Mon., 7/1/24 Devotion (Matt. 11:28)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 11:28, where we read these blessed words which fell from the Savior's lips:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Augustine's maxim is so true: "Our souls are restless until we find our rest in You [God]." Are our souls unsettled today? Are they restless, ill at ease, and in an uncomfortable state? If so, then let us come to Jesus. Sin and life’s trou-bles cause our hearts to "move around," like planets in the night sky. Faith in Christ’s blood atonement causes them to rest, like stars in the firmament.

A soul at rest can pray to God, and can concentrate on what is truly impor-tant. A person that is constantly restless can only do a lot of work, hoping to assuage guilt and worry. God only accepts hearts that come to Christ, and rest in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "This may be a great comfort to you: God does not expect you to root out all presence of sin, but only to keep down the reigning of sin in you.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Mortified Christian"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/28-30/24 Devotion

Thank God—the Sabbath Day is only two days away. Let us bless the Lord for Sunday, the Resurrection Day. As we prepare ourselves for the church’s worship of our Triune God, here are some good words from Jonathan Ed-wards’ great book, “The Religious Affections.” . . .

“ . . . the holy Scriptures do abundantly place sincerity and soundness in reli-gion in making a full choice of God as our only Lord and portion, forsaking all for Him, and, in a full determination of the will for God and Christ, on counting the cost; in our heart’s closing and complying with the religion of Jesus Christ, with all that belongs to it, embracing it with all its difficulties, as it were hating our dearest earthly enjoyments and even our own lives, for Christ; giving up ourselves, with all that we have, wholly and forever, unto Christ, without keep-ing back anything, or making any reserve; or, in one word, in the great duty of self-denial for Christ; or in denying, i.e., as it were, disowning and renouncing ourselves for Him, making ourselves nothing that He may be all. . . . Now, surely, having a heart to forsake all for Christ, tends to actually forsaking all for Him, so far as there is occasion, and we have the trial. A having a heart to deny ourselves for Christ tends to a denying ourselves indeed, when Christ and self-interest stand in competition."

Thurs., 6/27/24 Devotion (Matt. 7:29)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 7:29, where we read these words:

" . . . for He [Jesus] taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

All truly-called church ministers of the gospel are commanded by God Himself to preach and teach "with all authority," as per this verse above, and Titus 2:15. Christ and His pastors (elders) are the only ones on the earth uniquely vested with divine authority to teach the world the truth about the most impor-tant things—particularly those things that relate to the gospel of grace.

The scribes were weak, vacillating, and tentative. Jesus was strong, certain, and sure. True Christians actually long for loving, honest, authoritative preaching; but false Christians cannot stand it. In truth, it is to the advantage of *all* people everywhere that the gospel of Jesus’ grace goes forth clearly and boldly.

[Puritan quote of the day: "But yet the greater instruments the Lord raises up for His glory, the greater service He calls them unto, the greater things may we hope He intends for His church.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excel-lency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Wed., 6/26/24 Devotion (Matt. 6:33)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 6:33, where we read these words:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

All worry is a result of misplaced priorities. The entire fallen world misses out on the best (Christ), by seeking inferior (even good) things. In the end, every-thing is lost. Our Messiah promises us that, if we seek Him and His kingdom, everything we need will also be added to us.

God is not stingy with us—He is magnanimous with us. Our Father knows what we need; but He loves us too much to allow us to find true and real sat-isfaction in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We should not look at our services to God only as duties enjoined, but as high privileges, as dignities put upon us that we should glory in His service.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"

Tues., 6/25/24 Devotion (Isa. 57:15)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 57:15, where we read these won-derful words:

"For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’ “
 
Essentially, God “dwells” in two places: in heaven; and in the souls of human beings who are entirely given over to Jesus Christ. God is “present” every-where else, even in hell—but His covenantal “home” is always with the Mem-bers of the Holy Trinity, and the members of the elect and redeemed church (in heaven and on earth).

Where God is, there is “revival,” inevitable life. Anything separate from Christ is death; everything directly connected to Christ is alive.

[Puritan quote of the day: "And if you look into your experience, who has more kisses and embraces of love from God our Father, than the weak Chris-tian has?” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For The Downcast"]

Mon., 6/24/24 Devotion (Isa. 56:6b-7a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 56:6b & 7a, where we read these words:

" . . . Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My cove-nant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. . . . "

Here (above) is a sweet promise to all faithful churchmen. Do we love the Lord? Do we love Him enough to value His Sabbath (Sunday), His church, and His worship? If so, then there are real solid blessings that are ours. We will know "mountain" experiences of praise (even in this world); and we will be joyful in God's house, His church.

Most religious people are seeking their fulfillment in other places, and in other ways. They may receive some false "highs" from time-to-time; but only the faithful get to enjoy the real goods (in Christ).  Let us stay the course of faith. We will not regret it (on the last day).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Prayer is the pouring out of the soul to God; not the pouring out of words, nor the pouring out of expressions; but the pouring out of the soul to God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For The Downcast"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/21-23/24 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here. In order to get ready for church, here are some great words from Jonathan Edwards’, “The Religious Affections” book. . . .

“Spiritual understanding primarily consists in this sense or taste of the moral beauty of divine things; so that no knowledge can be called spiritual, any fur-ther than it arises from this and has this in it. . . .

“When the true beauty and amiableness of the holiness, or true moral good, that is in divine things is discovered to the soul, it, as it were, opens a new world to its view. This shows the glory of all the perfections of God and of every thing appertaining to the divine Being. . . . It is by seeing the excellence of Christ’s Person that the saints are made sensible of the preciousness of His blood, and its sufficiency to atone for sin; for therein consists the pre-ciousness of Christ’s blood, that it is the blood of so excellent and amiable a Person."