Fri.-Sabbath, 3/20-22/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again. In or-der to get us ready, here is Thomas Watson, teaching on God's Providence, from his book, "A Body of Divinity." . . .

"Divine providence is irresistible. There is no standing in the way of God's providence to hinder it. When God's time had come for Joseph's release, the prison could hold him no longer. 'The king sent and loosed him,' (Ps. 105:20). When God would indulge the Jews with liberty in their religion, Cyrus, by a providence, puts forth a proclamation to encourage the Jews to go and build their temple at Jerusalem, and worship God, (Ezra 1:2-3). If God will shield and protect Jeremiah's person in captivity, the very king of Babylon shall take care of the prophet, and give charge concerning him that he wants for no-thing, (Jer. 39:12).

"God is to be trusted when His providences seem to run contrary to His prom-ises. God promised to give David the crown, to make him king; but provi-dence ran contrary to His promise. David was pursued by Saul, and was in danger of his life, but all this while it was David's duty to trust God. Please ob-serve, that the Lord by difficult providences often brings to pass His promise. God promised Paul the lives of all that were with him in the ship; but the providence of God seemed to run quite contrary to His promise—for the winds blew, the ship split and broke in pieces. Thus God fulfilled His promise; upon the broken pieces of the ship they all came safe to shore. Trust God when providences seem to run quite contrary to promises."

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Thurs., 3/19/26 Devotion (Gal. 5:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these words:

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (ESV)

The glorious liberty that the true children of God enjoy in Christ is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are always seeking to steal it away from us who are faithful in Jesus and His church. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, maintained, and emboldened—otherwise, the "gospels" of works, self, and law will infiltrate the soul, and destroy all our joy. Holy Spirit-less religion is our freedom’s worst enemy.

The Galatians had heard the gospel of grace from Paul. They initially embrac-ed it. Later, they heard a gospel of law, and they began to flirt with it. Paul's words throughout the epistle were designed to bring them back to Jesus. May we find our souls resting in Christ's' righteousness alone, today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Full assurance is 'optimum maximum,' the best and greatest mercy; and therefore God will only give it to His best and dear-est friends.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven On Earth"]

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Wed., 3/18/26 Devotion (Gal. 4:25-26)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 4:25-26, where we read these words of the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit:

“Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jeru-salem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.” (ESV)

There are two “Jerusalems”: the old, and the new. The “old” Jerusalem is in the Middle East today. It is enslaved in the bondage of the law. The “new” Jerusalem is headquartered in heaven. This City is “free,” having been re-deemed by the blood of the Son of God (see vv. 4-7).

Everybody on Earth is a citizen of one of these two “Jerusalems.” Those who work for their salvation are slave children of Hagar. Those who believe the gospel in Jesus are the free children of God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven On Earth"]

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Tues., 3/17/26 Devotion (Gal. 3:29)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 3:29, where we read these words, written by Paul:

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (ESV)

To be “Abraham’s offspring” is a wonderful blessing. This is to be the recipient of *everything* God promised Abraham, foremost of which is union with Jesus Christ. Abraham’s offspring are given Canaan below (the earth), and Canaan above (the blessings of heaven).

All those who are “baptized into Christ,” (v. 27), are “of” the “faith” of Abra-ham, (vv. 7-9); and are the sons and daughters of God, the children of grace, the true Israel of the glorious Trinity. 

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has ever been acquainted with God and seen the light of His pleased face would rather die a thousand deaths than forfeit God's favor or incur His displeasure.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way To True Happiness"]

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Mon., 3/16/26 Devotion (Gal. 2:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 2:5, where we find these re-markable words of Paul:

“ . . . to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” (ESV)

Had Paul given in to the Judaizers in Galatians, ch. 2, we would have no gos-pel of grace today. The law would be wrongly-foisted on us as a means of justification; and the grace of Christ would have never reached us.

. . . Satan and sinners are intent on “enslaving” us (v. 4); and they envy our “freedom” and forgiveness in the blood righteousness of the Son of God. May we always zealously guard this glorious gospel; and “not yield [to God’s foes] even for a moment."

[Puritan quote of the day: "When the Word comes to any place, the kingdom of heaven is said to come. . . . and Christ rules in it by the preaching of the gospel.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/13-15/26 Devotion

Yes! It is almost Sunday again! We get to go back to church! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The Art of Divine Content-ment" book. . . .

"Divine contentment shows how a Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven upon earth—be the times what they will: by Christian con-tentment. The comfort of life does not rest in having much; it is Christ's max-im, 'Man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possess-es,' (Lk. 12:15)—but it is in being contented. . . . Contentment lies within a man, in the heart; and the way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet. 'The contented man,' says Seneca, 'is the happy man.’ . . .

"Would we have comfort in our lives? We may have it if we will: a Christian may carve out what condition he will to himself. Why do you complain of your troubles? It is not trouble that troubles, but discontent. It is not the water out-side the ship, but the water that gets inside, which drowns it. It is not outward affliction that can make the life of a Christian sad; a contented mind would sail above these waters—but when there is a leak of discontent open, and trouble gets into the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks. Do therefore as the marin-ers, pump the water out, and stop the spiritual leak in the soul, and no trouble can hurt you."

Thurs., 3/12/26 Devotion (Jn. 2:24-25)

Today's encouragement comes from John 2:24 & 25, where we read these words:

"But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.”

Though our Lord Jesus Christ was completely sinless, He knew what it meant to be a human being, because He was one. The human will, being created from nothing, was capable of mutation—from goodness to evil; and our Lord knew this.

. . . Because of this, (and other reasons), Jesus did not fully “commit” Himself to the whims of fallen sinners. Still, in the most profound sense, He fully committed Himself to the salvation of God’s elect fallen sinner/saints who make up His church.

