Today's encouragement comes from Mark 1:21 & 22--verses which de-scribe Christ's ministry:
"Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath [Jesus] entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Jesus, being the perfect churchman, is in the synagogue on the Sab-bath. He is teaching. What makes Christ's sermon unique is the auth-ority He demonstrated. The Messiah actually believed what He was saying, knew it was from God, and was willing to proclaim the gospel boldly and unashamedly.
Most people hate this kind of preaching and teaching. They may say they like it; but deep down what they really want is what is according to their own fleshly desires. Let us be different; and thirst for what Christ and His true messengers bring to us--whether it makes us feel good, or bad.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Give a beast hay and he will follow you all over the field. Not to draw near to [God] who is our Benefactor is worse than brutish." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "Drawing Near to God"]
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Wed., 7/18/12 Devotion (Jer. 14:1-2)
Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 14:1 & 2, where we read these words:
"The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts. 'Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they mourn for the land, and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. . . . ' "
Those of us living in middle America these days know what a "drought" is--as we are experiencing a big one this summer. Sometimes droughts are provisional judgments of God, (sometimes they are not). Judah was a theocracy. The drought of Jer., ch. 14 was clearly a judgment on the sins of the covenant community.
The drought in America today may well be the result of civil wicked-ness--as some of the recent legislation in this country is highly God-dishonoring, and they provoke God's wrath. (The promotion of sodomy is a perfect example of this.)
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely they mistake who think the life of godliness is not a comfortable life . . . " --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts. 'Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they mourn for the land, and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. . . . ' "
Those of us living in middle America these days know what a "drought" is--as we are experiencing a big one this summer. Sometimes droughts are provisional judgments of God, (sometimes they are not). Judah was a theocracy. The drought of Jer., ch. 14 was clearly a judgment on the sins of the covenant community.
The drought in America today may well be the result of civil wicked-ness--as some of the recent legislation in this country is highly God-dishonoring, and they provoke God's wrath. (The promotion of sodomy is a perfect example of this.)
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely they mistake who think the life of godliness is not a comfortable life . . . " --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tues., 7/17/12 Devotion (Josh. 24:15a)
Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 24:15a, where we read these words:
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . "
God would have people be honest, even if it means they candidly ad-mit to being vile idolaters. The Lord prefers this, to hypocritical reli-gionists. Both the idolater, and the hypocrite will go to hell--barring genuine faith in Jesus (with resultant repentance)--but the hypocrite will have a hotter spot there.
Let us all honestly face the truth regarding this question: who do we really serve and worship? If it is Christ--because our trust is in His atonement and righteousness *alone* for our salvation--then we may rejoice, and give God glory. If it is not Christ, we should face the ugly reality of who we are.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the reason why carnal hearts seek up and down for comfort in this and another lust? It is because they do not have enough in God." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . "
God would have people be honest, even if it means they candidly ad-mit to being vile idolaters. The Lord prefers this, to hypocritical reli-gionists. Both the idolater, and the hypocrite will go to hell--barring genuine faith in Jesus (with resultant repentance)--but the hypocrite will have a hotter spot there.
Let us all honestly face the truth regarding this question: who do we really serve and worship? If it is Christ--because our trust is in His atonement and righteousness *alone* for our salvation--then we may rejoice, and give God glory. If it is not Christ, we should face the ugly reality of who we are.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the reason why carnal hearts seek up and down for comfort in this and another lust? It is because they do not have enough in God." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
Monday, July 16, 2012
Mon., 7/16/12 Devotion (Matt. 26:32)
Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 26:32, where we read these words of our Lord Jesus:
"But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Is it not really neat that right after Jesus was raised from the dead (on that first Easter Sunday morning), He did not go straight to heav-en? Instead, Christ stayed here (on earth) for a while--and only later ascended on high. The principle still applies: our risen Savior meets and supports us, His people *here*, in our struggles, while we are yet on the earth. He does not leave us to our own devices.
Let us thank and praise God that Christ is King of everything: be it in heaven, or on earth.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Oh I hope that the Lord intends nothing other than to purge away my sin; and if this is God's intention, let Him do with me what He will." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
"But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Is it not really neat that right after Jesus was raised from the dead (on that first Easter Sunday morning), He did not go straight to heav-en? Instead, Christ stayed here (on earth) for a while--and only later ascended on high. The principle still applies: our risen Savior meets and supports us, His people *here*, in our struggles, while we are yet on the earth. He does not leave us to our own devices.
Let us thank and praise God that Christ is King of everything: be it in heaven, or on earth.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Oh I hope that the Lord intends nothing other than to purge away my sin; and if this is God's intention, let Him do with me what He will." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
Friday, July 13, 2012
Fri.-Sabbath, 7/13-15/12 Devotion
Wahoo--it's almost Sunday! We get to go back to church again! Here are great words from Martin Luther, taken from his excellent Preface to his amazing "Galatians" Commentary. . . .
