Fri.-Sabbath, 5/24-26/24 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again. In order to help get us ready, here is Richard Sibbes, from his, "The Bruised Reed" book. . . .

“Why Christ’s Kingdom must prevail. . . .

"Christ has conquered all in His own Person first, and He is, ‘Over all, God blessed forever' (Rom. 9:5)—and therefore He is over sin, death, hell, Satan and the world. And, as He has overcome them in Himself, so He overcomes them in our hearts and consciences. We commonly say that conscience makes a man kingly or contemptible, because it is planted in us to judge for God, either with us or against us. Now if natural conscience is so forcible, what will it be when, besides its own light, it has the light of divine truth put into it? It will undoubtedly prevail, either to make us hold up our heads with boldness or abase us beneath ourselves. If it subjects itself, by grace, to Christ's truth, then it boldly faces death, hell, judgment and all spiritual ene-mies, because then Christ sets up His kingdom in the conscience and makes it a kind of paradise.

"The sharpest conflict which the soul has is between the conscience and God's justice. Now if the conscience, sprinkled with the blood of Christ, has prevailed over assaults fetched from the justice of God, now satisfied by Christ—it will prevail over all other opposition whatsoever."

Thurs., 5/23/24 Devotion (1 Jn. 2:8b)

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

" . . . Because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining."

Ever since Christ's first advent, with His glorious resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the New Covenant church at Pentecost, God's light of Jesus and His ecclesiastical kingdom have been advancing; and the world's and the devil's darkness have been on the retreat.

Does this always *appear* to us to be the case, from our limited (and emo-tion-laden) perspectives? No. But it is always better to trust the promises and statements of God Himself, rather than our own feelings. Since God has clearly said that the "darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining," let us, His faithful church, believe Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Pray as we are able, hear as we are able, strive as we are able, do as we are able, according to the measure of grace received.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 5/22/24 Devotion (1 Jn. 1:10)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 1:10, where we read these words:

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him [God] a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Sin is an insidious thing. If we acknowledge it, we must confess it and repent of it. If we do not acknowledge it, we sin even worse (by pretending it does not exist). The best thing to do, in confessing sin, is to be as honest with God as we possibly can be. This requires God's assistance.

Confession of sin usually has these two temptations attached to it: 1) to say things to God that we do not really mean (just to ease our conscience); or, 2) to confess things to God which (in themselves) are really not sin at all. Again: the key is candor. May the Lord help us know our hearts well enough, in order to make good confession to Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The eyes of our souls cannot be towards God un-less He has cast a gracious look upon us first.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Tues., 5/21/24 Devotion (2 Pet. 3:18a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Peter 3:18a, where we read these words:

" . . . But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . . . "

How does a whole church *grow* in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"? Primarily, by being well-fed. The context of Peter's injunction (above) is largely that of the proper use and understanding of the written word of God (the sacred scriptures)—especially as they are preached as the gospel of pure grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christians *grow* when they ingest Jesus—being hungry for His Person. The written word, which is the base and foundation of the church's preached word, always points all sinners to the Incarnate Word (Christ, the "Logos," of Jn. 1:1). This "Word" is the ultimate Revelation of God. Christ feeds us His own "flesh" and "blood," in the preached Gospel, and in the proper adminis-tration of the sacrament of The Lord's Supper on the Lord’s Days, in His faith-ful churches.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Every godly, gracious man is a praying man.”
—William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Mon., 5/20/24 Devotion (2 Pet. 2:9a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Peter 2:9a, where we read these words:

" . . . Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations . . . "

Peter establishes this truth (above) on the basis of God's willingness and abil-ity to punish sin (and evildoers). But whereas the Lord did not have a means of redemption for the fallen angels—He *does* provide it to His elect church-men. On top of that, God delivers us "out of temptations."

What kinds of temptations will we face today? Not all of them will be to per-form some gross, crass evil. We may be tempted to doubt the love of God, (or even His very existence). We may be tempted to succumb to great discour-agement of heart. We may be tempted to quit church, and prayer. The Lord can and will supply His children persevering grace, to withstand and over-come all of these temptations (and more).

[Puritan quote of the day: "The valley of your discouragements shall be the door and inlet unto all your rest and comfort.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 5/17-19/24 Devotion

Thank God—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again! In or-der to help us get ready for this highest calling, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The One Thing Necessary" treatise. . . .

"The seasons of grace though they are precious, are not permanent. Abused mercies are like Noah's dove, they take their wings and fly from us. England's golden hour will soon run out; gospel blessings are very sweet, but very swift. 'Now they are hid from your eyes' (Luke 19:42). We know not how soon the golden candlestick may be removed.

"There is a time when the Spirit is done striving. There are certain spring tides of the Spirit, and these being neglected, possibly we may never see another tide come in. When conscience is done speaking, usually the Spirit is done striving.

