Fri.-Sabbath, 12/17-19/10 Devotion

Wahoo--it's almost Sunday! We *get* to go to church! Here is TW, from his "The Beatitudes" book. . . .

"Let us walk as the children of God in sobriety. 'But let us who are of the day be sober' (1 Thess. 5:8). God's children must not do as others. They must be sober.

"In their speeches; not rash, not unseemly. 'Let your speech be season-
ed with salt' (Col. 4:6). Grace must be the salt which seasons our words and makes them savoury. Our words must be solid and weighty, not feathery. God's children must speak the language of Canaan. Many pretend to be God's children, but their speech betrays them. Their lips do not drop as an honey-comb, but are like the sink, where all the filth of the house is carried out.

"The children of God must be sober in their opinions; hold nothing but what a sober man would hold. Error, as Saint Basil says, is a spiritual intoxication, a kind of frenzy. If Christ were upon the earth again, He might have patients enough. There are abundance of spiritual lunatics among us which need healing."

Thurs., 12/16/10 Devotion (Jn. 6:66-68)

Today's encouragement comes from the wonderful interchange be-
tween Christ and His disciples, as it is found in John 6:66-68:

"From that time many of [Christ's] disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' "

This is a very poignant scene in the ministry of the Messiah. After in-
tentionally paring-down the numbers of His "disciples" by teaching them that they would have to ingest Him into their beings, and that God alone could draw them to Himself, etc.--the Lord Jesus is left with just a few remaining hearty souls, (one of which was Judas, who, of course, was not faithful).

Peter's confession, representing the true church throughout all ages, is not only brilliantly insightful, but it was also eminently practical: there is nowhere to go, in this world, but to Jesus--unless one prefers hell.

[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 Remis-
sion"]

Wed., 12/15/10 Devotion (2 Chron. 17:5b, 6a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 17:5b & 6a, where we read these words:

" . . . and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD."

It takes a strong heart to be able to both possess many good things of this world, and yet to do so in the attitude and perspective of "taking delight in the ways of the Lord." Jehoshaphat was a full man: he had the best of everything, and yet he did not idolatorize his blessings. Instead, he kept his head, and loved his God first and foremost.

Let all faithful churchmen seek to have this same spirit. The key to this is in our identification with Jesus. Let us seek to be crucified with Him everyday, so that we may rise with Him everyday. When we do this, we get to take pleasure in *everything* He provides us, with free and grateful hearts.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Therefore, now go to Jesus, the Supreme Head of the church and Bishop of souls. . . . He ever lives to provide for His church, and to guide and feed HIs flock." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Sorrows of the Bereaved Spread before Jesus"]

Mon., 12/6/10 Devotion (1 Jn. 4:18)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 4:18, where we read these great words:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

This totally perfected love is never 100% experienced in this life (be-
cause of our flesh). But this does not mean that the sincere churchman may not have real and palpable (felt) assurance. The Puritans were the great theological expositors of divine assurance, in the souls of the saints. (They recognized that not all true believers would have the same levels of this confidence.)

Still, to fear eternal punishment, after having the blood atonement clearly applied to one's soul, is not noble, but God-dishonoring. It denies and decries the work of the Redeemer. It is a form of atheism. If our hope is not in ourselves or our works--but in Christ alone, then let us be fully-assured churchmen, who know that God loves us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let this take up your thoughts as the greatest business that your hearts can be set upon, that you may be found of Him [God] in peace." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Reconciliation"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 12/3-5/10 Devotion

Hip, hip, hooray--it's almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, dis-
cussing peace. In beautiful Puritan style, he is very pastoral. This comes from his amazing "A Body of Divinity" book. . . .

"But why have not all believers the full enjoyment and possession of peace? Why is not this flower of peace fully ripe and blown?

"Some of the godly may not have so full a degree of peace. (1.) Through the fury of temptation. Though the devil cannot destroy us, he will disturb us. He disputes against our adoption; he would make us question the work of grace in our hearts, and so disturb the waters of our peace. He is like a subtle cheater, who, if he cannot make a man's title to his land void, yet will put him to many troublesome suits in law. If Satan cannot make us ungodly, he will make us unquiet. Violent winds make the sea rough and stormy; so the winds of temp-
tation blowing, disturb peace of spirit, and put the soul into a com-
motion.

"(2.) The godly may not enjoy peace, through mistake and misap-
prehension about sin. They find so much corruption, that they think sure, if there were grace, there would not be such strong working of corruption; whereas this should be so far from discouraging Christians, and hindering their peace, that it is an argument for them. Let me ask, 'Whence is it that you feel sin?' No man can feel sin, but by grace. A wicked man is insensible. Lay a hundredweight upon a dead man, he does not complain; but being sensible of corruption, argues a gra-
cious principle, (Rom. 7:21). Again, Whence is it that there is a com-
bat with sin, but from the life of grace? (Gal. 5:17). Dead things can-
not combat. Whence is it that the saints weep for sin? What are these tears but seeds of faith? The not understanding of this hinders a Christian's peace."

Thurs., 12/2/10 Devotion (Mic. 7:18a, 19b)

Today's encouragement comes from Micah 7:18a & 19b, which relates these fabulous words:

"Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the trans-
gression of the remnant of His heritage? . . . You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea."

One of the greatest blessing we can possibly possess is the forgiveness of our sins. This is the most magnificent deed God performs in us. If we are forgiven, it took the blood of God's Son to bring this about. God had to overcome our hearts, the fallen world, and the devil, in order to procure our pardon.

But if we are forgiven our sins, nothing else really matters. If we have a clear and clean conscience before the Almighty God--is it of any great consequence that we have trials and tribulations? We have al-
ready obtained what everyone needs.

[Puritan quote of the day: "They dishonor the pardoning grace of God, and most considerably of all, by seeking and expecting it any other way than through the mediation of the Son of God." --Jeremiah Bur-
roughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Wed., 12/1/10 Devotion (1 Chron. 29:3)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Chronicles 29:3, where we read these words of David, inspired by the Holy Spirit:

"Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have pre-
pared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver."

Whatever we value and love, we adorn. David esteemed the house of his God, having affection for it. Jesus loves His church, and bedecks it with all His gracious jewels, (cf. Rev. 21:10 ff.). Whatever or who-
ever we love, we are careful to bestow high honor on.

The wise and happy person loves what God loves; and invests his or her life in beautifying what will last forever. Let us set our affection on the Son of God and house of God, even as David did.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For the greatest and most glorious work that you can perform is not nearly worth so much as one drop of the blood of Christ." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]