Mon., 1/31/22 Devotion (Gen. 32:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 32:1, where we read these words:

"So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him."

Sometimes, as we believers are simply walking "on [our] way," the "angels of God meet [us]." Jacob was not doing anything particularly "spiritual" or “religi-ous”—he was merely going about his business. The angels' meeting with Ja-cob did not portend easy days ahead. As a matter of fact, in this very chapter Jacob would have to face his long-estranged brother Esau. But there can be no doubt but that the angels assisted him (Jacob).

As the church walks through the world today—looking forward to the next Sunday—let us recognize our particular need to be "met" by God's "angels." Some of them are in human flesh. Others of them are celestial. All of them will point us to Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Is it not comfortable being in heaven? He that en-joys much of God in this life carries heaven about him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/28-30/22 Devotion

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

"If you do not love God, you will love something else, either the world or sin; and are those 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 particulars. . . .

"If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy. 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 remove trouble of mind. If there be a thorn in the conscience, 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 the Spirit, and with one smile scatter all your fears and discom-forts."

Thurs., 1/27/22 Devotion (Acts 27:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 27:11, which says this:

"Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul."

This one little verse summarizes the fatal error most people make. They listen to their pocketbooks, their financial concerns, and their temporal welfare, *more* than they heed the preaching of the gospel of God’s grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. And, of course, the result—in every case without exception—is the shipwreck of their lives, their estates, and all their hopes and dreams (even in this life).

. . . May we be wiser than this, by the saving grace offered to the whole world in The Person of Christ. The redeemed church will always listen to The True God—but this is because of supernatural grace given us in our regenerations in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "What Satan did in tempting man to fall is made an occasion of the contrary to what he intended in that it gave occasion for God to glorify Himself all the more, and gives occasion for the elect being brought to higher happiness.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]

Wed., 1/26/22 Devotion (Acts 26:28-29)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 26:28 & 29, which says this:

"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' And Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me to-day, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.' "

Did we realize that believing Christian church members are the only people in the whole world who actually have both the right and the responsibility to urge all other people everywhere to become exactly as we are (with regard to our faith in Christ, and our union with Him and each other in the church)? That is a stunningly bold and audacious fact.

But *all* people everywhere also desire that everyone else be "like them," too. This is because all sinners want to justify themselves, as they take com-fort from others who share in their errors. True Christians, on the other hand, want everyone to be "like us," so that everybody can be happy and free (in the truest sense) in Jesus Christ alone.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is said of Christ and David, that their hearts were eaten up with a holy zeal for God's house.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]

Tues., 1/25/22 Devotion (Gen. 26:18)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 26:18, where we read these words:

"And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them."

This is a really sweet verse to encourage healthy church life today, or in any era. Isaac went back to the original wells of water that his father Abraham had enjoyed. The world today, just like the Philistines of old, is always seeking to "stop up" the sources of the church's grace and joy, received from our Father through Christ.

. . . But, instead of responding to the problem by trying "new things," Abra-ham's son goes back to the *old* tried and true springs of life. Let us live by this principle, too. The faithful church is to call all people to the well of life found only in the Christ of the gospel of grace. And we are to employ the same truths our fathers relished. The "old paths" are better—just as the prophet said, in Jeremiah 6:16a.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian must neither be a dead sea nor a rag-ing sea.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]

Mon., 1/24/22 Devotion (Acts 24:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 24:14, which finds Paul saying this:

"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets." (ESV)

This is a pretty bold statement made here by the former super-strict pharisee, regarding the comprehensive primacy of the New Covenant church's worship and life. Whatever Paul may have still (provisionally) performed—in reference to the old temple and the old forms—it was done, not out of the vitals of true worship, but as a civil nod to a passe, eclipsed system. He viewed New Cov-enant church worship as the genuine fulfillment of "the Law and the Proph-ets."

