Mon., 7/21/25 Devotion (Acts 8:35)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 8:35, where these words are spok-en of the deacon Philip, with regard to the Ethiopian eunuch:

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

When the church’s faithful ministers insist that *every* text of Holy Scripture ultimately points us directly to the Lord Jesus Christ, we mean it—and, more than that, it is true. But, to simply behold or read a text of Scripture is not good enough. We must preach Christ in and from it. This is what it means to preach the gospel.

. . . And notice the order from the little Acts 8 text (above). There is a Spirit-filled preacher; there is a Scripture passage; there is bold proclamation; there is a Redeemer to be preached; and there is a needy sinful human being who hears and believes the good news.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The love of Christ for the elect is so great that God the Father looks upon it proper and suitable to account Christ and the elect as one, and accordingly to account what Christ does and suffers as if they did it and suffered it.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "The Wisdom of God"]

Thurs., 7/17/25 Devotion (Josh. 24:15a)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 24:15a, where we read these words:

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . “

Good leaders do not “beat around the bush”; but, instead, they get right to the point. Joshua knew that all his hearers would end up serving the true God, or a myriad of idols. He also knew that the fallen heart of man was *so* wicked, that it [the fallen heart] would conceive of serving the living God as an “evil” thing.

. . . Therefore, Joshua simply cut through all the evasions and pretenses, and called the people of Israel to honestly own the God (or gods) that they would inevitably and unavoidably serve. All the regenerated saints of Christ’s church have chosen, by grace, to serve the Lord Jesus Christ—(and this is because God first chose them).

[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the reason why carnal hearts seek up and down for comfort in this and another lust? It is because they do not have enough in God.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]

Tues., 7/15/25 Devotion (Acts 2:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 2:25, where we read these words that made up part of Peter’s Pentecost sermon:

“For David says concerning him [Jesus], ‘I saw the Lord before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken . . . ’ " (ESV)

King David was a great believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. As a prophet, God revealed Jesus to him [David]; and, as a result, David was unafraid, unshaken, and unmovable. David knew that this Jesus was the Man who would sit on the throne of the true Israel, God’s redeemed church.

By the power of the Holy Spirit who regenerates the authentic saints, we who are in Christ today may possess the same comfort and confidence that David had. In Jesus we are never “shaken."

[Puritan quote of the day: "How Christ defends His disciples from mali-cious imputations of the Pharisees!” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 7/14/25 Devotion (Josh. 21:45)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 21:45, where we read these wonderful words:

"Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

God kept His promise to Joshua and Israel, and settled them in the land of Canaan. In Christ, God has kept His promise to every elect and redeemed human sinner who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. *In* this regen-eration every gift of God is given to His churchmen in Jesus Christ.

If we are ever tempted to think that God has not kept His promises, it is be-cause we do not know what they are; and we have concocted idolatrous substitutes for them. Everything good and valuable is found in Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Shall man be proud after God has been humble?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 7/9/25 Devotion (Josh. 11:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 11:7, which says this:

"So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them.”

This is an intriguing verse, because in it we learn some of the principles of spiritual warfare. Joshua did not wait around for the massive alliance of Ca-naanites to attack him—instead he (Joshua) assailed them; and he did it “suddenly,” when his foes were not expecting him.

The Christian churchman’s warfare is more offensive, than it is defensive. Since we already know the corruption of our own hearts, and the deceits of the world and Satan, we are thoroughly “up on” the battle plans of all our op-ponents. As we walk in the Spirit in love with Jesus, we cannot be defeated.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If there remains some filth and uncleanness still in our hearts, it should teach us to long for heaven, when our sanctification shall be made as perfect as our justification is.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]

Tues., 7/8/25 Devotion (Ps. 140:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 140:7, where we read these words:

"O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.”

To have one’s “head covered in the day of battle” by God, is to be assured of victory and safety. The most secure place in the world is to be under the hand of the true and Triune God. Even in the “thick” of the warfare against all Christ’s foes, the church’s true saints are more comfortably reposed than the most pampered of sinners.

