Fri.-Sabbath, 4/29-5/1/22 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help prepare us for The Lord’s Day, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "All Things for Good” book. . . .

"Let us then ascribe the whole work of grace to the pleasure of God's will. God did not choose us because we were worthy, but by choosing us He makes us worthy. Proud men are apt to assume and arrogate too much to themselves, in being sharers with God. While many cry out against church sacrilege, they are in the meantime guilty of a far greater sacrilege, in robbing God of His glory, while they go to set the crown of salvation upon their own head. But we must resolve all into God's purpose. The signs of salvation are in the saints, but the cause of salvation is in God.

"If it be God's purpose that saves, then it is not free will. The Pelagians are strenuous asserters of free will. They tell us that a man has an innate power to effect his own conversion; but this text [Eph. 1:11] confutes it. Our calling is 'according to God's purpose.' The Scripture plucks up the root of free will. 'It is not of him that wills,' (Rom. 9:16). All depends upon the purpose of God. When the prisoner is brought before the judge, there is no saving him, unless the judge has a purpose to save him. God's purpose is His royal prerogative."

Thurs., 4/28/22 Devotion (Heb. 3:1-2)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 3:1 & 2, where we read these words:

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apo-stle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house."

Remaining faithful over the long haul is not an easy thing to do. Most people that venture off on their Christian journeys, eventually end up giving up the fight. The key to faithfulness is never found within us—but is always and only in the Object of the true disciple's love and devotion: The Lord Jesus Christ.

This was why Moses was able to persevere to the end—because he never lost sight of Christ. Is Jesus our "Apostle," the One who fulfilled the mission of our redemption? Is He our "High Priest," the One whose atonement cleanses us of all our sin? If so, then we will, by grace, remain faithful. But this is all of God's sovereign doing. He gets the glory.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The remembrance of past goodness is very helpful for present encouragement. This rule David followed in Ps. 42:6: 'O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore will I remember You from the land of Jordan.’ “ —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Wed., 4/27/22 Devotion (Ps. 38:15a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 38:15a, where we read these few but important words of David:

"For in You, O LORD, I hope . . . "

Do we hope in the Lord? Hope implies need, vulnerability, danger, and antici-pation. And, if our hope is in the Lord Jesus, then this is evidence that we are perfectly secured in Him (by faith); and our sins, which are many, are not ac-counted to us.

Being united to Christ; and having the assurance of God’s love is nothing less than heaven on earth. Let us be faithful and fruitful churchmen; and enjoy Christ’s sweet peace and rest, as we hope in the Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "When enemies like lions have risen up against us to devour us, free grace has snatched us out of the mouth of these lions.”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Tues., 4/26/22 Devotion (Ps. 37:4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 37:4, where David wrote this:

"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

The reason God can give anything and everything that is desired, by a hum-ble, Spirit-filled, loving, and faithful Christian churchman is because there is perfect harmony between God's will, and this believer's will. Those who de-light in Christ seek their fulfillment and their pleasure in Him alone. And be-cause they love God, they only want from Him those things that glorify the Lord, and build up Christ's church.

We will never delight in God so long as we love our sin. But, when we forsake our sin, and cleave to Christ—we never ever regret it. God will be no man's debtor; He will fill us with His delights. If we delight ourselves in Jesus, we may do whatever we want to—because what we want to do is to please God, since we love Him so much, (because He first loved us).

[Puritan quote of the day: "God's glory is much promoted by the preaching of the Word, which is His engine whereby He converts souls.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Mon., 4/25/22 Devotion (Ps. 36:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 36:8, where these great words are found:

"They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."

God is not against our pleasure—so long as we find it all in Christ. In fact, God is totally committed to our happiness. The true Christian must go through many trials in this life (to be sure); but this in no way diminishes the fact that he or she enjoys the greatest, and most satisfying delights (in this life). The professing Christian who always hangs the head, frowns, and is sullen in spirit is telling the world that he or she does not have a very good God.

When we fully avail ourselves of Jesus, and of all His provisions which He metes-out in and through His gospel and His church—we know everything of which David speaks (above).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Get contentment into the sling of your heart, and with this sacred stone you may both defy the world and conquer it.” —Thom-as Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/22-24/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. He is addressing God's Mercy in this section. . . .

"God's mercy is free. To claim merit is to destroy mercy. Nothing can deserve mercy, because we are polluted in our guilt; nor can we force God’s mercy. We may force God to punish us, but not to love us. 'I will love them freely,' (Hos. 14:4). Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace. Election is free: 'He has chosen us in [Christ], according to the good pleasure of His will,' (Eph. 1:4). Justification is free: 'Being justified freely by His grace,' (Rom. 3:24). Salvation is free: 'According to [God’s] mercy He saved us,' (Titus 3:5). If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, he would show none at all.

