Wed., 6/9/10 Devotion (Ps. 99:2)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 99:2, which says this:

"The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples."

This verse (above) reminds us that God is both and simultaneously immanent (with us, in Christ and His church ["Zion"]), and transcend-
ent ("high above all the peoples"). Because of this, the Lord is both able to save us (in Jesus' incarnation), and hear us (as we offer prayers to Him).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the great "Bridge" that makes all of this pos-
sible. He has spanned heaven and earth, and given His churchmen the full benefits of both of them, in Himself. Let us praise and bless our great God who has been so wonderfully good to us--in this life, and in the one to come.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christianity. An error about justification is dangerous, like a defect in a foundation." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Tues., 6/8/10 Devotion (Ps. 97:10a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 97:10a, where we read these words:

"You who love the LORD, hate evil! . . . "

In order to properly and authentically love God churchmen must also--at the same time, and with equal intensity--hate everything that He (the Lord) hates. This doctrine, of course, is highly politically-incor-
rect. It is resisted on the left (among liberals), and on the right (among mushy conservatives).

The fact is that a healthy and growing Christian actually both loves and hates at the same time. We are to love Christ and His church wholly. We are to hate evil and idolatry entirely. And we are to both love and hate sinners (at the same time), as we seek to see them won to Jesus. And we are to apply this doctrine fairly, even to ourselves--as we both love our new natures (in Christ), and hate our old ones (that continue to cling to the flesh).

[Puritan quote of the day: "The devil is orthodox in his faith. He be-
lieves the true scheme of doctrine. . . . The articles of his faith are all sound, and in them he is thoroughly established." --Jonathan Ed-
wards, in his sermon entitled, "True Grace Distinguished"]

Mon., 6/7/10 Devotion (Deut. 11:26)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 11:26, where we read these words:

"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse . . . "

All of life, and every person and angel is either under a blessing or a curse. There is no middle ground. Blessings are on those who believe in Jesus Christ, and who find all their righteousness in Him alone. Curses are on everyone else: be they religious, or not. Moses is writing this verse (above) to the old covenant churchmen of his day.

. . . If they chose by grace to believe in, and hence love, and obey the Lord--then they would be the objects of God's blessing. If they chose to disbelieve--and hence, not to love God, nor to obey Him--then they would be the focus of God's cursing. May we be numbered among the blessed church today, and remain faith-filled, and faithful.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Though pagans and nominal Christians take liberty to sin, yet it is not fit for those who are called out of the world, and have the mark of election upon them, to do so." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/4-6/10 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church and worship, here is Thomas Watson, in his, "A Body of Divinity" book. He is dealing with the benefits of the church's redemption below. . . .

"Use three: Of comfort to such as are redeemed. You are happy, the lot of free grace has fallen upon you. You were once in the devil's prison, but have broken from that prison; you were once bound in the chains of sin, but God has begun to beat off your chains, and has freed you from the power of sin, and the curse due to it. What a comfort is this! Is there any consolation in Christ? It is yours. Is there any sweet fruit growing upon the promise? You may gather it. Are there any glorious privileges in the gospel? They are your jointure, justification, adoption, coronation. Is there any glory in heaven? You shall shortly drink of that river of pleasure. Have you any temporal comforts? These are but a pledge and earnest of more. How you may be com-
forted in all worldly afflictions, though the fig-tree flourish not! Nay, in case of death, it has lost its sting. 'Mors abiit morte Christi,' [Death takes its leave, through the death of Christ]. Death shall carry you to your Redeemer. Fear not dying since you cannot be perfectly happy but by dying."

Thurs., 6/3/10 Devotion (Isa. 35:1-2a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 35:1 & 2a, where we read these words:

"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abun-
dantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing."

When God's Holy Spirit is at work reviving Christ's church, the entire fallen world benefits. Even those "wildernesses," "wastelands," and "deserts" come to life. This is true on a macrocosmic level, in that the whole created universe rejoices at God's visitation of His people; and it is true on a microcosmic scale, as the dark and parched places in the hearts of believers are fed and renewed.

Whatever you are facing today, do not be too undone by it. If you are in Christ and His church, there is more than enough hope for you. God delights to make you glad in Him. Trust the Lord for His sweet bles-
sings in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing but what God can easily do for us; there is none of our wants but what He can easily supply. Whatever our case is, it cannot be beyond God's help." --Jonathan Ed-
wards, in his sermon, "God does what He pleases"]

Wed., 6/2/10 Devotion (Deut. 6:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 6:5, where we read these words:

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

This (above) is one of the most singularly-important verses in the whole Bible. Jesus Himself called it, "the first commandment of all," (in Mk. 12:29-30). Moses' subsequent teaching (in Deut. 6), that we are to have these words on our hearts, and speak of and teach them, etc.--is primarily in reference to this doctrine of the primacy of love for God (found in v. 5).

But how can we who naturally hate God, love Him? When we believe in Jesus' gospel of grace we are filled with love for God. And what does this lead to? Obedience. But how can we believe, without hear-
ing? And how can we hear without a preacher? And how can one preach, unless he is sent? (See Rom., ch. 10, on all of this.)

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ, by what He has done in the work of redemption, has overthrown Satan, and utterly frustrated him as to this end [of robbing God of His glory]." --Jonathan Edwards, in his ser-
mon entitled, "The Wisdom of God"]

Tues., 6/1/10 Devotion (Deut. 5:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 5:6, where we read these words:

"I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

These are the Lord's very last words just before He gives us the First of His Ten Commandments. But note how significant these words are. Faithful churchmen are to keep the Commandments of God--not to earn God's favor, nor to merit heaven--but because this is the way that redeemed children live. In other words, those who have been freed from sin do not worship other gods, etc.

Those who *never* have been "brought out of Egypt," and/or "the house of bondage," continue to use the Ten Commandments to perpet-
uate their slavery, (by works-righteousness). But those who are liber-
ated believers recognize that walking by faith has the blessed by-pro-
duct of living in harmony with God and our new natures--and hence they keep (though imperfectly) the Commandments.

[Puritan 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"]