Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Thurs., 8/23/12 Devotion (Ps. 31:14-15a)
Today's encouragement comes from David's Holy Spirit-inspired words of Psalm 31:14 & 15a:
"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand . . . "
Are we confused today about how to pray, or how to live? If so, here is a good and simple place to start. God is pleased with faith, no mat-ter what the rest of our lives lack. He also likes to be "owned" by His faithful churchmen--so we ought to pray, "You are *my* God." If we are concerned about our future, or that of those we care for, it is helpful to recognize that our times are in God's hands.
Life is not all that complicated. Let us unclutter our souls; and love Christ today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The gospel stands in no need of external evidences of its truth and divinity. It carries its own light and evidence with it." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
Wed., 8/22/12 Devotion (Ps. 30:3)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 30:3, where we read these words:
"O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."
The regenerated soul is a resurrected soul. It has everlasting life, and will never die. No matter what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at this supernaturally-charged heart, it is not enough to sink it again (into despair, or hell).
Justification leads to sanctification. It is the process of becoming more like Jesus that often causes us to feel like we are headed for the pit again. But, if we are sincere churchmen, we need never fear act-ually falling into it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If you grieve [God's] Spirit in heaven, He will sadden your spirit on earth." --Christopher Love, in, "The Deject-ed Soul's Cure"]
"O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."
The regenerated soul is a resurrected soul. It has everlasting life, and will never die. No matter what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at this supernaturally-charged heart, it is not enough to sink it again (into despair, or hell).
Justification leads to sanctification. It is the process of becoming more like Jesus that often causes us to feel like we are headed for the pit again. But, if we are sincere churchmen, we need never fear act-ually falling into it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If you grieve [God's] Spirit in heaven, He will sadden your spirit on earth." --Christopher Love, in, "The Deject-ed Soul's Cure"]
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tues., 8/21/12 Devotion (Rom. 11:33)
Today's encouragement comes from Romans 11:33, where Paul wrote these words:
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
Everything, without exception, that God has done, does, or will ever do is good. Everything that has ever occurred, in the entire history of creation, is designed to further His glory and the welfare of Christ's church. Do we believe this? If so, it is because we are willing to ac-cept the wonder and amazement of Rom. 11:33--and we share in Paul's astonishment of how good and amazing God is.
Let us believe way beyond the puny purview of the teensy terrain we see with the eyes of our flesh. God is better than we could ever imag-ine Him to be.
[Puritan quote of the day: "As He is God, all things are His own, and He has a right to dispose of them according to His own pleasure."
--Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Sovereignty of God"]
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
Everything, without exception, that God has done, does, or will ever do is good. Everything that has ever occurred, in the entire history of creation, is designed to further His glory and the welfare of Christ's church. Do we believe this? If so, it is because we are willing to ac-cept the wonder and amazement of Rom. 11:33--and we share in Paul's astonishment of how good and amazing God is.
Let us believe way beyond the puny purview of the teensy terrain we see with the eyes of our flesh. God is better than we could ever imag-ine Him to be.
[Puritan quote of the day: "As He is God, all things are His own, and He has a right to dispose of them according to His own pleasure."
--Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Sovereignty of God"]
Monday, August 20, 2012
Mon., 8/20/12 Devotion (Jer. 49:38a)
Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 49:38a, where we read these words:
"I [the Lord] will set My throne in Elam . . . "
What a strange place for God to "set [His] throne"--Elam, an ancient pagan power east of Babylon. This is a good reminder of the fact that nothing is outside of the Lord's sovereignty: He is king everywhere--in heaven, and on earth. No devil, no sinners, no evil can overthrow Him; and God remains on His throne at all times, in every situation.
Having said that, it is true that there is a "positive" reign of Christ (in His church), and a "negative" reign of Christ (in His judgment of wick-edness). The same Sovereign is in control--it is just that in one case God grants forgiveness and imputed righteousness (from Christ); and in the other case He exercises His prerogative as a Just Judge (in con-demnation).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Praise God for every smile, and rejoice in the least." --William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
"I [the Lord] will set My throne in Elam . . . "
What a strange place for God to "set [His] throne"--Elam, an ancient pagan power east of Babylon. This is a good reminder of the fact that nothing is outside of the Lord's sovereignty: He is king everywhere--in heaven, and on earth. No devil, no sinners, no evil can overthrow Him; and God remains on His throne at all times, in every situation.
Having said that, it is true that there is a "positive" reign of Christ (in His church), and a "negative" reign of Christ (in His judgment of wick-edness). The same Sovereign is in control--it is just that in one case God grants forgiveness and imputed righteousness (from Christ); and in the other case He exercises His prerogative as a Just Judge (in con-demnation).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Praise God for every smile, and rejoice in the least." --William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
Friday, August 17, 2012
Fri.-Sabbath, 8/17-19/12 Devotion
Wahoo--it's almost Sunday. We GET to go back to church again! In or-der to help us get ready, here is Martin Luther, from his wonderful preface to his "Galatians" commentary. . . .
