Wahoo--Sunday is *almost* here. We get to go to church! In order to help get us ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his "The Ten Com-mandments" book:
"Meditating on a Lord's Day morning on Christ's love, would kindle love in our hearts to Him. How can we look on His bleeding and dying for us and our hearts not be warmed with love to Him? Love is the soul of re-ligion, the purest affection. It is not rivers of oil, but sparks of love that Christ values. And sure, as David said, 'While I was musing the fire burned,' (Ps. 39:3); so, while we are musing of Christ's love in redeem-ing us, the fire of our love will burn towards Him. Then the Christian is in a blessed Sabbath-frame, when, like a seraphim, he is burning in love to Christ."
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Thurs., 8/8/13 Devotion (Ruth 1:16)
Today's encouragement comes from Ruth 1:16, where we read these words:
"But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from fol-lowing after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.' "
Ruth's statement to Naomi (above) is an ideal pattern for all sincere Christians. We are to ask God to permanently accept us (in Jesus), to allow us to follow Him all the way to heaven, to go through whatever circumstances He would choose for us (good or bad), to abide with Him, to make His church our own family, and to be bound perpetually to Him (in faith).
And to think that Ruth was an unclean outsider (in the Old Covenant), just like we are, in our sin and rebellion(!) God received her into His grace, just as He will embrace all believing sinners, even today. Let us be thankful that we serve such a great Lord.
[Puritan quote of the day: "They seek for heaven in hell that seek for spiritual love in an unchanged heart." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruis-ed Reed"]
"But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from fol-lowing after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.' "
Ruth's statement to Naomi (above) is an ideal pattern for all sincere Christians. We are to ask God to permanently accept us (in Jesus), to allow us to follow Him all the way to heaven, to go through whatever circumstances He would choose for us (good or bad), to abide with Him, to make His church our own family, and to be bound perpetually to Him (in faith).
And to think that Ruth was an unclean outsider (in the Old Covenant), just like we are, in our sin and rebellion(!) God received her into His grace, just as He will embrace all believing sinners, even today. Let us be thankful that we serve such a great Lord.
[Puritan quote of the day: "They seek for heaven in hell that seek for spiritual love in an unchanged heart." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruis-ed Reed"]
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Wed., 8/7/13 Devotion (Ps. 7:1a)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 7:1a, where we read these words:
"O LORD my God, in You I put my trust . . . "
This is a succinct creed, and one worthy of our notice, attention, and imitation. David put his trust in the Lord, and not in anyone or anything else. Because of this, God delivered him from his fierce foes (mention-ed throughout this Psalm 7).
Let us put our trust in Christ today. If we do, we will not be disappoint-ed. We may well be assailed and mistreated by those who hate Christ--but we will *not* be put to shame. The Lord will not permit those who trust in His Son to be left to their enemies' devises.
[Puritan quote of the day: "After conversion, the saints have a principle [within them that is] contrary to sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
"O LORD my God, in You I put my trust . . . "
This is a succinct creed, and one worthy of our notice, attention, and imitation. David put his trust in the Lord, and not in anyone or anything else. Because of this, God delivered him from his fierce foes (mention-ed throughout this Psalm 7).
Let us put our trust in Christ today. If we do, we will not be disappoint-ed. We may well be assailed and mistreated by those who hate Christ--but we will *not* be put to shame. The Lord will not permit those who trust in His Son to be left to their enemies' devises.
[Puritan quote of the day: "After conversion, the saints have a principle [within them that is] contrary to sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Tues., 8/6/13 Devotion (Acts 24:16)
Today's encouragement comes from Paul's words, found in Acts 24:16:
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without of-fense toward God and men."
God's people ought to do everything in their power to faithfully please Him; and, in so doing, to not unduly offend men either. Sometimes this is impossible. Doing what God commands *will*, in some cases, offend people. In those cases, it is always best to honor God, and let sinners be upset about it.
