Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for September 6

IS GOD SILENT?

From: September 6, 2024

“Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest” (Psalm 50:3 ESV).

The Psalmist reminded the people of Israel that offering sacrifices without a heart of true righteousness and thanksgiving was not acceptable to God. His apparent “silence” over their hypocrisy and sin would soon pass and He would come in judgment. Those who think Him silent are as the prophet Jeremiah said, “O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not” (Jer. 5:21).

God is not silent. He has spoken by His prophets and in these last days, by His Son, so that we might believe on Him as Savior and become children of God. He will soon speak again through Jesus as Judge. He will clothe Himself in the terrible robes of justice, like a devouring fire and a mighty tempest, He will come to judge the living and the dead.

God has spoken. God speaks. As Jesus has said, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, speak Lord. For we your servants are listening. In Jesus’ name, amen.

PRAISED FOR HIS GOSPEL MINISTRY

From: September 6, 2023

“We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News” (2 Corinthians 8:18 NLT).

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he informed them that he was sending three brothers to help with the collection of a gift to help the hurting Christians in Jerusalem. He named Titus as one of the trio who had volunteered to visit them for this purpose because of his heart and concern for them. He didn’t indicate the names of the other two men, but he did offer this significant endorsement for the second one, saying he is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.

Early tradition held that this second brother known for his gospel ministry was none other than Paul’s friend, Dr. Luke. Certainly this is the most probable identity of the second brother. For Luke would be praised throughout the churches for writing the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Yet Paul leaves him unnamed, possibly because the Corinthians knew Titus, but had yet to meet the other two brothers.

The name of the second brother sent from Paul to Corinth remains uncertain, but one thing is clear––he was known for his gospel ministry. And isn’t that the best of all things to be known for? For it’s better to be known for proclaiming the name of Jesus, than for your own name to be known. It’s better to be praised for preaching the gospel than any other commendation in this world.

Paul could offer no higher praise for his unnamed brother than this: He was praised for his gospel ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful that You know us by name. But we would ask that You strengthen us, that we might be more known for our gospel ministry. We can never repay Your great love for us. But we can declare Your praises and preach Your gospel everywhere we go. Empower us by Your Spirit that we might fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Your Son. For it’s in His name we pray. In the name of Jesus, amen.

“Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.” (Song of Solomon 2:10-11 NLT).

From: September 6, 2022

THE DAY WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL SAY ‘RISE UP!’

The Song of Solomon is also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. However, when read through the lens of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes marriage as a “mystery” that points to Christ and His church, it takes on new meaning (See Eph. 5:32). For Christ is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride.

Read the above passage viewing Christ as the one speaking and the church as the one being addressed. There is a Day coming when the church will hear Christ say, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!”

As John the Revelator wrote, “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come” (Rev. 22:17).

There is a Day coming when Winter will be past and eternal Spring shall dawn. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we know that You have already appointed the Day when Christ shall return and call His Bride, which is the church, to rise up from the earth and ascend to Him. We have this hope that just as Christ was raised, so shall we be raised to new life. Strengthen us now for today as we share this hope with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry” (2 Corinthians 8:18 HCSB).

From: September 6, 2021

PRAISED FOR HIS GOSPEL MINISTRY

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he informed them that he was sending three brothers to help with the collection of a gift to help the hurting Christians in Jerusalem. He named Titus as one of the trio who had volunteered to visit them for this purpose because of his heart and concern for them. He didn’t indicate the names of the other two men, but he did offer this significant endorsement for the second one, saying he “is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.”

Early tradition held that this second brother known for his gospel ministry was none other than Paul’s friend, Dr. Luke. Certainly this is the most probable identity of the second brother. For Luke would be praised throughout the churches for writing the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Yet Paul leaves him unnamed, probably because the Corinthians knew Titus, but had yet to meet the other two brothers.

The name of the second brother sent from Paul to Corinth remains uncertain today, but one thing is clear––he was known for his gospel ministry. And isn’t that the best of all things to be known for? For it’s better to be known for proclaiming the name of Jesus, than for your own name to be known. It’s better to be praised for preaching the gospel than any other commendation in this world.

