Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for October 2

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8a NLT)

From: October 2, 2014

Paul was one of the most brilliant minds of his generation, yet he counted human knowledge worthless when weighed against the “value of knowing” Christ. Truth is not a philosophy or equation, it is a Person. Decide to know Jesus. Let Him be the criterion for knowing, the lens by which you interpret reality. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6).

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12)

From: October 2, 2013

Paul knew that he belonged to Christ, yet he pursued knowing all of Christ that belonged to him. We come to Christ saying, “I am His and He is mine.” Yet, we don’t fully understand either. Perhaps we partially grasp that we are His to some degree. But that Christ is ours, is mine? That all that Christ is and owns is now mine? His love, His wisdom, His relationship with the Father, His future in heaven, His resurrection, His … all mine? Like Paul, “I press on to make it my own.”

“And 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, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control” (Philippians 3:20-21)

From: October 2, 2012

This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be changed to be like His. Christ is the firstborn (prototokos) from among the dead, the prototype. Those who believe will have a glorious body like His! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2)

From: October 2, 2011

God lifts up those who bow down. He applauds the one who is fearfully moved by His Word. What is your response to hearing the Word? Those in whom the Spirit resides tremble like a leaf blown by the wind when God speaks.