Fri.-Sabbath, 9/20-22/24 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday. We get to go back to church! In order to help us get ready for the Sabbath worship of the True God, here are some good words from Jonathan Edwards. This comes from his sermon, entitled, “Safety, Fulness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ.” . . .

“Those who come to Christ, need not be afraid of God’s wrath for their sins; for God’s honor will not suffer by their escaping punishment and being made happy. . . . But if they go to Christ, the honor of God’s majesty and authority will not be in the least hurt by their being freed and made happy. For what Christ has done has repaired God’s honor to the full. . . . God hates our sins, but not more than He delights in Christ’s obedience which He performed on our account. This is a sweet savor to Him, a savor of rest. God is abundantly compensated, He desires no more; Christ’s righteousness is of infinite worthi-ness and merit."

Thurs., 9/19/24 Devotion (2 Sam. 15:26b)

Today's encouragement comes from David's lips, as his words are recorded in 2 Samuel 15:26b:

" . . . Here I am, let Him [God] do to me as seems good to Him."

David's attitude is a good one. He was being humbled by God, while his treacherous son Absalom schemed to take away his throne. One gets the sense that, though David knew he deserved rough treatment from God (be-cause of his murder and adultery, etc.)—he expected the Lord would be merciful and gracious to him, nonetheless.

. . . And indeed God's kindness is what David received, in the end. Can *we* say, "Here I am, let God do to me as seems good to Him"? If we are truly in Christ, we can; and we need not fear a thing.

[Edwards quote of the day: "All the riches of the world, or the honors and pleasure of it, all the learning, the power, and the policy of the world, all the worldly titles and distinctions cannot make the sinful creature happy or do him any good.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Christ is the Christian's All"]

Wed., 9/18/24 Devotion (2 Cor. 7:4c, 5c)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 7:4c & 5c, where we read these words:

" . . . I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. . . . Outside were conflicts, inside were fears."

It is helpful for us to read of the Apostle Paul's experiences. We can see (above) that even he, the stalwart of faith and strength, was "fearful" at times. But even more than this, he could find a way (in Christ) to be "joyful" in "tribu-lation."

Every true believer in Christ is capable of enduring a whole lot more than he or she could ever imagine that he or she could. There is valor within us that will never come to the fore unless it is put through the fire (of afflictions). Still, none of us look forward to these conflicts. The only thing we like is the Christ-like character that develops in us (which brings us much peace, stability, and happiness).

[Puritan quote of the day: "People [become] distracted from coming to God by their own self-imposed spiritual disciplines.” —John Owen, in, "Sin and Temp-tation"]

Tues., 9/17/24 Devotion (Ps. 66:12b, c)

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

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

If we are regenerated Christian church members, saved by grace through faith in Christ (alone), then this much is certain about us: we *will* go through some very difficult times in this life. But this much is also a sure thing: we will be brought through them, to even higher levels of faith, character-develop-ment, joy, and fulfillment—in *this* life.

. . . But no one gets the "good stuff" without first traversing some pretty dark valleys. Therefore, let us learn now, in advance, that God is good, and that Jesus is worth possessing no matter what. Then, as we stare into hard cir-cumstances it will not be so bad, since we *know* we will benefit on the other end.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If the thing we desire is good for us, we shall have it. If it is not good, then not having it is good for us. Resting satisfied with this promise gives contentment. —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Con-tentment"]

Mon., 9/16/24 Devotion (Ps. 64:6b)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 64:6b, where David wrote this:

"Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep."

What are our deepest, darkest thoughts and secrets—those things that only God (and we) know about? If we are in Christ by faith, we need not in anyway be undone by them, and/or discouraged by them. It is our faith in Jesus, and not our fears and foibles, that governs our Spirit-led behavior, and establishes our self-knowledge (as new creatures in Christ).

The devil seeks to turn our deep, dark thoughts into paralyzing spiritual straightjackets. God encourages us with words like these, "Your faith is your victory," (cf. 1 Jn. 5:4).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Do not mistake . . . things for evidences of the cer-tain wrath of God which, perhaps, are not really so.” —Timothy Rogers, in "The Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy"]