Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for October 4

JESUS IS OUR ARK

From: October 4, 2024

‘In those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again’ (Jeremiah 3:16 ESV).

Jeremiah prophesied of a coming day when the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, would no longer be necessary. For in that day the real presence of God would be manifest among them by the coming of the Messiah. The prophecy pointed to a day when worship would no longer require physical symbols like the Ark to mediate God’s presence. It connects to the broader biblical theme that God’s ultimate plan is for worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not limited by physical objects or locations.

That day has come. For all the law, the Ark, and the Temple and its sacrifices were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is Immanuel, God with us. As John’s gospel proclaimed, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Ark, and the tablets of the Mosaic Law that it contained, were only a shadow of the real presence that has been revealed in the Word made flesh, namely, Jesus Christ.

Therefore let us come to Jesus. For our faith is not dependent on religious rituals and relics, but on the real presence of God made known through a personal relationship with Jesus. By faith in Jesus, we are born again and indwelt with God’s Spirit, so that His real presence always abides within us. Jesus is our Ark.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at how You have revealed Your purposes and plans to us. Your prophets foretold the day when the Ark would no longer be necessary because Your presence would be revealed fully in Christ. Strengthen us to take this Good News to all the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ENDURANCE WITH JOY IS BETTER

From: October 4, 2023

“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12 NLT).

The apostle Paul prayed that the believers in Colossae would be strengthened by God’s glorious power. For living and depending on the power of God would give them all the endurance and patience they would need to always live to honor and please the Lord. At the same time, he prayed that the Lord would fill them with joy and thankfulness.

Why did he also pray for their joy and thankfulness? Isn’t endurance and patience enough? Isn’t it enough that we hang in there for God? Why the need for joy and thankfulness too?

Perhaps it’s because living for Christ we are called to be “more than conquerers” (Rom. 8:37), not just hanging on and going through the motions, but living victoriously with joy and thanksgiving. Sure, we are called to endure, yet not with gritted teeth and clinched fists, but with shouts of joy and thanksgiving to God! For both our actions and our attitudes come from depending on God’s glorious power.

Hanging in there is good. But enduring with joy and thankfulness is better.

PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to be faithful today, patiently enduring whatever comes our way. Yet not with downcast faces, but with joy and thanksgiving. Strengthen us not only by Your glorious power but also fill us with Your unconquerable joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Everything was created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16 NLT).

From: October 4, 2022

LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED

Most philosophers would say that the most important question is an existential one: “What is the meaning of existence?” More specifically, “Who am I and what is my purpose?” Or as the French would say, what is the “raison d’être?” (“reason for being”).

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, this existential question is answered. Christ is both the agent of and reason for our existence. The Scripture says that all things were created by Him, through Him and for Him. It is this final aspect of Christ’s agency that offers us the most profound answer, namely, that we were made “for Him.” He made us for Himself.

Apart from Christ, life becomes meaningless. Apart from Christ, we are cast adrift on the sea of futility. We neither recognize our Creator, nor know our own identity. So we fill in the blanks with our own answers, but none of them suffice.

Yet in Christ, we find our purpose for being and our true identity. We were made for Him! And we are incomplete and rudderless without Him.

When my children were teenagers, before they would leave the house to go somewhere, I would always tell them, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” I wouldn’t let them leave until they responded with, “I’m a child of God who belongs to Jesus Christ.”

Do you know the answer to life’s most important question?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Jesus! He is the answer to our questions of identity and purpose. He tells who we are and whose we are. For we were made by Him and for Him. Strengthen us to live today for the One who both made and redeemed us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God’s grace in the truth” (Colossians 1:5-6 HCSB).

From: October 4, 2021

SPREADING THE GOSPEL ALL OVER THE WORLD

Paul described the “gospel” (“good news”) as being like a plant “bearing fruit and growing” everywhere it went “all over the world.” And what was that fruit? “Changed lives!”

In the next verse, Paul identified the one who had actually carried the Good News to Colossae as Epaphras, one of his beloved co-workers. For although the Gospel has the power to change lives, it does not carry itself. It requires a messenger to deliver it. Or to stick with the metaphor, it requires a planter to spread the gospel seed abroad, trusting the Holy Spirit to cause it to take root and bear fruit in the soil of human hearts.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the Gospel. For we have heard and believed it, and by grace through faith we have been saved. Now empower us to carry the Good News to others, so that it continues going out all over the world. We want to see others experience the life-change that You have brought to us. Thank You for Your wonderful grace! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16 NKJV).

