Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 7

HAVE YOU LEARNED TO FOLLOW THE LORD?

From: March 7, 2025

“At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses” (Numbers 9:23 ESV).

The Israelites who lived in the wilderness learned to live and move at the Lord’s command. His presence was manifest in the form of a cloud by day and the appearance of fire by night that covered the Tabernacle. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. Sometimes they camped for a while and sometimes briefly, but they always camped and moved as the Lord led them. This was the way the Israelites lived and moved in the wilderness for forty years.

When Jesus called His disciples, He gave a simple invitation: “Follow Me.” And so for the next three years, His disciples learned to follow Him wherever He went.

The Lord still calls us to follow Him. His presence and will can still be understood by His written Word and by His Holy Spirit. Are you still following your own plans and path? Or have you answered the Lord’s call? And having answered His call, have you learned to follow the Lord?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we want to always follow You. We want to stay when You stay and move when You move. We want to work when You work and rest when You rest. We seek Your presence and will for us this day. Lead us Lord and we will follow. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE ETERNAL WORD

From: March 7, 2024

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31 ESV).

Jesus answered the disciples’ question concerning the last days by describing the signs leading up to it. He talked about how many things would come to pass, but concluded that His words would never disappear.

When we study, memorize and apply God’s Word, we are investing our lives in that which will never disappear nor fail. There is no other investment greater. Even as the ages roll on, we will still be meditating on and growing in our understanding of God’s eternal Word!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your written Word! And even more, thank You for the Living Word, Jesus Christ! For even as the ages roll on, the Word will never pass away. Help us to proclaim Your Word today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LEARNING OBEDIENCE IN THE WILDERNESS

From: March 7, 2023

“So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses” (Numbers 9:23 NLT).

The Israelites left Egypt as grumbling slaves, but in the wilderness they grew into an obedient army of God’s servants. Their time in the desert may have felt like punishment, but it was in fact, preparation. They could not enter the Promised Land until they learned obedience and grew in faith.

When God leads us into wilderness experiences, do not question His will. Learn to follow. The desert places can serve to teach us dependence on God alone. The school of suffering is for our sanctification, making us more like Jesus when we learn to “camp or travel at the Lord’s command.”

PRAYER: Father, we often doubt and complain in the wilderness, but teach us to trust when times are hard. And when times are good, help us to remember the lessons learned in the school of suffering. We look to You, O Lord, for direction and strength as we seek to obey You in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26 NLT).

From: March 7, 2022

ARE YOU READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN?

Referring to Himself by the Messianic title, “Son of Man,” Jesus described His Second Coming to His disciples. This will occur at the end of the Great Tribulation. This is not the Rapture (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18), which precedes the seven years of tribulation, but the time when Jesus returns as King and Judge. For Jesus has already come as the Lamb of God. He will return as the Lion of Judah.

This future event is certain. It is not myth, nor fairy tale. For the Resurrected One, who defeated sin, death and the grave, will return just as He said. As the angel told the disciples when Christ ascended in the clouds, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

History is not circular as some suggest, but linear. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. The end of the age and the second coming of Jesus are promised here. Christ has already come wearing a crown of thorns, but when He returns, He will be wearing a crown of glory.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we worship Your Son, Jesus, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. You have given Him to us as Savior. He will return as King and we will be with Him forever. We marvel that You have revealed these things to us. Give us a holy sense of urgency to be busy sharing the gospel, as we look for Christ’s soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31 HCSB).

From: March 7, 2021

THE ETERNAL WORD

Jesus answered the disciples’ question concerning the last days by describing the signs leading up to it. He talked about how many things would come to pass, but concluded that His words would never disappear.

When we study, memorize and apply God’s Word, we are investing our lives in that which will never disappear. There is no other investment greater. Even as the ages roll on, we will still be chewing on and growing in our understanding of God’s eternal Word!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your written Word! And even more, thank You for the Living Word, Jesus Christ! For even as the ages roll on, the Word will never pass away. Help us to proclaim Your Word today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26 NKJV).

