Mon., 7/28/25 Devotion (Mk. 10:35-36)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 10:35 & 36, where we read these words:

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to [Jesus], saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?’ “

Even as true Christians, one of our biggest problems is that we just do not ask God for enough; and, worse than that, we do not request His greatest blessings—the ones that will bring us the most joy.

The Zebedee boys are never reproved by the blessed Messiah for their au-dacious words (above). Jesus was more than willing to hear them. Their peti-tion turned out to be a bit self-serving; and only later would they learn that to have the fullness of Christ in His gospel through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit was what they really wanted and needed.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Though God does not answer you immediately, yet He does hear you immediately.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Thurs., 7/24/25 Devotion (Mk. 6:56c)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 6:56c, where we read these words:

" . . . And as many as touched Him [Jesus] were made well.”

So far as I can tell from the four Gospel accounts, almost everyone who ever touched the Lord Jesus Christ after His baptism, was made “well.” Even (at least some [if not all]) of the soldiers who slapped and/or crucified the blessed Messiah came to faith in Him; and hence were made ultimately “well."

. . . How do we “touch” Jesus today? By receiving Him in His gospel preach-ing by faith; by receiving Him in His sacraments by faith; and by receiving Him in fresh applications of the Spirit’s gracious nourishment in prayer (by faith). The greatest “wellness” is redemption through Christ’s blood. Touch Him by faith today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We would never go to God unless God came to us, such is the stoutness of our hearts.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Re-conciliation"]

Wed., 7/23/25 Devotion (Mk. 5:36c)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 5:36c, where we read these words:

" . . . 'Do not be afraid; only believe.’ “

Regenerate Christians are always in one of two states: being afraid of some-thing; or resting in Jesus by faith. All of life is this continuum of fear and faith. Fear is the natural result of living in a fallen world. Faith is the supernatural result of living in Jesus, the church’s Head.

Let us adopt David’s approach of Ps. 56:3, where he said, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you [the LORD].” Fear becomes for us the impetus of faith. May our faith be sincere and exuberant. If we are in Christ, what (or who) do we have to fear?

[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . Man's unrighteousness must usher in Christ's righteousness.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Mon., 7/21/25 Devotion (Acts 8:35)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 8:35, where these words are spok-en of the deacon Philip, with regard to the Ethiopian eunuch:

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

When the church’s faithful ministers insist that *every* text of Holy Scripture ultimately points us directly to the Lord Jesus Christ, we mean it—and, more than that, it is true. But, to simply behold or read a text of Scripture is not good enough. We must preach Christ in and from it. This is what it means to preach the gospel.

. . . And notice the order from the little Acts 8 text (above). There is a Spirit-filled preacher; there is a Scripture passage; there is bold proclamation; there is a Redeemer to be preached; and there is a needy sinful human being who hears and believes the good news.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The love of Christ for the elect is so great that God the Father looks upon it proper and suitable to account Christ and the elect as one, and accordingly to account what Christ does and suffers as if they did it and suffered it.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "The Wisdom of God"]

Thurs., 7/17/25 Devotion (Josh. 24:15a)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 24:15a, where we read these words:

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . “

Good leaders do not “beat around the bush”; but, instead, they get right to the point. Joshua knew that all his hearers would end up serving the true God, or a myriad of idols. He also knew that the fallen heart of man was *so* wicked, that it [the fallen heart] would conceive of serving the living God as an “evil” thing.

. . . Therefore, Joshua simply cut through all the evasions and pretenses, and called the people of Israel to honestly own the God (or gods) that they would inevitably and unavoidably serve. All the regenerated saints of Christ’s church have chosen, by grace, to serve the Lord Jesus Christ—(and this is because God first chose them).

[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the reason why carnal hearts seek up and down for comfort in this and another lust? It is because they do not have enough in God.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]

Tues., 7/15/25 Devotion (Acts 2:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 2:25, where we read these words that made up part of Peter’s Pentecost sermon:

“For David says concerning him [Jesus], ‘I saw the Lord before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken . . . ’ " (ESV)

King David was a great believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. As a prophet, God revealed Jesus to him [David]; and, as a result, David was unafraid, unshaken, and unmovable. David knew that this Jesus was the Man who would sit on the throne of the true Israel, God’s redeemed church.

By the power of the Holy Spirit who regenerates the authentic saints, we who are in Christ today may possess the same comfort and confidence that David had. In Jesus we are never “shaken."

[Puritan quote of the day: "How Christ defends His disciples from mali-cious imputations of the Pharisees!” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 7/14/25 Devotion (Josh. 21:45)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 21:45, where we read these wonderful words:

"Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

God kept His promise to Joshua and Israel, and settled them in the land of Canaan. In Christ, God has kept His promise to every elect and redeemed human sinner who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. *In* this regen-eration every gift of God is given to His churchmen in Jesus Christ.

If we are ever tempted to think that God has not kept His promises, it is be-cause we do not know what they are; and we have concocted idolatrous substitutes for them. Everything good and valuable is found in Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Shall man be proud after God has been humble?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]