Friday, March 29, 2019

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/29-31/19 Devotion

Yippee—Sunday is *just about* here! In order to help get us ready for the church's Sabbath worship of God, here is Thomas Watson, from "A Divine Cordial," (or, "All things for Good"):

"We love a saint, though he has many personal failings. There is no perfec-tion here. In some, rash anger prevails; in some, inconstancy; in some, too much love of the world. A saint in this life is like gold in the ore, much dross of infirmity cleaves to him, yet we love him for the grace that is in him. A saint is like a fair face with a scar: we love the beautiful face of holiness, though there be a scar in it. The best emerald has its blemishes, the brightest stars their twinklings, and the best of the saints have their failings. You that cannot love another because of his infirmities, how would you have God love you?"

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Thurs., 3/28/19 Devotion (Prov. 15:3)

Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 15:3, where we find these words:

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."

This doctrine of the Lord's omnipresence (God-is-in-every-place) is good. When we know we are being watched, we are especially careful to behave ourselves well. When we think no one sees us, we are inclined to loosen up on our behavior.

It is a form of atheism, to act contrary to the omnipresence of God. We should live in the knowledge that nothing—not even our deepest and most innermost thoughts—escape The Lord's perfect view. With this in mind, are we not glad that we are saved by faith in Christ, and not by our own allegedly "sufficient" deeds?

[Puritan quote of the day: "Those who preach Christ most and themselves least are likeliest to enlarge the church of God.” —Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Discourse concerning Love"]

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Wed., 3/27/19 Devotion (Php. 1:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 1:6, where Paul wrote these words:

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

We may not think that we are making much progress in our most holy Chris-tian faith. In fact, we may feel like we are actually moving backwards, and not forwards at all. But, in reality, all those who are in Christ advance ahead with Him. It is good for us to have no confidence at all in our flesh. Sometimes "failure" is the best way to learn this lesson.

But this is no reason not to have unbridled confidence in Christ. He is the only One who can propel us to a certain, and glorious end. What God has started in us, His church, He will certainly finish.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Prayer whips the devil. The arrow of prayer, put in-to the bow of the promise and shot with the hand of faith, pierces the old ser-pent.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Fight of Faith Crowned"]

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Tues., 3/26/19 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 experienced in the Lord Jesus Christ. It may never be found in the "world," or in anything other than Christ. 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 any controlling power over us (who are in Christ). In Jesus all true believers have also "overcome" it (the world).

[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"]

Monday, March 25, 2019

Mon., 3/25/19 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 "overlooked" these things; and that a per-son could be perfectly "religious," and still carry on with immorality and idol-atry (which are always linked, in the Bible).

Instead, God's "wrath" falls on those who persist in these sins. This punish-ment is a reference to personal wrath in *this* life; and eternal fire in the world to come. The only remedy for this is genuine faith leading to true repentance. Faith in Jesus' blood and righteousness (and no one else's) is absolutely nec-essary 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"]

Friday, March 22, 2019

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/22-24/19 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is *almost* here! In order to help prepare us for the church's worship of God, here is Thomas Watson, from his "The Beatitudes" book:

"The Preacher: Jesus Christ. The best of preachers. ‘He went up.’ He in whom there was a combination of virtues, a constellation of beauties. He whose lips were not only sweet as the honeycomb, but did drop as the honey-comb. His words, an oracle; His works, a miracle; His life, a pattern; His death, a sacrifice. ‘He went up into a mountain and taught.' Jesus Christ was every way ennobled and qualified for the work of the ministry.

"Christ was an intelligent preacher. He had ‘the Spirit without measure,’ (John 3:34); and knew how to speak a word in due season; when to humble, when to comfort. We cannot know all the faces of our hearers. Christ knew the hearts of His hearers. He understood what doctrine would best suit them, as the [farmer] can tell what sort of grain is proper for such-and-such a soil."

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Thurs., 3/21/19 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 come to us, in His mercy—there is no way, ever, that we would have come to Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church is a distinct race that originally came form 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"]

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Wed., 3/20/19 Devotion (Gal. 6:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 6:14, which says this:

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

When it is all said and done, the one thing we must always do is cling to Christ (and receive His blood atonement accomplished on the cross). On Sundays we will celebrate—on the New Covenant Sabbaths—the resurrec-tion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without Christ's death, the resurrection would be meaningless. And without the resurrection, the cross would be empty and void. But, to the praise of God, the true church has *both* wonders to admire: that the Son of God would die for us unworthy sinners; and that He would come out of the tomb for the justification of us who believe.

[Puritan quote of the day: "True believers are saved even though they lack assurance.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Tues., 3/19/19 Devotion (Gal. 5:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these words:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

The glorious freedom that the churched children of God enjoy is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly seeking to steal it from us. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, maintained, and emboldened—otherwise, the "gospels" of works, self, and law will infiltrate the soul, and destroy all our joy.

