Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 6:16a, where we read these words:
"Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.' "
Sometimes we hear dumb people say things like this, "We can't go back to the old days and ways--we've moved beyond them." These people are wrong (and foolish). True life is only found in the "old paths." There is nothing new under the sun. All "new" paths are simply old deceits of the devil.
There is more than enough good doctrine in the good creeds and con-fessions of the church, to more than satisfy us for generations to come. Let us be enlightened: let us return to our Reformation and Puritan glory (in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "The fear of God will make one avoid those sins which can neither be heard nor seen by men." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Mon., 7/9/12 Devotion (Josh. 11:7)
Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 11:7, which says this:
"So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them sud-denly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them."
What is neat about this verse, is that Joshua took the battle *to* God's enemies. He did not wait for them to attack him. Joshua and his army were greatly outnumbered by a vast host of Canaanite forces that were determined (if possible) to wipe him out. But, because of God's grace, Joshua was invincible.
Therefore, the church today should be encouraged to go on the of-fensive, too. We are the ones with the message of life (in Jesus). Let us not be timid, nor idle. The spoils of victory await.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If there remains some filth and unclean-ness still in our hearts, it should teach us to long for heaven, when our sanctification shall be made as perfect as our justification is."
--Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
"So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them sud-denly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them."
What is neat about this verse, is that Joshua took the battle *to* God's enemies. He did not wait for them to attack him. Joshua and his army were greatly outnumbered by a vast host of Canaanite forces that were determined (if possible) to wipe him out. But, because of God's grace, Joshua was invincible.
Therefore, the church today should be encouraged to go on the of-fensive, too. We are the ones with the message of life (in Jesus). Let us not be timid, nor idle. The spoils of victory await.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If there remains some filth and unclean-ness still in our hearts, it should teach us to long for heaven, when our sanctification shall be made as perfect as our justification is."
--Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
Friday, July 6, 2012
Fri.-Sabbath, 7/6-8/12 Devotion
Hip, hip, hooray--it's almost Sunday! Here is some encouraging doc-trine re. prayer, from the great Thomas Watson. This comes from his "The Ten Commandments" book:
"What are the several parts of prayer?
"1) There is the confessor's part, which is the acknowledgement of sin. 2) The supplicatory part, when we either deprecate and pray against some evil, or request the obtaining of some good. 3) The congratulat-ory part, when we give thanks for mercies received, which is the most excellent part of prayer. In petition, we act like men; in giving thanks, we act like angels.
"What are the several sorts of prayer?
"1) There is mental prayer, in the mind, (1 Sam. 1:13). 2) Vocal, (Psa. 77:1). 3) Spontaneous, which is a sudden and short elevation of the heart to God: 'So I prayed to the God of heaven,' (Neh. 2:4). 4) Inspir-ed prayer, when we pray for those things which God puts into our heart: 'The Spirit helps us with sighs and groans,' (Rom. 8:26). Both the expressions of the tongue, and the impressions of the heart, so far as they are right, are from the Spirit. 5) Prescribed prayer. Our Sav-iour has set us a pattern of prayer. God prescribed a set form of bles-sing for the priests, (Numb. 6:23). 6) Public prayer, when we pray in the audience of others. Prayer is more powerful when many join and unite their forces. 7) Private prayer; when we pray by ourselves: 'En-ter into your closet,' (Matt 6:6)."
"What are the several parts of prayer?
"1) There is the confessor's part, which is the acknowledgement of sin. 2) The supplicatory part, when we either deprecate and pray against some evil, or request the obtaining of some good. 3) The congratulat-ory part, when we give thanks for mercies received, which is the most excellent part of prayer. In petition, we act like men; in giving thanks, we act like angels.
"What are the several sorts of prayer?
"1) There is mental prayer, in the mind, (1 Sam. 1:13). 2) Vocal, (Psa. 77:1). 3) Spontaneous, which is a sudden and short elevation of the heart to God: 'So I prayed to the God of heaven,' (Neh. 2:4). 4) Inspir-ed prayer, when we pray for those things which God puts into our heart: 'The Spirit helps us with sighs and groans,' (Rom. 8:26). Both the expressions of the tongue, and the impressions of the heart, so far as they are right, are from the Spirit. 5) Prescribed prayer. Our Sav-iour has set us a pattern of prayer. God prescribed a set form of bles-sing for the priests, (Numb. 6:23). 6) Public prayer, when we pray in the audience of others. Prayer is more powerful when many join and unite their forces. 7) Private prayer; when we pray by ourselves: 'En-ter into your closet,' (Matt 6:6)."
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thurs., 7/5/12 Devotion (Ps. 138:7a)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 138:7a, where we read these words:
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You [God] will revive me . . . "
I like this phrase. What an encouragement for all faithful churchmen who love Jesus, and trust alone in His blood atonement for the for-giveness of their sins. God never promised a trouble-free life for His children. On the contrary, He made it clear that our problems would only be amplified after entering into His kingdom.
