Today's encouragement comes from Job 38:4a, where we read these words:
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . "
Ouch. How would we like to have God ask this kind of question of us? To hear these words would humble us right down to the dust. The reality is that the Lord *does* pose to us this basic query every time we presume to know better than He does, or every time we complain about His providences (and the way they work) in our lives.
We know that we did not yet exist when God "laid the foundations of the earth." Therefore, we have no right to counsel Him on how He ought to run His universe. This one thing is for sure: we could not do a better job at it than He can do. Let all of us redeemed churchmen come to more implicitly trust our Heavenly Father, believing the best of Him always—especially based on His love for us in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens.” —Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Tues., 3/8/16 Devotion (2 Cor. 7:5b)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 7:5b, where we read these words (of Paul):
" . . . Outside were conflicts, inside were fears."
The Christian’s church life, with all its attendant human relationships, is both the most glorious of all fellowships; but it can also be the most painful and grievous. The Apostle Paul is describing (above) how he himself felt, in re-gard to the Corinthian congregation, after he was forced to upbraid them for their sin (in a previous, no longer extant epistle).
The whole thing had made Paul sad, nervous, and even "fearful." He was fi-nally comforted by Titus' report (cf. v. 6 ff.)—but in the meantime he was quite tormented in his soul. In light of all this, let us who are sincere believers in Jesus be aware that we "put our hearts on the line" when we join in covenant with others (in the church). Though it can sometimes be very painful; it is al-ways the right thing to do—since our Savior Himself set us the example, by joining Himself to us (His redeemed church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Trust [God] where you cannot trace Him. God is most in His way, when we think He is most out of the way.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
" . . . Outside were conflicts, inside were fears."
The Christian’s church life, with all its attendant human relationships, is both the most glorious of all fellowships; but it can also be the most painful and grievous. The Apostle Paul is describing (above) how he himself felt, in re-gard to the Corinthian congregation, after he was forced to upbraid them for their sin (in a previous, no longer extant epistle).
The whole thing had made Paul sad, nervous, and even "fearful." He was fi-nally comforted by Titus' report (cf. v. 6 ff.)—but in the meantime he was quite tormented in his soul. In light of all this, let us who are sincere believers in Jesus be aware that we "put our hearts on the line" when we join in covenant with others (in the church). Though it can sometimes be very painful; it is al-ways the right thing to do—since our Savior Himself set us the example, by joining Himself to us (His redeemed church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Trust [God] where you cannot trace Him. God is most in His way, when we think He is most out of the way.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Monday, March 7, 2016
Mon., 3/7/16 Devotion (Ex. 18:19b)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 18:19b, where we read these words:
"[Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, said to Moses], 'Stand before God for the peo-ple, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.' "
Moses was a type of mediator between the people of Israel and their God. When they had a problem, they brought it to Moses, who would seek to settle it in light of the Law of the Lord. Jesus Christ, the church's great high priest, perfectly fulfilled what Moses only prefigured. He shed His blood for His peo-ple, making reconciliation between a holy God and many sinners.
On top of this, our Lord Jesus even today continues to intercede for the church, at the Father's right hand, (Rom. 8:34b). Do we have "difficulties" to-day? Nothing it too hard for the Lord. Let us lay our concerns before Him, and trust His perfect judgment relative to them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Remember: God's work goes on, and nothing falls out but what He has decreed from eternity.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
"[Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, said to Moses], 'Stand before God for the peo-ple, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.' "
Moses was a type of mediator between the people of Israel and their God. When they had a problem, they brought it to Moses, who would seek to settle it in light of the Law of the Lord. Jesus Christ, the church's great high priest, perfectly fulfilled what Moses only prefigured. He shed His blood for His peo-ple, making reconciliation between a holy God and many sinners.
On top of this, our Lord Jesus even today continues to intercede for the church, at the Father's right hand, (Rom. 8:34b). Do we have "difficulties" to-day? Nothing it too hard for the Lord. Let us lay our concerns before Him, and trust His perfect judgment relative to them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Remember: God's work goes on, and nothing falls out but what He has decreed from eternity.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Friday, March 4, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/4-6/16 Devotion
Wahoo—Sunday is almost here! We get to go to church. To help get us ready, here is Thomas Watson, from, "The Happiness of Drawing Near to God":
"If we would draw near to God, let us understand our own needs. Let us con-sider in what need we stand for God and that we cannot be happy without Him. The prodigal son never drew near to his father, until he ‘began to be in want,’ Luke 15:14. A proud sinner, who was never convinced of his needs, has no interest in coming near to God; he has a supply of his own to live up-
on—Jer 2:31: ‘We are lords; we will come no more to You [God].’ A full sto-mach despises the honeycomb.
"It is the sense of want [need] which brings us near to God. Why did so many lame and paralytical people resort to Christ, but because they wanted a cure. Why does the thirsty man draw near to a fountain but because he wants water. Why does a condemned man draw near his prince but because he wants a pardon. When a poor soul truly surveys his wants: 'I want grace; I want the favor of God, I am damned without Christ’—this makes him draw near to God, and be an earnest supplicant for mercy."
