Mon., 10/30/23 Devotion (2 Tim. 2:1)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 2:1, where we read these words:

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

This is a lovely verse. In what are we to be "strong"? The "grace that is in Christ Jesus." What *is* this grace? It is Personal grace—that is more than sufficient to meet all of our specific, everyday and eternal needs. How are we to be "strong" in this grace? By faith in The Person of Christ Jesus. When we believe God, that He will answer our prayers which we offer through Jesus, and that He will help us in our needs—it greatly honors Him.

The thing for us to avoid, is the idea that we need to do something *before* we can be strong in Christ's grace. The truth is that this special strength comes to us as we appropriate to our hearts The Person of the Lord Jesus Himself by faith. Are we weak today? Let us put our faith in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For from our neglect of prayer comes that dead-ness of spirit, that worldly-mindedness and unaptness to pray, to hear the Word, and to keep the Sabbath.” —John Preston, in his sermon entitled, "The Saint's Daily Exercise"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/27-29/23 Devotion

Praise God—it almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church. Here is Richard Sibbes, from his, "The Bruised Reed" book. . . .

"What greater unthankfulness can there be than to despise any help that Christ in mercy has provided for us? In the days of His flesh the proud Phari-sees took offense at His familiar conversing with sinful men, though He only did so as a physician to heal their souls. What defenses was Paul driven to make for himself, for his plainness in unfolding the gospel? The more Christ, in Himself and in His servants, shall descend to exalt us, the more we should, with all humility and readiness, entertain that love and magnify the goodness of God, that has put the great work of our salvation, and laid the government, upon so gentle a Savior as will carry Himself so mildly in all things wherein He is to deal between God and us, and us and God. The lower Christ comes down to us, the higher let us lift Him up in our hearts. So will all those do that have ever found the experience of Christ's work in their hearts."

Thurs., 10/26/23 Devotion (2 Ki. 7:9a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 7:9a, which says this:

"Then they said to one another, 'We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. . . . ' "

These words were spoken by four lepers who found great booty in the Syrian army camp, that had been miraculously deserted. They could have kept the wonderful news to themselves, and simply glutted themselves with food and delights—or they could share it with others, who were (like them) starving to death.

So is it the case with the gospel. We churchmen who, by grace, feed on Christ and His goodness every Lord’s Day and even throughout the week, ought to have compassion and concern for those who do not. What do we have to offer them? The Person of Jesus Christ, His atonement, forgiveness, and salvation. We are all by nature spiritual lepers. Our only hope for health and cleansing is the blood of the Son of God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The people of God are begotten through the edu-cation, instruction, and endeavors of those who were God's people before. Therefore, the church is represented in Scripture as being the mother of its members, (Gal. 4:26).” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Christians a Chosen Generation"]

Wed., 10/25/23 Devotion (2 Ki. 6:33b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 6:33b, where we read these words:

" . . . the king [of Israel] said, 'Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?' "

The irony is that the first thing the king of Israel said (above) was essentially true. God does send “calamity” on sinners—but always for their ultimate good, to turn them to Christ. The second part of his speech is where the problem comes in. . . .

When we are pressed with troubles or calamities, even if they are “from the LORD”—our best attitude is one of patience, not impatience. Let us remem-ber that we are the problem, not God; and let us humble ourselves, and find all our relief in our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,” (Isa. 53:4).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Oh, do not let the devil be your master, nor the world your god. Do not let sin cheat and impose upon you with its false and counterfeit delights.” —Timothy Rogers, in, "Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy”]

Mon., 10/23/23 Devotion (Ps. 116:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 116:1, where we read these words:

"I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications."

Among many other reasons, here is an eminent one for us to wholeheartedly *love* God: He hears the prayers of His true, suffering, “poor” church saints. The psalmist had been struggling mightily, but God delivered him from all his distress. 

This fallen world is a dangerous place, filled with a lot of spiritual traps, snares, false gospels, and false hopes. Even the true people of God are tempted to imbibe of them. When, by grace, we find ourselves desperate, and at the “ends” of our “ropes,” let us cry out to God through our faith in Jesus Christ, and receive His kind, miraculous, and liberating mercy.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the af-fections that there can be no true religion without them.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in, "A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/20-22/23 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here! As we prepare for the Lord's Day, here is some encouragement from Thomas Watson’s, "A Body of Divinity” book.

"Though nothing can add to God’s essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others. When we praise God, we spread His fame and renown; we display the trophies of His excellency. In this manner the angels glorify Him; they are the choristers of heaven, and do trumpet forth His praise.

"Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels. Believers are called ‘temples of God,’ (1 Cor. 3:16). When our tongues praise, then the organs in God’s spirit-ual temple are sounding."

Thurs., 10/19/23 Devotion (2 Thess. 1:3a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:3a, where we read these words:

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly . . . "

We do not usually think of faith as "growing." What does this mean? It refers to the fact that saving faith, which is a gift of God in regeneration, begins to be applied to more and more situations and circumstances of life. Instead of solely touching on salvation—growing faith begins to impress itself on other (and vast) tracts of everyday experiences.

Therefore, what is it that we have to face today? Whatever that is, it is to be subject to our faith in Jesus—the same miraculous faith God gave us when He joined us to our Savior in His church. Faith in Christ is to swallow-up all of our problems. Remember: faith alone pleases God, (cf. Heb. 11:6).

[Puritan quote of the day: "A believing soul dares venture his name, his es-tate, his life, yea, his eternal life on God. He dares to put them all into His hands.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]