Thurs., 6/28/18 Devotion (Deut. 33:26-27a)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 33:26 & 27a, where we read these words:

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

What great love and provision the Lord God gives His beloved church! She is aided on every side; and she has God Himself, with all His "excellencies" and strength, to support her. This God is incomparable; and He is eternal. He is also active—seen in His riding the heavens, to help us.

May all the Lord's churched children draw encouragement from the fact that their Father in heaven loves them so much. May they know the comforts that come from God's abiding with us here (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "One subtle artifice of Satan is to bait his hook with religion.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]

Wed., 6/27/18 Devotion (Matt. 7:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 7:7, where our Lord Jesus said this:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

This promise is not made to just anyone—but to Christ's redeemed church alone. But what a great promise it is! Sometimes we think we are "asking," "seeking," and "knocking," when in fact we are not. What the Savior has in mind here is this: those who know themselves to belong to God ought to clearly formulate their desires, and then earnestly seek them from Him—with the expectation that they will be granted.

God's favor to His church is not given because we are so good, or faithful. In-stead, it is given because of Jesus and His faithfulness. By grace, we *be-lieve* the gospel, and *believe* that the Lord is both good and true. God is more than eager to give sweet gifts to His humble children who will ask Him for them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "What greater unthankfulness can there be than to despise any help that Christ in mercy has provided for us?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Tues., 6/26/18 Devotion (Isa. 58:13b-14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 58:13b & 14a, where we read these words:

"And [if you] call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable . . . Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD . . . "

How do we "delight" ourselves "in the Lord"? Or, to put it another way, "How do we experience the truest, highest, and most lasting and satisfying plea-sure?" The answer: by delighting in the *same* Person that God Himself does.

The Lord delights in beholding His Son Jesus in the people of His church. Liv-ing faith in Christ then manifests itself in sincere love for God, the gospel, the Sabbath Day (Sunday), church, and worship. Do we want to be really happy, like God is? If so, then we must adopt His values, His priorities, and His love-objects.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We must keep grace in exercise. It is not sleepy habits, but grace in exercise, that preserves us.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 6/25/18 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 righteousness 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 entire 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 Lift-ing Up for the Downcast"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/22-24/18 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Richard Sibbes is the Puritan doctor of sad souls. Here is his gospel remedy, taken from "The Bruised Reed." . . .

"Among other causes of discouragement, some are much vexed with scrup-les, even against the best duties; partly by disease of body, helped by Satan's malice in casting dust in their eyes in their way to heaven; and partly from some remainder of ignorance, which, like darkness, breeds fears and ignor-ance especially of this merciful disposition in [Christ], the persuasion of which would easily banish false fears. They conceive of Him as One on watch for all advantages against them, in which they may see how they wrong not only themselves but Christ's goodness.

"This scrupulosity, for the most part, is a sign of a godly soul, as some weeds are of a good soil. Therefore they are the more to be pitied, for it is a heavy affliction, and the ground of it in most is not so much from trouble of consci-ence as from a disordered imagination. The end of Christ's coming was to free us from all such groundless fears. There is still in some such ignorance of that comfortable condition we are in under the covenant of grace as to dis-courage them greatly."

Thurs., 6/21/18 Devotion (Deut. 26:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 26:11, where we read this:

"So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you."

Do we realize that God actually *commands* His church to *rejoice* over temporal blessings? In this same vein, do we understand that it is horrible ingratitude to despise God's good gifts? Some people, imaging themselves to be too "spiritual" to appreciate anything temporal, look down their noses at the Lord's provisions to them.

God is not pleased by thanklessness for His "normal" gifts to us, (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-5). Those who love Jesus, His gospel, and His church, will also rejoice in *every* other sweet thing coming to us from heaven. Let us give God praise and thanks for *all* His good provision—since *all* of it comes to His church through Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] rewards His subjects in this life. He gives them inward peace and joy; a bunch of grapes by the way; and oft-times riches and honor.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Wed., 6/20/18 Devotion (Isa. 52:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 52:7, where we find these great words:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' "

When messengers from battlefields brought news of their nation's victories, they were a welcome sight, indeed. When God's messengers bring to His re-deemed church tidings of Jesus' victory over sin, Satan, the world, and our old flesh—it is cause for great celebration. The cross and resurrection of the Savior is the sure sign that our "God reigns."

Let the church both enjoy the benefits of, and proclaim the truth of the Gospel of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. As we do so, our lives, and even our "feet," will be very comely visages.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you do not have a spirit to love God above your dearest earthly friends, and your most pleasant earthly enjoyments, the Scrip-tures are very plain and full that you are not true Christians.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon entitled, "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer"]

Mon., 6/11/18 Devotion (Isa. 43:10b)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 43:10b, where we read these words:

"Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me."

