illustrate a lesson to His disciples. As they witnessed the rich tossing handfuls of coins into the collection box, the heavy coins made a loud metallic sound as they rattled down the trumpet like opening of the Temple treasury. Surely everyone nearby could hear when the rich gave. Then, a poor widow carefully dropped in two small coins. They barely made a sound as they rolled into the treasury.

Christ’s teaching on this scene was that while the rich seemed to be giving a lot, it was in fact only a tiny part of their surplus. But the poor widow quietly gave all that she had.

Yet, there is another lesson here that Christ gave not by words, but by behavior. Christ is interested in our giving. He watches our generosity. He cares about our giving, how much we give and what motivates our giving. Therefore, when we give, we shouldn’t care whether others are watching, only that Jesus is watching.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV).

From: March 6, 2017

God gave this benediction to Moses for Aaron, the high priest, to speak over the children of Israel as a blessing. It is made up of three double clauses, each beginning with an invocation to the LORD. The all caps “LORD,” indicates that the Hebrew name, “יְהוָ֤ה, Yahweh,” was being used. God wanted His NAME “put on” (Num.6:27) the Israelites.

In this three part blessing, an early revelation of the Trinity might be seen:

– The Father: “The LORD bless you and keep you.” The Father chooses to bless and keep us.

– The Son: “The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you.” The Son reveals the “face” of God through the incarnation and shows His grace by dying for our sins.

– The Spirit: “The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” The Holy Spirit comes “upon” us to abide within us and give us peace.

Has this Trinitarian blessing been spoken over you?

“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box…” (Mark 12:41 ESV)

From: March 6, 2016

Jesus “watched” to see who was putting money into the Temple offering box. His observation is notable. He not only sees the amount of the gift, but He sees the heart of the giver. The rich that gave out of their “abundance” would be most impressive to others, but the widow who gave out of her “poverty,” most impressed Jesus. For she gave all that she had. Jesus still watches our giving. He is still looking for one that would entrust all that they have to Him.

“And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:10 NKJV)

From: March 6, 2015

This is one of the eschatological signs that Jesus gave the disciples in response to their question about the end times. It is both sign and instruction. Are you involved in helping proclaim the gospel to all nations? Those who are obedient are involved in sending, going or both.

“But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave” (Psalm 49:15 NLT)

From: March 6, 2014

The Psalmist compares the future estate of the one who trusts riches with the one who trusts in the Lord. Of the one who trusts riches, he says the grave will take them and they’ll leave all fame and wealth behind. But of the one who trusts the Lord, the grave’s power is overcome. The God of redemption will “snatch” him from the jaws of death and restore his life. This psalm points towards the future reality of the resurrection.