Fri.-Sabbath, 11/7-9/25 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here again! We get to go back to church. In order to help us prepare for Sabbath worship, here are some good words from Thomas Goodwin’s excellent book, “The Heart of Christ in Heaven To-wards Sinners on Earth.” . . .

“ . . . And this Spirit is still in our preaching and in your hearts, in hearing, in praying, etc., and persuades you of Christ’s love to this very day; and is in all these the pledge of the continuance of Christ’s love still in heaven unto sin-ners. All our sermons and your prayers are evidences to you, that Christ’s heart is still the same towards sinners that ever it was, for the Spirit that as-sists in all these comes in His name, and in His stead, and works all by com-mission from Him. And do none of you feel your hearts moved in the preach-ing of these things, at this and other times? And who is it that moves you? It is the Spirit who speaks in Christ’s name from heaven, even as Himself is said to ‘speak from heaven,’ (Heb. 12:25). And when you pray, it is the Spirit that indites [composes] your prayers, and that ‘makes intercession for you’ in your own hearts (Rom. 8:26), which intercession of His is but the evidence and echo of Christ’s intercession in heaven. The Spirit prays in you, because Christ prays for you. He is an intercessor on earth, because Christ is an inter-cessor in heaven. . . . "

Thurs., 11/6/25 Devotion (Heb. 1:3b)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 1:3b, where we read these words:

“ . . . and he [the Son of God] upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (ESV)

I think it was Athanasius who said something like this: “While the Son of God hung lifeless on the cross, He was (simultaneously) upholding the universe by the word of His power.” This theology is both profound and true.

The Holy Trinity created the entire universe through the Second Person (the Son of God). Christ is the absolute Center of the creation. The universe is (properly-speaking) upheld by the power of the Son of God. But the “new cre-ation,” regeneration in Jesus via the Holy Spirit, is an even greater demonstration of the might of our loving and personal God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who does not know the evil of sin as fully as he ought cannot hate it as much as he should.” —Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Dis-course Concerning Love"]

Wed., 11/5/25 Devotion (2 Ki. 18:5)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 18:5, where we read these words:

“[Hezekiah] trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.” (ESV)

This is a remarkable testimony the Holy Spirit gave to Hezekiah’s life of faith. After all, did David not precede him; and did not Josiah succeed him? What made Hezekiah so outstanding? It was his willingness to “trust” in the Lord, even against the formidable forces that opposed him.

David excelled Hezekiah in covenant stature; and Josiah may have outdone him in zeal—but Hezekiah shone very brightly in the line of the kings that would culminate in our Lord and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: " 'Yes, I know, Satan, that Christ loves me, because you tell me that He hates me.’ " —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Tues., 11/4/25 Devotion (Titus 3:2)

Today's encouragement comes from Titus 3:2, which says this:

“ . . . to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people . . . ” (ESV)

Paul instructs ministers to teach parishioners to practice these lovely behav-iors (above). But, of course, ministers are to set the example, and show the way. Only those who are miraculously secure in Jesus Christ can do these things. Everyone else is compelled—through abiding self-righteousness—to do the exact opposite.

The church functions brilliantly, when the Holy Spirit fills the lovers of Jesus—and those forgiven souls “speak evil of no one,” “avoid quarreling,” are “gen-tle,” and “show perfect courtesy toward all people."

[Puritan quote of the day: "If, when public ordinances are administered, any person, whether out of pride or sloth, shall stay at home, though he may have his private devotions, yet he brings forth fruit out of season, and let that man know he shall bear his sin.” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Trees of Righteousness Blossoming"]

Mon., 11/3/25 Devotion (Titus 2:11)

Today’s encouragement comes from Titus 2:11, where we read these lovely words:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people . . . " (ESV)

The “appearance” of the “grace of God,” is the appearance of Jesus Christ Himself. Paul has (immediately) Christ’s incarnation in mind—but in just two verses later he speaks of Jesus’ final glorious advent.

. . . “Bringing salvation to all people” is a blessed phrase. The gospel of God’s free grace is actually and sincerely offered to “all people.” The gospel benefits “all people.” People from “all nations,” etc., will be brought to Jesus and His church; and “all” the world is blessed by the incarnation of the Son of God.

[Edwards quote of the day: "Hence we learn that a life of holiness is the pleasantest life in this world, because in such a life we have the imperfect be-ginnings of a blessed and endless sight of God.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Pure in Heart Blessed"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/31-11/2/25 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here! In order to help us prepare for the church’s Sabbath worship, here are some very good words from John Cal-vin’s Commentary on Paul’s letter of Colossians. Calvin is explicating Col. 1:12a here. . . .

“ ‘Giving thanks.’  Again [Paul] returns to thanksgiving, that he may take this opportunity of enumerating the blessings which had been conferred upon them [the Colossian church] through Christ, and thus he enters upon a full delineation of Christ. For this was the only remedy for fortifying the Colos-sians against all the snares, by which the false apostles endeavored to entrap them—to understand accurately what Christ was. For how is it that we are carried about  with so many strange doctrines, (Heb. 13:9), but because the excellence of Christ is not perceived by us? For Christ alone makes all other things suddenly vanish. Hence there is nothing that Satan so much en-deavors to accomplish as to bring on mists with the view of obscuring Christ, because he knows that by this means the way is opened up for every kind of falsehood. This, therefore, is the only means of retaining, as well as restoring pure doctrine—to place Christ before the view such as He is with all His blessings, that His excellence may be truly perceived."

Thurs., 10/30/25 Devotion (2 Tim. 2:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Paul's words to the young pastor Timo-thy, as they are found in 2 Timothy 2:1:

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

There is no grace to be found anywhere but “in Christ Jesus”; and no one can be “strong” before God, but by being united to Christ Jesus—and hence, enjoy His gracious might. No matter what others may choose to do with their lives, God addresses His true children; and says, “YOU,” “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

. . . This strength has a holy “contagion,” as we see in the next verse. It also equips us to, “share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus,” (v. 3). May all God’s regenerate saints be strong in Christ and His grace today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Those whose hearts follow hard after the Lord have the right hand of God upholding them.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gos-pel Worship"]