Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 25

LIVING IN BABYLON

From: November 25, 2024

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8 ESV).

Daniel knew what it was like to live out his faith within a foreign culture. Even though he was carried off from his Jewish homeland as an exile to Babylon, God blessed him with the wisdom to live in Babylon without becoming a Babylonian. His life is a study in how a believer might live in today’s secular culture.

As Christians in America, we live in an ever increasing secular society. It is no longer united by a common Judeo-Christian worldview. Yet, we can learn from Daniel how to navigate our culture with godly grace and wisdom.

PRAYER: Father, we ask You for wisdom and grace today. For we often feel that we live in a world gone mad. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to walk in Your light. Give us grace to navigate this life while showing forth the glory of Your gospel. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A PRAYER VIGIL IN BABYLON

From: November 25, 2023

“He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2:18 NLT).

When Daniel heard of King Nebuchadnezzer’s intent to execute all of Babylon’s wisemen for being unable to recount and interpret his dream, he asked the king for a time extension. That night, Daniel got with his three friends and fellow exiles, Shadrach, Meshach, and a Abednego, and urged them to join him in a prayer vigil, asking for God’s help.

There’s nothing like the threat of death to focus one’s prayer life. Just ask anyone who has spent the night next to a loved one’s hospital bed or hunkered down in a fox hole. When one’s life is at stake and eternity is at hand, even the most materialistic among us tend to lift their eyes heavenward.

That’s what Daniel and his friends did. They prayed to the “God of heaven,” asking Him to mercifully reveal to them the dream and its interpretation. The divine title, “God of heaven,” is only in the Bible 23 times. It is in the Old Testament 21 times, occurring primarily in those books where the Jews were interacting with men of other religions, stressing that their God was no mere tribal deity, but the true God who ruled over all creation from His throne in heaven. The title appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the book of Revelation, and again to show God as the one true God over all creation.

That very night, as the Hebrew exiles prayed, the God of heaven did just as they asked. He revealed both the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, who went early the next morning to reveal it to king Nebuchadnezzer. The wisemen were saved, Nebuchadnezzer was appeased, Daniel’s position in Babylon was secured and the God of heaven received the glory due Him.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we are Your children because of our adoption through faith in Jesus, Your Son. Yet, we know that sometimes You call us to face troubling times, in order that those around us might look up and recognize You as God. We too are like exiles in Babylon, yet we are confident that You are King over all. You are the God of Heaven and You have given all authority in heaven and earth to Your Son, who has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations. So we boldly ask for more of Your Spirit and Your power to do that which You have commanded. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT).

From: November 25, 2022

ARE YOU ALWAYS READY TO TALK ABOUT JESUS?

The apostle Peter wrote to encourage those who were being persecuted not to fear nor worry about those who threatened them. Instead of giving into fear and worry, they were to worship Christ as Lord in all areas of their lives and to always be ready to talk about their hope in Christ to others.

Worshiping Christ as Lord has the sense of setting Him above all other concerns and loves. It means to revere Him above all others. Thus revering Him, we will have no fear of man.

Having set apart Christ in our hearts, we are always to be ready to offer an explanation for the hope we have in Him. The Greek word is “apologia,” which has the sense of defending or giving a reason for a position or belief. Instead of worrying about persecution or rejection, we are to be ready to give a reasonable explanation of our hope in Christ to everyone who asks.

However, the attitude of our explanation is not to be prideful or disrespectful. No, we are to offer our answer in a gentle and respectful way. Our answer is not meant as a self-defense, but a defense of the gospel. We are not to attack the questioner, but to humbly reason with them, that they might be convinced to believe.

Are you always ready to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ? This readiness begins in the heart. We talk about what is most dear to our hearts.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we set apart Christ as Lord of our hearts today. We set our affections and desire on pleasing Him above all others. We fear His displeasure more than we fear the rejection or persecution of man. Father, help us to keep our hearts and minds set on Jesus, so that we are always ready to answer those who ask about the hope we have in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I offer thanks and praise to You, God of my fathers” (Daniel 2:23 HCSB).

From: November 25, 2021

OFFERING THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD

Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, had a dream that troubled him greatly. He called his Chaldean wisemen in to interpret the dream. But to be sure of their interpretation, he refused to tell the them the dream. He wanted them to give both the dream and its meaning. After they responded that no mortal could do such a thing and that only the “gods” knew such things, the king became violently angry. And ordered the execution of all his wisemen.

When Daniel, a wiseman and a Jewish exile in Babylon, heard the decree, he asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation. After going to his fellow exiles and urging them to join him in prayer asking God to reveal this mystery, the Lord revealed it to him in a vision that night. That morning, filled with gratitude and joy, Daniel offered thanks and praise to the God of his fathers. For the Lord had answered his prayer.

When we are in trouble, we often go to our friends and family asking them to join us in prayer. But do we remember to give God thanks when He answers? Do we give God the gratitude and praise He deserves?

Let us learn to respond like the wiseman Daniel and give God thanks today.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks. We thank You for all Your many blessings and most of all for salvation through faith in Your Son, Jesus. We give you thanks for You are worthy and deserving of all our praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV).

From: November 25, 2020

ARE YOU ALWAYS READY TO TALK ABOUT JESUS?

The apostle Peter wrote to encourage those who were being persecuted not to fear nor worry about those who threatened them. Instead of giving into fear and worry, they were to “sanctify” and “be ready.”

The word “sanctify” has as its first meaning, “to make holy.” Yet, certainly that cannot be the meaning here. For the Lord God is holy and in no need of our help, even if that were possible. No, the context has more the sense of “to set apart,” or “to revere.” We are to “revere” Christ as Lord in our hearts. Thus revering Him, we will have no fear of man.

