Tues., 1/18/11 Devotion (Matt. 18:21)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 18:21, which says this:

"Then Peter came to [Jesus] and said, 'Lord, how often shall my broth-
er sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' "

The best people in the world are the most forgiving ones. I cannot say everything that is involved with forgiveness in this devotion--but this will suffice: all relational problems are always ultimately issues of forgiveness (or unforgiveness). This includes the problem sinners have with God, (as they remain in a state of the flesh and rebellion).

Does a professing Christian ask for forgiveness? It must be granted. The "forgiver" cannot say, "Let me see how sincere you are, and then we will consider forgiving, or not." Would we want to deal with God in that way? How happy would we be with this prayer: "God, please forgive me, based on how well I will do at not committing the same sin again"? In that scenario, we would all be condemned.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Now, as a man is broken off from sin by seeing and feeling it, and groaning under the power of it, so is a man broken from himself." --Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]

Mon., 1/17/11 Devotion (Gen. 18:14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 18:14a, where we read these great words:

"Is anything too hard for the LORD? . . . "

Usually, when we think of this well-known phrase, we do not think in high enough terms. We might be thinking, "Could God give me a Rolls-Royce?"; when, in fact, we ought to be asking, "Could God actu-
ally save a sinner, who is hopelessly lost in and of himself?"

Nothing is too hard for God because no amount of glory is too great for the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ--who has miracu-
lously provided atonement for all the people of His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It never came into God's thoughts to make a new covenant upon terms of worthiness. If God should show mercy to none but such as are worthy, then must He show mercy to none."
--Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/14-16/11 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday! Here's TW, from his "Assurance" treat-
ise. . . .

"He who loves God WILL BE AT ANY PAINS TO GET HIM. What pains the merchant takes, what hazards he runs, to have a rich return from the Indies! Jacob loved Rachel, and he could endure the heat by day, and the frost by night, that he might enjoy her. A soul that loves God will take any pains for the fruition of Him. 'My soul follows hard after God,' (Psalm 63:8). It is the weight which sets the clock going. It is much in prayer, weeping, fasting; it strives as in agony that he may obtain Him whom his soul loves.

"Plutarch reports of the Gauls, an ancient people of France, that after they had tasted the sweet wine of Italy, they never rested till they had arrived at that country. He who is in love with God, never rests till he has a part in Him. 'I sought him whom my soul loves,' (Song of Sol. 3:2). How can they say they love God, who are not industrious in the use of means to obtain Him?"

Thurs., 1/13/11 Devotion (Acts 13:42)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 13:42, where we read these words:

"So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath."

What an amazing situation: people "begging" to hear the Gospel of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ--and all that, on the Sabbath Day! That kind of thing doesn't happen very often; and certainly it was the result of a marvelous work of the Holy Spirit, wherein He was drawing Gen-
tiles to Jesus, and placing them into the New Covenant church.

Could this kind of thing ever happen again? Of course it can. As a matter of fact, our only hope as individuals, family members, a na-
tion, or as residents of earth is a great revival of the true religion, as God has done so in the past. No amount of political pandering to the flesh will accomplish this hope. Let us ask God to prosper Christ's Gos-
pel, and to increase the members of the faithful church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You cannot gratify Satan more, nor injure yourselves more, than by living without assurance [of God's favor in Christ]." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Wed., 1/12/11 Devotion (Acts 12:7a, 23a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 12:7a & 23a, where we read these words:

"Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by [Peter], and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side . . . Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck [Herod], because he did not give glory to God."

God does not deal with people in the same way--though He may use the exact same agency (viz. "striking"). Here, the angel "strikes" Peter, so that he (Peter) would wake up and be released from prison. A little while later--in the same chapter--the angel "strikes" Herod, and kills him. . . .

Also, in this very same 12th chapter of Acts, we find God allowing the Apostle James to die at Herod's hand (v. 2); while He (the Lord) de-
livers Peter from Herod's grip (v. 7). What's the point? That God is sov-
ereign; He does what He does for a reason. He is always righteous; and He loves His church--whether He allows His people to suffer, or prosper.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For every believer, the debt-book is cros-
sed out; the black lines of sin are crossed out with the red lines of Christ's blood." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "God's Anatomy upon Man's Heart"]

Tues., 1/11/11 Devotion (Acts 11:7-8a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 11:7 & 8a, which says this:

"And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, 'Not so, Lord!' "

How often Peter's words here represent even the most devoted saints of God. The King of heaven and earth gives a specific command, and the believer makes this preposterous response: "Not so, Lord." God's faithful churchmen cannot say, "Not so," and "Lord," in the same sen-
tence.

Thankfully, God was patient with Peter and repeated the process three times. Peter finally determined that he could not, and should not "resist" God, (cf. Acts 11:17b). When our Lord tells us what to do, we must not let our (faulty) religion get in the way of our obedience.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is better to mortify one sin than to un-
derstand all mysteries." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Re-
pentance"]

Mon., 1/10/11 Devotion (Ezra 10:2)

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

"And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, 'We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.' "

When all looked dark and hopeless, an otherwise obscure Old Coven-
ant churchman (Shechaniah) comes alongside the despondent leader Ezra, and offers this encouragement (above). The reality is that there is always hope, so long as we are still alive. No matter how much di-
vine wrath one has garnered against his soul because of sin--real faith in Jesus, married with serious and sincere repentance--can and will lead to renewed hope. . . .

That is what happened in ancient Israel, as the pagan wife issue was dealt with, after the people of God renewed their covenant with the Lord. Are you (or someone you know) ready to totally despair? As long as there is a Redeemer, and as long as He leaves His church on earth, there is real hope.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Whatever may be wished for in an all-suf-
ficient Comforter is all to be found in Christ." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]