Tues., 8/11/20 Devotion (Rom. 1:17a, 18a)

Today's encouragement comes from Paul's words, as they are found in Ro-mans 1:17a & 18a:

"For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to

faith . . . For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men . . . "

Notice that God makes two "revelations" here, both within the space of only two verses. The first is His "righteousness"; and the second is His "wrath." The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel (and its elect recipients); and it is received and lived-in by faith in Christ alone. The wrath of God is re-vealed to the entire world; and is manifest in the consciences of all men—especially to those who never repent.

The only difference between those who receive the righteousness of God and the wrath of God is faith in Jesus. "The just live by faith," (Rom. 1:17b); whereas the wicked are "given up to uncleanness," (Rom. 1:24a). What is be-ing revealed to our hearts today: God's righteousness or His wrath?

[Puritan quote of the day: "A good life adorns religion, a good tongue propa-gates it.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]

Mon., 8/10/20 Devotion (Acts 28:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 28:6, where these words are found:

"However, they were expecting that [Paul] would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god."

Behold the amazing fickleness of religious people. In v. 4, the Maltese natives thought Paul was a murderer. Two verses later, they think he is a god. There is a lesson here: it is the weakness of the flesh to automatically run to wild ex-tremes, in the evaluation of people. The truth is that even the redeemed of the Lord operate in the "middle," "gray area," where our new natures in Christ prevail—through great struggle—over our old natures in Adam.

Let us be wary of either exalting or demeaning God's people. Only Christ is 100% perfect in every way.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Zeal quickens the pursuit after glory. Zeal, encoun-tering difficulty, is emboldened by opposition and tramples upon danger.”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 8/7-9/20 Devotion

 So as to help prepare us for the Lord's Day's church worship service, here are some good words from the great Jonathan Edwards, as they are taken from his sermon entitled, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence":

"The grace of God in bestowing this gift [of grace] is most free. God was under no obligation to bestow it. He might have rejected fallen man as He did the fallen angels. We never did anything to merit it; it was given while we were yet enemies, and before we had so much as repented. It was from the love of God, who saw no excellency in us to attract it; and it was without ex-pectation of ever being requited [paid back] for it.

"And it is from mere grace that the benefits of Christ are applied to such and such particular persons. Those who are called and sanctified are to attribute it to the good pleasure of God's goodness alone, by which they are distinguish-ed. God is sovereign, and has mercy on whom He will have mercy."

Thurs., 8/6/20 Devotion (Acts 24:25a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 24:25a, which says this:

"Now as [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid . . . "

Here (above) the Apostle Paul is evangelizing the public official Felix. The *order* of Paul's discourse is intriguing (as it is given us by the Holy Spirit, here in the Book of Acts). The apostle *starts* with "righteousness." We can be sure he put all the stress on *Christ's* righteousness, imputed to sinners, by grace through faith (alone). Only then, does Paul go into "self-control," and "the judgment to come."

Too often well-meaning believers seek to "evangelize" by telling people they need to change the way they live; and by "scaring" them (with judgment). These areas are important; but they are never effective without the gospel: the righteousness of Christ being freely offered to sinners.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The word 'Father' is a sweet word, for it sweetens all our duties.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 8/5/20 Devotion (Ps. 4:6-7)

Today's encouragement comes from David's words of Psalm 4:6 & 7, which say this:

"There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good?' LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased."

Many pessimists are abroad today, especially in the religious world. Pessim-ism is a good cloak, (or so it is thought), for unbelief. David's hope was not in the things worldlings seek after (solely): money, clothing, houses, prestige, etc. David enjoyed, as all the godly do, a "secret feast" of the soul, whereby he was constantly nourished and refreshed in Christ.

Let us behold the Messianic (church) kingdom with the eyes of faith in our Lord Jesus. Even today, all the godly partake of the realm of Christ's grace. As we do so, we carry about with us, even here and now, a real piece of heaven.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As God has two places He dwells in, heaven and a humble heart, so the devil has two places he dwells in, hell and a hard heart.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Tues., 8/4/20 Devotion (Acts 22:8a, 10a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 22:8a & 10a, where we read these words:

"So I [Paul] answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ . . . So I [Paul] said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ "

All human beings—even extremely zealous pharisaical ones, like the pre-converted Paul—know that there is a God. What they do not know is that He is accessed through a God-Man “Lord”—that being Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.

Once Paul knew that it was the Risen Jesus who was speaking to him, he (Paul) was in a position to ask Christ what he should do. God had Paul go into Damascus, get baptized, and hear what his marching orders for the rest of his life would be. There is a lesson here for us who are (by grace) faithful in God’s church: we who know Christ, by sovereign grace, will exercise faith in living for Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Whatsoever you desire that God should give you, cast that upon the Lord.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Mon., 8/3/20 Devotion (Jer. 31:12a, c)

Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 31:12a & c, where we read these words:

"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD . . . Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all."

Jeremiah the prophet (above) is speaking of the Gospel times the church has lived in since the resurrection of the Messiah. Believers stream to Christ, singing His praise in and as His body, His church. Their souls are satisfied and nourished.  They continue to struggle with the flesh, sin, the world, and the devil—but they do not "sorrow" anymore, because their sins are forgiven.

Let us—who even just yesterday (Sunday) were on "Mt. Zion," meeting with and worshipping our Savior—go forth rejoicing this week, as we serve our King in the various places in which He has assigned us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Difficulty commends duty, and the less you have to sweeten your action the more sweet it is to God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lift-ing Up for the Downcast"]