Mon., 2/20/12 Devotion (Lk. 6:19)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 6:19, where we read these words:

"And the whole multitude sought to touch Him [Jesus], for power went out from Him and healed them all."

Jesus Christ is unquestionably and undoubtedly, by far and away, the most amazing Person alive today, or who has ever lived. As church-
men, our challenge is not so much to make people interested in Him, as much as it is to simply help them get a "glimpse" of Him. Once this happens, by divine grace, they are "hooked," (as it were).

For all of us: let us see that we must have "contact" with Jesus today, if we are to have any healing of our souls, minds, hearts, or spirits.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Have you not thought sometimes, at [hear-
ing] a sermon, the minister has spoken to none but you, and that some or other has told the minister what you have said, what you have done, what you have thought? --Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sin-
cere Convert"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 2/17-19/12 Devotion

Hip, hip, hooray--it's almost Sunday. We *get* to go back to church again, on The Lord's Day. In order to help us get ready, here is Thom-
as Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. . . .

"Jesus Christ is the glorious purchaser of our redemption. The doctrine of redemption by Jesus Christ is a glorious doctrine; it is the marrow and quintessence of the gospel, in which all a Christian's comfort lies. Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption. It cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a word, in the other the shedding of blood. The crea-
tion was but the work of God's fingers, (Psa 8:3); redemption is the work of His arm, (Luke 1:51). 'Having obtained eternal redemption for us,' (Heb 9:12). Christ's purchasing redemption for us implies that our sins mortgaged and sold us. Had there not been some kind of mortgaging there had been no need of redemption. When we were thus mortgaged, and sold by sin, Christ purchased our redemption. He had the best right to redeem us, for He is our kinsman. The Hebrew word for Redeemer, 'Goel,' signifies a kinsman, one that is near in blood. In the old law the nearest kinsman was to redeem his brother's land, (Ruth 4:4). Thus Christ being near akin to us, 'Flesh of our flesh,' is the fittest to redeem us."

Thurs., 2/16/12 Devotion (Lk. 2:49)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 2:49, where we read these words:

"And He [Jesus] said to them [Mary and Joseph], 'Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?' "

Sometimes the last place we look for someone, is the place we should have checked out first. Poor Mary and Joseph had searched for Jesus for three days in Jerusalem. Finally, they decided to see if He was in the temple. And when they did, they found Him.

Let us be about our "Father's business." For every Christian, this means being found in church on Sunday. But, from there, it takes the various forms of our several callings in life.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Theology is the daughter not of time, but of eternity." --John Owen, in, "Biblical Theology"]

Wed., 2/15/12 Devotion (Lk. 1:79)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 1:79, where we read these words:

" . . . To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Do our souls sometimes feel like they are in darkness, and the shadow of death? Do we find ourselves in turmoil, and struggle? If so, let us recognize that this is not abnormal in a fallen world. What *is* extra-
ordinary is the "light" of Christ, and the "peace" He gives us--even while we are in anguish of soul.

Sometimes, life is just downright difficult. There is an answer, how-
ever--and it is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are saved by grace through faith in Him, then let us comfort ourselves with the know-
ledge that God does indeed love us, and that His designs toward us are all for our good and betterment.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Make it your earnest request to God, that He will give you a heart to love Him." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Tues., 2/14/12 Devotion (1 Cor. 1:2)

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

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours . . . "

These are remarkable words (above) when we consider who it was to whom Paul wrote them. The Corinthian church was rent by schism, pride, heresy, and immorality. Still, in opening his epistle, the Apos-
tle refers to *all* of them (who were still yet in the outward covenant of the church) as "sanctified," and as those "called to be saints."

Now, if after Paul's corrections of the Corinthian errors (mentioned above), the people left the church, or had to be excommunicated from it--then, they no longer had the privileged appellation of "saint," and "sanctified." But, if they repented, and showed themselves to be true--then it all the more applied to them, and their assurance of grace in Christ was increased even further.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Souls that are big in hope, will not be long without sweet assurance." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Mon., 2/13/12 Devotion (Rom. 16:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 16:1, where we read these words:

"I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea . . . "

This (above) is a wonderful thing to be said about a person. First, the great Apostle Paul "commends" Phoebe. He refers to her as a "sister," a part of a great covenantal family. Phoebe was a "servant of the church." Her life was valuable, and well-spent. Furthermore, Phoebe was a "servant" of a particular church--the one in "Cenchrea." She did not content herself with her association with the "invisible" church. Instead, she was committed to a local one--as all faithful Christians are.

Godly women have always been exalted in Biblical Christianity. Their roles are critical. The church cannot prosper or thrive without them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ does His church more good now that He is in heaven . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 2/10-12/12 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday. We *get* to go back to church. Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. He is discussing the Being of God here. . . .

"Seeing there is a God, let us firmly believe this great article of our Creed. What religion can there be in men, if they do not believe a Deity? 'He that comes to God must believe that He is.' To worship God, and pray to Him, and not believe there is a God, is to put a high scorn and contempt upon Him. Believe that God is the only true God: such a God as He has revealed Himself in His Word, 'A lover of right-
eousness, and hater of wickedness,' (Psa 45:7). The real belief of a Deity gives life to all religious worship. The more we believe the truth and infiniteness of God the more holy and angelic we are in our lives. Whether we are alone, or in company, God sees us; He is the heart-searcher. The belief of this would make us live always under God's eye--Psa 16:10: 'I have set the Lord always before me.'

"The belief of a Deity would be a bridle to sin, and a spur to duty; it would add wings to prayer, and oil to the lamp of our devotion. The belief of a Deity would cause dependence upon God in all our straits and exigencies--Gen 17:1: 'I am God all-sufficient'--a God that can supply all your wants, scatter all your fears, resolve all your doubts, conquer all your temptations. The arm of God's power can never be shrunk; He can create mercy for us, and therefore can help, and not be beholden to the creature. Did we believe there is a God, we should so depend on His providence as not to use any indirect means. We should not run ourselves into sin to rid ourselves out of trouble. . . . When men run to sinful shifts, is it not because they do not believe there is a God, or that He is all-sufficient?"