From: March 7, 2020

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR CHRIST’S RETURN?

Referring to Himself by the Messianic title, “Son of Man, Jesus described His Second Coming to His disciples. This will occur at the end of the Great Tribulation. This is not the Rapture (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18), which precedes the seven years of tribulation, but the time when Jesus returns as King and Judge. The “they” who will see it are those who have not believed. For them the Second Coming of Jesus will not be for their salvation, but for their judgment. For Jesus has already come as the Lamb of God. He will return as the Lion of Judah.

This future event is certain. It is not myth, nor fairy tale. For the Resurrected One, who defeated sin, death and the grave, will return just as He said. As the angel told the disciples when Christ ascended in the clouds, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

History is not circular as some suggest, but linear. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. And after that? A new beginning will begin.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we worship Your Son, Jesus, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. You have given Him to us as Savior. He will return, and we with Him, as King. We marvel that You have revealed these things to us. Give us a holy sense of urgency to be busy sharing the gospel, as we look for Christ’s soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses” (Numbers 9:23 NLT).

From: March 7, 2019

LEARNING OBEDIENCE IN THE WILDERNESS

The Israelites left Egypt as grumbling slaves, but in the wilderness they grew into an obedient army of God’s servants. Their time in the desert was preparation. They could not enter the Promised Land until they learned obedience and grew in faith. When God leads us into wilderness experiences, do not question His will. Learn to follow. The desert places can serve to teach us dependence on God alone. The school of suffering is for our sanctification, making us more like Jesus when we learn to “camp or travel at the Lord’s command.”

PRAYER: Father, we often doubt and complain in the wilderness, but teach us to trust when times are hard. And when times are good, help us to remember the lessons learned in the school of suffering. We look to You, O Lord, for direction and strength as we seek to obey You in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Mark 13:31 NLT).

From: March 7, 2018

GOD’S ETERNAL WORD

Jesus answered the disciples’ question concerning the last days by describing the signs leading up to it. He talked about how many things would come to pass, but concluded that His words would never disappear.

When we study, memorize and apply God’s Word, we are investing our lives in that which will never disappear. There is no other investment greater. Even as the ages roll on, we will still be chewing on and growing in our understanding of God’s eternal Word!

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:32-33 NKJV).

From: March 7, 2017

After visiting the Temple in Jerusalem, the disciples commented on its magnificence and the beauty of the surrounding buildings. Jesus surprised them by saying, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another” (Mark 13:2). They asked Jesus two questions in response: When will this happen? And what will be the sign of its fulfillment?

Jesus answered both their “when” and “what” questions concerning the Temple. The Temple would be destroyed during the time of that “generation,” just as Jesus had said. For it was demolished in 70 AD by the Romans. But Jesus went on to tell them even more than they had asked. He also spoke of a time of tribulation followed by his coming again. Concerning this, he gave some of the signs, but not the time. In fact, he warned that no one except the Father knows the time of his return.

Therefore, do not believe those who predict the day or hour of Christ’s return. Jesus has already told us that they do not know. Instead, follow his instructions:

1) “Take heed.” – Be prepared. Live as if he could return today. Get your affairs in order.

2) “Watch” – Stand guard. Keep your eyes open for the signs of his return.

3) “Pray” – Let prayer be the main activity of your heeding and watching.

The destruction of Jerusalem was one of the many signs fulfilled exactly according to Christ’s words. The reality that he is coming again is just as certain.

“At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out” (Numbers 9:23 ESV)

From: March 7, 2016

From the time the tabernacle was set up, the presence of God came to rest upon it, appearing as a cloud by day and fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted, the Israelites broke camp and followed. When it rested, they rested. When it moved, they did likewise. In this way, God taught them to depend on Him for daily direction. God was raising up a people for Himself. Today, we have the Spirit to guide us. When we are sensitive to Him, we know when to move and when to rest, when to go and when to stay.