Thurs., 10/21/21 Devotion (Dan. 6:3a)

Today's encouragement comes from Daniel 6:3a, where we read these words:

"Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, be-cause an excellent spirit was in him . . . "

Daniel was an extraordinarily-gifted man. He had faith, integrity, intelligence, looks, position, honor, and the respect of the earthly king he served. But what is interesting—and we see this as an almost-universal fact—is that his con-temporaries both envied him, and sought to bring him down.

When we find one of these "excellent spirit"-type of Christian churchmen—we should seek to emulate them; and not to destroy them. They are models to us of what we can all be, too. Let us learn to appreciate what God Himself ad-mires; and let us not forget the fate of the enemies of such souls: they—Dan-iel's accusers—ended up being dinner for a bunch of hungry lions(!)

[Puritan quote of the day: "A true saint thinks he can never speak too well of God or too ill of himself.” —Richard Steele, in, "The Character of an Upright Man"]

Wed., 10/20/21 Devotion (Ps. 111:4b, 5b)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 111:4b & 5b, where we read these words:

"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. . . . He will ever be mindful of His covenant."

What a wonderful God believing Christian churchmen serve! He is amazingly merciful; and He is totally committed to His covenant (i.e. keeping all His promises to His church, in Christ alone). The world, our own flesh, and the devil are always seeking to make us think that the Lord is anything *but* "gracious and full of compassion”—but in our hearts and minds, all the re-deemed know this to be true.

Since we have such a spectacular God, let us serve Him with cheerfulness and vivacity today. While we live in this world, we have the honor and privil-ege of overcoming our weaknesses (in Christ, by faith); and, as we do this, we can lift up the Name of the Lord Jesus before the watching world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Though heaven is God's glorious mansion, yet it will not serve His turn. God does not think that to be enough unless He has a dwelling also in a tender, broken, humble spirit.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/8-10/21 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is *almost* here! In order to prepare us for church wor-ship, here is the outstanding Thomas Watson, from his excellent work, "Heav-en Taken by Storm":

“Our Christian Sabbath comes in the place of the Jewish Sabbath: it is called 'the Lord's day,' (Rev. 1.10)—from Christ the Author of it.

"Our Sabbath is altered by Christ's own appointment. He arose this day out of the grave, and appeared on it often to His disciples, (1 Cor. 16:1)—to intimate to them (says Athanasius) that He transferred the Sabbath to the Lord's day. And St. Augustine says that by Christ's rising on the first day of the week, it was consecrated to be the Christian Sabbath, in remembrance of His resur-rection.

"This day was anciently called 'dies lucis,' 'the day of light,' as Junius ob-serves. The other days of the week would be dark, were it not for the shining of the sun of righteousness on this day. This day has been called by the an-cients, 'regina dierum,' 'the queen of days.’

"The primitive church held this day in high veneration. It was a great badge of their religion; for when the question was asked, 'servasti dominicum?,' 'do you keep the Sabbath?'; the answer was, 'Christianus sum,' 'I am a Christian; I dare not omit the celebration of the Lord's day!' "

Thurs., 10/7/21 Devotion (Php. 1:28)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 1:28, where we read these remarkable words:

“ . . . and not [being] frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” (ESV)

This is a beautiful verse. The Christ-loving church need fear no one, but God Himself. The world is always seeking to intimidate us with all its evil and per-version—and yet faithful Christian churchmen are to be totally unmoved by them.

. . . Our refusal to be frightened by our foes is good news for us; but it is very bad news for God’s enemies. They will be destroyed, one way or the other. Let us pray that it is their sin, and not their souls, that will be vanquished by our sovereign God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "All the wicked, still, are under the covenant of works . . . “ —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 10/6/21 Devotion (Eph. 6:24)

Today's encouragement comes from the very last verse of Paul's letter to the Ephesian church(es)—Ephesians 6:24:

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."

The most important part of any genuine Christian faith is sincere love for the Savior. But it would seem that many professing and very religious Christians do not love Jesus "in sincerity." There appears to be a lot of feigned (or pre-tended) love (for God) out there. We will remember that even Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss.

God knows the hearts of all people; and He knows those priceless souls who really do love His Son. Those church saints who do love Christ are given all of God's best, all in Jesus. Those people who do not love Christ are indistin-guishable from the world; and are subject to God’s wrath.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is the infusion of a new and holy principle into the heart whereby it is changed from what it was and is made after God's own heart.” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Beauty of Grace"]

Tues., 10/5/21 Devotion (Eph. 5:1-2a)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 5:1 & 2a, where we read these words:

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love . . . "

Paul is telling the Ephesian churchmen—even as he still speaks to the church today—that we are to "imitate" God. The first and clearest way we do this, is by "walking in love." The ability to do both of these otherwise-preposterous commands, is found in what sandwiches in between them: "as dear children."

. . . As the children of God, true Christians will imitate their Heavenly Father, even as natural children imitate their human fathers. But *how* do we do something that does not come naturally to any of us (because of our sin)? Through our living faith in Jesus. The Son of God is the One who connects us, the children of God, to our Heavenly Father. Can we walk in imitative love today? Yes; but only in Christ our Lord.

[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"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/1-3/21 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday. We *get* to go to church! Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The Ten Commandments" book:

"How does it appear that children have a right to baptism?

"Children are parties in the covenant of grace. The covenant was made with them. 'I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and your seed after you, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto you, and to your seed after you,' (Gen 17:7). 'The promise is to you and to your children,' (Acts 2:39). The covenant of grace may be considered either, 1) More strictly, as an absolute promise to give saving grace; and so none but the elect are in covenant with God. Or, 2) More largely, as a covenant containing in it many outward glori-ous privileges, in which respects the children of believers do belong to the covenant of grace.

“ 'The promise is to you and to your seed.' The infant seed of believers may as well lay a claim to the covenant of grace as their parents; and having a right to the covenant, they cannot justly be denied baptism, which is its seal. It is certain the children of believers were once visibly in covenant with God [in the OT], and received the seal of their admission into the church; where now do we find this covenant interest, or church membership of infants, repealed or made void? Certainly Jesus Christ did not come to put believers and their children into a worse condition than they were in before. If the children of be-lievers should not be baptised, they are in a worse condition now than they were in before Christ's coming."