Regenerate churchmen love God in Jesus Christ; and, because of this, they are willing to both engage and thoroughly defeat all of His (and our) enemies. But we would have no possibility of success unless the sovereign God was with us, and provided us all the strength we need in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: " '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.” —Richard Sibbes, in "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 7/7/25 Devotion (Matt. 17:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 17:8, where we read these words:

"When they [Peter, James, and John] had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

Compared with the Lord Jesus Christ. everyone and everything else in the created world is individually and collectively very “small potatoes.” Even the great Moses and the eminent Elijah fade into virtual insignificance relative to the Messiah of God’s elect church.

. . . It is only when we saints are so enamored with Christ, that we experience the glories promised in the gospel of grace in the fullness of the Spirit. If we are regenerate, possessing new natures in Jesus, then we may (and should) ask God to give us His very best—and this will be manifest in a clear view of the resplendent and beautiful Redeemer.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In a word, as Christ's Person excels your person, so His obedience infinitely exceeds your disobedience.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 7/4-6/25 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We get to go back to church again! Here are great words from Martin Luther, taken from his excellent Preface to his amazing "Galatians" Commentary. . . .

"Therefore, the afflicted and troubled conscience has no remedy against desperation and eternal death unless it takes hold of the forgiveness of sins by grace, freely offered in Christ Jesus—that is to say, this passive faith or Christian righteousness. If the conscience can take hold of this, then it may be at rest and boldly say, 'I do not seek this active or working righteousness, although I know that I ought to have it, and also to fulfill it. But if I had it and did actually fulfill it, I still could not place my trust in it, nor should I dare to set it against God's judgment. Thus I abandon all active righteousness, both of my own and of God's law, and embrace only that passive righteousness that is the righteousness of grace, mercy, and forgiveness of sins. Briefly, I rest only on that righteousness that is the righteousness that is the righteousness of Christ and of the Holy Spirit.’ "

Thurs., 7/3/25 Devotion (Josh. 5:12)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 5:12, where we read these words:

"Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.”

After our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and took His place at the Father’s right hand; and after the Triune God finally closed the canon of the NT scriptures—the church of Jesus would never again need to “eat” from any of the provisions that were necessary (before the events mentioned above). Not only were abrogated OT rites done away with, but also tongues and prophecy, etc., went by the wayside.

True, i.e. regenerated Christians feed on Jesus Christ the Bread of Life; and they have no taste or relish for anyone or anything else. Non-regenerate peo-ple spend all their time filling their souls with the chaff of the world and its false religions. Let all the saints be sated to the full in our Messiah!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Feeling and freeness of spirit are often reserved until duty is discharged.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 7/2/25 Devotion (Ps. 130:3-4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 130:3 & 4, where we read these words:

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.”

If righteousness before God had anything to do with any of us, we would all be doomed to hell. We possess nothing in ourselves that we can pre-sent to God as “righteousness.” Anybody that thinks he or she has any in-herent “goodness” or “righteousness” is under condemnation (and rightly so).

. . . Therefore, it is wonderful that the psalmist, (probably David), intimates the imputed righteousness of Christ, by which sinners are forgiven, and have a perfect standing with the Holy God. Let us bless God for the gos-pel of grace in our Lord Jesus Christ!

[Puritan quote of the day: "In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, among that cloud of witnesses, we see Rahab, Gideon, and Samson ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Heb. 11:31-32).” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed”]

Tues., 7/1/25 Devotion (Matt. 11:28)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 11:28, where we read these words which fell from the Savior's lips:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The weird thing about life, is that all that is necessary for perfect fulfillment, is desire. Those who *feel* their need of Jesus, and who come to Him in faith (and nothing else), get Him. Augustine's maxim is true: "Our souls are rest-less until we find our rest in You [the true God]."

A soul at rest can pray to God; and can concentrate on what is truly impor-tant. A person that is constantly restless can only do a lot of work, activity, and performance, hoping to assuage real guilt and worry. God only accepts hearts that come to Christ, and rest in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "This may be a great comfort to you: God does not expect you to root out all presence of sin, but only to keep down the reigning of sin in you.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Mortified Christian"]