"God's mercy is an overflowing mercy; it is infinite. 'Plenteous in mercy, (Psa. 86:5). 'Rich in mercy,' (Eph. 2:4). 'Multitude of mercies,' (Psa. 51:1). The cup of wrath drips, but the fountain of mercy runs. The sun is not so full of light as God is of mercy. God has morning mercies. 'His mercies are new every mor-ning,' (Lam. 3:23). He has night mercies: 'In the night His song shall be with me,' (Psa. 13:8). God has mercies under heaven, which we taste; and in heaven, for which we hope."

Thurs., 4/21/22 Devotion (2 Tim. 4:5)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 4:5, where we read these words:

"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evan-gelist, fulfill your ministry."

Paul's exhortation to his fellow-comrade in the church's ministry is a straight-forward and difficult one. Timothy will need to be "watchful," or on-guard; and this in "all things." He will need to "endure afflictions," (or persevere through difficult trials). On top of this, Timothy is to be always mindful of his responsi-bility to "do the work of an evangelist." Finally, Paul would have his young protégé not fall short of his life-goal, but rather "fulfill [his] ministry."

How do any of us—be we of the clergy or the laity—succeed at the high and holy callings (and commands) that God gives us? By humble faith in our Ris-en Lord Jesus. There is no room for laxity or slothfulness. The sincere Chris-tian is on a mission; and his or her life is never without challenges and bles-sings (on faithfulness).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ does His church more good now that He is in heaven . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Wed., 4/20/22 Devotion (Ps. 31:14-15a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 31:14 & 15a, where we read these words:

"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand . . . "

This perspective of David's (above) is very liberating. Instead of us wringing our hands in worry and uncertainty, and concern over whatever the future holds—let us leave our entire life completely in God's hands, by faith in Christ. Where *others* *are* certain to wrap themselves around the axle of the anxieties of the world, and try to draw us into their faithlessness—we sin-cere believers may and must resist this (natural and easy) tendency.

What is *our* outlook today: one of dark and dismal gloom; or one of hopeful grace (in Jesus)? The Resurrection of Christ reminds us that our Redeemer lives today, and that we have cause for both hope and rejoicing.

[Puritan quote of the day: "All the church's pangs help forward her deliver-ance.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Tues., 4/19/22 Devotion (2 Tim. 2:8)

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

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel . . . “ (ESV)

Why would Paul need to remind Timothy to remember Jesus Christ? Be-cause, every time he (or we) fall into fear and/or unbelief—we have, essenti-ally, “forgotten” the reality of our blessed and risen Lord Jesus. And note that Christ is of, “the offspring of David." In other words, He is one of us. He un-derstands our weaknesses; and He has gone ahead of us, in His resurrec-tion.

. . . May we, today, not forget our Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike all the false "gods" of all the world's false religions—He *is* alive, even right now. There-fore, let us always come boldly to God through Him.

[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"]

Mon., 4/18/22 Devotion (2 Tim. 1:8b, 9a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 1:8b & 9a, where Paul wrote these words, to the young pastor:

" . . . [B]ut share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the pow-er of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace . . . "

How do faithful church ministers and parishioners suffer for the gospel "accor-ding to the power of God"? This is done through *identification* with Christ, His church, and His servants—especially those enduring Satan's wrath against God's grace. It *does* take God's power to share in gospel sufferings, because the tendency of our flesh is to *withdraw* from those who are most-closely associated with suffering persecution for the cause of Christ.

May all God's churched children determine to count it a badge of honor, to be tightly-bound with Jesus, and His glorious gospel—no matter what the conse-quences may be.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A truly mortified man is like a warrior: he will either kill or be killed. He will kill his sins or else his sin will kill him.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Mortified Christian"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/15-17/22 Devotion

Praise God—we get to go to church on Sunday, which is Easter Sunday! In order to help get us all ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his outstanding book, entitled, "A Body of Divinity”—as he discusses some questions people may have. . . .

"I would like to be in covenant with God, but I have been a great sinner; and I fear God will not admit me into covenant.

"If you see your sins, and loathe yourself for them, God will take you into cov-enant. 'You have wearied Me with your iniquities; I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions,’ (Isa. 43:24-25). As the sea covers great rocks, so God's covenant mercy covers great sins. Some of the Jews that crucified Christ had their sins washed away in His blood.

"But I am not worthy that God should admit me into covenant.

"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. But it is God's design in the New Covenant to advance the riches of grace, to love us freely; and when we have no worthi-ness of our own, to accept us through Christ’s worthiness. Therefore let not unworthiness discourage you; it is not unworthiness that excludes any from the covenant, but unwillingness."

Thurs., 4/14/22 Devotion (1 Tim. 3:15b, c)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 3:15b & c, where we read these words:

" . . . I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is writing to the the pastor Timothy—so that he (Timothy) would know how to act and minister in the church. Timothy, then, would become the example for the elders, the dea-cons (just mentioned in the earlier part of the chapter), and the rest of the parish.

