Fri.-Sabbath, 12/30/11-1/1/12 Devotion

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wahoo--it's almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again! Yip-
pee. In order to help us get ready for this highest calling, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The One Thing Necessary" treatise. . . .

"The seasons of grace though they are precious, are not permanent. Abused mercies will like Noah's dove, take their wings and fly from us. England's golden hour will soon run out; gospel blessings are very sweet, but very swift. 'Now they are hid from your eyes' (Luke 19:42). We know not how soon the golden candlestick may be removed.

"There is a time when the Spirit is done striving. There are certain spring tides of the Spirit, and these being neglected, possibly we may never see another tide come in. When conscience is done speaking, usually the Spirit is done striving.

"The loss of gospel opportunities will be the hell of hell. When a sin-
ner shall at the last day think with himself, 'Oh, what might I have been! I might have been as rich as the angels. as rich as heaven could make me. I had a season to work in, but I lost it.' This, this will be as a vulture gnawing upon him; this will enhance and accent his misery. And let this persuade you speedily to work out your salvation."

Thurs., 12/29/11 Devotion (2 Chron. 34:27)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 34:27, which finds this being said about the great king Josiah:

" 'Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its in-
habitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,' says the LORD."

A humble, broken, contrite heart is irresistible to the Lord. Josiah was so zealous for God, His house, His word, and His worship. Even after grieving over the punishment that was sure to come because of Ju-
dah's past wickedness, Josiah was given by God assurances that none of the calamity would befall the nation, in his lifetime.

As God brings us to true brokenness--it may sting us for a while. But the end result is our confidence in the fact that our sins are forgiven; and that we may rest in Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let God have His will by being holy, and you shall have your will by being happy." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Wed., 12/28/11 Devotion (2 Chron. 33:10-11)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 33:10 & 11, which says this:

"And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon."

Here in two verses of the Bible, we have the entire program of how God deals with those whom He intends to save. The Lord first starts out gently and positively: sending His word to His people (by prophets [OT] and pastors [NT]). If that fails, God brings out His harder and more negative implements: hooks and fetters.

In Manasseh's case, harsh measures were necessary in order to bring him to repentance. This is not the best, nor the wisest approach, how-
ever. When we hear the word of God, let us immediately respond to it.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has been drinking spirits of wine, will not much thirst after water; and that man who has once 'tasted how sweet the Lord is,' (Ps. 34:8), and has drunk the cordials of the Spirit, will not thirst immoderately after secular delights." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Tues., 12/27/11 Devotion (2 Chron. 32:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1a, where we read these words:

"After [King Hezekiah's] deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah . . . "

Notice here that it appears that Hezekiah's many faithful acts were "rewarded" with the world's strongest man (politically and militarily) coming to Jerusalem, to destroy it. Sometimes it seems that the people made righteous in Jesus' blood, and who are walking by faith, are the ones who get the worst trials in this life. That may well be; but it is no cause for alarm for us, and neither should we be discour-
aged by it.

Later in this very chapter, at v. 20, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed to-
gether; and the Lord delivered Judah from all Sennacherib's threats, (destroying his army). That is a splendid biblical example of how the state (Hezekiah) and the church (Isaiah) are to minister together, in this world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "They have armies on their side, and strength and powers of the world on their side; but we have truth and God on our side!" --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Mon., 12/26/11 Devotion (Jn. 16:33)

Today's encouragement comes from John 16:33, where we read these words, uttered by our Lord Jesus:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

This is a beautiful verse (above). Christ seals the peace of His people; and then He gives them the assurance of His absolute and unwavering victory (in and through them--even in this world). "Tribulation" is a "shaking" dynamic. It is not a pleasant experience. But, even in the midst of undergoing it, we are to be of "good cheer," because Jesus, in His blood atonement and glorious resurrection, has forever secured the church's triumph over the world (in which we undergo our trou-
bles).

Therefore, let us not be discouraged, but greatly heartened, in Jesus. Even our worst feelings and experiences are redeemed and sanctified, by the King and Head of the church--Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If the church is beautiful beyond all other of the children of men, how beautiful is Jesus Christ, from whom the church derives all its comeliness?" --Thomas Vincent, in, "The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 12/23-25/11 Devotion

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Wahoo--Sunday is almost here! We get to go back to church again!! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The Spiritual Watch" treatise. . . .

"Keep your heart as you would keep a TEMPLE. The temple was a hal-
lowed place, set apart for God's worship. Just so, the heart is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). This heart-temple must be kept pure and holy—no filth may lie here; sweep the dust out of the temple. The vessels of the temple were cleansed (2 Chronicles 29:15). Thus the memory, affections, and conscience, these temple vessels, must be cleansed (2 Corinthians 7:1). Christ whipped the buyers and sellers out of the temple in John 2. The cares of the world will be crowding into the heart. Now you must get a whip made of the threatenings of the law, and drive these money-changers out of the temple of your heart. Do not let God's temple be turned into a worldly market.

"The temple had a fire burning on the altar; take heed of strange fire. But keep the fire of zeal and devotion flaming upon the altar of your heart; do temple work and offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart. When the heart is a consecrated place, a holy of holies, then God will walk there. Many a man's heart is a pest-house, a bedlam, being pol-
luted with sin. This is to put swine into God's temple! This is to let the devil come into God's temple! David's heart was a dedicated temple (Psalm 119:38)."

Thurs., 12/22/11 Devotion (2 Chron. 26:5)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 26:5, where we read these words:

"[King Uzziah] sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had under-
standing in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper."

Uzziah was a good king, but not a great king.  As long as he had godly clergy instructing him, he did well.  Once he thought he had it all to-
gether, and could assume the duties of the Levites, he fell down, (cf. 2 Chron. 26:16).

We learn at least two things from the example of Uzziah: 1) good church instruction keeps the saints in the narrow way; and 2) unless pride is constantly checked, blessings can turn to burdens, and (for-
merly) very good men can take some serious tumbles.

[Puritan quote of the day: "When we preach Christ and free grace it is to bring you to Christ.  Our preaching down of works is not to keep you from doing them but from resting in them."   --Jeremiah Bur-
roughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]