Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for May 19

OUR ETERNAL SECURITY IN CHRIST

From: May 19, 2024

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29 ESV).

Those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior belong to Him and are eternally secure in Him. He saves them and He keeps them. And His Father, who gives them to Him, keeps them safe too, so that no one is able to “snatch” them from His care. Jesus is able to make this claim because He and the Father are “one” (John 10:30).

Jesus’ claim to be “one” with the Father is one of the central themes of John’s gospel, which gives seven of Christ’s “I AM” statements. These statements were profound to Jewish ears for literally in the Greek, Jesus said, “I, I am…”, emphasizing the “I AM,” which is the covenantal name of God first revealed to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses asked God’s name, God said, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3:14). So, “I AM” or as it is in the Hebrew, “Yahweh,” is the name of God.

Two of Christ’s seven “I AM” statements are found in John chapter 10: “I AM the Door” and “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is both the “shepherd” who calls and leads His sheep and the door by which they enter His fold and are kept safe. It’s like Jesus is the door and the lock, and the Father is the deadbolt.

Dear believer, be assured in this.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for calling us to follow Your Son. For He is both the Door and the Good Shepherd who gives us eternal life and keeps us for eternity. Thank You for our this wonderful assurance we have in Jesus. For it’s in His name we pray, amen.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

From: May 19, 2023

“And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth” (Psalms 116:9 NLT).

The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of living here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear and caring heart, which the psalmist had experienced. So faithful was the Lord in hearing and answering his prayers, that he felt His heavenly presence with him all the day here on earth. They were in constant contact.

Are you aware of the Lord’s constant presence in your life? Do you carry on an ongoing conversation with God even as you go about your day? We don’t have to wait for heaven to walk in the Lord’s presence. We can walk with the Lord even now, as we live here on earth.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who abides in us as Your children. We do not walk alone. For You are always with us. Help us to always abide in You. Forgive us when we try to live life according to our own wisdom and strength. We want to always walk in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah” (1 Samuel 25:1 NLT).

From: May 19, 2022

SAMUEL, A FORERUNNER OF CHRIST JESUS

Samuel was the last of the judges and with his passing, Israel completely transitioned from the time of the judges to the time of the kings. Samuel was the greatest Israelite leader since Moses. He was a forerunner of the Messiah, bearing the threefold titles of prophet, priest and judge (king). He served the Lord faithfully from his childhood until his death. Both he and Jesus were described as growing “in stature and in favor with God and man” (1 Sam. 2:26, Luke 2:52). No shortcoming stains his biblical record.

But Samuel died and was buried and all Israel lamented for him. And their lament continues to this day as they await the coming of the Messiah.

Yet, the Messiah, Christ Jesus, has already come. For Jesus is the fulfillment of Samuel’s threefold ministry and every other prophecy and foreshadowing in the Old Testament. One greater than Moses and Samuel has already come. He died, but was raised up on the third day and lives today!

Oh that all Israel, and all those far from God, would cease their looking and recognize the One who has conquered sin, death and the grave. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is our Prophet, Great High Priest and King of Kings! He has come and He is coming again!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the example of believers like Samuel who served You faithfully. Even more, thank You for Jesus. For He is the One to whom we have believed and been adopted as Your children. Strengthen us to live for You so that our lives point to Jesus and give glory to You this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalms 116:9 HCSB).

From: May 19, 2021

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of life here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear and caring heart, which the psalmist had experienced. So faithful was the Lord in hearing and answering his prayers, that he felt His heavenly presence with him all the day here on earth. They were in constant contact.

Are you aware of the Lord’s constant presence in your life? Do you carry on an ongoing conversation with God even as you go about your day? We don’t have to wait for heaven to walk in the Lord’s presence. We can walk with the Lord even now, as we live here on earth.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who always lives in us as Your children. We do not walk alone. For You are always with us. Forgive us for trying to live life according to our own wisdom and strength. We want to always walk in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth” (Psalms 116:9 NLT).

From: May 19, 2019

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of life here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear and caring heart, which the psalmist had experienced. So faithful was the Lord in hearing and answering his prayers, that he felt His heavenly presence with him all the day here on earth. They were in constant contact.

Are you aware of the Lord’s constant presence in your life? Do you carry on an ongoing conversation with God even as you go about your day? We don’t have to wait for heaven to walk in the Lord’s presence. We can walk with the Lord even now, as we live here on earth.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who always lives in us as Your children. We do not walk alone. For You are always with us. Forgive us for trying to live life according to our own wisdom and strength. We want to always walk in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29 NLT).

From: May 19, 2018

THE DOUBLE-LOCKED GATE

Two of Christ’s seven “I AM” statements are found in John chapter 10: “I AM the Gate” and “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is both the shepherd who calls to His sheep and the gate by which they enter His fold and are kept safe. Those who belong to Jesus are eternally secure. He saves them and He keeps them. And His Father, who gives them to Him, keeps them safe too.

It’s like Jesus is the gate and the lock, and the Father is the deadbolt. Dear believer, be assured in this.

“Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah” (1 Samuel 25:1 NKJV).

From: May 19, 2017

Samuel was the last of the judges and with his passing, Israel transitioned from the time of the judges to the time of the kings. Samuel was the greatest Israelite leader since Moses. He was a forerunner of the Messiah, bearing the threefold titles of prophet, priest and judge. He served the Lord faithfully from his childhood until his death. Both he and Jesus were described as growing “in stature and in favor with God and man” (1 Sam. 2:26, Luke 2:52). No shortcoming stains his biblical record.

But Samuel died and was buried. All Israel “lamented for him.” And their lament continues as they continue to await the coming of the Messiah.

Yet, the Messiah has already come. For Jesus is the fulfillment of Samuel’s threefold ministry and every other prophecy and foreshadowing in the Old Testament. One greater than Moses and Samuel has already come. He died, but was raised up on the third day and lives today!

Oh, that all Israel, and all those far from God, would cease their lament and recognize the One who has conquered sin, death and the grave. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is our Prophet, Great High Priest and King of Kings!

“And many believed in him there” (John 10:42 ESV)

From: May 19, 2016

In many places Jesus was rejected, but in the land where John the Baptist had preached, “many believed.” I wonder what made this place different? Was it John’s plowing that prepared the soil of their hearts to receive the gospel seed? What made the people there more spiritually receptive to the gospel? Whether we are plowing, sowing or reaping, I pray that we will ultimately see “many believe.”

“And many believed in Him there” (John 10:42 NKJV)

From: May 19, 2015

In some places Jesus was rejected, but in the land where John the Baptist had preached, they believed. I wonder what made this place different? Was it John’s plowing that prepared the soil of their hearts to receive the gospel seed? Whether we are plowing, sowing or reaping, I pray that we will ultimately see “many believe.”

“So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats” (1 Samuel 24:2 NLT)

From: May 19, 2014

David and his six hundred men hid in the caves of En Gedi while Saul’s troops searched for him. This was a difficult wilderness experience for David, but an important and formative season for him as well. He wrote many of his psalms during this time. He learned to lead his men and himself through difficulty by depending on the Lord. He experienced trial, hunger and suffering, yet God provided for him and his followers. This trial also revealed David’s heart of integrity, as he refused to murder the Lord’s anointed, Saul, when he found him vulnerable in a cave. David’s days in the caves of En Gedi prepared him for his days on the throne in Jerusalem.