"The loss of gospel opportunities will be the hell of hell. When a sinner shall at the last day think with himself, 'Oh, what might I have been! I might have been as rich as the angels. as rich as heaven could make me. I had a sea-son, but I lost it.’ This will be as a vulture gnawing upon him; this will enhance and accent his misery. And let this persuade you speedily to work out your salvation."

Thurs., 5/16/24 Devotion (1 Pet. 3:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Peter 3:8, where we read these words:

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous . . . "

Sometimes, in the midst of all the struggle and spiritual warfare that is going on in us, and amongst us, we tend to forget some of the most basic tenets of Christianity. Peter is telling the church here to remember to love one another.

All of us—even the most experienced amongst us—are weak in many ways, and are given to all kinds of sins, failings, and annoyances. God would have us be gracious and patient with one another. After all: the Lord has treated us with *ultimate* kindness in Christ, even though we deserve none of it. Let us show those tender lambs in His church forbearance and gentleness.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us pray that God will preserve pure ordinances and powerful preaching among us. Idolatry came in at first by the lack of good preaching.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Commandments"]

Wed., 5/15/24 Devotion (Ps. 66:12b)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 66:12b, where we read these words:

"We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich ful-fillment."

Only those—in Jesus alone—who persevere through the trials of life, get to enjoy the benefit of "rich fulfillment" at the end of them. When testings and temptations are endured (in Christ), they give way to rest and satisfaction later. Even our Lord Jesus had solacing angels minister to Him, *after* He weathered Satan’s temptations, (in Matt. 4:11).

The spoils of Christ's victory for His church do *not* go to "primadonna" spirits. Instead, they are the sole possession of those brave souls who are willing, by grace, to take up the cross everyday (Lk. 9:23)—and through it de-feat the flesh, the world, and the devil, (via living faith in the Redeemer).

[Puritan quote of the day: "True religion in a state is as a main pillar of a house and the post of a tent that upholds all.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Tues., 5/14/24 Devotion (1 Pet. 1:7c, 8a)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Peter 1:7c & 8a, where we read these words:

" . . . Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. . . . "

Is it possible to love Someone we have not seen with the eyes of our flesh? For that matter, is it possible to believe in the existence of that Someone (God), whom we have never seen (with our bodies’ eyes)? Indeed, the an-swer to these questions is, "Yes." How do we know that Jesus Christ lives; and that we can love Him? Through credible witnesses. The ultimate Witness is the Holy Spirit Himself.

If we sincerely love the God we have not seen with the eyes of our body, we are blessed. Jesus said as much, in Jn. 20:29. The greatest realities that exist are unseen ones. Even atheists must employ [these unseen realities], in or-der to deny them. Let us love the Christ who is as much *with* us, as we are with ourselves.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Compare sin with hell, and you shall see that sin is worse.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Mon., 5/13/24 Devotion (Ps. 63:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 63:1a, where we read these words:

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You . . . "

David is craving God in this Psalm. He wants to get to the sanctuary, but he is hindered (in that he is in the wilderness). Still, David seeks the Lord "early." We can learn something from his example. Christian church members should think on God and pray to Him as soon as they wake up. Young people should seek the Lord in their youth. And we should look to God "early" in all our trials (or joys).

Let us make everything else wait in line, as we put Christ first in all things. This is totally against our fallen nature—but it is consistent with regeneration. Those who earnestly seek God will not be outdone by Him (in terms of His favors being bestowed on us).

[Puritan quote of the day: "A heartless, drooping, and discouraging life and walk is very unbecoming the gospel of Christ.” —James Durham, in, "The Un-searchable Riches of Christ"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 5/10-12/24 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday, the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection, one of God's 52 holy days a year! Here are some neat words from Richard Sib-bes. This snippet comes from a treatise of his, entitled, "Denial of The Best For The Church's Benefit.” . . .

"A second thing that I observe hence is this: holy and gracious men, that are led by the Spirit of God, can deny themselves and their own best good for the church's benefit. They know that God has appointed them as instruments to convey good to others; and knowing this, they labor to come to Paul's spirit, to desire to live, to have life in patience, and death in desire in regard of themselves. For it would be much better for a good man to be in heaven, out of misery, and out of this conflicting condition with the devil and devilish-mind-ed men.

"The reason is, because a good man, as soon as he is a good man, has the spirit of love in him, and 'love seeks not its own,' (1 Cor. 13:6), but the good of another; and as the love of Christ and the love of God possesses and seizes upon the soul, so self-love decays. What is gracious love but a decay of self-love? The more self-love decays, the more we deny ourselves."

Thurs., 5/9/24 Devotion (Ps. 55:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 55:16, where we read these words:

"As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me."

David offers a personal prayer here. No matter what other people choose to do with their troubles—he, at least—will bring all of his to the Lord. David be-lieved that simply "calling upon God" would be enough to secure His help. This is why he wrote, "The Lord shall save me."

