Sat./Sabbath, 3/1-2/08 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday! In order to prepare for church, here is TW, from, "All Things for Good":

"The Lord does not tie Himself to a particular way, or use the same order with all. He comes sometimes in a still small voice. Such as have had godly parents, and have sat under the warm sunshine of religious education, often do not know how or when they were called. The Lord did secretly and gradually instil grace into their hearts, as the dew falls unnoticed in drops. They know by the heavenly effects that they are called, but the time or manner they know not. The hand moves on the clock, but they do not perceive when it moves.

"Thus God deals with some. Others are more stubborn and knotty sinners, and God comes to them in a rough wind. He uses more wedges of the law to break their hearts; He deeply humbles them, and shows them they are damned without Christ. Then having ploughed up the fallow ground of their hearts by humiliation, He sows the seed of consolation. He presents Christ and mercy to them, and draws their wills, not only to accept Christ, but passionately to desire, and faithfully to rest upon Him. Thus He wrought upon Paul, and called him from a persecutor to a preacher. This call, though it is more visible than the other, yet is not more real. God's method in calling sinners may vary, but the effect is still the same."

Fri., 2/29/08 Devotion (Ex. 12:41)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 12:41, where we read these words:

"And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years--on that very same day--it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt."

God's covenant people were in Egypt for a long time. Sometimes, we have to languish in far-less-than-ideal conditions for a good while, too. But in God's perfect time--to the very day, to be exact--He delivers His church from whatever it is that afflicts her.

Let us be thankful that we live in the day in which we do. At the same time, let's be diligent to pray: asking God to revive His church, in His good time--for the glory of His Name, and the extension of His kingdom.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The purpose of the Scripture is to help believers to obtain assurance." --Thomas Brooks, in "Heaven on Earth"]

Thurs., 2/28/08 Devotion (Ex. 12:13b)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 12:13b, where we read these words:

" . . . And when I see the blood, I will pass over you . . . "

The angel of death still stalks all those who are out of covenant with Christ (and His church). But those redeemed souls whose hearts are sprinkled by the blood of Jesus are safe--God passes over them, while He executes judgment on others.

It is not your "righteousness," your religiosity, your civility, nor your morality that causes God to pass over you, and spare you from judgment, hell, and damnation. Instead, it is only the blood righteousness of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29b). This righteousness is imputed to the hearts of sinners, by grace through faith in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Make it your main business, your chief study, your greatest care, to 'make your calling and election sure,' says the apostle." --Thomas Brooks, in "Heaven on Earth"]

Wed., 2/27/08 Devotions (1 Cor. 14:33)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 14:33, where we read these words:

"For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

Very sadly, there is a lot of confusion in a lot of churches today, (as there always has been, to one degree or another). But none of this confusion is from God. The Lord has laid-out enough content doctrine, theology, knowledge, and understanding in the Scriptures for faithful pastors and elders to quite sufficiently lead the flocks into fields of plenty and peace.

But the problem is not with God--it is with sinful men who craft their own gospels, and who spurn the only true one. Let us, by grace, sincerely cling to Jesus, and enjoy by faith the benefits of life in covenant (church).

[Puritan quote of the day: "To have grace, and to be sure that we have grace, is glory upon the throne, it is heaven on this side [of] heaven." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Tues., 2/26/08 Devotion (1 Cor. 13:8a)

Today's encouragement comes from the few, but powerful words of 1 Corinthians 13:8a, where we read this:

"Love never fails. . . . "

Why does love never fail?  Because love is the best barometer of the heart.  It always exposes the truth; and everyone--without exception--is subject to its scrutiny.  This is one of the reasons God insists that we love Him.  Without sincere love for God, none of our other "services" rendered to Him mean anything--(in fact, they become abominable to Him).

The real important question for us today is, "Who (or what) do we love the *most*?"  If Christ is not at the top, then we should face the fact that we are idolaters.  The Lord would have us love other people, and even some things--but these must be subordinate to love for Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He that frets will be willing to do evil; fretting Jonah was sinning Jonah, (Jon. 4:9)."   --Thomas Watson, in "All Things for Good"]

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Mon., 2/25/08 Devotion (Job 25:4a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 25:4a, where we read these words:

"How then can man be righteous before God? . . . "

This is a really good question, asked by Bildad the Shuhite. Man cannot do enough good works, to be made righteous before God. (We would have to do *every* good work possible, without exception, and without imperfection.) Fake gods and false religions cannot make us righteous before God. Being "better than average," or, "better than the other guy" certainly will not work--since God demands perfection, and absolute holiness.

There is only one way: the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, applied to souls who by grace exercise faith in Him, plus nothing. There you go, Bildad, that's how a man can be righteous before God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who sees Jesus Christ sees all the glory of paradise." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Saint's Desire to be with Christ"]

Sat./Sabbath, 2/23-24/08 Devotion

Wahoo! Sunday is almost here. In order to get you more ready for church, here is TW, from his book, "The Ten Commandments":

"Why does God permit such an inability in man to keep the law?

"He does it: (1) To humble us. Man is a self-exalting creature; and if he has but anything of worth, he is ready to be puffed up; but when he comes to see his deficiencies and failings, and how far short he comes of the holiness and perfection which God's law requires, it pulls down the plumes of his pride, and lays them in the dust. He weeps over his inability; he blushes over his leprous spots; he says with Job, 'I abhor myself in dust and ashes.' (2) God lets this inability be upon us, that we may have recourse to Christ to obtain pardon for our defects, and to sprinkle our best duties with His blood. When a man sees that he owes perfect obedience to the law, but has nothing to pay, it makes him flee to Christ to be his friend, and answer for him all the demands of the law, and set him free in the court of justice."