Thurs.-Sabbath, 11/28-12/1/24 Devotion

Praise God—today is Thanksgiving; and Sunday is almost here! We get to go to church again. In order to help us prepare for worship, here is Richard Sib-bes, from his, "The Bruised Reed" book. . . .

“Overcoming Discouragements . . .

"Suffering brings discouragements, because of our impatience. 'Alas!,' we la-ment, 'I shall never get through such a trial.' But if God brings us into the trial He will be with us in the trial; and at length bring us out, more refined. We shall lose nothing but dross (Zech. 13:9). From our own strength we cannot bear the least trouble, but by the Spirit's assistance we can bear the greatest. The Spirit will add His shoulders to help us to bear our infirmities. The Lord will give His hand to lift us up (Psa. 37:24).

“ 'You have heard of the patience of Job,' says James (Jas. 5:11). We have heard of his impatience too, but it pleased God mercifully to overlook that. . . . And, to come to the matter we are now about, the sacrament [of The Lord's Supper]—it was ordained not for angels, but for humans; and not for perfect humans, but for weak humans . . . "

Wed., 11/27/24 Devotion (Lk. 10:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 10:20, where we read these words of our Savior:

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Faithful Christians are to rejoice (always), but we need to be a bit careful con-cerning those things about which we delight. The disciples (above) were thrilled that the devil cowered before them. Christ, on the other hand, would have us direct our excitement to the fact that we are sealed in heaven, by the blood of the Lamb.

The church's conquest of sin, sinners, Satan, and his demons is all a good thing. But we must always keep in mind the fact that God takes pleasure in positive salvation much more than He does the destruction of the wicked—and so should we.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Do you wonder why the grace of God has found such enemies as it always has, especially in religions in which works are mingled with grace?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Tues., 11/26/24 Devotion (Lk. 11:37)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 11:37, fittingly, in this Thanks-giving season. There, we read these words:

"And as [Jesus] spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat."

Our Lord Jesus enjoyed some sumptuous meals during His first advent on earth. The pharisees—though short on humility—were typically long on show (and abundance). What do we learn from Christ's willingness to eat, even with a pharisee? That the gospel is to go to *all* sorts of people—even to those in the very *worst* spiritual conditions (as was the case with the pharisees).

The dinner conversation turned a bit gnarly, as we discover in vv. 39 ff.; but even there our Redeemer was doing his guest a favor, by exposing his sin, and directing him (the pharisee) to Himself (the Messiah).

[Puritan quote of the day: "So let us seriously and fruitfully consider what excellent times the Lord has set us in, and respond thankfully and obedi-ently.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Mon., 11/25/24 Devotion (Jon. 4:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Jonah 4:6, where we read these words:

"And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant."

To his credit, Jonah was "grateful for the plant"; but it would soon be evident that Jonah's thankfulness was piecemeal. When God removed the plant, Jo-nah became very peevish and churlish. When God refused to give Jonah a divine fireworks display, by blowing up Nineveh, it displeased the prophet greatly.

True gratitude that honors the Lord is universal and uniform. This does not mean that we Christian churchmen will always get it right; but it does mean that we are to set our hearts on being grateful to God for all things, be they "good" or "evil."

[Puritan quote of the day: "As the sun rises by degrees till it comes to shine in glory, so it was with the Sun of Righteousness [Christ]. He revealed Himself in the church little by little.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 11/22-24/24 Devotion

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

“Justification Leads To Sanctification

"This also shows that those are misled that make Christ to be only righteous-ness to us and not sanctification . . .  It is a great part of our happiness to be under such a Lord, who was not only born for us, and given to us, but has the government likewise upon His shoulder (Isa. 9:6, 7). He is our Sanctifier as well as our Savior . . .

" . . . In the course of our life, after we are in a state of grace, if we are over-taken with any sin, we must remember to have recourse first to Christ's mercy to pardon us, and then to the promise of His Spirit to govern us.

"And when we feel ourselves cold in affection and duty, the best way is to warm ourselves at this fire of His love and mercy in giving Himself for us.

"Again, remember this, that Christ rules us by a Spirit of love, from a sense of His love, whereby His commandments are easy to us. He leads us by His free Spirit, a Spirit of liberty. His subjects are willing ones. The constraint that He lays upon His subjects is that of love. He draws us sweetly with the cords of love. Yet remember also that He draws us strongly by a Spirit of power . . . Christ's Spirit must likewise subdue our hearts, and sanctify them to love

Him . . . "

Thurs., 11/21/24 Devotion (1 Chron. 16:26)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Chronicles 16:26, where we read these words:

"For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens."

Here (above) is a succinct creed, that aids in our basic understanding of life. There are idols; and there is the covenant God, the LORD. We either worship God in covenant in and through Jesus Christ, as His church; or we worship idols, in rebellion, ignorance, and/or general stupidity.

If God made the heavens, and He did—should we not trust Him, and love Him? After all, Jesus came from heaven, to earth, in His incarnation—so as to bring His elect church up to glory (in His resurrection). Let us praise our Tri-une God for this!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ took our flesh that He might make the hu-man nature appear lovely to God, and the divine nature appear lovely to man.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Wed., 11/20/24 Devotion (Lk. 4:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 4:20, where we read these words:

"Then He [Jesus] closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him."

In this world, the most opportune time for the people of God to collectively gaze upon Jesus intently is in church on Sunday—especially during the ser-mon, the sacrament, and the prayers. In today's text (above), the Lord Jesus is keeping the old Sabbath Day (Saturday). The citizens of Nazareth are do-ing so, too. They have heard the written Word of God read (by Christ), and now the Messiah is about to expound on it, through preaching. As He does so, the congregants are all locked-in on the Redeemer.

