Wed., 3/31/21 Devotion (Prov. 18:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 18:17, which says this:

"The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him."

This verse reminds us that it is always prudent to check out both sides of every story, before drawing any final conclusions. Tale-bearers and slander-ers can sound quite convincing, until the full picture comes into view. Our flesh nature is too inclined to hear only what it wants to hear; and sometimes we get humbled by the truth.

If we were to listen exclusively to those who hate our Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel of free grace, where would any of us be today? Thankfully, by God's mercy, we have been able to discern the "rest of the story," which ren-ders Jesus totally and completely lovely to us (who are in His true church).

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is a sanctified use of all the troubles that come to God's children.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with It-self"]

Tues., 3/30/21 Devotion (Php. 4:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 4:6, where Paul wrote these words:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God . . . "

The reality is that every normal person living in a fallen world experiences anxiety—and this includes even the most mature and seasoned Christian churchmen. But there is this one antidote to *all* anxiety, and that is faith-fill-ed, Christ-honoring prayer. There are no concerns or worries of ours that are "off limits" to God. And there is no alternative provided by God, as to how we are to handle our troubles, than that of bringing them to Him in prayer through our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us avail ourselves of this most-valuable resource; and let us re-cognize that as we pray, we are drawing ever-closer to our Savior.

[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . It is a matter of conscience to make our lives as comfortable as they may be.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]

Mon., 3/29/21 Devotion (Php. 3:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 3:9, where we read these amazing words of Paul:

" . . . and [that I may] be found in Him [Christ], not having my own righteous-ness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righ-teousness which is from God by faith . . . "

This is one of the sweetest verses in the whole Bible. Here, the former zeal-ous works-mongering pharisee (Paul), celebrates his liberation in his justifi-cation in Christ. The Apostle no longer regards his old (and false) "righteous-ness" to be anything other than "rubbish," (v. 8).

What an irony that God would make the one-time champion of works-righ-teousness the greatest proclaimer of free grace in Jesus (received by faith alone), that the church has ever known. If we have the "righteousness of Christ," we have everything we need. God the Father views every churchman clothed in Jesus' righteousness to be as perfectly holy (right now) as His Own Dear Son is.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/26-28/21 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday again. In order to get us ready for church, here is the great Jonathan Edwards, from his monumental “Freedom of the Will” tome. . . .

“The Messiah came to save men from their sins, and deliver them from their spiritual enemies, that they might serve Him in righteousness and holiness. Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and pur-ify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works. And therefore Christ’s success consists in gaining men’s hearts to virtue, in their being made God’s willing people in the day of His power. Christ’s conquest of His enemies consists of His victory over men’s corruption and vices. And such success, such victory, and such a reign and dominion, is often expressly fore-told [in Scripture]."

Thurs., 3/25/21 Devotion (Jn. 15:5)

Today's encouragement comes from John 15:5, where we read these words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

How much can we do, of any spiritual good, without Christ? Nothing at all. The single basic key to Christian living is this concept of "abiding in Christ." But, what does this mean; and how do we do it? It means that we are trusting in Christ’s person and righteousness alone, plus nothing. How do we do that? By sovereignly-bestowed regenerative faith.

Only those who remain faithful in the church covenant “abide in Christ.” All those who forsake their covenant vows are “broken off” from Christ, (cf. v. 2). “Abiding in Christ” has a subjective dimension (heartfelt real faith), and an ob-jective dimension (staying faithful in a true church).

[Puritan quote of the day: "We must know for our comfort that Christ was not anointed to this great work of Mediator for lesser sins only, but also for the greatest sins—if we have but a spark of true faith to lay hold on Him.” —Rich-ard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 3/24/21 Devotion (Eph. 4:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 4:1, where we read these words of Paul:

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the call-ing with which you were called . . . "

Are we comfortable being referred to as "prisoner[s] of the Lord"? For that matter, do we think it odd for us in the church to accept instruction from some-one who was a "prisoner"? But "prison" is the inevitable state of all of us, and of every other fallen person who has ever lived. The only real (or pertinent) question is, "Of whom or what am I a prisoner?"

Those locked-up by and in the Lord Jesus Christ are the freest people in the truest sense. Those who are "free to sin" are groveling miserable slaves of their own lust, flesh, and the devil himself. Let all true and regenerate church-men who are Christ's "prisoners" rejoice at being such happy "captives."

[Puritan quote of the day: "As there is in God enough to satisfy the whole soul, so trust carries the whole soul to God.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]

Tues., 3/23/21 Devotion (Prov. 10:22)

Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 10:22, where we read these words:

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."