From: October 4, 2020

LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED

Most philosophers would say that the most important question is: “What is the meaning of existence?” More specifically, “Who am I and what is my purpose?” Or as the French would say, what is our “raison d’être?” (“reason of being”).

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the central question of our existence is answered. Christ is both the agent of and reason for our existence. The Scripture says that all things were created by Him, through Him and for Him. It is this final aspect of Christ’s agency that offers us the most profound answer, namely, that we were made “for Him.” He made us for Himself.

Apart from Christ, life becomes meaningless. Apart from Christ, we are cast adrift on the sea of futility. But in Christ, we find our purpose for being. We were made for Christ! And we are incomplete and rudderless without Him. Christ is the answer to life’s most important question!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Jesus! He is the answer to our questions of identity and purpose. He tells who we are and whose we are. For we were made by Him and for Him. Strengthen us to live today for the One who both made and redeemed us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace” (Colossians 1:6 NLT).

From: October 4, 2019

THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL IS CHANGED LIVES!

Paul used personification in describing the “Good News” (“Gospel”) as being like a world traveler that had brought the news of “God’s wonderful grace,” not only to Colossae, but also “going out all over the world.” He quickly changed metaphors and described the Good News as being like a plant “bearing fruit’ everywhere it went. And what was that fruit? “Changed lives!”

Of course, in the next verse, Paul identified the one who had actually carried the Good News to Colossae as Epaphras, one of his beloved co-workers. For although the Gospel has the power to change lives, it does not carry itself. It requires a newspaper-boy (or girl). 🙂

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the Gospel. For we have heard and believed it, and by grace through faith we have been saved. Now empower us to carry the Good News to others, so that it continues going out all over the world. We want to see others experience the life-change that You have brought to us. Thank You for Your wonderful grace! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15 NLT).

From: October 4, 2018

CHRIST, THE TRUE SHEPHERD AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

The Lord gave Jeremiah this prophecy concerning Judah and Israel, that after a time of being scattered, God would bring them back and give them “shepherds” after His own heart. Perhaps the first fulfillment of this prophecy may be seen in Nehemiah, Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who were godly shepherds that led the people back to the land. Yet, the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Christ and the apostles. For Christ identified himself as the “Good Shepherd [who] gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Christ is the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4) of God’s flock and He gave His apostles the responsibility of being shepherds under His authority. Didn’t Jesus tell Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.”?

When Jesus saw the multitudes coming to Him, all weary and scattered, He was moved with compassion and saw that they were like “sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36).

Have you yet brought your cares and troubles to the Good Shepherd? He is the fulfillment of all the prophets and the True Shepherd of God’s flock. Let the Lord Jesus be your Shepherd and you shall no longer be in want.

“A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the Lord their God.” (Jeremiah 3:21 NKJV).

From: October 4, 2017

In the heights where Israel had once committed idolatry, she now wept with prayers of supplication for God’s help. She had awareness of her own crooked ways and her failure to remember God first. Yet, God was still waiting for her to repent.

There is a difference between being sorry for our sins and repenting of our sins. Often we are more sorry for the consequences of sin, than the sin itself. We weep over the brokenness of our world and cry out to God, but we don’t repent. Repentance is more than sorrow. It is more than regret. In repentance we simultaneously turn from sin and turn towards God through faith in Christ. It is the prayer of repentance that God answers.

There is much weeping in our country these days, but little repentance.

“…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10 ESV)

From: October 4, 2016

This was Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, that they might “walk worthy of the Lord” who had saved them. The Christian life is not a leap nor a sprint, but a “walk.” It is a daily spiritual discipline of denying oneself and following Jesus. With each step we learn to walk in the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of good works and we grow in our study of God’s Word, knowing Him better and better. Putting away the former things and putting on Christ, we walk with a desire to “fully please” the Lord in all things.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13 NKJV)

From: October 4, 2015

Paul wrote to the church at Colossae describing their change of spiritual citizenship. Because they had confessed their faith in Christ, the Father transferred them from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. God is still accepting new kingdom citizens today. His Son has already paid the price for our redemption. Yet, just as a new American citizen must take an oath of allegiance to the US constitution, so the one desiring kingdom citizenship must confess faith in Christ.