Thurs., 7/31/25 Devotion (Acts 18:27b-28)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 18:27b-28, where we read these words:

"When [Apollos] arrived [in Achaia], he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." (ESV)

The ministers of the gospel are first called upon to “help” those who through grace “believe,” (i.e. the regenerate church/the Israel of God). Our next role is to “powerfully refute” all those who overtly oppose the gospel. We do this via the Holy Scriptures, that uniformly teach that Jesus is the Christ.

. . . But all of this ministry is done in the power of the Holy Spirit, as we trust God to give us the words that He has ordained for us to speak. Let all of us be faithful with our opportunities to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "David committed many sins, but especially those two of adultery and murder, and yet God pardoned him. But Saul committed far less sins than those and yet God cast him off forever.” —Jeremiah Bur-roughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Wed., 7/30/25 Devotion (Acts 17:22)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 17:22, where we read these words:

"So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: 'Men of Athens, I per-ceive that in every way you are very religious.’ ” (ESV)

Everybody is “very religious”—way more religious than we think or are willing to admit to. We cannot help but be religious, because we are created in the image of God, the true God. Everybody is clamoring for the kingdom of God, whether they (we) realize it, or not.

Because we are religious, we worship. The only real question is, “What (or who) do we worship?” Paul directed the Athenians to the one true God—and he did so, by preaching Jesus and the resurrection to them. Idolatry’s time has come and gone. Now is the time to believe in the living God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: “Who ever stayed and waited long upon God, but he had more than he prayed for?” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Tues., 7/29/25 Devotion (Acts 16:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 16:25, where we read these words:

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

When God’s true children praise Him, even while they are enduring the most grievous afflictions, it greatly honors Him [the Lord]. Paul and Silas could have been bemoaning their situation, and grousing over the fact that they got beat up in Philippi, and thrown into prison—but, instead, they were praying and singing.

On top of all this, they were bold and confident. The ministers were happy to have the other prisoners hear their petitions to the one, true, and only God, through Jesus Christ; and they were so liberated in their souls that they in-toned the Lord’s praises in hymns of deliverance. May all the saints do the same.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Is your sin as big as God, as big as Christ?”

—William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Mon., 7/28/25 Devotion (Mk. 10:35-36)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 10:35 & 36, where we read these words:

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to [Jesus], saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?’ “

Even as true Christians, one of our biggest problems is that we just do not ask God for enough; and, worse than that, we do not request His greatest blessings—the ones that will bring us the most joy.

The Zebedee boys are never reproved by the blessed Messiah for their au-dacious words (above). Jesus was more than willing to hear them. Their peti-tion turned out to be a bit self-serving; and only later would they learn that to have the fullness of Christ in His gospel through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit was what they really wanted and needed.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Though God does not answer you immediately, yet He does hear you immediately.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Thurs., 7/24/25 Devotion (Mk. 6:56c)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 6:56c, where we read these words:

" . . . And as many as touched Him [Jesus] were made well.”

So far as I can tell from the four Gospel accounts, almost everyone who ever touched the Lord Jesus Christ after His baptism, was made “well.” Even (at least some [if not all]) of the soldiers who slapped and/or crucified the blessed Messiah came to faith in Him; and hence were made ultimately “well."

. . . How do we “touch” Jesus today? By receiving Him in His gospel preach-ing by faith; by receiving Him in His sacraments by faith; and by receiving Him in fresh applications of the Spirit’s gracious nourishment in prayer (by faith). The greatest “wellness” is redemption through Christ’s blood. Touch Him by faith today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We would never go to God unless God came to us, such is the stoutness of our hearts.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Re-conciliation"]

Wed., 7/23/25 Devotion (Mk. 5:36c)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 5:36c, where we read these words:

" . . . 'Do not be afraid; only believe.’ “

Regenerate Christians are always in one of two states: being afraid of some-thing; or resting in Jesus by faith. All of life is this continuum of fear and faith. Fear is the natural result of living in a fallen world. Faith is the supernatural result of living in Jesus, the church’s Head.

Let us adopt David’s approach of Ps. 56:3, where he said, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you [the LORD].” Fear becomes for us the impetus of faith. May our faith be sincere and exuberant. If we are in Christ, what (or who) do we have to fear?

[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . Man's unrighteousness must usher in Christ's righteousness.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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"]