It has been well-said that wealth is not the goal of wisdom, but that it some-times is the result of it (wisdom). When God chooses to bestow wealth (of whatever sort) on His Christ-loving churchmen, there is a unique and singular blessing that attends it—and that is, that He "adds no sorrow with it."

The world's "wealth" is always—in every single case—accompanied with "sorrow," or trouble. Other sinners are clamoring to take it away from them; it causes them to lose sleep; and their minds are consumed with it (wealth). But not so with the blessed wealth of Christ—it comes to His churchmen without sorrow. Why is this? Partly because the faithful believer is just as happy to have it, or not to have it. He or she is completely, thoroughly, and sincerely in-different to it. And why? Because he or she knows that Jesus *alone* is his or her only true, necessary, and abiding wealth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church, in all the works of mercy, owns the hand of God.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]

Mon., 3/22/21 Devotion (Ex. 33:4a)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 33:4a, where we read these words:

"And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned . . . "

Bad news tends to make people sad, especially when it has to do with suffer-ing some of the natural consequences of their sin. But wherever there is bad news, there is also good news. In fact, the gospel of grace would not be news at all—let alone good news—if there was not sin and its resultant sadness in the world.

What makes the good news of Christ's atonement operative for us sinners, who would otherwise be swamped with nothing but horrible tidings of doom and damnation? Faith in the Redeemer. And where does this living faith lead us? To love for God and one another. And what does this supernatural love result in? A happy walk with Christ, characterized by a hopeful present and future. This is the rightful inheritance of the faithful and faith-filled church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It would not be worthwhile to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/19-21/21 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here! We get to go back to church again! One of my favorite old dead (but really living) friends, is the great Jonathan Ed-wards. The words (below), come from p. 286, of George Marsden’s excellent biography of Edwards. . . .

“Even individuals, then, could not rely simply on looking within to their own intense spiritual experiences, however luminous. As he had in A Divine and Supernatural Light, Edwards described the ‘spiritual sense’ that he associated with his ‘First Sign’ of genuine affections. This sense, which was a but ‘a new foundation laid in the nature of the soul’ for the exercise of the existing facul-ties.

"Regeneration, in other words, changed the whole person by changing the love of the heart of the person’s being. The resulting spiritual sense was won-derfully different from anything previously experienced."

Thurs., 3/18/21 Devotion (Jn. 8:42a)

Today's encouragement comes from John 8:42a, where we read these words:

"Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here.' "

If we do not have the same God that Jesus refers to, as *our* Father, then we are completely ignorant of the True God. If God *is* our Father, then we *do* love the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no breaking up the Holy Trinity. This has huge ramifications. Anyone who "prays" to "God," but who does not do it in and through faith in and love for Jesus Christ, in fact does not pray to God at all.

But Jesus' words here in v. 42 are foreboding. Remember: He did not say these things to pagans and "infidels." He said them to formal members of the covenant, who, though they should have known better, neither loved nor ac-knowledged the Christ who stood before them. By God’s miraculous and sov-ereign grace leading to regeneration in Jesus, may we recognize, embrace, and love Him!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Fill your heart with the sense of the love of God in Christ, and apply the eternal design of His grace and shed blood to your-selves.” —John Owen, in, "Sin and Temptation"]

Wed., 3/17/21 Devotion (Gal. 3:24)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 3:24, where we read these words, written by Paul:

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justi-fied by faith."

The law of God *does* perform several important roles in true believers' lives. One of its main purposes is to drive us to despair, with regard to the futility of our finding or achieving any righteousness before a holy God on the basis of our religious works or good behavior. The law condemns us, and shuts out any and every vestige of hoped-for self-righteousness.

. . . But, thankfully, once we sinners *are* brought to the utter "end" of our-selves—we are graciously directed to The One (Christ) who actually *can* save us. By faith we take hold of Jesus' righteousness, and then we are plac-ed into His body (the church), and enjoy all the benefits that have accrued to Him (Christ).

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has ever been acquainted with God and seen the light of His pleased face would rather die a thousand deaths than forfeit God's favor or incur His displeasure.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way to True Happiness"]

Tues., 3/16/21 Devotion (Jn. 5:24)

Today's encouragement comes from John 5:24, where our Lord Jesus Christ said this:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has pass-ed from death into life."

Is it not truly amazing that it is through believing the gospel that we *hear* Christ's ministers preach—and not through what we *do*—that secures the righteousness of Jesus to our souls? After all, we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8); and faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17)—and not by doing.