"Therefore, the afflicted and troubled conscience has no remedy against desperation and eternal death unless it takes hold of the for-giveness of sins by grace, freely offered in Christ Jesus—that is to say, this passive faith or Christian righteousness. If the conscience can take hold of this, then it may be at rest and boldly say, 'I do not seek this active or working righteousness, although I know that I ought to have it, and also to fulfill it. But if I had it and did actually fulfill it, I still could not place my trust in it, nor should I dare to set it against God's judgment. Thus I abandon all active righteousness, both of my own and of God's law, and embrace only that passive righteousness that is the righteousness of grace, mercy, and forgiveness of sins. Briefly, I rest only on that righteousness that is the righteousness that is the righteousness of Christ and of the Holy Spirit.'
"Just as the earth does not generate rain and cannot of itself work to produce it, but receives it by the mere gift of God from above, so this heavenly righteousness is given us by God without our working for or deserving it. See, then, how much the earth is able by itself to do in getting showers of rain to make it fruitful; that much, and no more, are we able to do by our own strength and works in winning this heavenly and eternal righteousness. We shall never be able to attain it unless God Himself bestows it on us, imputing it to us by His gift be-yond words. The greatest wisdom of Christians, then, is to have no-thing to do with the law and works and the whole of active right-eousness, especially when the conscience wrestles with God's judg-ment. On the other hand, the quintessence of wisdom among those who are not among God's people is to know and earnestly follow the law and active righteousness."
"Therefore, the afflicted and troubled conscience has no remedy against desperation and eternal death unless it takes hold of the for-giveness of sins by grace, freely offered in Christ Jesus—that is to say, this passive faith or Christian righteousness. If the conscience can take hold of this, then it may be at rest and boldly say, 'I do not seek this active or working righteousness, although I know that I ought to have it, and also to fulfill it. But if I had it and did actually fulfill it, I still could not place my trust in it, nor should I dare to set it against God's judgment. Thus I abandon all active righteousness, both of my own and of God's law, and embrace only that passive righteousness that is the righteousness of grace, mercy, and forgiveness of sins. Briefly, I rest only on that righteousness that is the righteousness that is the righteousness of Christ and of the Holy Spirit.'
"Just as the earth does not generate rain and cannot of itself work to produce it, but receives it by the mere gift of God from above, so this heavenly righteousness is given us by God without our working for or deserving it. See, then, how much the earth is able by itself to do in getting showers of rain to make it fruitful; that much, and no more, are we able to do by our own strength and works in winning this heavenly and eternal righteousness. We shall never be able to attain it unless God Himself bestows it on us, imputing it to us by His gift be-yond words. The greatest wisdom of Christians, then, is to have no-thing to do with the law and works and the whole of active right-eousness, especially when the conscience wrestles with God's judg-ment. On the other hand, the quintessence of wisdom among those who are not among God's people is to know and earnestly follow the law and active righteousness."
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thurs., 7/12/12 Devotion (Matt. 22:29)
Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 22:29, where we read these words:
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.' "
One sure way to be in error, or to be mistaken, is by not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. The greatest truths are all too won-derful, to be apprehended by "reason" alone. How would we know that God saves sinners by the atonement achieved by His Son; or how would we know that God is Trinity--were it not for the special revela-tion of the Scriptures?
Ignorance is *not* bliss when it comes to the things of God. Instead, it is a sure road to hell. Let us who know Christ by faith, seek to be-come more acquainted with Him: in His church, through the doctrines found in His word.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A man may think himself into hell. What were the apostate angels damned for, was it for any more than proud thoughts?" --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.' "
One sure way to be in error, or to be mistaken, is by not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. The greatest truths are all too won-derful, to be apprehended by "reason" alone. How would we know that God saves sinners by the atonement achieved by His Son; or how would we know that God is Trinity--were it not for the special revela-tion of the Scriptures?
Ignorance is *not* bliss when it comes to the things of God. Instead, it is a sure road to hell. Let us who know Christ by faith, seek to be-come more acquainted with Him: in His church, through the doctrines found in His word.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A man may think himself into hell. What were the apostate angels damned for, was it for any more than proud thoughts?" --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Wed., 7/11/12 Devotion (Ps. 147:3)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 147:3, where we read these words:
"He [God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
The "brokenhearted" are those who are oppressed by the law's de-mands, but who (for comfort) run to Jesus, as their fulfillment of the law. They recognize that they do not have the resources to do every-thing "right"; and therefore they go to Christ for all their righteous-ness.
Jesus came to save the "brokenhearted," (cf. Lk. 4:18). He did not come to save self-righteous, "law-righteousness" people. These are left on their own. Let us bless God for this; and let us be included in the blessed company of the brokenhearted.
[Puritan quote of the day: "When they die [the redeemed] shall go to God, and while they live everything in the world shall do them good." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
"He [God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
The "brokenhearted" are those who are oppressed by the law's de-mands, but who (for comfort) run to Jesus, as their fulfillment of the law. They recognize that they do not have the resources to do every-thing "right"; and therefore they go to Christ for all their righteous-ness.
Jesus came to save the "brokenhearted," (cf. Lk. 4:18). He did not come to save self-righteous, "law-righteousness" people. These are left on their own. Let us bless God for this; and let us be included in the blessed company of the brokenhearted.
[Puritan quote of the day: "When they die [the redeemed] shall go to God, and while they live everything in the world shall do them good." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
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