Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for October 2

THE GOAL OF CHRISTLIKENESS

From: October 2, 2024

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV).

Like an olympic runner stretching for the finish line, the apostle Paul “strained forward” toward the “goal” of becoming like Christ. He didn’t let his past determine his future, nor did he let the troubles of the present distract or slow him down, but “pressed on” toward the goal of Christ Jesus. His ultimate aim was to grow in spiritual maturity, so that Christ was fully formed in him.

Some live in the past, living a life of regret or remembering past glories or failures. Others live as dreamers, always searching for the gold at the end of some distant rainbow. Many aimlessly wander through life like sheep without a shepherd. But Paul had a singular focus. He didn’t say, “These 20 things I dabble at,” but this “one thing I do.” His aim was Christlikeness. He desired to be like Christ in every way.

Have you made Jesus the object of your faith, the one you worship and follow, your all in all? Are you growing in spiritual maturity, making Christlikeness your ultimate life’s goal?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to say with Paul, this one thing I do. We want to grow in Christlikeness. Yet we know that our pursuit depends on Your grace and power. We therefore yield ourselves afresh to You this day. Mold us and make us more and more every day like Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

GOD’S WAY OF MAKING US RIGHT WITH HIM

From: October 2, 2023

“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:9 NLT).

Paul told the Philippians that before he trusted Christ, he had worked to earn righteousness through obeying the law. But when he encountered Christ, he saw his attempts at righteousness as worthless in comparison to Christ’s infinite worth. He recognized that his own righteous acts produced by attempting to keep the law were as the prophet Isaiah said, “as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6) compared to the righteousness of God. As a result, he stopped counting on his own law-keeping efforts and gladly received the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.

The law was not given that we might earn righteousness, but that we might recognize the depth of our unrighteousness and our need for salvation. Yet Christ was given that we might receive the righteousness from God, which is not based on works, but on faith. Confessing Christ as Lord and trusting in Him for salvation, His righteousness is accounted unto us.

God’s way of making us right with Him is that we put our faith in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have only one claim to come before You and that is Jesus. Yet now, we boldly come with confidence having been clothed in Your righteousness through faith in Him. Empower us by Your Spirit today to live as Your children in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“We are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:20-21 NLT).

From: October 2, 2022

A GLORIOUS BODY FIT FOR ETERNITY

This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be transformed to be like His. Christ is the “firstborn” (Col. 1:18) from among the dead, the prototype for the glorified bodies that we will receive at His return. Those who believe will have a body fit for eternity like His!

Yet for now, our bodies “groan” (Rom. 8:23) as we await this transformation. But soon and very soon, they will groan no more. For on that Day our faith will become sight.

As the apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). On that Day we shall be like Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Father, as our bodies age, they groan with increasing discomfort, but also in anticipation of that which is promised, namely, a body like Your Son’s. In the meantime, strengthen us to use these bodies for Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“…not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith” (Philippians 3:9 HCSB).

From: October 2, 2021

CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Paul told the Philippians that before he trusted Christ, he had worked to earn righteousness through obeying the law. But when he encountered Christ, he saw his attempts at righteousness as worthless in comparison to Christ’s infinite worth. He recognized that his own righteous acts produced by attempting to keep the law were as the prophet Isaiah said, “as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6) compared to the righteousness of God. As a result, he stopped counting on his own law-keeping efforts and gladly received the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.

The law was not given that we might earn righteousness, but that we might recognize the depth of our unrighteousness and our need for salvation. Yet Christ was given that we might receive the righteousness from God, which is not based on works, but on faith. Confessing Christ as Lord and trusting in Him for salvation, His righteousness is accounted unto us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have only one claim to come before You and that is Christ Jesus. Yet now, we boldly come with confidence having been clothed in Your righteousness through faith in Christ. Empower us by Your Spirit today to live as Your children in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV).

From: October 2, 2020

THE PERFECT BODY YOU ALWAYS DESIRED

This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be transformed to be like His. Christ is the “firstborn” (Greek: “prototokos”) from among the dead, the “prototype” for the glorified bodies that we will receive at His return. Those who believe will have a body fit for eternity like His!

Yet for now, our bodies “groan” (Rom. 8:23) as we await this transformation. But soon and very soon, they will groan no more. For on that Day our faith will become sight.

As the apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

PRAYER: Dear Father, as our bodies age, they groan with increasing discomfort, but also in anticipation of that which is promised, namely, a body like Your Son’s. In the meantime, strengthen us to use these old bodies up for Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Isaiah 66:2a NLT).

From: October 2, 2019

OUR CREATOR HAS BECOME OUR REDEEMER!

In the last chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Lord reminds us that He is both Creator and Owner of all. There is nothing we can build for Him nor give Him that He doesn’t already own. Yet, He would have us humbly surrender our hearts to Him. For though we are the work of His hands, we have rebelled against His authority. What madness this is! That the creature would rebel against the Creator! But God has made a way for our reconciliation. He has sent His only Son to receive our punishment for rebellion that we might by grace through faith receive His reward for obedience. He offers those who would believe in Him, righteousness, Sonship, and eternal life in exchange for our unrighteousness, separation and death.

Our Creator has become our Redeemer!

PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us and designing us for relationship with You. Thank You for Jesus in whom we have redemption, so that we have received the rights of sonship. We come confidently into Your presence as Your children and lovingly call You our Abba, our Father. Meet our needs today and strengthen us to glorify You in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9 NLT).

From: October 2, 2018

MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY FAITH

Paul told the Philippians that before he trusted Christ, he had worked to earn righteousness through obeying the law. But when he encountered Christ, he saw his attempts at righteousness as worthless in comparison to Christ’s infinite worth. As a result, he stopped counting on his own law-keeping efforts and gladly received the righteousness of Christ by faith.

The law was not given that we might earn righteousness, but that we might recognize the depth of our unrighteousness. But Christ was given that we might be made right with God by faith.

“Arise, O God, plead Your own cause” (Psalm 74:22 NKJV).

From: October 2, 2017

The psalmist prayed that the Lord would “arise,” that He would make Himself known. Certainly, the Lord has answered this prayer over and over again, especially and ultimately in the revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ. Yet, the prayer implies that the psalmist has been pleading the Lord’s cause without result and would have the Lord’s help in it. Surely, the foolish ones who have rejected the gospel and rebelled against God’s name would be corrected, if the Lord would only intervene. And so, the psalmist prayed for a clear manifestation of God’s presence and power.

Let us join the psalmist in prayer. “Father, arise in me today. Show me where You are already at work that I might join You there. Accomplish Your own purpose in me and through me. Lord, arise in those around me today. Persuade those far from You to come near. Arise, O God, that we might see Your hand at work in our world. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV)

From: October 2, 2016

Like an olympic runner stretching for the finish line, the apostle Paul “strained forward” towards the future “goal” in Christ. He didn’t let his past predict his future, but focused on the goal of Christ. Some live in the past, living a life of regret or remembering past glories or failures. Others live as dreamers, always searching for the gold at the end of some distant rainbow. But Paul had a singular focus to follow and be with Christ. Have you yet made Jesus the object of your faith, the one you worship and follow, your all in all?

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7 NKJV)

From: October 2, 2015

Paul listed the personal achievements that he had attained before following Christ and then described them as “loss” in comparison. Paul had quite an impressive resume, if anyone had reason to boast, he did. Yet, he chose to count it as nothing compared to knowing and following Jesus. He understood that following Jesus meant leaving your former life behind. What have you left to follow Jesus? What have you “counted loss for Christ?”