Wed., 7/22/26 Devotion (Mk. 4:38a)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 4:38a, which says this:

“But he [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. . . . ” (ESV)

For someone (me) who enjoys his naps, I can really appreciate this half-verse. Preaching can be extremely satisfyingly-exhausting. The Lord Jesus was physically-spent; and He needed some well-deserved rest.

. . . But, there was a huge storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were coming “unglued”; but the Messiah was perfectly at peace and calm. When we have our tribulations, let us call on the One who knows our struggles, who is even “in” the “boat” with us—and who yet has no perturbation of spirit. As we are in Jesus, we, His church, may be as tranquil as He is, by grace through faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "None are damned in the church but those who are determined to be . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

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Tues., 7/21/26 Devotion (Acts 8:5, 8)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 8:5 & 8, where these words are found:

“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

. . . So there was much joy in that city.” (ESV)

Sometimes I think we forget just how much joy is experienced when elect sinners hear the gospel preached/believe it/and realize that all their sins are forever remitted from them in the blood of the Son of God. Whole nations and cities and families can be so profoundly affected by this supernatural grace and wonder—that they are never the same again.

There is no joy, like the joy of knowing and loving God in and through Jesus Christ and His gospel of grace and mercy. There is always hope for the sinful world (to be made very happy), so long as we have Jesus, His good news, and His holy church.

[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"]

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Mon., 7/20/26 Devotion (Mk. 1:35)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 1:35, where we read these words:

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (ESV)

No matter how “busy" the Lord Jesus Christ was, He always gave His Father the best of His time; and the “cream” of His affection. No matter how “full” His day was, nothing would ever intrude on this sacred prayer time. We sinners protest that we do not have time for God—but we say this because we are not being honest. We make time for what we want to do; and we avoid any-thing we would rather not do.

But, for the regenerate saints of the church who love God in Jesus Christ, time in prayer is not a chore; instead it is our chief delight—just like it was for our Gentle Shepherd (Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "But now Christ does that which we could not do, that is, fulfill the law for us. And He also does that which the law could not do, which was justify us.” —Obadiah Grew, in, "The Lord our Righteousness"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/17-19/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again. In order to prepare us for church worship on the Sabbath Day, here are some very good words from Thomas Goodwin, from his, “The Object and Actings of Justifying Faith” book.  (I have updated some of the language.) . . .

“A promise of life to a condemned man is sweet, for life is sweet, as we say; but, ‘Your lovingkindness,’ said David, who had tasted how good the Lord is, ‘is better than life,' and infinitely sweeter, (Ps. 63:3). And again David says, ‘Because Your mercy is good, deliver me,’ (Ps. 109:21). Deliverance was good; yes, but the mercy in God apprehended thereby was infinitely more good to him, which was the greatest incentive for [David] to seek deliverance. . . . And David in this psalm first laid hold on the goodness that is in the mercy of God, and then prays and pleads, ‘Deliver me.’ . . . And when the thing sought for comes to be granted and obtained, a believer rejoices more in the mercy and lovingkindness he finds to be in God’s heart towards him, than in the benefit given; and this is what takes his [the believer’s] heart—Ps. 31:7: ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy; for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities.’ That  God’s mercy and kindness should own his [David’s] soul at such a time, was more than the deliverance."

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Thurs., 7/16/26 Devotion (Josh. 23:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 23:11, which says this:

“Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.” (ESV)

Does it not seem a bit strange, that we have to be exhorted to “love” the Lord our God? But, what is our religion, or our life, if we do not love the Lord? Ba-sically, they are worthless (without this love). There is no obedience where there is not Spirit-wrought love for God; and this love of The Divine is the heart of all true religion.

No one loves God who does not love Him in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. All people who do not love Jesus Christ, in fact, hate God. Let all the church’s true saints love God in Christ with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength—and hence live life to the full, in the Person of Life, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[Prayer] is God conversing with man, and man with God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Wed., 7/15/26 Devotion (Matt. 25:40)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 25:40, where we read these words:

“And the King [Jesus] will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ” (ESV)

I hear that politicians are arguing over Matthew, ch. 25. As usually happens when people take the scriptures out of context, the discussion becomes little more than the sharing of passionate ignorance.

Jesus is referring to His own elect/regenerated Christian churchmen in this account. He is not alluding to “immigrants” (legal or otherwise); nor is He cit-ing poor people in general, etc. Christ is concerned here about how *His* people were treated in this world. If we belong to Christ, let us esteem His church as, “the excellent ones, in whom is all [our] delight,” (Ps. 16:3).

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

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Tues., 7/14/26 Devotion (Josh. 21:45)

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

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

God’s word's track record is 100%. When the Lord makes a promise to His church, He keeps it. In Jesus, God’s new creatures enjoy the complete fulfill-ment of the final and ultimate promise of God, (see 2 Cor. 1:20). Everything that we supremely need and want is totally found in Christ (alone). Just as God delivered the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan, and gave it to them—so He has translated His redeemed church from sin, to His Son.

What subordinate things do we need today? Let us go ahead and ask God for them in and through Jesus. So long as we belong to the Savior, our Father is more than pleased to show us all His faithfulness.

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

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Mon., 7/13/26 Devotion (Ps. 149:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 149:6, which says this:

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

It is interesting how the Spirit-filled Christian church member is both a joyful singer of praise to God, and a valiant soldier for Christ. In fact, until or unless we take up Jesus' spiritual arms, we are no adorers of God at all, (despite all vain protests to the contrary).