The simplicity of this good news is a continual stumbling block to many—es-pecially to religious people, who imagine themselves to put God into their debt, by their deeds. For the true saints of the Christ-honoring church, how-ever, it is the sweetest truth in all the world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Inasmuch as the righteousness of the second Adam [Christ] exceeds that of the first Adam, so you are more happy, more holy in the second Adam [Christ] than the first Adam ever was in himself.”

—Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]

Mon., 3/15/21 Devotion (Jn. 6:68)

Today's encouragement comes from John 6:68, where we read these words:

"But Simon Peter answered [Jesus], 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' "

Whenever we are tempted to believe that there could be happiness, life, ful-fillment, or any other good thing to be somehow found *outside* of our con-nection to the Lord Jesus Christ—let us remember Peter's immortal words (above). To whom other could we go? Who, or what else could or does pos-sess the power to give eternal life?

. . . The answer: there is no one and no thing that can do for us what Christ alone can and does do for us. Let others abandon Christ and His church (as they did in Jn., ch. 6)—and so show their true colors. For the faithful and sin-cere—made that way by sheer and sovereign grace—may we be faithful to the only One (Christ) who gives us life, (and that life is in Himself alone).

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord never upbraids a penitent with former un-kindnesses.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/12-14/21 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here are some very good words from the Puritan pastor Richard Sibbes. This comes from his, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself" book. . . .

"It is good to have in our eye the beauty of a well-ordered soul; and we should think that nothing in this world is so valuable so as to cause us to lose this perspective. . . . Our spirits, being of a heavenly nature, should rule other things beneath them, and not be ruled by them. It is a holy state of soul to be under the power of nothing beneath itself. Are we bothered by anything? Then let us consider: is this matter worth the loss of my peace?

"What we esteem, that we love; what we love, we invest in. And therefore let us esteem highly a clear, calm mind, whereby we both enjoy our God and ourselves, and know how to rank all other things. It is against nature for infer-ior things to rule that which the Wise Disposer of all things [God] has set above them. We owe the flesh neither honor nor service. We are not debtors to it."

Thurs., 3/11/21 Devotion (Job 40:8a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 40:8b, where we read these words:

" . . . Would you [Job] condemn Me [God] that you may be justified?"

Fallen sinners, outside of Christ, always do exactly what we read here (above). They "condemn" God in all kinds of ways, in order to seek to "justify” themselves—pompously arrogating to themselves some sort of (usually “so-cial”) “righteousness." Of course, God understood Job's heart, and the Lord knew, that in fact, Job really *did* find his justification in Christ alone, and not in himself. (See Job 19:25-27 as evidence of this.)

All professing Christians should beware of the fact that whenever we are un-comfortable or inconvenienced—our temptation, just as it was with Job, is to "condemn" God, and to "justify” ourselves, (usually siding with the world, against God). Let us rather see things as they really *are*, in Christ; and re-cognize that the Lord is always right, just, holy, gracious, merciful, and loving.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Only man is in love with his own misery, and fights for those lusts that fight against his soul.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]

Wed., 3/10/21 Devotion (Lk. 24:45)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:45, where we read these words:

"And [Jesus] opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures."

The Scriptures are important to Christ—and so is our comprehension (or un-derstanding) of them. It could be argued that to possess the Bible, but not to grasp what it means, is of little good, and could even be dangerous. The Holy Book can only benefit us when and if the Son of God, through the Holy Spirit's work, "opens our understanding."

When this happens, we discover that we are being pointed to Jesus Christ in every line of the Bible, (cf. vv. 25, 27, 44). We also comprehend that the Scriptures are covenantal documents, to be elucidated and applied in the context of the community of the visible church (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1-2). How about us, today? Has Christ opened *our* understandings, so that we might rightly comprehend the texts of the Holy Scriptures?

[Puritan quote of the day: "Only Christ can satisfy the soul. All other ways and things will only end in disappointment.” —John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]

Tues., 3/9/21 Devotion (Job 38:4a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 38:4a, where God asked Job this probing query:

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . "

Ooo. How would we like to have God say words like those (above), to us? To hear this would humble us right down to the dust. The reality is that the Lord *does* ask us this basic question every time we imagine that we know better than He does, or every time we complain about His providences (and the way they work) in our lives.

I know that I did not exist (except in the mind of God) when He "laid the foun-dations of the earth." Therefore, I have absolutely no right to counsel God on how He ought to run His universe. This one thing is for sure: I could not do a better job than He can do. Let all of us faithful Christian churchmen come to more implicitly trust our Heavenly Father, believing the best of Him always—especially as we reflect on His love for us in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens.” —Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]

Mon., 3/8/21 Devotion (Ex. 19:8b, 9b)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 19:8b & 9b, where we read these words:

" . . . So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. . . . So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD."