 
[Augustine quote of the day: “For what is that which we call evil but the ab-sence of good?” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]

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Wed., 3/11/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 10:3)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 10:3, where we read these words:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.” (ESV)

God’s truly-called church ministers are warriors—we “wage war.” We “wage war” initially in the faithful church, (see vv. 5-6); and then, after a just peace is established there (by grace), we take down all of Christ’s enemies in the world.

There are no more dangerous people on earth, than the true church’s Christ-called clergy. But, if you love Jesus (even as you know yourself to be a sin-ner), do not worry, we are exceedingly gentle and tender toward you.

[Augustine quote of the day: “And in the universe, even that which is called evil, when it is regulated and put in its own place, only enhances our admira-tion for the good.” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]

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Tues., 3/10/26 Devotion (Lk. 24:45)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:45, where we read these amaz-ing words:

"And [Jesus] opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

We fallen sinners in Adam are so completely destitute of our spiritual senses, that we are incapable of (even) comprehending the Holy Scriptures until Jesus Christ “opens our understanding.” This is for our good. If we “under-stood” them before this time, we would be so petrified of God, that we would never want to hear/read them again.

The now-ascended Christ, with His Father, sends the Holy Spirit to “open” our "understanding.” When this happens, we behold Jesus in every word; and we read the Bible aright, for the first time.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Only Christ can satisfy the soul. All other ways and things will only end in disappointment.” —John Owen, in, "Communion With God"]

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Mon., 3/9/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 8:23b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 8:23b, where we read these words:

“ . . . And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.” (ESV)

The body of Christ, the people of Christ, are, in a very important sense, “the glory of Christ.” This intriguing phrase reflects Isa. 46:13c: “ . . . Israel my glory.”

The true church is the new liberated “Jerusalem” above, filled with children of the free woman (Sarah); whereas the “Jerusalem” below is in bondage, filled with the children of the slave woman (Hagar)—cf. Gal. 4:21-28. Let us as God’s beloved and forgiven people shine, as “the glory of Christ."

[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens.” —Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/6-8/26 Devotion

Bless God, the Sabbath Day (Sunday) is almost here! We get to go back to church. In order to help us get ready for worship, here are great words from Augustine’s “City of God” book. (This comes from Book 17, Chapter 11). . . .

“The psalm continues, ‘For you have not created all the sons of men for no-thing.’ The truth is that all the sons of men would have been created for no-thing, had there not been one Son of Man who was the ’substance’ of Israel, a Son of Man through whom many sons of men would be set free. For at this time all mankind had fallen from the truth into futility through the sin of the first man; that is why another psalm says, ‘Man has become like a thing of futility; his life passes away like a shadow.’ Yet God did not create all the sons of men for nothing, seeing that He sets many free from this futility through Jesus the Mediator; while as for those who, in His foreknowledge, were not to be set free, He created them for the advantage of those who were to be liberated, and to mark the contrast between the two mutually opposed cities. Thus we may be sure that their creation was not in vain; it was included in a design of supreme beauty and justice, a design for the whole rational creation."

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Thurs., 3/5/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 4:4)

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

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (ESV)

Those who do not believe in Jesus have become slaves of Satan. He “blinds” their “eyes,” so that they are robbed of all the best glory of earth and heaven—Who is Jesus Christ, the very image of God.

Let us pray for dear souls who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will, (2 Tim. 2:26); and gently seek to bring them to the loving Savior, (2 Tim. 2:25).

[Edwards quote of the day: "Every man is as his God is. If you would know whether a man is a godly man or not, you must inquire what his god is like.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "A Truly Godly Man Prefers God Before All Others"]

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Wed., 3/4/26 Devotion (Lk. 18:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 18:9, which says this:

“He [Jesus] told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: . . . ” (ESV)

The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is the one that most infuriates unregenerate self-righteous people. The tax collector goes home “justified”; and the devoutly-religious guy goes home condemned.

. . . The spiritual chasm between these two human beings is not what they do, but what they say. The pharisee says, “I am better than the publican.” The tax collector says, “I am nothing but a vile sinner.” The sinner is justified unto glory; the religious hypocrite is condemned unto perdition.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We need to understand that when we come to hear the Word, we come to hear that which has so much life in it that every sermon we hear we must expect to be nearer heaven or nearer hell.” —Jere-miah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]

Tues., 3/3/26 Devotion (Lk. 17:21b)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:21b, where we read these words of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ:

“ ‘ . . . for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’ ” (ESV)

I rather like the ESV’s translation (here/above). When asked, “When the king-dom . . . would come?”—our Savior said (in so many words), “It is already here. It is here in ME Myself. I am the very ‘essence’ of the king-dom of God.”

Many contemporary alleged “kingdom-seekers” are idolaters. There is no “kingdom of God” where Jesus is not. This kingdom is everywhere Jesus is, (and this includes His faithful church on earth).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's church is the house which He has built on a perfect number of pillars so that it might be stable, resting on a good foun-dation.” —John Owen, in, "Communion With God"]

Mon., 3/2/26 Devotion (Lk. 16:16)

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

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” (ESV)

Sometimes we regenerated Christian churchmen forget that everyone wants and seeks after what *we* already possess in Jesus Christ. The only thing that matters in the world is Jesus, His gospel, and His church. Everyone knows this in his or her heart—and they are all “pressing in” to get a piece of the action.

But only those who submit in faith to the King (Jesus) receive His blessings. Let us preach the good news; and know and believe that God will draw His elect unto Himself, and place them in Christ’s body, His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If we once get the victory over ourselves, all other things are conquered with ease.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]