Friday, May 20, 2016

Fri.-Sabbath, 5/20-22/16 Devotion

Yay—it is almost Sunday. We get to go back to church. Here are comforting words from the great Puritan pastor Richard SIbbes, relative to how believers are sometimes accosted by awful thoughts. May this be an encouragement to us, as we get ready to worship the Lord.  (This is from Sibbes' "Bruised Reed" book.) . . .

"Some again are haunted with hideous representations to their imaginations, and with vile and unworthy thoughts of God, of Christ, of the Word, which, as busy flies, disquiet and molest their peace. These are cast in like wildfire by Satan, as may be discerned by the strangeness, the strength and violence, and the horribleness of them even to corrupt nature. A pious soul is no more guilty of them than Benjamin was when Joseph's cup was put into his sack. Among other helps recommended by godly writers, such as detestation of them and diversion from them to other things, let this be one, to complain to Christ against them, and to fly under the wings of His protection, and to desire Him to take our part against His and our enemy. Shall every sin and blas-phemy of man be forgiven, and not these blasphemous thoughts, which have the devil for their father, when Christ Himself was molested in this way so that He might comfort all poor souls in this condition?"