May we do the same; and have Paul's attitude and perspective. To lose God's worship through Jesus Christ, is to lose our souls.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God calls upon us from time to time in HIs Word. He is calling us by His written Word and by His preached Word from Sabbath to Sabbath.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "It is Well for us that God is Not as we are"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/21-23/22 Devotion

So as to help prepare us for this world's highest calling, viz. Sunday church worship, here are some great words from Thomas Watson's sweet little book, entitled, "The Doctrine of Repentance":

"This resolution [to leave sin] must be built upon the strength of Christ more than our own ["strength"]. It must be a humble resolution. As David, when he went against Goliath, put off his presumptuous confidence in himself, as well as his armor, saying, 'I come to you, [Goliath], in the Name of the Lord,' (1 Sam. 17:45)—so we must conquer our 'Goliath-lusts' in the strength of

Christ. . . .

"Being conscious of our own inability to leave sin, let us get Christ to be bound with us and engage His strength for the mortifying of corruption."

Thurs., 1/20/22 Devotion (Gen. 21:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 21:1, where we read these words:

"And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken."

Sarah had to wait a long time to get what she wanted, and for what she had undoubtedly often petitioned God concerning, (namely, a child—whom she got, in Isaac). Had God given Sarah what she desired earlier, when she so earnestly sought for it—it would have been a disaster for Sarah (and for the rest of the world, too). She was not particularly "patient," but the Lord over-looked that, and was gracious to her.

What is it that we have long and ardently "sought for"? Let us not lose hope; and let us not give up. If this desire is Christ-exalting, we should continue to wait for the Lord, and not cease to continue to ask God for it.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The more we see the grace of God in Christ, the spirit of fear is diminished and replaced by a spirit of love and boldness.”

—Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Wed., 1/19/22 Devotion (Gen. 20:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 20:11, which says this:

"And Abraham said, 'Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.’ "

Things are often not what they seem to be. Abraham, understandably, thought that the pagan king Abimelech and his people possessed absolutely no "fear of God" whatsoever. This was a feasible deduction. After all, they were idolaters. But, remarkably, God had appeared to this Abimelech fellow, and had spoken to him in a dream, (cf. Gen. 20:3 ff.).

. . . Conversely, we might know some very religious people, who, in fact do not turn out to have any saving relationship through Christ at all. Hence, let us not assume too much of anything in this regard. God may be at work in some-one whom we would never imagine; and He may not be active among those whom we would expect (He would).

Puritan quote of the day: "Disband the army of your sins, and God will sound a retreat to His judgments. Remember, great sins have been swallowed up in the sea of God's infinite compassions.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Tues., 1/18/22 Devotion (Matt. 18:21)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 18:21, which says this:

"Then Peter came to [Jesus] and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' "

The best people in the world are the most forgiving ones. One cannot teach everything that is involved with forgiveness in a little Devotion like this—but this much will suffice: all relational problems are always ultimately issues of forgiveness (or lack thereof). This includes the problem all of us sinners have with God, (so long as we remain in a state of the flesh and rebellion).

If a professing Christian ask for forgiveness, it must be granted. The "forgiver" cannot say, "Let me see how righteous you are, and then I will consider for-giving, or not." Would we want God to deal with us in that way? How happy would we be with this prayer: "God, please forgive me, based on how well I will do at not sinning anymore"? In that scenario, we would all be condemned.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Now, as a man is broken off from sin by seeing and feeling it, and groaning under the power of it, so is a man broken from himself.” —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]

Mon., 1/17/22 Devotion (Gen. 18:14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 18:14a, where we read these great words:

"Is anything too hard for the LORD? . . . "

Usually, when we consider this well-known phrase, we do not think in high enough terms. We might be musing, "Could God give me a million dollars?"; when, in fact, we ought to be asking, "Could God actually deliver me, a sin-ner, who is hopelessly lost in and of myself?"

Nothing is too hard for God, because no amount of glory is too great for the honor and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ—the One who has miraculously provided atonement for all the people of His church. No matter what we face today—it really is *not* “too hard for the LORD."

[Puritan quote of the day: "It never came into God's thoughts to make a New Covenant upon terms of worthiness. If God should show mercy to none but such as are worthy, then must He show mercy to none.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/14-16/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his "Assur-ance" treatise. . . .

"He who loves God will be at ‘pains’ to get to Him. What pains the merchant takes, what hazards he runs, to gain a rich return from the Indies! Jacob lov-ed Rachel, and he could endure the heat by day, and the frost by night, that he might enjoy her. A soul that loves God will take any pains for the fruition of Him. 'My soul follows hard after God,' (Psalm 63:8).

