Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these words:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
The glorious freedom that the children of God enjoy is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly seeking to steal it from us. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, maintained, and emboldened--otherwise, the "gospels" of works, self, and law will infiltrate the soul, and destroy all our joy.
The Galatians had heard the gospel of grace from Paul. They initially embraced it. Later, they heard a gospel of law, and they began to be-lieve it. Paul's words throughout the book were designed to bring them back to Christ. May we find our souls resting in Jesus' righteous-ness alone, today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Full assurance is 'optimum maximum,' the best and greatest mercy; and therefore God will only give it to His best and dearest friends." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Mon., 3/18/13 Devotion (Ex. 29:43)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 29:43, where we read these words:
"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory."
God meets with people in His "tabernacle," or "sanctuary." Our Lord Jesus Christ has, in His resurrected and glorified body, already "enter-ed" this realm in heaven (cf. Heb. 9:12 & 24). Now, because the God-Man has finished His work, and poured out His Spirit on His New Cove-nant Church, the sanctuary is greatly expanded, all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in heaven, in humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath convoca-tions. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our access to Him, in and through Christ--and let us be careful to always approach Him by grace through faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort."
--Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory."
God meets with people in His "tabernacle," or "sanctuary." Our Lord Jesus Christ has, in His resurrected and glorified body, already "enter-ed" this realm in heaven (cf. Heb. 9:12 & 24). Now, because the God-Man has finished His work, and poured out His Spirit on His New Cove-nant Church, the sanctuary is greatly expanded, all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in heaven, in humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath convoca-tions. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our access to Him, in and through Christ--and let us be careful to always approach Him by grace through faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort."
--Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Friday, March 15, 2013
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/15-17/13 Devotion
Wahoo--it is almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church! In order to help prepare us for the Lord's Day, here is some good doctrine from Jonathan Edwards, from his sermon entitled, "God Does What He Pleases" . . .
"God promised that He would give the heathen to Christ for His inher-itance and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. He promised that the Christian church would be as a grain of mustard seed; though very small at first, it would become as a great tree and the gates of hell would never prevail against it--and He has accomp-lished it, however difficult. By means of the ministry of a few fisher-men, He spread the gospel over the most considerable nations of the world against all the opposition that kings, the gates of hell, the sin of ignorance, and the pride, the spite, and the malice of the world could make against it. And this was done because nothing is too hard for God and because He does whatever He will."
"God promised that He would give the heathen to Christ for His inher-itance and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. He promised that the Christian church would be as a grain of mustard seed; though very small at first, it would become as a great tree and the gates of hell would never prevail against it--and He has accomp-lished it, however difficult. By means of the ministry of a few fisher-men, He spread the gospel over the most considerable nations of the world against all the opposition that kings, the gates of hell, the sin of ignorance, and the pride, the spite, and the malice of the world could make against it. And this was done because nothing is too hard for God and because He does whatever He will."
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Thurs., 3/14/13 Devotion (2 Cor. 13:8)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 13:8, where we read these words:
"For we can do nothing against the truth, but [only] for the truth."
Those Christian churchmen who are faithful in their rightful callings: be they as apostles (which are no more); or as ministers; or as other church officers; or as believing parishioners--cannot do anything "against the truth," but only "for" it.
How is this possible? Does this not seem preposterous? It *is* possible, and true because of the superintending work of God Himself, keeping His children in the fold, and in the faith. If we live by faith today, loving Christ--then let us do what we will. Whatever we do will please God (because of Jesus' sacrifice); and it will forward the truth of the gospel.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Peter at one time believes and walks, at another time he doubts and sinks, (Matt. 14:30)." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
"For we can do nothing against the truth, but [only] for the truth."
Those Christian churchmen who are faithful in their rightful callings: be they as apostles (which are no more); or as ministers; or as other church officers; or as believing parishioners--cannot do anything "against the truth," but only "for" it.
How is this possible? Does this not seem preposterous? It *is* possible, and true because of the superintending work of God Himself, keeping His children in the fold, and in the faith. If we live by faith today, loving Christ--then let us do what we will. Whatever we do will please God (because of Jesus' sacrifice); and it will forward the truth of the gospel.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Peter at one time believes and walks, at another time he doubts and sinks, (Matt. 14:30)." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Wed., 3/13/13 Devotion (Job 42:1-3)
Today's encouragement comes from Job 42:1-3, where we read these words:
"Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that You can do every-thing, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?" Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.' "
There are things about ourselves that we (ourselves) do not under-stand, which have a powerful impact on us. There are many things about God, and His providences towards us that we simply cannot grasp. But the key is to really and sincerely believe in the One who *does* fully comprehend all of these things: the Triune God.
