Fri.-Sabbath, 11/14-16/25 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his excellent book, "A Body of Divinity.” . . .

"See in this, as in a transparent glass, the love of Christ to the elect. He came to redeem them; and [He] died intentionally for them. Would it not be great love for a king's son to pay a great sum of money to redeem a captive? [If the king’s son] should be content to be a prisoner in his [the prisoner’s] stead, and die for his ransom—this would be a matter of won-der. Jesus Christ has done all this, He has written His love in characters of blood. [If it would have been a lot] for Christ to speak a good word to His Father for us, [nonetheless] He [Christ] knew that [this] was not enough to redeem us. Though a word [being spoken] made a world, yet it would not redeem a sinner. 'Without [the] shedding of blood there is no re-mission [of sins],' (Heb 9:22)."

Thurs., 11/13/25 Devotion (Heb. 8:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 8:6, which says this:

“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on bet-ter promises.” (ESV)

As the true church’s crowned High Priest seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven (v. 1), our Lord Jesus Christ performs mini-stry that is infinitely better than the old, administers a (New) covenant that is infinitely better than the old, and fulfills promises that are infinitely better than the old.

The regenerate saints’ assurance is all tied-up with this heavenly High Priest (Jesus). The Holy Spirit confirms the truth of the gospel to our hearts, encour-aging us with the words of the Sacred Scriptures, which all point to Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If once you come to receive the mercy of God in and through Christ Jesus, then that mercy will be the greatest opposer of your lusts and sin as anything can be in the world.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, from, "Gospel Remission"]

Wed., 11/12/25 Devotion (Heb. 7:12)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 7:12, where we read these words:

“For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.” (ESV)

In the New Covenant the priesthood was changed from the Aaronic (priests), to the Melchizedekian (Priest/Jesus). Now, the Priest would be perfect, not sinful (v. 27). Now the Priest would last forever, not die (v. 25). And now, the Priest would institute the perfections of the New World, in His blood and re-surrection (v. 28).

These changes would include, not only the priesthood, but the Sabbath Day as well. Everything old is completed in everything new; and everything that prefigured is fulfilled in God’s final Word, Jesus Christ our Prophet, Priest, and King.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Proud innocence is worse than humble sin, and I would rather see a man tainted with many sins, if he is humbled for them and strives against them, than another puffed up and bragging to others of his freedom from gross and notorious iniquities.” —Richard Harris, in, "The Way To True Happiness"]

Tues., 11/11/25 Devotion (Heb. 6:19-20a)

Today's encouragement comes from the words of Hebrews 6:19 & 20a, which say this:

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus . . . “

Notice here that the hope of regenerated Christ-loving churchmen *has al-ready* entered the holy of holies in heaven—since Jesus, who *is* our Hope, is *presently* there, for us. Our hope is “sure and steadfast, whereas all those outside of Christ have *no* hope at all.

Because true believers are “anchored” in Jesus, we may be completely se-cure and fully confident. We need fear nothing in this world; and we have the privilege of preaching gospel grace in Christ to this world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Keep your ear open to God and shut out sin; deaf-en your ears to the lies of the slanderer and the heretic. Do not let him have your ear who comes to rob you of your heart.” —Thomas Watson, in his ser-mon, "The Spiritual Watch"]

Mon., 11/10/25 Devotion (Heb. 5:5a)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 5:5a, where we read these words:

“So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest . . . “ (ESV)

Christ, in the “humiliation” of His incarnation, did not do anything unless His Father told Him to do it, or appointed Him to it. In this sense, Jesus Christ in His human nature *did* willingly and lovingly “subordinate” Himself to the Fa-ther. In His deity, Christ, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit shares the same essence and divine majesty.

If Jesus did not “exalt Himself,” even to His rightful place as the “high priest,” then, obviously, we are to cease from “exalting” ourselves in anyway. The church is exalted in Jesus, and that is more than sufficient for us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church is the wisest body and society in the world. Indeed, all the world besides is a company of mere fools and mad-men." —Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Discourse Concerning Love"]

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"]