Wed., 3/9/11 Devotion (Job 38:4a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 38:4a, where we read these words:

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . "

Ooo. How would we like to have God say words like those to us? To hear this would humble us right down to the dust. The reality is that the Lord *does* ask us this basic question every time we pretend that we know better than He does, or every time we complain about His providences (and the way they work) in our lives.

I know I didn't exist when God "laid the foundations of the earth." Therefore, I have no right to counsel Him on how He ought to run His universe. This one thing is for sure: I could not do a better job than He can do. Let all of us churchmen come to more implicitly trust our Heavenly Father, believing the best of Him always--especially based on His love for us in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens." --Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]

Tues., 3/8/11 Devotion (2 Cor. 7:5b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 7:5b, where we read these words (of Paul):

" . . . Outside were conflicts, inside were fears."

Church life, with all its attendant human relationships, is both the most glorious of all fellowships; but it can also be the most painful and grievous. The Apostle Paul is describing (above) how he himself felt, in regard to the Corinthian church, after he was forced to up-
braid them for their sin (in a previous, no longer extant epistle).

The whole thing had made Paul sad, nervous, and even "fearful." He was finally comforted by Titus' report (cf. v. 6 ff.)--but in the mean-
time he was quite tortured in his soul. In light of all this, let us who are sincere churchmen be aware that we "put our hearts on the line" when we join in covenant with others (in the church). Though it can sometimes be very painful; it is always the right thing to do--since Jesus set us the example, by shedding His precious blood for us (in the church).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Trust [God] where you cannot trace Him. God is most in His way, when we think He is most out of the way."
--Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Mon., 3/7/11 Devotion (Ex. 18:19b)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 18:19b, where we read these words:

"[Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, said to Moses], 'Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.' "

Moses was a type of mediator between the people of Israel and their God. When they had a problem, they brought it to Moses, who would seek to settle it in light of the Law of the Lord. Jesus Christ, the church's great high priest, perfectly fulfilled what Moses only prefig-
ured. He shed His blood for His people, making reconciliation be-
tween a holy God and many sinners.

On top of this, our Lord Jesus even today continues to intercede for the church, at the Father's right hand, (Rom. 8:34b). Do we have "difficulties" today? Nothing it too hard for the Lord. Let us lay our concerns before Him, and trust His perfect judgment relative to them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Remember: God's work goes on, and no-
thing falls out but what He has decreed from eternity." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/4-6/11 Devotion

Hip, hip, hooray--it's almost Sunday! In order to get ready for church, let us hear from Thomas Watson, in his great book, "A Body of Divin-
ity." . . .

"Justification is 'inamissibilis'; it is a fixed permanent thing. It can never be lost. The Arminians hold an apostasy from justification; to-
day justified, tomorrow unjustified; today a Peter, tomorrow a Judas; today a member of Christ, tomorrow a limb of Satan. This is a most uncomfortable doctrine. Justified persons may fall from degrees of grace, they may leave their first love, they may lose God's favour for a time, but not lose their justification. If they are justified they are elected; and they can no more fall from their justification than from their election. If they are justified they have union with Christ; and can a member of Christ be broken off? If one justified person may fall away from Christ, all may; and so Christ would be a head without a body.

"Use one: See from hence, that there is nothing within us that could justify, but something without us; not any righteousness inherent, but imputed. We may as well look for a star in the earth as for justifica-
tion in our own righteousness. [Heretics] say we are justified by works; but the apostle confutes it, for he says, 'Not of works, lest any man should boast,' (Eph. 2:9)."

Thurs., 3/3/11 Devotion (Lk. 17:17)

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

"So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?' "

Everybody is about getting things from God, and crying out to Him in time of need. Probably about ten percent of those who receive mercy from Christ ever come back to thank Him for what He has done for them. It is interesting that Jesus actually asks the question, "Where are the [other] nine?" He rightly *expected* them to return and "give glory to God," (v. 18).

Ingratitude is not appreciated by the Lord; and those who have re-
ceived of the riches of Christ's grace had better return to Him with thanks and praise. It may be safely asserted that all the truly redeem-
ed in the church *will* live lives of worship and gratitude--as this is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and is evidence of real faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[Christ's] church is the house which He has built on a perfect number of pillars so that it might be stable, resting on a good foundation." --John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]

Wed., 3/2/11 Devotion (2 Cor. 1:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 1:8, where we read these words:

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life."

Sometimes the pressure and stress of the faithful churchman's life can reach fever-pitch levels. It is astounding what a believer can endure--as he or she goes through the furnaces of affliction and suffering. At the same time, the only cause of this strength and perseverance is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fully commensurate with our pain and suffering is the joy and free-
dom of our release and resurrection in Christ. Are we in a very hard way today? Let us remember that God has delivered us in the past. He is also actively delivering us in the present; and He will deliver us in the future, (cf. vv. 9 & 10). Let us not lose heart--but rather press on.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Consider the company Christians keep. It is with the Father of glory. So Christians are indeed the excellent in the earth (Ps. 16:3)." --John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]

Tues., 3/1/11 Devotion (Lk. 15:21)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 15:21, where we read these great words:

"And the [prodigal] son said to [his father], 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be cal-
led your son.' "

To me, this is one of the most poignant and beautiful sections of Holy Scripture. The Prodigal Son is on his way home. He has been rehears-
ing his lines. He's musing to himself, "Remember to say, 'I have sin-
ned.' Don't forget the 'No longer worthy' part. And be sure to finish with, 'Make me like one of your hired servants.' "

The Son does pretty well at getting his speech out--but before he ever gets to his last line (about being a hired servant), his father is all over him, showering love and acceptance on him. So it is with God: He is a loving Father, who forgives His Own, and receives them into His em-
braces. This is a picture of God's love for the church Jesus procured with His precious blood atonement.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If anything in us or on our part could stop God loving us [His church], then He would long ago have turned away from us." --John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]