Wed., 4/12/23 Devotion (1 Tim. 1:15)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 1:15, where Paul wrote these great words:

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

Are we sinners today? Do we know ourselves to be such? If so, then there is hope for us. Jesus Christ does not save self-righteous non-sinners. Instead, He redeems hopelessly lost, messed-up wretches. People who think of them-selves as “good” do not need a Savior. These kinds of “good" people go to hell. Bad people, redeemed by Jesus' blood, and who end up loving Him, and being HIs true church, go to heaven.

So, let us remember why Christ came: to save sinners. Let us be glad for this wondrous fact.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus God is said in Scripture to impute righteous-ness to them who believe, not because they have this righteousness in them, but because He reckons it as theirs, and reckons them righteous by it.”

—Obadiah Grew, in, "The Lord our Righteousness"]

Tues., 4/11/23 Devotion (2 Thess. 3:3)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where we read these words:

"But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."

It is wonderful that God protects His children in Christ's church from "the evil one." The old snake comes slithering around in all kinds of guises. He is a restless, sullen, and driven foe. Sometimes he lands a "punch" on some of the Lord's people—but he is never able to fell us.

Let all Christ's regenerate saints be thankful that our Lord is "faithful"; and that this kind grace expresses itself in both the "establishment" of our souls, and the *safety* and security of them. This is no small blessing; and it is one for which we should be very grateful (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ gives to those who come to Him such com-fort and pleasure as are enough to make them forget all their former labor and travail.” —Jonathan Edwards, in the book, "On Knowing Christ"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/7-9/23 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to return to the church, to worship The True God! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity” book. . . .

"Why was Jesus Christ made flesh?

"The 'causa prima,' and impulsive cause, was free grace. It was love in God the Father to send Christ; and love in Christ that He came to be incarnate. Love was the intrinsic motive. Christ is God/Man, because He is a lover of man. Christ came out of pity and indulgence to us: 'non merita nostra, sed misera nostra,' Augustine. 'Not our deserts, but our misery,' made Christ take flesh. Christ's taking flesh was a plot of free grace, and a pure design of love. God Himself, though Almighty, was overcome with love. Christ Incarnate is nothing but Love covered with flesh. As Christ's assuming our human nature was a masterpiece of wisdom, so it was a monument of free grace."

Thurs., 4/6/23 Devotion (Lev. 9:4b)

Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 9:4b, where we read these few words:

" . . . For today the LORD will appear to you."

Every Lord's Day (Sunday), in the proper worship of the church, God "ap-pears" to His people, and visits them, with His grace and mercy (in Christ). In Lev. 9, God came to the people in their worship service, (see vv. 23-24). But the Lord may also "appear" to His saints throughout the week—subordinate to Sabbath (Sunday) worship, but nonetheless every bit as really.

Are our hearts tender? Are we sensitive to God? Do we truly repent of our sins; and do we cling only to Jesus for forgiveness? If so, then God is certain-ly near to us, visiting us by His Spirit, (cf. Ps. 34:18).

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has God to be his God is so well content-ed with His condition that he does not much care whether he has anything else.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Wed., 4/5/23 Devotion (1 Thess. 2:4)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:4, where Paul wrote these words to the church:

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."

Like Paul, faithful church ministers today are not obsessed with pleasing any fallen human beings; but they (we) are passionate about pleasing our Sove-reign Lord. God's pastors know that they are of no good service to man at all, unless they are first and foremost honoring to and properly-representing their Lord Jesus, who sent them out to preach.

The same could be said for any faithful churched Christian. The believer's primary goal is to see Christ as the sole "audience" of all his or her worship and obedience. In this way (only) is effective ministry, and victorious living possible.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Indeed, sometimes grace is as a sleepy habit in the soul, like sap in the vine—not exerting its vigor, due to spiritual sloth or by reason of falling into some sin—but this is only for a while. The spring of grace will come, the flowers will appear, and the fig tree will put forth her green figs.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Tues., 4/4/23 Devotion (1 Thess. 1:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:8, which says this:

"For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything."

How could a little church in Thessalonica, in the days before the internet, have its gospel message of faith be broadcast all over the world? By the grace of God. Whenever and wherever a faithful church worships the Triune God on The Lord's Day (Sunday)—the True God makes sure that Christ's glory, His gospel, and His church gets spread all over the place.

Do we understand (completely) how this happens? No; but it is true, none-theless. Let us recognize that our greatest evangelistic witness happens in the church's worship services (as we love Christ and one another); and let us thank God that His praise does indeed go forth from there to all the earth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Those whose hearts follow hard after the Lord have the right hand of God upholding them.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gos-pel Worship"]

Mon., 4/3/23 Devotion (Lev. 6:13)

Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 6:13, where we read these words:

"A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.”

The entire Old Covenant sacrificial system prefigured the (now-completed) work of Christ. The fire not going out reminds us of the eternal intercession Jesus' blood now affects for His redeemed, forgiven, and yet far-from-sinless elect churchmen.

Because of Christ's mediation on our behalf, the fire of our affection, devotion, and commitment—though sometimes waning—is ever-stoked with the reviv-ing flames of our love for God, as we continually behold Him in His beautiful and pristine Son.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Repentance is a pure gospel grace. The covenant of works admitted no repentance; there it was, sin and die. Repentance came in by the gospel.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]