Today's encouragement comes from 1 Chronicles 17:2, where we read these words:
"Then Nathan said to David, 'Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.' "Sincere, regenerate, God-loving churchmen, those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, are not under law. Instead, they are under grace, (see Rom. 6:14). Therefore, those saints, being filled with the Holy Spirit, are free to do whatever they want to do, because the last thing they will want to do is sin. By grace, everything they desire to do will be in accord with the Tri-une God that they love in and through Jesus Christ. They love this God be-cause He has forgiven them all their sins, and has made them perfectly free.
It does not so much matter to God what we do—so long as it is done in faith for the glory of Christ. Therefore, you who are faithful to Jesus and to your church vows—do what you want. It will only please God. Unbelieving religious people will hate you for your freedom; but you are not beholden to them, but rather to the God who has set you at perfect liberty in His Son.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Now it is only faith that shows a man the end and the issue of all his troubles.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Down-cast"]