"Plutarch reports of the Gauls, an ancient people of France, that once they had tasted the sweet wine of Italy, they never rested till they had arrived at that country. He who is in love with God, never rests till he has a part in Him. 'I sought him whom my soul loves,' (Song of Sol. 3:2). How can they say they love God, who are not industrious in the use of means to obtain Him?"

Thurs., 1/13/22 Devotion (Acts 13:42)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 13:42, where we read these words:

"So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath."

What an amazing situation: people "begging" to have the Gospel of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ preached to them! That kind of glory is special; and it is certainly the result of a marvelous work of the Holy Spirit, wherein He draws hopeless sinners to Jesus, and places them into His New Covenant church.

Does this kind of gospel dynamic still occur? Of course it does. The Sove-reign Lord causes this to happen in many parts of His world. The blessing is astronomical. Even today, let us ask God to prosper Christ's Gospel, and to increase the members of His faithful church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You cannot gratify Satan more, nor injure your-selves more, than by living without assurance of God's favor in Christ.”

—Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Wed., 1/12/22 Devotion (Acts 12:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 12:5, where we read these words:

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."

In the New Testament, whenever we find instances like this one (above), where the church is praying earnestly—it almost always is related to the spread of the gospel. Here, the believers are interceding for Peter, so that he would be released from prison, and be able to continue his special work of "unlocking" the gospel to all kinds of people groups.

Let the church offer prayers today for all kinds of causes—but let us never forget our priorities. As Paul wrote, "The word of God is not chained," (2 Tim. 2:9b)—and part of the reason for this is because the body of Christ prays for the gospel's proliferation, and for those who are especially called to proclaim it (the gospel).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ would not have needed to stoop so low to save angels as humans.” —John Bunyan, in, "All Loves Excelling"]

Tues., 1/11/22 Devotion (Acts 11:18)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 11:18, where we read these words:

"When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, 'Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.' "

The giving of the gospel to the Gentiles was such a dramatic event in re-demptive history that some people used to the Old Covenant way found it al-most impossible to believe. But, once the ultimate Jew (Peter) told his fellow-Jewish Christians what God had done among the Gentiles, the believing Jews also rejoiced.

Let us not be limiting the Lord's power to save in our own thinking. We may look at someone, or some group of people, and say, "God would never [or even could never] save them.” The fact that many Gentiles entered the church in the first century is a great encouragement to us with regard to what the Lord can do among people today (in the twenty-first century).

[Puritan quote of the day: "All the heathen have had some religion, because they had some conscience to trouble them.” —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]

Mon., 1/10/22 Devotion (Ezra 10:2b)

Today's encouragement comes from Ezra 10:2b, where we read these words:

" . . . yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this."

These words (above) are extremely encouraging. They are spoken in the midst of some serious sinning done by the covenant people of God, (in that many of them had taken pagan wives). When we apply this text to our own day, it may still be said that, "yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of [all our foolishness and unfaithfulness]." Today, many of the Lord's people do not worship Him according to God's word. In many cases, the Lord's Day is not kept. And, in some instances, whole church denominations have gone "belly-up," caving into the world's and the devil's "gospels."

But STILL, even "in spite of this," "there is hope in Israel [viz. the church].” Why is this so? Because Christ is still on His throne; and He is still having HIs gospel proclaimed in faithful churches, by His Spirit-filled clergymen.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ suffered that which the damned in hell do not suffer. For they do not see the hateful nature of sin.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon entitled, "The Justice of God"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/7-9/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We get to go back to church again. To en-courage us, here is Thomas Watson writing on God's Mercy, from his book, "A Body of Divinity." . . .

"We are to look upon God in prayer, not in His judgment robes, but clothed with a rainbow full of mercy and clemency. When Jesus Christ ascended up to heaven, that which made Him go up there with joy was, 'I go to My Father'; so that which should make our hearts ascend with joy in prayer, is, 'We are going to the Father of mercy, who sits upon the throne of grace.’ Go with con-fidence in this mercy; as when one goes to a fireplace, not doubtingly, saying, 'perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.'

