Fri.-Sabbath, 7/3-5/09 Devotion

Happy Independence Day, USA!

Wahoo--it's almost Sunday, the Lord's Day, the best day of the week! In order to help you get ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from "A Body of Divinity":

"If there be one God subsisting in three Persons, then let us give equal reverence to all the Persons in the Trinity. There is not more or less in the Trinity; the Father is not more God than the Son and Holy Ghost. There is an order in the Godhead, but no degrees. One Person has not a majority or supereminence above another, therefore we must give equal worship to all the Persons. 'That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father,' (John 5:23). Adore Unity in Trinity.

"Obey all the Persons in the Blessed Trinity; for all of them are God. Obey God the Father. Christ himself, as man, obeyed God the Father, (John 4:34), much more must we, (Deut. 27:10).

"Obey God the Son. 'Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,' (Psa. 2:12). Kiss Him with a kiss of obedience. Christ's commands are not grievous, (1
John 5:3). Whatever He commands is for our interest and benefit. Oh then kiss the Son! Why do the elders throw down their crowns at the feet of Christ, and fall down before the Lamb, (Rev. 4:10, 11)? To testify their subjection, and to profess their readiness to serve and obey Him.

"Obey God the Holy Ghost. Our souls are breathed into us by the glorious Spirit. 'The Spirit of God has made me,' (Job 33:4). Our souls are adorned by the Blessed Spirit. Every grace is a divine spark lighted in the soul by the Holy Ghost. Nay, more, the Spirit of God sanctified Christ's human nature; He united it with the divine, and fitted the man Christ to be our Mediator. Well then does this Third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Ghost, deserve to be obeyed; for He is God, and this tribute of homage and obedience is due to Him from us."

Thurs., 7/2/09 Devotion (Ps. 130:3-4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 130:3 & 4, where we read these words:

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

That God forgives sin is an astounding fact. If the Lord kept track of our sins, and harbored them against us, we would have no hope of "standing" on the great Judgment Day. But, because Jesus Christ bore the sins of all His elect churchmen, who would, in time and space, be brought to believe in Him alone for their atonement, by grace--many sinners go free, and will never have to bear the condemnation of God.

If you are in this blessed condition today, then you have *no* troubles to speak of. You may have numerous hassles that harangue you--but you have no real problems. People who are not forgiven their sins have serious issues; but you do not. For this most-blessed standing before God, be ever-thankful.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it." --Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]

Wed., 7/1/09 Devotion (Matt. 11:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 11:1, where we read these words:

"Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities."

This verse (above) has some good principles in it. To start with, note that our Lord Jesus Christ *first* instructs, or "commands" His own disciples. Then, only *after* having done that, He (Jesus) went out into the cities to preach the gospel to the masses, as well.

That is the pattern that we see repeated over and over in the Gospel accounts; and throughout the rest of the Holy Book. God *always* starts at home, in Christ's church; and from there He branches out to the rest of the world. In reaching elect sinners in the world, Christ adds to His church, and expands the borders of His kingdom (on earth).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Those whom God loves, He loves unto the end." --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Tues., 6/30/09 Devotion (Ps. 124:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 124:8, where we read these words:

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

To have the help of God is a big deal. To have the Lord fighting for us is a great asset. After all, He "made heaven and earth." Think about it: the godless have God as their enemy. He is always set against them. Even as they live, the Lord is simply allowing them to heap up wrath, that will be unleashed on them.

But not so for the church of Christ. Believers are aided and supported in their struggle down here. Life is never easy, but victory is always certain, because the church has a good Captain, who helps her. For this, let us be thankful, and call upon our God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ was made sin for saints, therefore their sin shall not hurt them." --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Mon., 6/29/09 Devotion (Matt. 9:2)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 9:2, where we read these words:

"Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.' "

Here is an interesting case, where our Lord Jesus saves a soul on the basis of the faith of others. Presumably, the paralytic man had no faith. He, like all of us in our fallen states, was dead in trespasses and sins. But the prayers of his believing friends were answered, and the paralyzed man was both saved, and healed.

This verse also encourages the church in her doctrine of covenant. Our little babies--for instance--who are united to the church in baptism also derive benefit from the faith of their parents (and other fellow church members). Be encouraged to apply your faith to the benefit of others.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The more a man is humbled, truly humbled for sin, the more he is found in duty; the more a man is discouraged, the more his hands are weakened for duty." --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/26-28/09 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday, the Lord's Day, the day we especially (and covenantally) celebrate Jesus' resurrection! In order to help get you ready for church, here is the great Thomas Watson, from his "A Body of Divinity" book:

"As Christ being clothed with our flesh makes the human nature appear lovely to God, so He [Christ] makes the divine nature appear lovely to man. The pure Godhead is terrible to behold, we could not see it and live; but Christ clothing Himself with our flesh, makes the divine nature more amiable and delightful to us. We need not be afraid to look upon God through Christ's human nature.

"It was a custom of old among shepherds to clothe themselves with sheepskins, to be more pleasing to the sheep; so Christ clothed Himself with our flesh, that the divine nature may be more pleasing to us. The human nature is a glass, through which we may see the love and wisdom and glory of God clearly represented to us. Through the lantern of Christ's humanity we may behold the light of the Deity. Christ being incarnate makes the sight of the Deity not formidable, but delightful to us."

Thurs., 6/25/09 Devotion (Matt. 5:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 5:20, where our Savior said these words, in His "Sermon on the Mount":

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the right-
eousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

It is hard to exceed the pharisees' righteousness. They "out-Godded" God at every turn. God said, "Fast one day a year"; and the pharisees fasted twice a week. Still, our righteousness must exceed theirs, if we are to get to heaven at all. How? By doing more religion than the pharisees did? No; but by giving up on works altogether; and finding our righteous standing before God in Jesus alone (apprehended by grace through faith alone).

No one goes to heaven with any sin on the soul. What are we to do about this monumental problem? Nothing. Instead, we are to rest (by faith) in the One (Christ) who represents us (His church) before the throne of grace. Believing churchmen have perfect righteousness because Jesus' blood was shed for them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As godly men shall never be condemned for their sins, so their sins shall never part God and them." --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]