May all God's churchmen call upon Him through Jesus Christ, in trouble or in pleasure. Let us recognize that the Lord is good; and that He alone is able to meet all of our needs—be they profound or mundane.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Those who would annihilate the ministry try to pull the stars out of Christ's hand.” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "God's Ana-tomy Upon Man's Heart"]

Wed., 5/8/24 Devotion (Heb. 13:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 13:6, where we read these words:

"So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' "

Because God is with His precious children; and because the Lord will never forsake us; and because He is sufficient to meet all our needs (so that we need not need to covet what others have)—we may make the statement (above), and exude that kind of confidence.

Bold living is not the result of possessing the things of the world (as so many wrongly imagine). Instead, valorous conduct comes about because the God who created the world, and saves His own church in Jesus’ blood and resurrection, is cherished in the heart.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory that is due to His name; and God crowns prayer with assurance and com-fort.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven On Earth"]

Tues., 5/7/24 Devotion (Ps. 51:1b-2)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 51:1b & 2, where we read these words:

"Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

This is a splendid prayer by David (above). After all, if our sins are forgiven us in Jesus’ blood atonement, and if we know (and even sense) that they are re-mitted—can there be any greater blessing than this? Jesus died for sinners; He did not die for good people (that think they do not need Him). If we are sinners today, saved by grace through faith in Christ (plus nothing)—then we are supremely blessed (and therefore authentically happy).

What are we to do when we feel (or are) guilty? We are to bring our sin (or concern) to God, through Christ’s gospel grace. If we believe in Jesus' atone-ment, then let us leave our sin there (at the cross). If we do not believe in Jesus' atonement, then we have no recourse but to the law, and its rightful condemnation of us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church of Christ is a common hospital, where-in all are in some measure sick of some spiritual disease or other . . . "

—Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 5/6/24 Devotion (Heb. 11:3)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 11:3, where we read these words:

"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

This is an amazing verse (above). None of us were around when The Holy Trinity—through the Word (Christ)—created the universe. We know that The Lord spoke it into existence; and that He did this "ex nihilo," (from nothing). But this still requires faith. Does faith rule out reasoned considerations of how it (the creation) had to occur? No.

We would have to be quite doltish of mind, to think that anything can come from nothing. An infinite regress of causation is also patently absurd. Evolu-tion is a thinly-veiled futile effort to explain reality without God. So, it turns out, that though we truly do exercise faith—our understanding is the only one that makes sense.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Does God expect us to have anything from our-selves? Who expects anything from a barren wilderness?” —Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 5/3-5/24 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We get to go back to church again! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, as he elucidates the great doc-trine of Justification, as he wrote of it in his classic book, "A Body of Divinity."

"What is meant by justification?

"It is a word borrowed from law courts, wherein a person arraigned is pro-nounced righteous, and is openly absolved. God, in justifying a person, pro-nounces him to be righteous, and looks upon him as if he had not sinned.

"What is the source of justification?

"The cause, the inward impellant motive or ground of justification, is the free grace of God: 'being justified freely by His grace.' Ambrose expounds this, as 'not of the grace wrought within us, but the free grace of God.' The first wheel that sets all the rest running is the love and favor of God; as a king freely par-dons a delinquent. Justification is a blessing spun out of the heart of free grace. God does not justify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us makes us worthy."

Thurs., 5/2/24 Devotion (Heb. 7:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 7:16, where we read these words:

"[Christ] has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life."

Because Jesus Christ always lives, His church may rest secure in His (Christ's) eternal priesthood. Under the Old Covenant, the priests came and went—as they—like everyone else, died. But now that Jesus has been incar-nated, crucified, and risen from the dead—He is at the right hand of the Fa-ther, always making intercession for His church, through His blood atonement for us.

Whereas *all* non-Christian religions and life-philosophies have to depend on dead people, who cannot help them at all—the Christian churchman depends on One who can never die. Let us approach our Messiah with confidence—knowing that He has provided everything for us, and that He has "the power of an endless life."

[Puritan quote of the day: "God is a tender Father, and He would have all the love of His children.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 5/1/24 Devotion (Heb. 6:19a)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 6:19a, where we read these words:

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast . . . “

In a world where every force of evil conspires against us, to seek to shake us off from our faith in the True God—it is incredibly encouraging for us to be as-sured that our hope is anchored to an immovable Rock (Christ). This hope is firmly affixed to God's immutable (unchangeable) promise (v. 15); and it is supported by the fact that He "cannot lie," (v. 18).

Even as in the case of a ship that is tethered to an anchor, it is certainly pos-sible for us to be "tossed and turned" a bit in this life—but even then, we are never lost. The anchor holds us fast. The "rope" which attaches us to our An-chor (Christ), is miraculous and regenerating faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Assurance is a choice part of a believer's happi-ness . . . “ —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven On Earth"]