But, with these trials comes the promise of "revival"--being encourag-ed and inspired by grace from heaven, which wipes out the fears and schemes of our fallen existences. Christ makes it all worth while.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The fear of God drives out all base fear. Carnal fear is an enemy to religion." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You [God] will revive me . . . "
I like this phrase. What an encouragement for all faithful churchmen who love Jesus, and trust alone in His blood atonement for the for-giveness of their sins. God never promised a trouble-free life for His children. On the contrary, He made it clear that our problems would only be amplified after entering into His kingdom.
But, with these trials comes the promise of "revival"--being encourag-ed and inspired by grace from heaven, which wipes out the fears and schemes of our fallen existences. Christ makes it all worth while.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The fear of God drives out all base fear. Carnal fear is an enemy to religion." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Wed., 7/4/12 Devotion (Ps. 135:6)
Happy Independence Day, USA!
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 135:6, where these won-derful words are found:
"Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."
What a comfort it is, to have a sovereign God. Nothing stops the true God's hand--He does whatever He pleases to do. And notice *where* He does this: not only in heaven, but also on earth, and even under the earth. Nothing is outside of the comprehensive purview of the Lord's holy reign.
Let us be thankful, as God's churched saints, for the fact that our Father is in charge; and let us glorify His Name.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[The sanctified person] prefers sanctity before safety, and had rather keep his conscience pure than his skin whole. . . . He would rather part with his life than his conscience."
--Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 135:6, where these won-derful words are found:
"Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."
What a comfort it is, to have a sovereign God. Nothing stops the true God's hand--He does whatever He pleases to do. And notice *where* He does this: not only in heaven, but also on earth, and even under the earth. Nothing is outside of the comprehensive purview of the Lord's holy reign.
Let us be thankful, as God's churched saints, for the fact that our Father is in charge; and let us glorify His Name.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[The sanctified person] prefers sanctity before safety, and had rather keep his conscience pure than his skin whole. . . . He would rather part with his life than his conscience."
--Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Tues., 7/3/12 Devotion (Josh. 5:12)
Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 5:12, where we read these words:
"Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year."
When we enter the promised land of life in Christ, , His gospel, His church, and His means of grace--we no longer look for, desire, or need the "extraordinary" measures (that God sometimes uses, to get people's attention). The Lord is more pleased with and honored by "ordinary" means: like preaching, the sacraments (of baptism and the Lord's Supper), and church discipline.
Many religionists today--as has always been the case--are all consum-ed with crazy stuff. Let us, God's sane (but beloved) churchmen, enjoy Him in the ways that He is most pleased to reveal Himself.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Feeling and freeness of spirit are often re-served until duty is discharged." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year."
When we enter the promised land of life in Christ, , His gospel, His church, and His means of grace--we no longer look for, desire, or need the "extraordinary" measures (that God sometimes uses, to get people's attention). The Lord is more pleased with and honored by "ordinary" means: like preaching, the sacraments (of baptism and the Lord's Supper), and church discipline.
Many religionists today--as has always been the case--are all consum-ed with crazy stuff. Let us, God's sane (but beloved) churchmen, enjoy Him in the ways that He is most pleased to reveal Himself.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Feeling and freeness of spirit are often re-served until duty is discharged." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Monday, July 2, 2012
Mon., 7/2/12 Devotion (Isa. 64:1a)
Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 64:1a, where we read these words:
"Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come
down! . . . "
The Prophet Isaiah's passionate prayer (above) was answered, when Christ came down to earth, and was made incarnate in Mary's womb. This plea was also fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came down in great power on the church, at Pentecost (Acts 2). But this petition continues to be answered, as God revives His church through the continuing and intensified work of the Holy Spirit--as He sanctifies the church and adds to her number.
Let us join Isaiah in yet asking God to "rend the heavens . . . [and] come down!" After all, just as in Isaiah's time, so it is true today: there is no hope for the world outside of Christ's direct intervention in it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, among that cloud of witnesses, we see Rahab, Gideon, and Samson ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Heb. 11:31-32)."
--Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come
down! . . . "
The Prophet Isaiah's passionate prayer (above) was answered, when Christ came down to earth, and was made incarnate in Mary's womb. This plea was also fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came down in great power on the church, at Pentecost (Acts 2). But this petition continues to be answered, as God revives His church through the continuing and intensified work of the Holy Spirit--as He sanctifies the church and adds to her number.
Let us join Isaiah in yet asking God to "rend the heavens . . . [and] come down!" After all, just as in Isaiah's time, so it is true today: there is no hope for the world outside of Christ's direct intervention in it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, among that cloud of witnesses, we see Rahab, Gideon, and Samson ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Heb. 11:31-32)."
--Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
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