This is a good pattern for all of us who would be Christ's disciples today. Let *us* "fix our eyes on Jesus," (as per Heb. 12:2a). Then, upon leaving church, let us love and follow the Savior, (rather than seek to throw Him off a cliff, as the Nazarenes [later in this chapter] had hoped to do).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ is called grace. He is the grace of God cloth-ed with man's nature.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Tues., 11/19/24 Devotion (1 Chron. 14:12)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Chronicles 14:12, where we read these words:

"And when they [the Philistines] left their gods there, David gave a command-ment, and they were burned with fire."

To me, this is one of the most entertaining verses in all the Bible. The Philis-tines lug their heavy gods around; and after they get pummeled on the battle-field by David and the Israelites, they (the Philistines) dump their gods, and they do not even bother to haul them off with them (as they flee).

What good are gods that are so worthless, that people do not even deign to show them a little respect—even to get them off the field of battle?! But so it is with all idols: they are spiritual manure. They are good only for the burn pile (see above). All of our "sophisticated" idols need to be thrown on the fire, too.

[Edwards quote of the day: “God has sent forth His messengers, and appoint-ed ministers in His church, to be subordinate lights, to shine with the com-munications of His light, and to reflect the beams of His glory on the souls of men.” —Jonathan Edwards, from his sermon, "The True Excellency of a Gos-pel Minister"]

Mon., 11/18/24 Devotion (Lk. 2:10-11)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 2:10 & 11, where we read these great words:

"Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.' "

These familiar Advent season words are applicable to the church, and to the world, at any time of the year. When we are given to fear, let us remember that overwhelming joy (Christ) has been sent to us—and not only to us, but to "All people." This heavenly comfort and consolation has a Name, Jesus, who is "born to [us]" in time and space—in fulfillment of all the OT promises of God.

Therefore, it matters not so much what we face today, as much as it does the One we direct our faces to (in faith). If we would but look to Jesus today, and simply ask for His help—surely we will share in the joy of His incarnation and atonement (of sinners).

[Puritan quote of the day: "And by the Spirit we have the beginnings of these liberties in this world, too. For, what is peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost? Is it not the beginnings of heaven . . . ?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 11/15-17/24 Devotion

Bless God—it is almost Sunday, again! In order to help us get ready for church, here are some great words from Jonathan Edwards. This comes from his, “A History of the Work of Redemption” book. . . .

“Another great design of God in the work of redemption was to gather togeth-er in one all things in Christ, in heaven and in earth, that is, all elect crea-tures; to bring all elect creatures, in heaven and in earth, to a union one to an-other in one body, under one Head, and to unite all together in one body to God the Father. This was begun soon after the Fall, and is carried on through all ages of the world, and finished at the end of the world.

“ . . . [God] intended to bring them to perfect excellency and beauty in His im-age, and in holiness, which is the proper beauty of spiritual beings; and to ad-vance them to a glorious degree of honor, and also to an ineffable pitch of pleasure and joy; and thus to glorify the whole church of elect [persons] in soul and body, and with them to bring the glory of the elect angels to its high-est pitch under one Head. The world which tends to this, God began immedi-ately after the Fall, and carries on through all ages, and will have perfected at the end of the world."

Thurs., 11/14/24 Devotion (Ps. 149:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 149:6, where we read these words:

"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand . . . “

Note how the faithful Christian is at once a worshipper of God, and a soldier fighting under Christ's banner. There is no way to please God without praising Him. And there is nothing to praise God for, unless the saints see Christ's enemies fall under them. (These include sin, the flesh, the world, the devil, and the devil's agents—human and angelic.)

So, if we are regenerated by Jesus’ atonement, let us go into our ordinary routines today lifting up thanks to God; and lifting up the sword of the Spirit against His foes (and ours).

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church is a body to whom the whole world is beholden. It should be the joy of the earth, for it is the security of the whole earth.” —Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Discourse Concerning Love"]

Wed., 11/13/24 Devotion (Ps. 147:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 147:11, which says this:

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."

God created the world, in order to enjoy it. The Holy Trinity always experienc-es perfect and unremitted bliss. God is never perturbed about anything. But, if it may be said that the Lord's pleasure may be "added to," (and I think it *can* be said, [in a certain sense]), then those who "fear Him" are the ones that achieve this remarkable privileged status.

Do we fear the Lord—through our faith in Jesus, as His beloved church? If so, then let us take great comfort. God not only delights in us, He also cherishes us very dearly and tenderly.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If once you come to receive the mercy of God in and through Christ Jesus, then that mercy will be the greatest opposer of your lusts and sin as anything can be in the world.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, from, "Gospel Remission"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 11/1-3/24 Devotion

Bless God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help us get ready for the church worship services, here are good words from Jonathan Edwards' ser-mon, entitled, “The Holy Spirit Forever To Be Communicated To The Saints In The Grace of Charity, Or Divine Love.” . . .

“The Spirit of Christ is given to His church and people everlastingly to influ-ence and dwell in them. The Holy Spirit is the great purchase, or purchased gift, of Christ. The chief and sum of all the good things in this life and in the life to come that are purchased for the church is the Holy Spirit. And as He is the great purchase, so He is the great promise, or the great thing promised by God and Christ to the church. So said the Apostle Peter on the day of Pente-cost (Acts 2:32-33): ‘This Jesus . . . being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.’ This great purchase and promise of Christ is forever to be given to His church. He has promised that His church shall continue, and expressly declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And that it may be preserved, He has given His Holy Spirit to every true member of it, and promised the continuance of that Spirit for-ever. . . . "