Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 8

ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST

From: March 8, 2025

“And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9 ESV).

On the Wednesday of Passion Week, Jesus and His disciples took a day of rest a short distance from Jerusalem in a town called Bethany. While eating a meal at Simon the leper’s house, a woman anointed Jesus’ head with an expensive perfume worth a year’s wages. This was an incredible gift, so costly that some were offended by its extravagance. Yet, Jesus rebuked them and commended the woman for her gift. Her deed has been remembered to this day, just as Jesus said.

This story reminds me of a line from a poem by C. T. Studd:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What are your plans for today? Have you considered turning your plans and your day over to Jesus? What extravagant thing might you give Jesus today?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You this day. We do have plans and obligations, but we ask You to lead us. Show us where we can express our extravagant love for Your Son today. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHEN THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND

From: March 8, 2024

“Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp” (Numbers 10:2 ESV).

The LORD instructed Moses to have two silver trumpets made. They were to have a two-fold purpose, namely, for calling the congregation and directing the movement of the same.

Specifically, the trumpets were to be used to …
…call the whole congregation to gather at the Tabernacle,
…call the elders to gather to Moses,
…sound the advance to break camp,
…signal the time to gather to camp
…sound the alarm for war,
…and to celebrate a day of gladness for holiday feasts and sacrifices.

The LORD told the prophet Isaiah to write “Lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression” (Isa. 58:1). This is the symbol of the Gospel. For we are to sound the Gospel trumpet abroad, so that every nation hears, and every believer is called to gather to the Lord Jesus, our King and Savior. So let us make a sure sound (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8).

For one Day, “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16). And on that Day, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… the last trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52).

🎶”When the trumpet shall sound, what a day that will be, there with Jesus my Lord, I forever shall be.”🎶

PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to sound the Gospel trumpet until that Day when Jesus returns and the last trumpet sounds. Help us to make a sure sound as we call people to follow Jesus. O what joy it is to hearken to the sound of Your trumpet. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BELIEVING ENOUGH TO TELL OTHERS

From: March 8, 2023

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!'” (Numbers 11:23 NLT).

When Moses expressed doubt that God could keep them in meat for a month, God gave him a stern reply, “Has my arm lost its power?” Moses probably would have kept his doubts to himself, if God would have offered to make a meat delivery without asking him to announce it. But God wanted Moses to tell those grumbling Israelites that meat for a month was on the way.
Having to stand up in front of those growling stomachs and promise that God would provide was overwhelming to Moses.

It’s one thing to believe God’s Word and trust in His power for yourself. But when you have to stand up in front of a bunch of doubters and declare your faith… Well, that connects your credibility to God’s! And God still does this. He still asks His people to proclaim His promises and to believe that His “arm” is as powerful as ever.

The question is not whether God still does miracles. The question is who will trust God enough, so that they are willing to stand up and proclaim it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our provision and Provider. You have made us and You sustain us. Without You we are nothing. Forgive us when we doubt Your care and provision. We will announce Your faithfulness to the nations! Thank You for all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” (Mark 14:9 NLT).

From: March 8, 2022

ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST

On the Wednesday of Passion Week, Jesus and His disciples took a day of rest a short distance from Jerusalem in a town called Bethany. While eating a meal at Simon the leper’s house, a woman anointed Jesus’ head with an expensive perfume worth a year’s wages. This was an incredible gift, so costly that Judas Iscariot was offended by its extravagance. Yet, Jesus rebuked Judas and commended the woman for her gift. Her deed has been remembered to this day, just as Jesus said.

This story reminds me of a line from a poem by C. T. Studd:

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What are your plans for today? Have you considered turning your plans and your day over to Jesus? What extravagant thing might you give Jesus today?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You this day. We do have plans and obligations, but we ask You to lead us. Show us where we can express our extravagant love for Your Son today. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion” (Psalm 51:1 HCSB).

From: March 8, 2021

G.R.A.C.E. GOD’S REDEMPTION AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE

According to the inscription, David wrote this psalm after being confronted by the prophet Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba. The psalm is David’s written confession and prayer for forgiveness. Notice that he asked for God’s grace and forgiveness according to God’s “faithful love” and “abundant compassion.” David knew that he didn’t deserve God’s grace and forgiveness, so he asked for it based on God’s character rather than his own. David didn’t come to God in a prideful way, claiming to be a good person who just messed up. No. He came confessing his sin and admitting that God would be right to pass judgment against him. Yet, he threw himself humbly upon the mercy and grace of God. And God heard David’s prayer.

Ultimately, God answered not only David’s prayer for forgiveness, but all of humanity’s, when He sent Jesus to pay for our sins. For Jesus is God’s grace and faithful love in the flesh. As the apostle Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our sins, knowing that our forgiveness is according to Your grace and love expressed in the giving of your Son, Jesus. Therefore, confessing our sin, we know that You are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us, not according to us, but according to Jesus. In His precious name we pray, amen.

