Tues., 2/28/23 Devotion (Ex. 12:31b)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 12:13b, where we read these words: 

" . . . And when I see the blood, I will pass over you . . . " 

The angel of death still stalks all those who are out of covenant with Christ (and His church). But those regenerated (and hence) redeemed souls whose hearts are sprinkled by the blood of Jesus are safe. God passes over them; while He executes righteous and just judgment on others. 

It is not our "righteousness," our religiosity, our civility, nor our morality that causes God to "pass over” us; and spare us from judgment, hell, and damna-tion. Instead, it is only the blood righteousness of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29b). This righteousness is imputed to the hearts of sinners, by grace through faith in Christ. 

[Puritan quote of the day: "Make it your main business, your chief study, your greatest care, to 'make your calling and election sure,' says the apostle.”

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

Mon., 2/27/23 Devotion (1 Cor. 14:33)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 14:33, where we read these words:

"For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

Sadly, there is a lot of confusion in a lot of church congregations today. But none of this confusion is from God. Most of it comes from false shepherds in the church who lead people astray.  The Lord has laid-out enough content doctrine, theology, knowledge, and understanding in the Scriptures for faithful and truly-called pastors and elders to quite sufficiently lead the flocks of Christ into all the fields of plenty and peace, in Jesus alone.

The problem of confusion originates in the author of confusion (Satan), and is forwarded by his cohorts. The trouble is with sinful men who craft their own false gospels, and who spurn the only true one. Let us, by grace, sincerely cling to Jesus as His sane and well-ordered church; and enjoy by faith the benefits of life in the body of Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "To have grace, and to be sure that we have grace, is glory upon the throne, it is heaven on this side of heaven.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 2/24-26/23 Devotion

Bless God—it is almost Sunday! In order to 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 disquiets."

Thurs., 2/23/23 Devotion (Ex. 6:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 6:9, which says this:

"Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel; but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery." (ESV)

There is a very real sense in which a broken spirit and very difficult life cir-cumstances make listening to the church ministers of God quite hard to do. And yet, the very desired deliverance from these troubles is entirely depend-ent upon our hearing of the gospel of free grace in Jesus Christ. In the case of Moses, he persevered, and eventually won the ears and hearts of the peo-ple; but it did not come easily or "automatically."

May we be patient with those who are especially-burdened with heavy cares and concerns. Love demands that we continue to speak to them. Compas-sion calls for our going out of our way to help them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Suffer we must. Before we were born, God de-creed it; and it is easier to complain of His decree than to change it.” —Sam-uel Rutherford, in, "Letters of Samuel Rutherford"]

Wed., 2/22/23 Devotion (Ex. 5:2)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 5:2, which says this:

"But Pharaoh said, 'Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.' " (ESV)

Pharaoh, to his credit, is honest here; which is to say more of him than of many people, who claim to "Know the Lord." "Knowing the Lord," in the Bible, is practically analogous to obeying His voice. It is interesting that, in the very next verse, Moses' evangelism of Pharaoh has practically nothing to do with Pharaoh's misapprehensions about God; and everything to do with God's word to His church.

Let us be among those who really do "Know the Lord"; and may this be mani-fested to all by our loving and faithful walk with Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The fall [of Adam, in the garden] is the occasion of Christ's becoming the head of the church, His body. And believers have be-come His brethren and spouse in a manner that otherwise would not have been.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "The Wisdom of God"]

Mon., 2/5/23 Devotion (Mk. 8:15)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 8:15, which says this:

"Then [Jesus] charged them, saying, 'Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.' "

This is an interesting text. Our Redeemer wants us, His church, to "beware" of the teaching from certain quarters, which are found in every society, in every place, and in every era (of fallen humanity). The one, Pharisaism, is well-known. It is a hyper-religion, that seeks to be more righteous than God Himself. Essentially, it is self- or law-righteousness. (All false religions are variations on pharisaism.)

"Herod's" doctrine, however, gets much less press. It also is deadly. It is the mantra of (what we today call) liberalism, characterized by greed, racism, pride, and every false form of civil religion. The Lord Jesus would have us be wary of both of these. Let us be on our guard.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Saul's sparing Agag lost him the kingdom, and your sparing sin will lose you the kingdom of heaven.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]

Wed., 2/1/23 Devotion (Mk. 4:40-41a)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 4:40 & 41a, where we read these words:

"But [Jesus] said to [the disciples], 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly . . . “

Here we see two types of fear: one that is not so good (an understandable fear of a raging sea); and one that is quite healthy (a fear of God, based on what His Messiah can do). Fear of man (or danger, etc.) is always accompa-nied with a lack of sincere and real faith in Christ. Fear of God is a result of regenerative faith in Christ.

This is not to suggest that genuine churched believers might not be "fearful," or "alarmed," from time-to-time. But once we see Who is in the "boat” of life with us, our hearts are to be stilled and comforted again.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ did not need subjects, He has legions of angels ministering to Him; but in His love He has honored you to make you His subjects.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]