The Galatians had heard the gospel of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ from Paul. They initially embraced it. Later, they heard a pharisaical gospel of law, and they began to believe it. Paul's words throughout the book were designed to bring them back to Jesus. May we find our souls resting in His righteous-ness alone, today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Full assurance is 'optimum maximum,' the best and greatest mercy; and therefore God will only give it to His best and dear-est friends.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Monday, March 18, 2019

Mon., 3/18/19 Devotion (Ex. 29:43)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 29:43, where we read these words:

"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory."

God always formally meets with people in His "tabernacle," or "sanctuary." Our Lord Jesus Christ has, in His resurrected and glorified body, already "entered" this realm in heaven (cf. Heb. 9:12 & 24). Now, because the God-Man has finished His work, and poured out His Spirit on His New Covenant Church, the sanctuary (of the church triumphant and the church militant) is greatly expanded—as it is spreading all over the face of the earth.

God dwells in heaven, in humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath (Sunday) con-vocations. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our access to Him, in and through Christ—and let us be careful to always approach Him by grace through faith in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Friday, March 15, 2019

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/15-17/19 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church! In or-der to help prepare us for the Lord's Day, here is some good doctrine from Jonathan Edwards, from his sermon entitled, "God Does What He Pleas-
es" . . .

"God promised that He would give the heathen to Christ for His inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. He promised that the Christian church would be as a grain of mustard seed; though very small at first, it would become as a great tree and the gates of hell would never prevail against it—and He has accomplished it, however difficult.

"By means of the ministry of a few fishermen, He spread the gospel over the most considerable nations of the world against all the opposition that kings, the gates of hell, the sin of ignorance, and the pride, the spite, and the malice of the world could make against it. And this was done because nothing is too hard for God and because He does whatever He will."

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Thurs., 3/14/19 Devotion (2 Cor. 13:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 13:8, where we read these words:

"For we can do nothing against the truth, but [only] for the truth."

Those Christian churchmen who are faithful in their rightful callings: be they as apostles (which are no more); or as ministers; or as other church officers; or as believing parishioners who change the diapers of the church’s covenant children—cannot do anything "against the truth," but only "for" it.

How is this possible? Does this not seem preposterous? It *is* possible, and true because of the superintending work of God Himself, keeping His re-deemed ones in the fold, and in the faith. If we live by faith today, loving Christ with all our hearts—then let us do what we will. Whatever we do will please God (because of Jesus' sacrifice); and it will forward the truth of the gospel.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Peter at one time believes and walks, at another time he doubts and sinks, (Matt. 14:30).” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Wed., 3/13/19 Devotion (Job 42:1-3)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 42:1-3, where we read these words:

"Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?" Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.' "

There are things about ourselves that we (ourselves) do not understand, which have a powerful impact on us. There are many things about God, and His providences towards us that we simply cannot grasp. But the key is to really and sincerely believe in The One who *does* fully comprehend all of these things: our Triune God.

When we are able to do this (through faith), then we may live comfortably in Jesus; and we may accept, without a need to untangle it, what God has met-ed out to us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Because faith looks at Christ in every duty, it touches the hem of His garment; and through Christ, both the person and the offering are accepted, (Eph. 1:6).” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Lord's Prayer"]

Monday, March 4, 2019

Mon., 3/4/19 Devotion (Ex. 15:3, 13a)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 15:3 & 13a, which says this:

"The LORD is a Man of war; the LORD is His name. . . . You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed." (ESV)

Note how God's warrior nature, and His love nature are not at all at odds with one another—and the same should be true of us who follow Jesus. If God was *not* a "Man of war," He could not be the God of love. The Lord goes to war with our sins and His church's enemies; and, in so doing, He expresses His deep affection for the objects of Christ's redemption.

Let us cast off all sophomoric notions about God, that would make Him a weak figure in heaven, hoping we would do something right, for once. In-stead, let us view the Lord in His true colors, even as the written word of God reveals Him: as a God who punishes all sin; and yet cherishes many sinners.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We need to understand that when we come to hear the Word, we come to hear that which has so much life in it that every sermon we hear we must expect to be nearer heaven or nearer hell.” —Jere-miah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]

Friday, March 1, 2019

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/1-3/19 Devotion

Yay—it is almost Sunday! In order to prepare us for church, here is Thomas Watson, from, "All Things for Good":

"The Lord does not tie Himself to a particular way, or use the same order with all. He comes sometimes in a still small voice. Such as have had godly par-ents, and have sat under the warm sunshine of religious education, often do not know how or when they were called. The Lord secretly and gradually in-stilled grace into their hearts, as the dew falls unnoticed in drops. They know by the heavenly effects that they are called, but the time or manner they know not. The hand moves on the clock, but they do not perceive when it moves.

"Thus God deals with some. Others are more stubborn and knotty sinners, and God comes to them in a rough wind. He uses more wedges of the law to break their hearts; He deeply humbles them, and shows them they are dam-ned without Christ. Then having plowed up the fallow ground of their hearts by humiliation, He sows the seed of consolation. He presents Christ and mercy to them, and draws their wills, not only to accept Christ, but passion-ately to desire, and faithfully to rest upon Him. Thus He wrought upon Paul, and called him from a persecutor to a preacher. This call, though it is more visible than the other, yet is not more real. God's method in calling sinners may vary, but the effect is still the same."