Having set apart Christ in our hearts, we are always to “be ready” to offer a “defense” for the “hope” we have in Him. The word “defense” (Greek: “apologia”), has the sense of “to give an answer,” or “to offer a reason.” Instead of worrying about persecution or rejection, we are to be ready to give a reasonable defense of our hope in Christ to everyone who asks.

However, the attitude of our apologetic is not to be prideful or disrespectful. No, we are to offer our defense with “meekness” (“gentleness”) and “fear” (“respect”). Our answer is not meant as a self-defense, but a defense of the gospel. We are not to attack the questioner, but to humbly reason with them, that they might be convinced to believe.

Are you always ready to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ? This readiness begins in the heart. We talk about what is most dear to our hearts.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we set apart Christ as Lord of our hearts today. We set our affections and desire on pleasing Him above all others. We fear His displeasure more than we fear the rejection or persecution of man. Father, help us to keep our hearts and minds set on Jesus, so that we are always ready to answer those who ask about the hope we have in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2:18 NLT).

From: November 25, 2019

A PRAYER VIGIL IN BABYLON TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN

When Daniel heard of King Nebuchadnezzer’s intent to execute all of Babylon’s wisemen for being unable to recount and interpret his dream, he asked the king for a time extension. That night, Daniel got with his three friends and fellow exiles, Shadrach, Meshach, and a Abednego, and urged them to join him in a prayer vigil, asking for God’s help.

There’s nothing like the threat of death to focus one’s prayer life. Just ask anyone who has spent the night next to a loved one’s hospital bed or hunkered down in a fox hole. When one’s life is at stake and eternity is at hand, even the most materialistic among us tend to lift their eyes heavenward.

That’s what Daniel and his friends did. They prayed to the “God of heaven,” asking Him to mercifully reveal to them the dream and its interpretation. The divine title, “God of heaven,” is only in the Bible 23 times. It is in the Old Testament 21 times, occurring primarily in those books where the Jews were interacting with men of other religions, stressing that their God was no mere tribal deity, but the true God who ruled over all creation from His throne in heaven. The title appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the book of Revelation, and again to show God as the one true God over all creation.

That very night, as the Hebrew exiles prayed, the God of heaven did just as they asked. He revealed both the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, who went early the next morning to reveal it to king Nebuchadnezzer. The wisemen were saved, Nebuchadnezzer was appeased, Daniel’s position in Babylon was secured and the God of heaven received the glory due Him.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we are Your children because of our adoption through faith in Jesus, You Son. Yet, we know that sometimes You call us to face troubling times, in order that those around us might look up and recognize You as God. We too are like exiles in Babylon, yet we are confident that You are King over all. You are the God of Heaven and You have given all authority in heaven and earth to Your Son, who has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations. So we boldly ask for more of Your Spirit and Your power to do that which You have commanded. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” (1 Peter 3:22 NLT).

From: November 25, 2018

CHRIST’S POSITION GIVES MEANING TO OUR EXPERIENCE

In the context of encouraging the suffering recipients of his letter, Peter reminded them of Christ’s sufferings, His resurrection and current position of honor. This reminds us that suffering is temporary and that one day we shall be raised to eternal life with Christ. It also strengthens us in our suffering, for Christ is already in authority over all things, so that He is able to help us when we call on Him.

Yet, one other truth is implied, which Paul named in his letter to the Colossians. Speaking of our position in Christ, Paul wrote, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3). So, even though we may suffer experientially in this world, our “real life” is already positionally at the right of the Father in Christ. One day, our experience and our position will be one. For we “shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18 NKJV).

From: November 25, 2017

Peter gave the whole gospel in a single verse. The sinless Christ died for sinners that they might be reconciled to God. Peter emphasized that Christ suffered “once.” There was no need for more. His suffering and death on the cross was sufficient for perpetuity without any need of repetition. The weight and value of His singular sacrifice was sufficient to redeem all who accept His payment for sin. The eternal One exchanged His eternal life for our death sentence. The righteous One paid our sin debt, the “just for the unjust,” with His perfect righteousness. The Son of God offered His sonship, experiencing our separation, that “He might bring us to God” as His children.

O, the worth of His solitary Life! Christ has died “once” and His sacrifice is sufficient for all.

“And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus” (Daniel 1:21 ESV)

From: November 25, 2016

Daniel, along with several other young Hebrew youths (probably young teens) was taken captive by the Babylonians to serve King Nebuchadnezzar. His story is a study in how to live as a believer exiled in a foreign land. God gave Daniel great wisdom and success, as he served under many kings and even kept his post after Babylon fell to the Persians. He served under several Babylonian kings beginning with Nebuchadnezzer and ending with Belshazzar, who was king at the time of the fall of Babylon to Persia (Daniel 5:29-31). He then continued under Darius the Mede and finally under Cyrus of Persia (Daniel 6:28). His service seems to have occupied around seventy years. Regardless of the king or kingdom of man, Daniel served God and the Lord gave him wisdom on how to live in this world, but not of it.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 NKJV)

From: November 25, 2015

Daniel knew what it was like to live out his faith within a foreign culture. Even though he was carried off from his Jewish homeland as an exile to Babylon, God blessed him with the wisdom to live in Babylon without becoming a Babylonian. His life is a study in how a believer might live in today’s secular culture. As Christians in America, we live in an ever increasing secular society. It is no longer united by a common Judeo-Christian worldview. Yet, we can learn from Daniel how to navigate our culture with godly grace and wisdom.