Sometimes children ask, "Who made God?" No one made God, because God is in a unique category of existence—"necessary” existence. This is some-thing that no other reality shares with Him. But the germane point of the Scripture's teaching about God's eternality is not just to have interesting philo-sophical knowledge—instead, it is to spur us on to trust Him in the Lord Jesus.

Let us humbly accept the obvious fact that a God exists; and then let us go much further, and believe His gospel of grace in our precious Redeemer.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A repenting person fears and sins not; a graceless person sins and fears not.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repent-ance"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/8-10/18 Devotion

Hip, hip, hooray—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again! In order to help us get ready, here is the great English Puritan pastor Thomas Watson, from his, "A Picture of a Godly Man" book. This is a really neat sec-tion. . . .

"Question: 'How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly?' . . .

"Answer 8: A humble man is willing to have his name and gifts eclipsed, so that God's glory may be increased. He is content to be outshone by others in gifts and esteem, so that the crown of Christ may shine the brighter. This is the humble man's motto: 'Let me decrease; let Christ increase.' It is his desire that Christ should be exalted, and if this is effected, whoever is the instru-ment, he rejoices. 'Some preach Christ out of envy,' (Php. 1:15). They preached to take away some of Paul's hearers. 'Well,' says he, 'Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice,' (v. 18). A humble Christian is content to be laid aside if God has any other tools to work with which may bring Him more glory.

"Answer 9: A humble saint likes that condition which God sees best for him. A proud man complains that he has no more; a humble man wonders that he has so much: 'I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies,' (Gen. 32:10). When the heart lies low, it can stoop to a low condition. A Christian looking at his sins wonders that it is no worse with him; he does not say his mercies are small, but his sins are great. He knows that the worst piece God carves him is better than he deserves; therefore he takes it thankfully upon his knees."

Thurs., 6/7/18 Devotion (Ps. 96:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 96:5, where we read these words:

"For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens."

This little verse pretty well sums up the faithful Christian churchman's per-spective on life. Every single person we will encounter today who is not re-deemed in Jesus is trusting in their gods. But these gods are nothing but idols. They cannot help their worshippers. The true and only God "made the heavens."

Let us look at the heavens, and see how vast and lovely they are. Then, let us look to the God of heaven (and earth), and fetch Jesus anew and afresh to our hearts, by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A self-seeking heart is always an empty heart, but a gracious heart is fruitful in all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old.”
—Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Wed., 6/6/18 Devotion (Ps. 94:12-13)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 94:12 & 13, where these good words are found:

"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked."

It is intriguing that our learning from God's word, in the context of His church, is intended to "give [us] rest”—and that from "days of adversity." So, all the ef-fort we put into our lives of grace turns out to be largely designed, in the end, to forward our respite from and deliverance from evil.

We persevere, endure, and sweat "until the pit is dug for the wicked." This has both a temporal (provisional) sense—from Sunday to Sunday; and an eternal (absolute) sense—of rest in heaven. Sanctification in Jesus is worth it: we should not give up.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The same breath in the ministry that blows a godly man to heaven, blows a profane sinner to hell.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Tues., 6/5/18 Devotion (Ps. 92:13-14)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 92:13 & 14, where we read these words:

"Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flour-ishing . . . "

We just enjoyed our Sabbath worship and rest two days ago. If indeed we *are* "planted in the house of the Lord," then we are primed to live a full life: from at least the moment of our baptisms (spiritual and water), till our deaths. Furthermore, we will be "fruitful," not spiritually barren. Our lives will develop more and more Christlikeness all the time.

Where are *we* "planted" today? If it is in any soil other than God's house, we will wither and die.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Observe the happy condition of every child of God.  All things work for his good, the best and worst things.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/1-3/18 Devotion

Yippee—Sunday is almost here! Here is Thomas Watson, from "A Divine Cor-dial," to help get us ready for Sabbath worship:

"There is nothing in God to deaden our affections or quench our love; no in-firmity, no deformity, such as usually weaken and cool love. There is that ex-cellence in God, which may not only invite, but command our love. If there were more angels in heaven than there are, and all those glorious seraphim had an immense flame of love burning in their hearts to eternity, yet they could not love God equivalently to that infinite perfection and transcendence of goodness which is in Him. Surely then here is enough to induce us to love God. We cannot spend our love upon a better object.

"Love facilitates religion. It oils the wheels of the affections, and makes them more lively and cheerful in God's service. Love takes off the tediousness of duty. Jacob thought seven years but little, for the love he bore to Rachel. Love makes duty a pleasure. Why are the angels so swift and winged in God's service? It is because they love Him. Love is never weary. He that loves God, is never weary of telling it. He that loves God, is never weary of serving Him."