"Seeing, then, that sin has no place here, there can be no anguish of conscience, no fear, no heaviness. That is why St. John says, 'Anyone born of God does not continue to sin,' (1 John 5:18). But if there is any fear or grief of conscience, it is a sign that this righteousness has been withdrawn, that grace is hidden, and that Christ is darkened and out of sight. But where Christ is truly visible, there must be full and perfect joy in the Lord, and the conscience is at peace and thinks, 'Al-though I am a sinner by the law and under the condemnation of the law, I still do not despair and do not die, because Christ lives, and He is my righteousness and my everlasting life.' In that righteousness and life I have no sin, no fear, no sting of conscience, no worry about death. I am indeed a sinner, as far as this present life and righteous-ness are concerned, as I am a child of Adam; where the law accuses me, death reigns over me and wants to ultimately devour me. But I have another righteousness and live above this life—Christ the Son of God, who knows no sin or death but is righteousness and eternal life. By Him, this body of mine that is dead will be raised up again and de-livered from the bondage of the law and sin and will be sanctified to-gether with my spirit."
"Seeing, then, that sin has no place here, there can be no anguish of conscience, no fear, no heaviness. That is why St. John says, 'Anyone born of God does not continue to sin,' (1 John 5:18). But if there is any fear or grief of conscience, it is a sign that this righteousness has been withdrawn, that grace is hidden, and that Christ is darkened and out of sight. But where Christ is truly visible, there must be full and perfect joy in the Lord, and the conscience is at peace and thinks, 'Al-though I am a sinner by the law and under the condemnation of the law, I still do not despair and do not die, because Christ lives, and He is my righteousness and my everlasting life.' In that righteousness and life I have no sin, no fear, no sting of conscience, no worry about death. I am indeed a sinner, as far as this present life and righteous-ness are concerned, as I am a child of Adam; where the law accuses me, death reigns over me and wants to ultimately devour me. But I have another righteousness and live above this life—Christ the Son of God, who knows no sin or death but is righteousness and eternal life. By Him, this body of mine that is dead will be raised up again and de-livered from the bondage of the law and sin and will be sanctified to-gether with my spirit."
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thurs., 8/16/12 Devotion (Jer. 44:18)
Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 44:18, where we read these words:
"But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."
A major reason people commit idolatry is because of a serious mis-understanding of the source of blessing. Jeremiah had condemned this idolatrous worship of Ishtar, "the queen of heaven"--but the people wouldn't risk the truth of the prophet's words, as over against an al-leged stock of provision (coming from the worship of the false god-dess).
It is always wiser for us to choose to worship the true God (through Christ alone), and to get by with hardly anything, and end up in heav-en--than to commit idolatry, have our "needs" met, and end up in hell.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The happiness of angels as well as of men consists very much in beholding the glory of God." --Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
"But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."
A major reason people commit idolatry is because of a serious mis-understanding of the source of blessing. Jeremiah had condemned this idolatrous worship of Ishtar, "the queen of heaven"--but the people wouldn't risk the truth of the prophet's words, as over against an al-leged stock of provision (coming from the worship of the false god-dess).
It is always wiser for us to choose to worship the true God (through Christ alone), and to get by with hardly anything, and end up in heav-en--than to commit idolatry, have our "needs" met, and end up in hell.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The happiness of angels as well as of men consists very much in beholding the glory of God." --Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wed., 8/15/12 Devotion (Rom. 5:3-5)
Today's encouragement comes from Romans 5:3-5, where Paul wrote these words:
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tri-bulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was giv-en to us."
"Glory in tribulations"? Is the apostle Paul saying this just to put a "spiritual" spin on the believers' hardships? No. The maturing church-man comes to recognize the peculiar value of trials and difficulties--especially when the end result is realized--which is hope, anointed with love.
Let us be good stewards of the heart-shaking troubles that come into our souls. Let us recognize that the faithful Christian cannot be hurt by them; and let us ask God to use them for our good.
[Puritan quote of the day: "God chooses broken vessels to pour com-fort into that they may diffuse it unto others." --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tri-bulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was giv-en to us."
"Glory in tribulations"? Is the apostle Paul saying this just to put a "spiritual" spin on the believers' hardships? No. The maturing church-man comes to recognize the peculiar value of trials and difficulties--especially when the end result is realized--which is hope, anointed with love.
Let us be good stewards of the heart-shaking troubles that come into our souls. Let us recognize that the faithful Christian cannot be hurt by them; and let us ask God to use them for our good.
[Puritan quote of the day: "God chooses broken vessels to pour com-fort into that they may diffuse it unto others." --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]
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