"If we would draw near to God, let us understand our own needs. Let us con-sider in what need we stand for God and that we cannot be happy without Him. The prodigal son never drew near to his father, until he ‘began to be in want,’ Luke 15:14. A proud sinner, who was never convinced of his needs, has no interest in coming near to God; he has a supply of his own to live up-
on—Jer 2:31: ‘We are lords; we will come no more to You [God].’ A full sto-mach despises the honeycomb.
"It is the sense of want [need] which brings us near to God. Why did so many lame and paralytical people resort to Christ, but because they wanted a cure. Why does the thirsty man draw near to a fountain but because he wants water. Why does a condemned man draw near his prince but because he wants a pardon. When a poor soul truly surveys his wants: 'I want grace; I want the favor of God, I am damned without Christ’—this makes him draw near to God, and be an earnest supplicant for mercy."
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Thurs., 3/3/16 Devotion (Ex. 14:12)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 14:12, which says this:
"Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (ESV)
Sinners, in the fallen state, would rather serve the devil and his purposes, than to suffer a little inconvenience with God "in the wilderness." This is true, even though the devil is a very harsh taskmaster (just like the Egyptians were). The reason this weird twist exists is because none of us like being brought out of our iniquitous "comfort zones”—even when those places are very undesirable, by any reasonable standard.
May we, with Moses, prefer to suffer a little with the people of God, rather than enjoy the "pleasures" of sin in "Egypt" for a season (cf. Heb. 11:25).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Do you fear God? Now you have a promise that though you have many weaknesses, yet God will spare you as one spares his only child that serves him.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]
"Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (ESV)
Sinners, in the fallen state, would rather serve the devil and his purposes, than to suffer a little inconvenience with God "in the wilderness." This is true, even though the devil is a very harsh taskmaster (just like the Egyptians were). The reason this weird twist exists is because none of us like being brought out of our iniquitous "comfort zones”—even when those places are very undesirable, by any reasonable standard.
May we, with Moses, prefer to suffer a little with the people of God, rather than enjoy the "pleasures" of sin in "Egypt" for a season (cf. Heb. 11:25).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Do you fear God? Now you have a promise that though you have many weaknesses, yet God will spare you as one spares his only child that serves him.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Wed., 3/2/16 Devotion (Lk. 16:31)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 16:31, where we read these words:
"But he ['Abraham'] said to him [the 'rich man'], ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ "
Since faith is sovereignly given to sinners through *hearing* the gospel preached (Rom. 10:17), and not through *seeing* miracles performed—we should not be surprised to hear this principle taught in this text (above) by our Lord Jesus.
Sometimes well-meaning and sincere Christians mistakenly think that sinners will be converted to Christ by their *seeing* various spectacular religious mar-vels (like even someone rising from the dead). But this is not the case at all. Instead, God would have His church faithfully preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through this message of grace, the Holy Spirit will convert those God chooses to redeem.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If we once get the victory over ourselves, all other things are conquered to our ease.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
"But he ['Abraham'] said to him [the 'rich man'], ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ "
Since faith is sovereignly given to sinners through *hearing* the gospel preached (Rom. 10:17), and not through *seeing* miracles performed—we should not be surprised to hear this principle taught in this text (above) by our Lord Jesus.
Sometimes well-meaning and sincere Christians mistakenly think that sinners will be converted to Christ by their *seeing* various spectacular religious mar-vels (like even someone rising from the dead). But this is not the case at all. Instead, God would have His church faithfully preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through this message of grace, the Holy Spirit will convert those God chooses to redeem.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If we once get the victory over ourselves, all other things are conquered to our ease.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Tues., 3/1/16 Devotion (Lk. 15:21)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 15:21, where we read these great words:
"And the [prodigal] son said to [his father], ‘Father, I have sinned against hea-ven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "
To me, this is a most poignant and beautiful section of Holy Scripture. The Prodigal Son is on his way home. He has been rehearsing his lines. He is saying to himself, "Remember to say, 'I have sinned.’ Do not forget the 'no longer worthy' part. And be sure to finish with, 'Make me like one of your hired servants.' "
The Son does pretty well at getting his speech out to his father—but before he ever gets to his last line (about being a hired servant), his father is all over him, showering love and acceptance on him. So it is with God: He is a loving Father, who forgives His own elect children of His church, and receives them into His embraces. This parable is a vivid picture of God's love for the people Jesus procured with His precious blood atonement.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If anything in us or on our part could stop God lov-ing us [His church], then He would long ago have turned away from us.”
—John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]
"And the [prodigal] son said to [his father], ‘Father, I have sinned against hea-ven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "
To me, this is a most poignant and beautiful section of Holy Scripture. The Prodigal Son is on his way home. He has been rehearsing his lines. He is saying to himself, "Remember to say, 'I have sinned.’ Do not forget the 'no longer worthy' part. And be sure to finish with, 'Make me like one of your hired servants.' "
The Son does pretty well at getting his speech out to his father—but before he ever gets to his last line (about being a hired servant), his father is all over him, showering love and acceptance on him. So it is with God: He is a loving Father, who forgives His own elect children of His church, and receives them into His embraces. This parable is a vivid picture of God's love for the people Jesus procured with His precious blood atonement.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If anything in us or on our part could stop God lov-ing us [His church], then He would long ago have turned away from us.”
—John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