Worshippers are warriors, fighting under the banner of the Prince of Peace. Our mission is to conquer the entire world for our Redeemer—starting in our own hearts, where Jesus is enthroned. From there, the faithful church is to be revived in Christ. And from there, the fertile ground of the unconverted na-tions are to be brought to The Messiah.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Oh, let us strive to keep God among us! What is the glory of a nation but the presence of God in His Word and ordinances?” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "Comfort For the Church"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/10-12/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again! In order to help us get ready for church, let us consider these words (below), penned by John Calvin, (who was born 527 years ago today [7/10]). This teaching comes from Calvin’s monumental “Institutes of The Christian Religion” book. . . .

“We posit God’s free promise as the foundation of faith, because it is there that faith properly resides. For although it understands that God is ever and always truthful, whether He commands or forbids, promises or threatens; and although also it obediently receives His commands, respects His prohibitions and fears His threats, nevertheless, strictly speaking, it begins with the prom-ise, holds fast to it and ends in it, for it looks for life in God. Now life is not found in the commandments or in the threats, but only in the promise of mercy—mercy which is moreover free, since conditional promises which send us back to our own works promise no other life than that which we find in our-selves. . . .

“It is, too, for very good reasons that we enclose all of God’s promises in Christ, for the apostle [Paul] includes the entire gospel in the knowledge of Him (Rom. 1:17). Elsewhere he teaches that the many promises of God are ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’—that is, ratified—in Him [Christ] (2 Cor. 1:20). . . . "

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Thurs., 7/9/26 Devotion (Matt. 19:26)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 19:26, where we read these words:

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this [salvation] is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ ” (ESV)

The disciples were right in asking, “Who then can be saved?” (in v. 25). It *is* literally “impossible” for us fallen sinners to do anything—even the smallest thing—to procure our salvation. But, this is not impossible for God.

Though it was (and is) not “impossible” for God to save sinners—this does not mean that it was not a monumental work of infinite greatness and effect. It cost the beloved Son of God His lifeblood. For God to redeem sinners, God Himself (in the human flesh of the Son of God) had to die for their (our) sins. Let us bless our Father for His salvation of us through His glorious Son; and let us adore the Holy Spirit for applying Christ's atonement to our hearts.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We are only poor for this reason, that we do not know our riches in Christ.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

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Wed., 7/8/26 Devotion (Matt. 18:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 18:6, where we read these words:

“ . . . but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (ESV)

Matthew, ch. 18 is famous for its “conflict resolution” verses; but this theme of “little ones” runs prominently through at least the first half of it. Jesus uses the “little ones” as the model of true greatness (vv. 2-4); and He makes a strong point about how precious those “little ones” who believe in Him are, to the Heavenly Father (v. 14).

The “sin confrontation” texts that follow (that are so well-known), may well still attach themselves (at least somewhat) to what preceded. Let us lead all the true church to Jesus all the time—especially the “little ones,” those who most particularly need our help and protection.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We borrow all our holiness from God. As the lights of the sanctuary were lighted from the middle lamp, so all the holiness of oth-ers is a lamp lighted from heaven.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divin-ity"]

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Tues., 7/7/26 Devotion (Matt. 17:8)

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

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

As great and impressive as Moses and Elijah were on the Mount of Transfig-uration, they were insignificant compared with the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in heaven, we will see, love, appreciate, and fellowship with multitudes of other saints—and yet, always, our gaze will be on our glorious Redeemer/Messiah/ Savior. We will be transfixed on Him.

None of this supreme glory of The One (Jesus) denigrates anyone who is in-ferior to Him. Instead, we enjoy all our derived glory from Him; and we are perfectly situated in God’s kingdom in such a way, that everyone and every-thing gets its proper and satisfying “due”—all in Christ our Head.

[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"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/3-5/26 Devotion

Happy 250th Birthday, USA!

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again. To help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Divine Cordial” book. . . .

"Love will make us stoop to the meanest [lowest] offices. Love is a humble grace, it does not walk abroad in state [or, “strut around”]; it will creep upon its hands. It will stoop and submit to anything whereby it may be serviceable to Christ. As we see in Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, both of them honorable persons, yet one takes down Christ's body with his own hands, and the other embalms it with sweet odors [spices]. It might seem much for persons of their rank to be employed in that service, but love made them do it. If we love God, we shall not think any work too mean [low] for us, by which we may be helpful to Christ's members. Love is not squeamish; it will visit the sick, relieve the poor, wash the saints' wounds. The mother that loves her child is not coy and nice; she will do those things for her child which others would scorn to do. He who loves God will humble himself to the meanest [lowest] office of love to Christ and His members."

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Thurs., 7/2/26 Devotion (Matt. 12:14)

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

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against [Jesus], how to destroy him.” (ESV)

Unregenerate though passionate overtly-religious sinners are the worst hu-man enemies of the Triune God, by far. “Garden-variety” sinners, who make no pompous claims to their own “righteousness,” are much to be preferred to Pharisees, hypocrites, and cruel, vicious religionists.

In the preceding verse, our Messiah had just cured a poor man of his wither-ed hand. What was the Pharisees’ reaction? Thankfulness? Praise? Wonder? No; they—the ones who claimed to uphold the Ten Commandments—“con-spire” to murder the Son of God who stood in their midst. No wonder they will occupy such low places in hell, barring regeneration and repentance.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

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