Today's encouragement comes from Ezekiel 47:12b, where we read these amazing words:
" . . . They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Behold (above), the wonderful ministry of Christ in *this* world, through His New Covenant church. From the sanctuary (the faithful church’s pulpit) the water of Life flows freely, and it causes both fruitfulness and healing for all the nations.
Jesus is the Water of Life, and He is presented in His preached gospel of grace. As souls are regenerated, healed, forgiven, and enlightened, they con-tinue to "bear fruit" as they keep coming back to the sanctuary, from whence the “Water flows." Let us be thankful that God has provided such bounty for us, in *this* life; and all in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Submit to Christ willingly. All the devils in hell sub-mit to Christ; but it is against their will; they are His slaves, not His subjects.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Monday, October 14, 2019
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Thurs., 10/10/19 Devotion (Php. 4:6-7)
Today's encouragement comes from Paul's great words, as they are found in Philippians 4:6 & 7:
"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."
Because the Lord is "at hand," (v. 5), the church is urged to "be anxious for nothing," but rather to pray. We believers in Christ often find it hardest to pray, at the very moment we most need to. Let this not discourage us. God is gra-cious; He hears the groans of the hearts of His children. In Jesus, our Father gives us a calm in the midst of ours storms; and solace in times of greatest need.
Let us not hesitate to bring any of our burdens to our good and gracious God today, in prayer.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Inward grace is wrought by outward means; the preaching of the Word is the engine that God uses to work grace; it is called 'the rod of HIs strength,' (Ps. 110:2).” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Beauty of Grace"]
"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."
Because the Lord is "at hand," (v. 5), the church is urged to "be anxious for nothing," but rather to pray. We believers in Christ often find it hardest to pray, at the very moment we most need to. Let this not discourage us. God is gra-cious; He hears the groans of the hearts of His children. In Jesus, our Father gives us a calm in the midst of ours storms; and solace in times of greatest need.
Let us not hesitate to bring any of our burdens to our good and gracious God today, in prayer.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Inward grace is wrought by outward means; the preaching of the Word is the engine that God uses to work grace; it is called 'the rod of HIs strength,' (Ps. 110:2).” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Beauty of Grace"]
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Wed., 10/9/19 Devotion (Ps. 94:19)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 94:19, where we read these words:
"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."
This verse sort of describes life in our fallen world. The sincere Christian churchman does indeed have "anxieties"; but he or she also has abundant "comforts" in Christ. False forms of Christianity argue that these two are in-compatible. The Scripture, on the other hand, affirms that both consternation *and* consolation co-exist in the children of God.
Even our Savior had "anxieties." Do we remember His time in the Garden of Gethsemane? But our comforts in Christ and the New Covenant outweigh our troubles in the fallen and sinful world. Let us thank God for this.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a vain thing to think that true religion can be maintained, and have the liberty of it, without some difference of opinion among us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."
This verse sort of describes life in our fallen world. The sincere Christian churchman does indeed have "anxieties"; but he or she also has abundant "comforts" in Christ. False forms of Christianity argue that these two are in-compatible. The Scripture, on the other hand, affirms that both consternation *and* consolation co-exist in the children of God.
Even our Savior had "anxieties." Do we remember His time in the Garden of Gethsemane? But our comforts in Christ and the New Covenant outweigh our troubles in the fallen and sinful world. Let us thank God for this.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a vain thing to think that true religion can be maintained, and have the liberty of it, without some difference of opinion among us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Tues., 10/8/19 Devotion (Ps. 92:13-14)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 92:13 & 14, where we read these words, from a Psalm for the Sabbath Day:
"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 flour-ishing . . . "
Are some of us growing a bit older; and we may be wondering if our lives have been worth while, or not? If this is the case, let us recognize—even from the verses above—that only those who are firmly planted in Jesus, in His church, make all the difference in the world; and that they alone really *do* "flourish," and continue to "bear fruit in old age."