. . . Until (or unless) we all learn the principles of church life—we will be of little account anywhere else in the world: be it in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, or our cultures. Regenerative saving faith in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ inevitably leads to a life of faithfulness in and as His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In your daily practice do not trust too much in any outward performance or task, making idols of outward things.” —Richard Sib-bes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Wed., 4/13/22 Devotion (Lev. 17:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 17:11, where we read these words:

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atone-ment for the soul."

God will only accept shed blood as atonement for sin. Nothing else will do—not works, nor religion, nor self-deprecation. The blood of animals sacrificed under the Old Covenant only pointed to the one true and only satisfactory blood atonement, which would be offered on the cross by the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, who is the "Lamb of God," (Jn. 1:29).

The Lord is *only* pleased with us—and views us as forgiven—as our souls are "covered" by Christ's blood. The only way to appropriate this blessed atonement is by grace through faith (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Never since the beginning of the world have their been such glorious times as we enjoy.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Free-dom"]

Tues., 4/12/22 Devotion (1 Tim. 1:15)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 1:15, where Paul wrote these great words:

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

Are we sinners today? If so, then we are legitimate candidates for forgiveness and salvation. Jesus Christ did not come to earth to seek and save self-righ-teous and pompous religious know-it-alls. Instead, He came to redeem hope-lessly lost, messed-up wretches. People who think of themselves as “good” do not need a Savior. These kinds of “good" people go to hell. Bad people, redeemed by Jesus' blood, and who end up loving Him, and being HIs true church, go to heaven.

. . . Still, true Christian churchmen who are regenerated in Jesus’ blood and resurrection view themselves (now) as sinner-saints—knowing that Christ-likeness is getting the ascendency, and the flesh is getting beaten down.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus God is said in Scripture to impute righteous-ness to them who believe, not because they have this righteousness in them, but because He reckons it as theirs, and reckons them righteous by it.”

—Obadiah Grew, in, "The Lord our Righteousness"]

Mon., 4/11/22 Devotion (2 Thess. 3:3)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where we read these words:

"But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."

It is a wonderful blessing that God protects His children in Christ's church from "the evil one.” The old snake comes slithering around in all kinds of guises. He is a restless, sullen, and driven foe. Sometimes he lands a "punch" on some of the Lord's people—but he is never able to fell us.

Let all Christ's regenerate saints be thankful that our Lord is "faithful"; and that this kind grace expresses itself in both the "establishment" of our souls, and the *safety* and security of them. This is no small blessing; and it is one for which we should be very grateful (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ gives to those who come to Him such com-fort and pleasure as are enough to make them forget all their former labor and travail.” —Jonathan Edwards, in the book, "On Knowing Christ"]

Tues., 4/5/22 Devotion (1 Thess. 2:4)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:4, where Paul wrote these words to the church:

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."

Like Paul, faithful pastors today are not so concerned about pacifying any hu-man being, as they are about pleasing God. God's ministers know that they are of no value or good to man at all, unless they are first and foremost hon-oring and properly-representing their Lord Jesus, who sent them out to preach.

The same could be said for any faithful Christian church member. The believ-er's primary goal is to see Christ as the sole "audience" of all his or her wor-ship, devotion, and obedience. In this way (only) is effective ministry, and victorious living possible.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Indeed, sometimes grace is as a sleepy habit in the soul, like sap in the vine—not exerting its vigor, due to spiritual sloth or by reason of falling into some sin—but this is only for a while. The spring of grace will come, the flowers will appear, and the fig tree will put forth her green figs.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Mon., 4/4/22 Devotion (Ps. 8:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 8:9, where David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote these words:

"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!"

Earlier in this Psalm, David had marveled that God even paid any attention to, or respect to mankind. Now, David gives God—not man—the ultimate expres-sion of praise. It is "The Lord" whose name is “excellent”—even in "*all* the earth!"

There is not a square inch of this planet (or the rest of the universe), where God's name is not excellent. Mankind has corrupted the whole world through our Fall (in and with Adam); but the Lord has restored and given hope to it in the atonement and resurrection of the Last Adam (Jesus Christ our King). For this blessed fact, let us give thanks and praise to God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Hence we learn that we must not pass too harsh judgment upon ourselves or others when God exercises us with bruising upon bruising.”—Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/1-3/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We GET to go back to church! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his "A Body of Divinity" book.

"What shall we do to attain God's blessed peace?

"Let us ask it of God. He is the God of peace; He beats back the roaring lion; He stills the raging of conscience. If we could call all the angels out of heav-en, they could not speak peace without God. The stars cannot make day without the sun; none can make day in a dark deserted soul, but the Sun of Righteousness. As the wilderness cannot water itself, but remains dry and parched till the clouds drop their moisture, so our hearts cannot have peace till God infuses it, and drops it upon us by His Spirit.

"Therefore pray, 'Lord, You who are the God of peace, create peace; You who are the Prince of peace, command it. Give me that peace which may sweeten trouble, yes, even the bitter cup of death.’ "