Thursday, September 10, 2009

Thurs., 9/10/09 Devotion (1 Cor. 15:1-2a)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 15:1 & 2a, where we read these words:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved . . . "

The reiteration (or repeating) of the gospel message is very important. Paul does that here, with the Corinthian church. He had already "preached" it to them; now he once again "declares" it to them. The Corinthian believers had both forgotten the gospel message, and it had been misrepresented to them (by the false apostles).

And so it is with us, the church today. We also need to hear, over and over, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day, the glorious good news: that Jesus lives; and that we live in Him--by grace through faith. Do not ever tire of hearing of the grace of God. It should be new and fresh to us everyday.

[Puritan quote of the day: "When a man is humbled, truly humbled, the object of his grief or sorrow or trouble is sin itself, as a dishonor done unto God." --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]