Can you believe it--another Sunday is almost here?! God has 52 holy days a year--and they're all on Sunday. In order to prepare you for church, here is Thomas Watson, from "All Things for Good." . . .
"If you do not love God, you will love something else, either the world or sin; and are those worthy of your love? Is it not better to love God than these? It is better to love God than the world, as appears in the following particulars. . . .
"If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy. You may as well satisfy your body with air, as your soul with earth. . . . Is it not better to love God? He will give you that which shall satisfy. . . . If you love worldly things, they cannot remove trouble of mind. If there be a thorn in the conscience, all the world cannot pluck it out.
. . . But if you love God, He can give you peace when nothing else can; He can turn the 'Shadow of death into the morning,' (Amos 5:8). He can apply Christ's blood to refresh your soul; He can whisper His love by the Spirit, and with one smile scatter all your fears and dis-quiets."
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Thurs., 10/18/12 Devotion (1 Ki. 21:3)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Kings 21:3, where we read these words:
"But Naboth said to Ahab, 'The LORD forbid that I should give the in-heritance of my fathers to you!' "
When true believers sin, they give some of the priceless treasure of the covenant of God's grace to the devil, the world, and their own sinful flesh. Naboth refused even his earthly king what was rightfully his [Naboth's], by divine bestowment. Naboth would not bow to pres-sure, or convention; but rather took his place with the true church of God.
How about us? Are we zealous to retain what God has given us, so that we will be fruitful and productive in the world; or are we willing to sell what is precious to God's enemies?
[Puritan quote of the day: "[Improper religious] toleration is the grave of reformation. . . . By toleration we adopt other men's sins and make them our own." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "Christ's Loveliness"]
"But Naboth said to Ahab, 'The LORD forbid that I should give the in-heritance of my fathers to you!' "
When true believers sin, they give some of the priceless treasure of the covenant of God's grace to the devil, the world, and their own sinful flesh. Naboth refused even his earthly king what was rightfully his [Naboth's], by divine bestowment. Naboth would not bow to pres-sure, or convention; but rather took his place with the true church of God.
How about us? Are we zealous to retain what God has given us, so that we will be fruitful and productive in the world; or are we willing to sell what is precious to God's enemies?
[Puritan quote of the day: "[Improper religious] toleration is the grave of reformation. . . . By toleration we adopt other men's sins and make them our own." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "Christ's Loveliness"]
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wed., 10/17/12 Devotion (1 Thess. 3:3a)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 3:3a, where we read these words:
" . . . that no one should be shaken by these afflictions . . . "
Afflictions and tribulations definitely come to the faithful church-men--but our faith is not to be "shaken" by them. Our hearts, our minds, and our composure may be shaken by them--but not our faith. In the end, our faith is to be strengthened and purified by troubles and trials.
The previous verse, (1 Thess. 3:2), finds Paul sending a minister (Timothy) to help establish the faith of the church in Thessalonica. God still does that today, in that none of us can (or were ever meant to) make it on our own.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If we love God, we have all winds blowing for us, everything in the world shall conspire for our good." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
" . . . that no one should be shaken by these afflictions . . . "
Afflictions and tribulations definitely come to the faithful church-men--but our faith is not to be "shaken" by them. Our hearts, our minds, and our composure may be shaken by them--but not our faith. In the end, our faith is to be strengthened and purified by troubles and trials.
The previous verse, (1 Thess. 3:2), finds Paul sending a minister (Timothy) to help establish the faith of the church in Thessalonica. God still does that today, in that none of us can (or were ever meant to) make it on our own.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If we love God, we have all winds blowing for us, everything in the world shall conspire for our good." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tues., 10/16/12 Devotion (1 Thess. 2:18b)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:18b, where we read these few words:
" . . . but Satan hindered us."
Even true believers have to admit that, from time to time, Satan gets his "licks" in on us. Does God *allow* this to happen? Yes. Is it under God's direct supervision and sovereignty? Yes. But does this lessen the fact that sometimes we feel the cold and clammy hand of the devil on our hearts? No.
This struggle with Satan is one of the hardest parts of living the Chris-tian life down here. We must always keep in mind that God has a pur-pose for allowing the devil to sometimes seem to prevail; and we must also remember that Christ has completely crushed the snake's head, in His glorious resurrection from the dead.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not duty, but love to duty, God looks at. It is not how much we do, but how much we love." --Thomas Wat-son, in, "All Things for Good"]
" . . . but Satan hindered us."
Even true believers have to admit that, from time to time, Satan gets his "licks" in on us. Does God *allow* this to happen? Yes. Is it under God's direct supervision and sovereignty? Yes. But does this lessen the fact that sometimes we feel the cold and clammy hand of the devil on our hearts? No.