We might be thinking, "Why did God have Moses do this? The Lord could hear what the people said—nothing escapes His notice; He knows all things.” All this is true, but The LORD is a *covenant* God. In other words, He oper-ates with His people (His church) through a Mediator (ultimately Jesus). When God deals with the rest of the world, He does not employ a Mediator; but when He communes with His church, He does.

No one has any access to the one true and only God, except through Jesus Christ. No one comes to God "directly.” God will *only* be approached through a Perfect Intercessor (Jesus). Moses (here in Ex. 19) is a "type" of Christ. Outside of our Lord Jesus Christ there is virtually no way to the True God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "This [True] God is joy in sadness, light in darkness, life in death, heaven in hell.” —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/5-7/21 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here (again)! God has 52 holy days a year (except on strange years when there are 53)—and they all fall on Sunday. In order to prepare us for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his great, "All Things for Good” book. . . .

"If you do not love God, you will love something else, either the world or sin; and are those things worthy of your love? Is it not better to love God than these? It is better to love God than the world, as appears in the following par-ticulars. . . .

"If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy you. You may as well satisfy your body with air, as your soul with earth. . . . Is it not better to love God? He will give you that which shall satisfy. . . . If you love worldly things, they cannot get rid of trouble of mind. If there is a ‘thorn' in the con-science, all the world cannot 'pluck' it out. . . . But if you love God, He can give you peace when nothing else can; He can turn the 'Shadow of death into the morning,' (Amos 5:8). He can apply Christ’s blood to refresh your soul; He can whisper His love by His Spirit, and with one smile He can scatter all your fears and disturbances."

Thurs., 3/4/21 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."

Note how God's warrior nature, and His love nature are not at all at odds with one another. In fact, if God was *not* a "Man of War," He could *not* be The God of Love. God goes to war with our sins and His church's enemies; and, in so doing, He expresses His affection for the objects of His redemption (all accomplished in Christ).

Let us cast off all sophomoric notions about God, that would make Him a crotchety figure in heaven, hoping we would finally do something right, for once. Instead, let us view our Triune God in His true colors, even as the writ-ten word of God reveals Him: as the God who punishes all sin; and yet cher-ishes many sinners—all in Christ.

[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"]

Wed., 3/3/21 Devotion (Lk. 17:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:17, where we read these words:

"So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?' "

Everybody is about getting things from God; and crying out to Him in time of need. Probably about ten percent of those who receive mercy from God ever come back to thank Him for what He has done for them. It is interesting that Jesus actually asks the question, "Where *are* the [other] nine?" He rightly *expected* them to return and "give glory to God," (v. 18).

Ingratitude is not appreciated by the Lord; and those who have received of the riches of Christ's grace will inevitably return to Him with thanks and praise. It may be safely asserted that all the truly redeemed in the church *will* live lives of worship and gratitude—as this is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and is evidence of real faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[Christ's] church is the house which He has built on a perfect number of pillars so that it might be stable, resting on a good foun-dation.” —John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]

Tues., 3/2/21 Devotion (2 Cor. 1:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 1:8, where we read these words:

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life."

Sometimes the pressure and stress of the faithful churchman's life can reach fever-pitch levels. It is astounding what a true believer in Christ can and does endure—as he or she goes through the furnaces of affliction and suffering. At the same time, the only cause of this strength and perseverance is the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fully commensurate with our pain and suffering is the joy and freedom of our release and resurrection in our Redeemer. Are we in a very hard way today? If so, let us remember that God has delivered us in the past. He is also active-ly delivering us in the present; and He will also deliver us in the future, (cf. vv. 9 & 10). Let us not lose heart—but rather press on in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Consider the company Christians keep. It is with the Father of glory. So Christians are indeed the excellent in the earth (Ps. 16:3).” —John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]

Mon., 3/1/21 Devotion (Lk. 15:32)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 15:32, where we read these words:

"It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

There are some very appropriate times to rejoice, and to celebrate. At the top of this list is the blood-bought salvation of a soul in the Lord Jesus Christ. The older brother (in this "Prodigal Son" narrative) refused to party with his father, because he (the older son) could not accept the concept of grace and for-giveness. He was all about works, law, and self-righteousness.

May we members of the true church be *very* glad when God calls sinners to Himself, through the gospel of Jesus; and may we renew our own love to and amazement at the God (who does such wonderful things).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Love to Jesus Christ and believing in Jesus Christ fills souls with joy and glory in this life.” —Christopher Love, in his sermon on Gal. 5:17]