Wed., 12/29/10 Devotion (2 Chron. 34:27)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 34:27, which finds God saying this about the great king Josiah:

" 'Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its in-
habitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,' says the LORD."

A humble, broken, contrite heart is irresistible to the Lord. Josiah was very zealous for God, His church, His word, and His worship. Even after grieving over the punishment that was sure to come because of Judah's past wickedness, Josiah was given by God assurances that none of the calamity would befall the nation, in his lifetime.

As the Lord brings us, His churchmen, to humble brokenness--it may sting for a while. But the end result is blessed assurance of forgive-
ness, and full and complete rest in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let God have His will by being holy, and you shall have your will by being happy." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Tues., 12/28/10 Devotion (2 Chron. 33:10-11)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 33:10 & 11, which says this:

"And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon."

Here in two verses of the Bible, we have the entire program of how God deals with those whom He intends to save. The Lord first starts out gently and positively: sending His word to His people (by prophets [OT] and pastors [NT]). If that fails, God brings out His harder and more negative implements: hooks and fetters.

In Manasseh's case, harsh measures were necessary in order to bring him to repentance. This is not the best, nor the wisest approach, how-
ever. When we hear the word of God, let us immediately respond to it in faith (and repentance).

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has been drinking spirits of wine, will not much thirst after water; and that man who has once 'tasted how sweet the Lord is,' (Ps. 34:8), and has drunk the cordials of the Spirit, will not thirst immoderately after secular delights." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Mon., 12/27/10 Devotion (Zech. 14:8-9)

Today's encouragement comes from Zechariah 14:8 & 9, where we read these words:

"And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jeru-
salem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be--'The LORD is one,' And His name one."

This day *has* occurred, as Jesus inaugurated it in His first Advent, and culminated it in His resurrection, and the pouring out of His Spirit on His church at Pentecost. Now, the whole earth: east and west, north and south, are all fed by Christ from heaven, as He brokers His blessings through His church on earth.

The "Oneness" of God was amplified in Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, of John, ch. 17, (cf. v. 11, for an example). The believing churchman is made "one" with the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. For these unspeakable blessings let us give thanks to the Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing that we do or can do, no-
thing that angels do or can do for us, that can reconcile us to God; but we are reconciled to God in Christ." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Reconciliation"]

Thurs.-Sabbath, 12/23-26/10 Devotion

Merry Christmas, everybody!!!

Sunday's coming! What an honor: to be in the church's worship on the Lord's Day!

Here's TW, in "The Art of Divine Contentment":

"[This doctrine] shows how a Christian may come to lead a comfort-
able life, even an heaven upon earth, be the times what they will: by Christian contentment. The comfort of life does not stand in having much; it is Christ's maxim, 'man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses,' (Lu. 12. 15)--but it is in being content-
ed. Is not the bee as well contented with feeding on the dew, or suck-
ing from a flower, as the ox that grazes on the mountains? Content-
ment 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."

Wed., 12/22/10 Devotion (2 Chron. 26:5b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 26:5b, where we read these words:

" . . . and as long as he [Uzziah] sought the LORD, God made him prosper."

Why is it, that we cannot seem to understand this very basic principle? So long as we seek the Lord, in His Son, and in the context of His church, we will "prosper." If we do *not* do this, we will not prosper. The reason we so often fail here, is because our faith is not as per-
fected as it should be. Our flesh tells us that "prosperity" may be had outside of Christ.

Even the great Uzziah ended up getting a bit "full of himself"; and though his life was blessed and prosperous, his pride took a bite out of him before he died, (cf. 2 Chron. 26:16). Let us churchmen be sure to humble ourselves before the Lord--trusting in Him alone, and not in ourselves (at all).

[Puritan quote of the day: "When we preach Christ and free grace it is to bring you to Christ. Our preaching down of works is not to keep you from doing them but from resting in them." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Tues., 12/21/10 Devotion (Jn. 11:24-27)

Today's encouragement comes from John 11:24-27, where these words are found:

"Martha said to [Jesus], 'I know that he [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.' "

Here is an example where good theology informs a living, vibrant, and saving faith. Martha believes in a bodily resurrection, on the last day. She also believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. But even the demons believe these objective, historical facts, as matters of indisputable truth--but, instead of being blessed by them, they "tremble" at them, (cf. Jas. 2:19).

Martha married good doctrine with a heart that truly depended on it.
The difference between her faith and the demons' faith is that hers was one of trusting love of Jesus; theirs was one of the fear of His wrath.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In a heathen nation, first teach, and then baptize them; but in a Christian church, first baptize, and then teach them." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Commandments"]

Mon., 12/20/10 Devotion (2 Chron. 24:18)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 24:18, where we read these words:

"Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass."

Look at the sad thing that happens to people--even folks who are in the outward covenant--when they abandon Christ, the church, and the gospel: they end up worshipping sticks, stones, and idols. And what reward to they get for their perverted religious efforts?: the wrath of God (which comes down upon them).

Let faithful churchmen learn from this, that there is only One God, and that He will not countenance any "competitors." If we are to stay connected to Jesus, we need "the house of the Lord," and we dare not leave it. If we do, one result is inevitable: we will end up worshipping something else, and doing that will take a great toll on us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A drop of [God's] heavenly comfort is enough to sweeten a sea of worldly sorrow." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]