This struggle with Satan is one of the hardest parts of living the Chris-tian life down here. We must always keep in mind that God has a pur-pose for allowing the devil to sometimes seem to prevail; and we must also remember that Christ has completely crushed the snake's head, in His glorious resurrection from the dead.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not duty, but love to duty, God looks at. It is not how much we do, but how much we love." --Thomas Wat-son, in, "All Things for Good"]
Monday, October 15, 2012
Mon., 10/15/12 Devotion (1 Ki. 18:21a)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Kings 18:21a, where we read these words:
"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. . . . ' "
I like this perspective, put out by Elijah. Even today this principle ap-plies. All people worship some deity (alleged, or true). "Let the best [God] win," as the saying goes. Is the Muslim god the true one? Then all should worship him (or it). Is the atheists' god the true one? Then we should bow down to it. Is the secularists' god true? Let all men honor it (or her, or whatever). Is the God of the True Christian Reli-gion the only Real Deity? Then, let all men worship Him.
It turns out that the Holy Trinity *is* the one and only God. We know this--among other reasons--primarily by the resurrection of the Son of God, who lives and reigns today. He can withstand all pretenders to His throne. Let us worship Him, and not fear fake gods.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There are the greatest reasons in the world to be a Christian . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. . . . ' "
I like this perspective, put out by Elijah. Even today this principle ap-plies. All people worship some deity (alleged, or true). "Let the best [God] win," as the saying goes. Is the Muslim god the true one? Then all should worship him (or it). Is the atheists' god the true one? Then we should bow down to it. Is the secularists' god true? Let all men honor it (or her, or whatever). Is the God of the True Christian Reli-gion the only Real Deity? Then, let all men worship Him.
It turns out that the Holy Trinity *is* the one and only God. We know this--among other reasons--primarily by the resurrection of the Son of God, who lives and reigns today. He can withstand all pretenders to His throne. Let us worship Him, and not fear fake gods.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There are the greatest reasons in the world to be a Christian . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
Friday, October 12, 2012
Fri.-Sabbath, 10/12-14/12 Devotion
Wahoo--it's almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his book, "The Happiness of Drawing Near to God." . . .
"Why we must draw near to God. . . .
"Because He is our Maker: 'In Him we live.' He has given us bodies; they are His curious 'needlework,' (Psa. 139:15). And as He has made the cabinet, so He has put the jewel in it, the precious soul; and surely if we have our being from Him, we cannot breathe without Him. There is good reason we should draw near to God in a way of homage and observance.
"God is our Benefactor; He crowns us with a variety of blessings: He gives health and estate; every bite of bread we eat is given to us by the hand of Divine bounty. Is there not great reason we should draw near to Him who feeds us? Give a beast hay and he will follow you all the field over. Not to draw near to Him who is our Benefactor, is worse than brutish.
"God is the 'Summum Bonum,' the chief good. There's enough in God to satisfy the immense desire of the angels. He is 'omnimode dulcis,' the quintessence of sweetness. In Him perfections are centered. He has rivers of pleasure where the soul shall bathe itself forever with in-finite delight, (Psa. 36:36). So that here is ground sufficient for our drawing near to God; He is the chief good. Everything desires to ap-proach to its happiness."
"Why we must draw near to God. . . .
"Because He is our Maker: 'In Him we live.' He has given us bodies; they are His curious 'needlework,' (Psa. 139:15). And as He has made the cabinet, so He has put the jewel in it, the precious soul; and surely if we have our being from Him, we cannot breathe without Him. There is good reason we should draw near to God in a way of homage and observance.
"God is our Benefactor; He crowns us with a variety of blessings: He gives health and estate; every bite of bread we eat is given to us by the hand of Divine bounty. Is there not great reason we should draw near to Him who feeds us? Give a beast hay and he will follow you all the field over. Not to draw near to Him who is our Benefactor, is worse than brutish.
"God is the 'Summum Bonum,' the chief good. There's enough in God to satisfy the immense desire of the angels. He is 'omnimode dulcis,' the quintessence of sweetness. In Him perfections are centered. He has rivers of pleasure where the soul shall bathe itself forever with in-finite delight, (Psa. 36:36). So that here is ground sufficient for our drawing near to God; He is the chief good. Everything desires to ap-proach to its happiness."
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Wed., 10/10/12 Devotion (Php. 4:6-7)
Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 4:6 & 7, where Paul wrote these precious words:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Notice, first of all, that this promise is *not* made for just any pro-fessing Christian. It is only made for those who already are in Christ, by virtue of their being secured in Him through their union with Him by faith (as they are now members of His church). But, for the sincere churchman, this promise is indeed sweet. The Philippians knew what it meant, to live in a fortified (Roman) city. The true believer knows what it means to be secure, in Jesus.
But sometimes, because of manifest trouble, that serenity is shaken. When this happens, let us turn to God in prayer. He will then give us Christ's peace.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let the baptized keep their baptismal vows of fighting against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh." --Isaac Am-brose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Notice, first of all, that this promise is *not* made for just any pro-fessing Christian. It is only made for those who already are in Christ, by virtue of their being secured in Him through their union with Him by faith (as they are now members of His church). But, for the sincere churchman, this promise is indeed sweet. The Philippians knew what it meant, to live in a fortified (Roman) city. The true believer knows what it means to be secure, in Jesus.
But sometimes, because of manifest trouble, that serenity is shaken. When this happens, let us turn to God in prayer. He will then give us Christ's peace.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let the baptized keep their baptismal vows of fighting against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh." --Isaac Am-brose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
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