All people who forsake Jesus and His church, end up totally wasting their lives. Their miserable existences are worth nothing. On the other hand, those who plant themselves in Christ and His fertile soil of His church and gospel, are rich and fulfilled.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's blood only can merit pardon.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
"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 flour-ishing . . . "
Are some of us growing a bit older; and we may be wondering if our lives have been worth while, or not? If this is the case, let us recognize—even from the verses above—that only those who are firmly planted in Jesus, in His church, make all the difference in the world; and that they alone really *do* "flourish," and continue to "bear fruit in old age."
All people who forsake Jesus and His church, end up totally wasting their lives. Their miserable existences are worth nothing. On the other hand, those who plant themselves in Christ and His fertile soil of His church and gospel, are rich and fulfilled.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's blood only can merit pardon.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
Monday, October 7, 2019
Mon., 10/7/19 Devotion (Ps. 91:9-10)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 91:9 & 10, where we read these words:
"Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . . "
Those who are safely trusting in Jesus' blood atonement alone to protect them from the condemnation of sin's righteous judgment are the only people on earth who will weather the storms of this life (and the next). God is the churchman's "dwelling place" by faith. Faith, not anything else, proves to be our key to victory (1 Jn. 5:4b), since it directly binds us to Christ.
Do we want to be safe from the most real and fearful evils? Then, as the church, let us trust in Jesus alone. Let us look not to our works, or our per-formance—but to our Redeemer.
[Puritan quote of the day: "All the wicked, still, are under the covenant of works . . . “ —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
"Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . . "
Those who are safely trusting in Jesus' blood atonement alone to protect them from the condemnation of sin's righteous judgment are the only people on earth who will weather the storms of this life (and the next). God is the churchman's "dwelling place" by faith. Faith, not anything else, proves to be our key to victory (1 Jn. 5:4b), since it directly binds us to Christ.
Do we want to be safe from the most real and fearful evils? Then, as the church, let us trust in Jesus alone. Let us look not to our works, or our per-formance—but to our Redeemer.
[Puritan quote of the day: "All the wicked, still, are under the covenant of works . . . “ —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Wed., 10/2/19 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."
We sinners are not saved by anything we do. This truth can be extremely hard to accept, because we are so geared in our natural flesh to believing the exact opposite. After the Fall of man in the Garden, works went out the win-dow, (but our memory of them never left us).
To seek to be redeemed by works, or to supposedly sustain a relationship with God through works is a great affront to Christ and the gospel. If we could be saved by what we do, why would God the Father send His precious Son to die on a cruel cross for helpless sinners? Let us be grateful that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This pleases God; and it brings us the best of everything.
[Puritan quote of the day: "To be rich in goods and rich in goodness is a hap-py condition." —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"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."
We sinners are not saved by anything we do. This truth can be extremely hard to accept, because we are so geared in our natural flesh to believing the exact opposite. After the Fall of man in the Garden, works went out the win-dow, (but our memory of them never left us).
To seek to be redeemed by works, or to supposedly sustain a relationship with God through works is a great affront to Christ and the gospel. If we could be saved by what we do, why would God the Father send His precious Son to die on a cruel cross for helpless sinners? Let us be grateful that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This pleases God; and it brings us the best of everything.
[Puritan quote of the day: "To be rich in goods and rich in goodness is a hap-py condition." —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Tues., 10/1/19 Devotion (Ps. 84:10)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 84:10, wherein we read these words:
"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wick-edness."
Even the humblest baptized newborn, being a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is more exalted and noble than the most affluent, proud, and self-sufficient unbeliever (or religious hypocrite). One day in God's house is better than a thousand in a "paradise" of sin and lust.
What do *we* prefer? Those who do not love Christ value everything before Him. Those Christians who love Jesus would take Him over anything else.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If God should make more worlds for [a redeemed soul], yet if He does not give Himself to it [the redeemed soul], it would not be satisfied.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wick-edness."
Even the humblest baptized newborn, being a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is more exalted and noble than the most affluent, proud, and self-sufficient unbeliever (or religious hypocrite). One day in God's house is better than a thousand in a "paradise" of sin and lust.
What do *we* prefer? Those who do not love Christ value everything before Him. Those Christians who love Jesus would take Him over anything else.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If God should make more worlds for [a redeemed soul], yet if He does not give Himself to it [the redeemed soul], it would not be satisfied.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