The rule for the church to go by is this: faithfulness to Christ is *al-ways* in *every* human beings' best interest, (even though the unre-generate do not realize, nor accept this). Let us seek to keep our con-sciences clean, by walking by faith in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Truth is truth, and error, error, and that which is unlawful is unlawful, whether men think so or not." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without of-fense toward God and men."
God's people ought to do everything in their power to faithfully please Him; and, in so doing, to not unduly offend men either. Sometimes this is impossible. Doing what God commands *will*, in some cases, offend people. In those cases, it is always best to honor God, and let sinners be upset about it.
The rule for the church to go by is this: faithfulness to Christ is *al-ways* in *every* human beings' best interest, (even though the unre-generate do not realize, nor accept this). Let us seek to keep our con-sciences clean, by walking by faith in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Truth is truth, and error, error, and that which is unlawful is unlawful, whether men think so or not." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Monday, August 5, 2013
Mon., 8/5/13 Devotion (Jer. 33:3)
Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 33:3, where we read these words:
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
Do we really "call" on God, as often as we ought to? Probably not. The Lord is *so* great, that He is worthy of BIG requests. We ought to call on Him to establish His church as the glory of the earth. We should ask Him to give His faithful Christians victory over all His enemies--and to make His people agents of reconciliation and righteousness in the world.
A lot of times we just do not know how to pray. Sometimes, we pray about mundane things. But always, it is good to ask God for signifi-cant, world-changing dynamics, (which exalt Christ and bless His church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is never a holy sigh, never a tear shed, which is lost. . . . By prayer we learn to pray." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
Do we really "call" on God, as often as we ought to? Probably not. The Lord is *so* great, that He is worthy of BIG requests. We ought to call on Him to establish His church as the glory of the earth. We should ask Him to give His faithful Christians victory over all His enemies--and to make His people agents of reconciliation and righteousness in the world.
A lot of times we just do not know how to pray. Sometimes, we pray about mundane things. But always, it is good to ask God for signifi-cant, world-changing dynamics, (which exalt Christ and bless His church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is never a holy sigh, never a tear shed, which is lost. . . . By prayer we learn to pray." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Friday, August 2, 2013
Fri.-Sabbath, 8/2-4/13 Devotion
Sunday IS coming! Yippee. Here is some brilliant genius from Thomas Watson, as it is found in his profound work, entitled, "The Art of Divine Contentment." Pastor Watson is dealing with Paul's assertion, as it is found in Php. 4:11:
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hardly the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature. St Paul did not come naturally by it, but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear, it was taught him by the Spirit. Whence our second doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The business of religion is not so facile [easy] as most do imag-ine. 'I have learned,' says St Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58. 3)--and therefore facile. It comes as water out of a spring, It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken with-out storm; but matters of religion must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned, but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learned.' "
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hardly the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature. St Paul did not come naturally by it, but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear, it was taught him by the Spirit. Whence our second doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The business of religion is not so facile [easy] as most do imag-ine. 'I have learned,' says St Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58. 3)--and therefore facile. It comes as water out of a spring, It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken with-out storm; but matters of religion must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned, but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learned.' "
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Thurs., 8/1/13 Devotion (Acts 19:20)
Today's encouragement comes from Acts 19:20, where we read these few words:
"So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."
It is good for both the church and the world, when the word of God grows mightily, and prevails. When the devil is put on the defensive, and the church advances boldly--real territory is gained, and Christ is glorified.
Let us pray toward this end; and let us live toward this end: that the word of God would grow and prevail. There are only two options: either God's word is advancing, or the world's (devil's) word is making head-way. Thank God that we know Christ always has the victory.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord has a special eye upon and loves to dwell with these who are of choice and excellent spirits." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."
It is good for both the church and the world, when the word of God grows mightily, and prevails. When the devil is put on the defensive, and the church advances boldly--real territory is gained, and Christ is glorified.
Let us pray toward this end; and let us live toward this end: that the word of God would grow and prevail. There are only two options: either God's word is advancing, or the world's (devil's) word is making head-way. Thank God that we know Christ always has the victory.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord has a special eye upon and loves to dwell with these who are of choice and excellent spirits." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
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