When we are able to do this (through Christ), then we may live com-fortably in Jesus; and we may accept, without a need to untangle it, what God has meted out to us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Because faith looks at Christ in every duty, it touches the hem of His garment; and through Christ, both the per-son and the offering are accepted, (Eph. 1:6)." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Lord's Prayer"]
"Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that You can do every-thing, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?" Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.' "
There are things about ourselves that we (ourselves) do not under-stand, which have a powerful impact on us. There are many things about God, and His providences towards us that we simply cannot grasp. But the key is to really and sincerely believe in the One who *does* fully comprehend all of these things: the Triune God.
When we are able to do this (through Christ), then we may live com-fortably in Jesus; and we may accept, without a need to untangle it, what God has meted out to us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Because faith looks at Christ in every duty, it touches the hem of His garment; and through Christ, both the per-son and the offering are accepted, (Eph. 1:6)." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Lord's Prayer"]
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Tues., 3/12/13 Devotion (Ex. 23:30)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 23:30, where we read these words:
"Little by little I will drive them [the Canaanites, et. al.] out from be-fore you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."
Sanctification is a bit-by-bit process. Whereas justification is an in-stantaneous, one time event--wherein we are regenerated from death to life--sanctification is progressive. We would not want all of Christ's sanctifying blessings in one fell swoop. To so receive them would be to try to drink from a fire hose. Instead, God metes out His growth in His children a piece at a time.
Let us be satisfied with this arrangement; and recognize that it is actually quite merciful. It is good for us to have to learn to fight and defeat a few "Canaanites" every once in a while. If the whole land were forever cleared of them, we might well grow complacent.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If is one mercy for God to love the soul, and another mercy for God to assure the soul of His love." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
"Little by little I will drive them [the Canaanites, et. al.] out from be-fore you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."
Sanctification is a bit-by-bit process. Whereas justification is an in-stantaneous, one time event--wherein we are regenerated from death to life--sanctification is progressive. We would not want all of Christ's sanctifying blessings in one fell swoop. To so receive them would be to try to drink from a fire hose. Instead, God metes out His growth in His children a piece at a time.
Let us be satisfied with this arrangement; and recognize that it is actually quite merciful. It is good for us to have to learn to fight and defeat a few "Canaanites" every once in a while. If the whole land were forever cleared of them, we might well grow complacent.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If is one mercy for God to love the soul, and another mercy for God to assure the soul of His love." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Friday, March 1, 2013
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/1-3/13 Devotion
Yippee--it's almost Sunday! In order to prepare us for church, here is Thomas Watson, from, "All Things for Good":
"The Lord does not tie Himself to a particular way, or use the same order with all. He comes sometimes in a still small voice. Such as have had godly parents, and have sat under the warm sunshine of re-ligious education, often do not know how or when they were called. The Lord did secretly and gradually instil grace into their hearts, as the dew falls unnoticed in drops. They know by the heavenly effects that they are called, but the time or manner they know not. The hand moves on the clock, but they do not perceive when it moves.
"Thus God deals with some. Others are more stubborn and knotty sin-ners, and God comes to them in a rough wind. He uses more wedges of the law to break their hearts; He deeply humbles them, and shows them they are damned without Christ. Then having plowed up the fallow ground of their hearts by humiliation, He sows the seed of consolation. He presents Christ and mercy to them, and draws their wills, not only to accept Christ, but passionately to desire, and faith-fully to rest upon Him. Thus He wrought upon Paul, and called him from a persecutor to a preacher. This call, though it is more visible than the other, yet is not more real. God's method in calling sinners may vary, but the effect is still the same."
"The Lord does not tie Himself to a particular way, or use the same order with all. He comes sometimes in a still small voice. Such as have had godly parents, and have sat under the warm sunshine of re-ligious education, often do not know how or when they were called. The Lord did secretly and gradually instil grace into their hearts, as the dew falls unnoticed in drops. They know by the heavenly effects that they are called, but the time or manner they know not. The hand moves on the clock, but they do not perceive when it moves.
"Thus God deals with some. Others are more stubborn and knotty sin-ners, and God comes to them in a rough wind. He uses more wedges of the law to break their hearts; He deeply humbles them, and shows them they are damned without Christ. Then having plowed up the fallow ground of their hearts by humiliation, He sows the seed of consolation. He presents Christ and mercy to them, and draws their wills, not only to accept Christ, but passionately to desire, and faith-fully to rest upon Him. Thus He wrought upon Paul, and called him from a persecutor to a preacher. This call, though it is more visible than the other, yet is not more real. God's method in calling sinners may vary, but the effect is still the same."
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