Paul could offer no higher praise for his unnamed brother than this: He was praised for his gospel ministry.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful that You know us by name. But we would ask that You strengthen us, that we might be more known for our gospel ministry. We can never repay Your great love for us. But we can declare Your praises and preach Your gospel everywhere we go. Empower us by Your Spirit that we might fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Your Son. For it’s in His name we pray. In the name of Jesus, amen.

“My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone” (Song of Solomon 2:10-11 NKJV).

From: September 6, 2020

A DAY IS COMING WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL CALL, RISE UP!

Also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. However, when read through the lens of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes marriage as a “mystery” that points to Christ and His Church, it takes on new meaning (See Eph. 5:32).

Read the above passage viewing Christ as the “beloved” and the Church as the one being addressed. There is a Day coming when the Church will hear Christ say, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past.”

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come.” (Rev. 22:17).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we know that You have already appointed the Day when Christ shall return and call His Bride, which is the Church, to rise up from the earth and ascend to Him. We have this hope that just as Christ was raised, so shall we be raised to new life. Strengthen us now for today as we share this hope with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News” (2 Corinthians 8:18 NLT).

From: September 6, 2018

WHO IS THIS GOSPEL PREACHING BROTHER?

Paul told the Corinthians that he was sending Titus and “another brother” to them to collect the Jerusalem offering. Who was this brother whom “all the churches” praised for his gospel preaching? It is impossible to know for sure, but Luke is a likely candidate. He was a constant companion of Paul and he was the author of the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel may have already started to circulate among the churches, making him a renowned member of Paul’s team and perhaps the reason for Paul keeping him anonymous.

John Mark, author of the Gospel according to Mark, is another candidate. Although Paul didn’t want to travel with him after he went home early on their first missionary journey, they were later reconciled as evidenced in Paul’s reference to him in 1 Timothy 4:11.

Other possible well known gospel preachers that were companions of Paul include Apollos and Barnabas. But the truth is, the identity of the brother that Paul sent with Titus remains unknown, as does Paul’s reason for anonymity.

This unnamed brother was highly respected not only for his gospel preaching, but also for his integrity, for Paul went on to say that “he was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem” (2 Cor. 8:19). In other words, he was the trustee appointed to verify that the monies collected for Jerusalem were actually delivered as promised.

Whoever this brother was, he was highly respected both for his gospel preaching and his great integrity.

“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth” (Psalm 50:2 NKJV).

From: September 6, 2017

Zion, a synonym for Jerusalem, was the location of Solomon’s beautiful Temple. Yet, the “perfection of beauty” must surely point to the coming Messiah whom God would send to “shine forth” out of Zion! He is Jesus the Christ, who now shines forth from the heavenly Zion (Heb. 12:22-24), having accomplished all that was necessary for our salvation.

“Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest” (Psalm 50:3 ESV)

From: September 6, 2016

The Psalmist reminded the people of Israel that offering sacrifices without a heart of true righteousness and thanksgiving were not acceptable to God. His apparent “silence” over their hypocrisy and sin would soon pass and He would come in judgment. The fact that they were children of Abraham did not necessarily give them the right to say, “The Lord is ‘our’ God.” They needed more than circumcision of the flesh. They needed a “circumcision of the heart” (Rom. 2:29) in order to be children of God. God has not kept silent. He has spoken through His Son, Jesus, so that we might believe on Him as Savior and become children of God. And God will not keep silent. He will soon speak again through Jesus as Judge. He will clothe Himself in the terrible robes of justice, like a devouring fire and a mighty tempest, He will come to judge the living and the dead. God does not stay silent.

“My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. the flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:10-12 NKJV)

From: September 6, 2015

Also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. When read through the lens of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes marriage as a “mystery” that points to Christ and His Church, it takes on a new meaning. Read the above passage viewing Christ as the “beloved” and the Church as the one being addressed. There is a Day coming when the Bride will hear Him say, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past…”

“The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets” (Psalm 50:1 NLT)

From: September 6, 2014

The Lord Jesus, our Mighty Hero, is God of very God, and He has spoken to us through His gospel which was written down. This gospel summons us to bring to Him disciples from every tongue and tribe, even from the ends of the earth. Our God speaks. And we have heard Him. He is not distant nor silent. He reveals Himself through creation and through His Spirit, yet His fullest revelation is through His Son, Jesus. Our God has spoken and still speaks. Do you have spiritual ears to hear?