Tues., 10/9/12 Devotion (Ps. 93:12-13)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 93:12 & 13, where we read these words:

"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked."

This is a comforting text, especially in the tumultuous political clim-ate of these days, wherein those who are so adamantly opposed to Christ, His church, and His gospel are flaunting their wares with im-pudence and shamelessness. These things tend to make the people of God be afraid, and to begin to wring their hands in anxiety.

But this psalm (above) teaches us that the faithful churchman is really safe in Christ, even as the storm of adversity churns over their heads (as it does everyone else's, as well). So long as we do not cast off our faith in Jesus, we will come through every crisis on the other end, safe and sound.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you have the favor of God, this doctrine [of encouragement] teaches you that you need not be afraid of ene-mies; for whoever is your enemy, God looks upon as His enemy."
--Jonathan Edwards, in one of his great sermons]

Mon., 10/8/12 Devotion (Ps. 92:13-14)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 92:13 & 14, where we read these great words:

"Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing . . . "

Where are we "planted" most in this world? Are we *most* invested in our business, our civic concerns, and/or our family and home? If so, then we will be eventually uprooted by the storms of life on a fallen planet. Only those who are firmly ingrafted into Christ and His church are able to withstand the forces set against them. On top of this, they are also able to remain "fruitful" all the way to their last breath.

Let us love who and what God Himself loves: Christ and His church. As we do so, we are invincible--no matter what the world, the flesh, or the devil shoot at us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "No matter what storms I meet with, I know where to put in for harbor. He who has God to be his God is so well contented with his condition that he does not much care whether he has anything else." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Con-tentment"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/5-7/12 Devotion

Yippee. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is ALMOST here. To help get us ready for the church's worship of God, here is Thomas Watson, in, "A Divine Cordial," or, "All Things for Good":

"It may be asked, 'How do afflictions make us happy?' We reply that, being sanctified, they bring us nearer to God. The moon in the full is furthest off from the sun: so are many further off from God in the full moon of prosperity; afflictions bring them nearer to God. The magnet of mercy does not draw us so near to God as the cords of affliction. When Absalom set Joab's corn on fire, then he came running to Absa-lom (2 Sam. 14:30). When God sets our worldly comforts on fire, then we run to Him, and make our peace with Him. When the prodigal was pinched with want, then he returned home to his father (Luke 15:13). When the dove could not find any rest for the sole of her foot, then she flew to the ark. When God brings a deluge of affliction upon us, then we fly to the ark of Christ. Thus affliction makes us happy, in bringing us nearer to God. Faith can make use of the waters of afflic-tion, to swim faster to Christ."

Thurs., 10/4/12 Devotion (Ezek. 37:4-5)

Today's encouragement comes from Ezekiel 37:4 & 5, where these words are found:

"Again He [God] said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.' " ' "

Let us behold the amazing power of the preached word (of the gospel of Christ's grace). God brings life to the valley of dry bones through the agency of His proclaimed (prophesied) word. What an odd way to get the job done. We would have expected almost anything other than this.

Today, as it has always been, there are many false and futile substi-tutes for preaching, all claiming to be able to make dry bones live. Let us not fall for any of them. Let us (rather) listen to the word of God, as it is proclaimed in the church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who thinks anything less than God will suffice [for satisfaction in life] does not understand the soul; and he who wants anything more than God does not understand God." --Rich-ard Alleine, in, "Heaven Opened"]

Wed., 10/3/12 Devotion (Ps. 86:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 86:9, where David wrote these words:

"All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name."

When we read verses like these, in the Psalms, or the rest of the Bible, do we believe them? Let us read this verse; and then check out the news of the day. Does it seem likely to us that God's word will prevail? Actually, it ought to. This promise (above) has already been fulfilled, in the establishment of the universal New Covenant church. Is there a lot more "ground" to cover? Yes, there is. But, by God's grace, it will happen.

So, let us not be discouraged. It is Satan's ways, to dishearten the people of God. It is God's ways, to embolden them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The object of divine love is God. God is good, and good is amiable. God is all good; and there is none good but one, and that is God." --Richard Alleine, in, "Heaven Opened"]

Tues., 10/2/12 Devotion (Eph. 2:8-9)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 2:8 & 9, where we find these remarkable words:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of your-selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

What?! We are not saved by what we do?! We are not redeemed by be-ing good?! You mean, God is not impressed with our self-righteous-ness?! Indeed, not. The elect church is saved by grace through faith in Christ. Otherwise, we could "boast" of our works, and hold God hos-tage, and claim some credit for our salvation.

Let all the redeemed of the Lord affirm the gospel truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Every other "gos-pel" stinks to high heaven.

[Puritan quote of the day: "To be rich in goods and rich in goodness is a happy condition." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Mon., 10/1/12 Devotion (Ps. 84:10)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 84. After extolling the beauty of the church; and noting his hunger and thirst for God, the psalmist penned these words, in v. 10:

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

One hour of blessed communion of the soul with the God of heaven, makes years of mundaneness of life and affliction of heart all worth while. The vital union of the saint with Christ--particularly in the church's Sunday worship services--is so wonderful, that it tends to "obliterate" all memories of suffering and grief.

What are we struggling with today? Let us not despair, and let us not give up. Instead, let us seek the Lord. When He meets us in His "courts," our hearts will be abundantly comforted, blessed, and strengthened.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ is in the ship of His church; do not fear sinking. The church's anchor is cast in heaven. Do we not think that God loves His church, and takes as much care of it as we can?"
--Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]