"Believe in God's mercy. 'I will trust in the mercy of God forever,’ (Psa 52:8). God’s mercy is a fountain opened. Let down the bucket of faith and you may drink of this fountain of salvation. What greater encouragement to believe than God’s mercy? God counts it His glory to be scattering pardons. He is de-sirous that sinners should touch the golden sceptre of His mercy and live."

Thurs., 1/6/22 Devotion (Matt. 6:27)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 6:27, where we find our Savior saying these words:

"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"

Worry is the practical opposite of faith. Worry says, "I cannot really trust God to take care of my concerns; I need to take matters into my own hands." Wor-ry is highly God-dishonoring. People that are given to worry "worry" that, if they quit worrying, they are no longer caring for or about the objects of their worry. But this is a misguided approach. Care does *not* necessitate worry. In fact, the greatest expressions of care do not worry at all—instead they trust God with the concern.

Let us face it: worry is a malady and affliction that befalls all of us sinners. But we need not live in it. If we want *real* solutions to the heart-concerns that are so important to us, then we are wise if we trust God to take care of them. Are we  faith-filled churchman today, who trust in Jesus alone for your salva-tion? If so, then worry has no legitimate place in your lives. (If we are not in that position—ironically—we have plenty to worry about.)

[Puritan quote of the day: "Ground your comfort upon a lasting and un-changeable covenant, on such a covenant that accepts will for works, desires for deeds, and endeavors for performances.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Wed., 1/5/22 Devotion (Matt. 5:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 5:20, where we read these words of Christ:

"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."

When Jesus said this to His disciples, in His "Sermon on the Mount," it un-doubtedly raised some eyebrows. After all, how could anybody do more than the scribes and Pharisees? They "out-Godded" God at every turn. If the Lord said, "Fast once a year"; they would fast twice a week. And yet their "right-eousness" was not even close to being good enough to get to heaven.

Why? . . .

Because we have to appear before God—even now—as perfect, (with no flaw or sin whatsoever). And how does anyone get to this condition? Are there enough works or deeds or efforts that can be expended, to get perfect? No. Only Jesus Christ is perfect. We must possess *His* pristine righteous-ness, by faith, wherein it is imputed to our souls by God’s sovereign grace and power. Let all the faithful church rejoice that we have this perfect stand-ing, in Christ alone.

[Puritan quote of the day: "And so to come into God's presence is the great-est joy for a godly man in this life, to come into God's presence in His ordin-ances in His Church.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Tues., 1/4/22 Devotion (Matt. 4:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 4:1, where we read these words:

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

Some people like to think of the Holy Spirit as the one Person of the Holy Tri-nity that *always* leads them into pleasurable ways and verdant pastures. Whereas they might envision having to "suffer with Jesus"; and/or undergoing the discipline of the Heavenly Father—it is normally assumed that everything associated with the Holy Spirit is "positive."

But here the blessed Holy Spirit intentionally *leads* the Son of God into the "wilderness," to "be tempted by the devil." Why? So that, in overcoming the demon-proffered "shortcuts" to glory, the Messiah would (instead) go to the cross, and rise from the dead for His church. When the Spirit leads us into hard roads, let us recognize that it is for good reason: that we will be more Christlike in the process.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If once you come to receive the mercy of God in and through Christ Jesus, then that mercy will be the greatest opposer of your lusts and sin as anything can be in the world.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Mon., 1/3/22 Devotion (Gen. 3:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 3:1a, which says this:

"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made."

It is good for us to remember this (above). Satan, the old snake, is very clev-er, cunning, sly, and devious. In ourselves, we are absolutely no match for him. The devil has had thousands of years of practice. We are novices, com-pared to him. But the true saints of the faithful church have many advantages over Lucifer—and the greatest is that we are in the Son of God, who crushed the serpent's head, (cf. Gen. 3:15).

Still, even possessing the very mind of Christ, we believers need to be careful and watchful. Our enemy does not rest, in seeking opportunities to trouble our souls. We must not rest, in keeping them (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Sin feeds the sinner with delightful objects and then makes him mortgage his soul.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]