Fri.-Sabbath, 3/28-30/25 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is *almost* here! In order to help us all get ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his book entitled, "The Beatitudes.” . . .

"To do God's will is for our benefit. It promotes our own self-interest. As if a king commands a subject to dig in a mine of gold, and gives him all the gold he had dug out. God bids us do His will, and that is for our good. 'And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to keep the commandments of the Lord, which I command you this day for your good?,' (Deut. 10:13).

"It is God's will that we should repent, and this is for our good; for repentance ushers in remission. 'Repent, that your sins may be blotted out,' (Acts 3:19). It is God's will that we should believe; and why is it, but that we should be crowned with salvation? 'He that believes, shall be saved,' (Mk. 16:16). What God wills, is not so much our duty, as our privilege; He bids us obey His voice, and it is greatly for our good. 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God,' (Jer. 7:23). I will not only give you My angels to be your guard, but Myself to be your portion; My spirit shall be yours to sanctify you; My love shall be yours to comfort you; My mercy shall be yours to save you; 'I will be your God.' "

Thurs., 3/27/25 Devotion (Php. 1:27b, 28a)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 1:27b & 28a, where Paul wrote these words:

" . . . That you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries . . . "

Paul especially loved the Philippian church, largely because of their steadfast commitment to the gospel, (and consequently, to Jesus, and to him [Paul]). The church in all ages is to be united in the pursuit of Christ's gospel ends; and we are never to be afraid of those who resist (or oppress) us, as we seek to speak Jesus’ Name everywhere.

Let all of us regenerated Christians be bold and courageous today. So long as we love the Lord Jesus, we have no reason to be intimidated by His (or our) foes.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is no greater sign of a rotten heart than a fundamental unsteadfastness in the covenant of God.” —Richard Steele, in, "The Character of an Upright Man"]

Wed., 3/26/25 Devotion (Jn. 16:33)

Today's encouragement comes from John 16:33, where our Lord Jesus said this:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Notice that the Christian churchman's peace is entirely found in Christ. It never originates in the "world," or in anything other than the Son of God. Our union with Jesus causes us to be able to be genuinely cheerful, even as we are going through very difficult hardships.

All of this is because our Savior has "overcome the world." The world no longer has controlling power over Him or us (who are in the Messiah). We, in and with our Redeemer, have also "overcome" it.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Begin with simple things, for all truth begins with simple things. A man can never write good cursive till he has first learned his letters.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way To True Happiness"]

Tues., 3/25/25 Devotion (Eph. 5:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 5:6, where the Apostle Paul wrote these words:

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (ESV)

The "these things" the Apostle is referring to are Satan's twin towers of de-ceit: immorality and idolatry—just mentioned in the previous verses. Paul's world, like ours, believed that God did not take these things seriously; and that a person could be self-sufficiently "religious," and still carry on with im-morality and idolatry (in an alleged state of impunity).

But, the truth is, that God's "wrath" falls on those who persist in these sins. This punishment is a reference to personal wrath in *this* life; and eternal fire in the world to come. The only remedy for this horrible justice is genuine faith leading to true repentance. Faith in Jesus' blood and righteousness (and no one else's) is absolutely necessary for us all.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The same Hebrew word for sin signifies rebellion. Now, can the Lord endure to be thus saucily confronted by proud dust?”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]

Mon., 3/24/25 Devotion (Jn. 14:27b)

Today's encouragement comes from John 14:27b, where we find our blessed Redeemer saying this:

" . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The most fearless people are those who are by nature and discernment most prone to timidity and trepidation. This may seem odd, but it is true. The rea-son for this is because Christ instills miraculous confidence in those who—in themselves—actually lack it the most. This boldness is a result of regenerat-ive faith in Jesus. The believer says, "God commands me not to fear; there-fore, I will trust in Christ, and live absolutely assuredly in Him."

The apostles themselves were good examples of this very principle. Some of them were initially falsely self-confident (like Peter); but all of them were really (and understandably) fearful by nature and circumstance. Only after the pow-er of the Holy Spirit fell on them at Pentecost were they filled with so much divinely-inspired assurance, that nothing could stop them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, of-fensive souls.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/21-23/25 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help us get ready for church, here is Jonathan Edwards, from his amazing book, “The Religious Affec-tions.” . . .

“The inheritance that Christ has purchased for the elect is the Spirit of God; not in any extraordinary gifts, but in His vital indwelling in the heart, exerting and communicating Himself there in His own proper, holy, or divine nature; and this is the sum total of the inheritance that Christ purchased for the elect. For so are things constituted in the affairs of our redemption, that the Father provides the Savior or purchaser, and the purchase is made of Him; and the Son is the purchaser and the price; and the Holy Spirit is the great blessing or inheritance purchased . . . and hence the Spirit is often spoken of as the sum of the blessings promised in the gospel . . . This inheritance was the grand legacy which Christ left His disciples and church, in His last will and testa-ment, (Jn., chs. 14-16). This is the sum of the blessings of eternal life, which shall be given in heaven. . . . It is through the vital communications and in-dwelling of the same Spirit that the saints have all light, life, holiness, beauty and comfort on earth; but only communicated in less measure. . . . "

Thurs., 3/20/25 Devotion (Eph. 1:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired words of Ephesians 1:5:

"Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, ac-cording to the good pleasure of His will."

Have we ever heartily (like Paul) thanked God for the gracious doctrines of predestination and election? Without this sovereign work of God no one would ever be redeemed; and we would all be forever bound to sin, death, and hell. Those who exalt human "free will" over the powerful gospel of Christ despise God, and His grace.

Let us recognize this humbling truth: unless the Lord had first chosen us, and come to us in His merciful Son—there would be no way, ever, that we would be redeemed from our sins.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The church is a distinct race that originally came from God. Other men are of the earth—they are of earthly derivation, the posterity of men—but the church is the posterity of God.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon, "Christians a Chosen Generation"]