“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps” (Numbers 10:2 NKJV).

From: March 8, 2020

WHEN THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND

The LORD instructed Moses to have two silver trumpets made. They were to have a two-fold purpose, namely, for calling the congregation and directing the movement of the same. Specifically, the trumpets were to be used to …

…call the whole congregation to gather at the Tabernacle,

…call the elders to gather to Moses,

…sound the advance to break camp,

…signal the time to gather to camp

…sound the alarm for war,

…and to celebrate a day of gladness for holiday feasts and sacrifices.

The LORD told the prophet Isaiah to write “Lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression” (Isa. 58:1). This is the symbol of the Gospel. For we are to sound the Gospel trumpet abroad, so that every nation hears, and every believer is called to gather to the Lord Jesus, our King and Savior. So let us make a sure sound (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8).

For one Day, “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16). And on that Day, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… the last trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52).

🎶 “When the trumpet shall sound, what a day that will be, there with Jesus my Lord, I forever shall be.” 🎶

PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to sound the Gospel trumpet until that Day when Jesus returns and the last trumpet sounds. Help us to make a sure sound as we call people to follow Jesus. O what joy it is to hearken to the sound of Your trumpet. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!'” (Numbers 11:23 NLT).

From: March 8, 2019

ARE YOU WILLING TO PROCLAIM GOD’S PROMISES?

When Moses expressed doubt that God could keep them in meat for a month, God gave him a stern reply, “Has my arm lost its power?” Moses probably would have kept his doubts to himself, if God would have offered to make a meat delivery without asking him to announce it. But God wanted Moses to tell those grumbling Israelites that meat for a month was on the way. Having to stand up in front of those growling stomachs and promise that God would provide was overwhelming to Moses.

It’s one thing to believe God’s Word and trust in His power for yourself. But when you have to stand up in front of a bunch of doubters and declare your faith… Well, that connects your credibility to God’s! And God still does this. He still asks His people to proclaim His promises and to believe that His “arm” is as powerful as ever.

The question is not whether God still does miracles. The question is who will trust God enough, so that they are willing to stand up and proclaim it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our provision and Provider. You have made us and You sustain us. Without You we are nothing. Forgive us when we doubt Your care and provision. We will announce Your faithfulness to the nations! Thank You for all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” (Mark 14:9 NLT).

From: March 8, 2018

ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST

On the Wednesday of Passion Week, Jesus and His disciples took a day of rest a short distance from Jerusalem in a town called Bethany. While eating a meal at Simon the leper’s house, a woman anointed Jesus’ head with an expensive perfume worth a year’s wages. This was an incredible gift, so costly that Judas Iscariot was offended by its extravagance. Yet, Jesus rebuked Judas and commended the woman for her gift. Her deed has been remembered to this day, just as Jesus predicted.

This reminds me of a line from a poem by C. T. Studd:

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

“Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused” (Numbers 11:1 NKJV).

From: March 8, 2017

Grumbling or gratitude?

The Lord hates grumbling. The people of Israel complained about the menu selection in the wilderness. The Lord had brought them out of slavery in Egypt. He had given them water to drink from the rock. He had given them bread to eat, called manna, that appeared daily with the morning dew. Yet, they complained. They wanted meat. They remembered the fish and vegetables of Egypt, and longed to return to their former diet. Their complaining about the Lord’s provision displeased and angered the Lord.

Grumbling is against God. They may have thought they were grumbling against Moses. But God saw their complaining as being against Him. Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. It is a toxic attitude of the heart that virulently spreads through a family or a church if left unchecked. Grumbling not only questions God’s provision, it also questions His sovereignty and goodness. Grumbling is a sin!

What can we do when we are infected with the venom of grumbling? Confess your sinful attitude of ingratitude. And be thankful. Thankfulness is the antidote to a grumbling heart. It expresses an attitude of trust in God’s sovereignty and satisfaction with God’s provision. It is an honest recognition of the Lord’s goodness in your life. Remember the instruction of the apostle Paul, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

‘And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not”‘ (Numbers 11:23 ESV)

From: March 8, 2016

When Moses expressed doubt that God could keep them in meat for a month, God had a quick reply. I suppose Moses would have kept his doubts to himself, if God would have just offered to make a meat delivery without an announcement. But God wanted Moses to tell those grumbling Israelites that meat for a month was on the way. Having to stand up in front of those growling stomachs and promise that God would provide was overwhelming to Moses. It’s one thing to try and believe God’s Word and trust in His power for yourself. But when you have to stand up in front of a bunch of doubters and declare your faith… That connects your credibility to God’s! And God still does this. He still speaks through His Word and His “arm” is just as powerful as ever. The question is not whether God can do it. The question is who will so trust God that they will stand up and make the announcement!