Happy Reformation Day, everybody!
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 13:4, where we read these verses:
"So Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for He [God] saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them."
Jehoahaz was not a great guy, (see v. 2)--and yet God not only listen-ed to his prayer, but delivered him from his enemies. We sincere churched Christians are in the same boat. We still struggle with sin, and yet God answers our heartfelt petitions, and saves us from our violent foes.
Let us be thankful that God does not look at the sin of our hearts, but (rather) at the perfection of His Son (in whom every true Christian is found). There is not only safety in Jesus; there is hope and victory in Him, too.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints. Oh, bless the Lord, all you HIs saints. He who is mighty has done great things for you." --Richard Alleine, in, "Heaven Opened"]
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tues., 10/30/12 Devotion (2 Tim. 2:15)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul wrote these words:
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The apostle's admonition to ministers (above), applies in principal to all faithful churchmen. Just as the pastor is to set the standard with the excellent and faithful preaching and teaching of the word of
God--so all the church is to apply it (the word) by seeking to be faith-ful and good in whatever vocation God has called them to.
One day it will be wonderful to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," (see Matt. 25:21). This will apply as much to diligent Chris-tian candlestick makers, as it will to the church's faithful clergy.
[Puritan quote of the day: "This is all the hurt the devil does. When he foils a saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect; he makes him watch and pray more." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The apostle's admonition to ministers (above), applies in principal to all faithful churchmen. Just as the pastor is to set the standard with the excellent and faithful preaching and teaching of the word of
God--so all the church is to apply it (the word) by seeking to be faith-ful and good in whatever vocation God has called them to.
One day it will be wonderful to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," (see Matt. 25:21). This will apply as much to diligent Chris-tian candlestick makers, as it will to the church's faithful clergy.
[Puritan quote of the day: "This is all the hurt the devil does. When he foils a saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect; he makes him watch and pray more." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Monday, October 29, 2012
Mon., 10/29/12 Devotion (2 Tim. 1:6-7)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 1:6 & 7, where we read these words of Paul, to the minister Timothy:
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The good spiritual gifts God gives us, His ministers and parishioners, can sometimes settle, and become somewhat "dormant." When this happens, we lose our edge, our courage, and our zeal. Just as some-times we have to "stoke" the coals in a fireplace to revive the flame--so we must do the same thing with the gifts resident in our souls.
Let us remember this: in a fallen world even good things tend to grav-itate downward. It is our responsibility to refresh God's graces in us, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day, (and then throughout the week).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Observe the happy condition of every child of God. All things work for his good, the best and worst things."
--Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The good spiritual gifts God gives us, His ministers and parishioners, can sometimes settle, and become somewhat "dormant." When this happens, we lose our edge, our courage, and our zeal. Just as some-times we have to "stoke" the coals in a fireplace to revive the flame--so we must do the same thing with the gifts resident in our souls.
Let us remember this: in a fallen world even good things tend to grav-itate downward. It is our responsibility to refresh God's graces in us, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day, (and then throughout the week).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Observe the happy condition of every child of God. All things work for his good, the best and worst things."
--Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Friday, October 26, 2012
Fri.-Sabbath, 10/26-28/12 Devotion
Sunday IS coming! Yippee. Here is some brilliant genius from Thomas Watson, as it is found in his profound work, entitled, "The Art of Di-vine Contentment." Pastor Watson is dealing with Paul's assertion, as it is found in Php. 4:11:
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hard it was for the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature. St. Paul did not come naturally by it, but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear; it was taught him by the Spirit.
"Whence our doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The business of religion is not so facile [easy] as most do imagine. 'I have learned,' says St. Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58:3)--and therefore facile. It comes as water out of a spring. It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken without storm; but matters of religion [viz. true Christianity] must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned, but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learned.' "
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hard it was for the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature. St. Paul did not come naturally by it, but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear; it was taught him by the Spirit.
"Whence our doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The business of religion is not so facile [easy] as most do imagine. 'I have learned,' says St. Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58:3)--and therefore facile. It comes as water out of a spring. It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken without storm; but matters of religion [viz. true Christianity] must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned, but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learned.' "
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Thurs., 10/25/12 Devotion (Dan. 10:19a)
Today's encouragement comes from Daniel 10:19a, where we read these words:
"And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' "
Are we servants of the Lord? Do we desire to put our lives at His feet everyday? If so, let us be encouraged by these words. God tenderly loves His ministers and His laymen who are called by His Name. Dan-iel, who was being addressed in the verses above, had been very weak and heavy-hearted. These words encouraged him, and strengthened him.
One touch from Christ--one word from His mouth--is enough to over-come whatever weariness or exhaustion we feel. Let us know that God loves His churchmen more than we could ever know.
[Puritan quote of the day: "However rugged or hard our path in fol-lowing the Lord may seem to the flesh . . . yet where there is a spiritual eye, the way of holiness appears exceedingly lovely and beautiful." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' "
Are we servants of the Lord? Do we desire to put our lives at His feet everyday? If so, let us be encouraged by these words. God tenderly loves His ministers and His laymen who are called by His Name. Dan-iel, who was being addressed in the verses above, had been very weak and heavy-hearted. These words encouraged him, and strengthened him.
One touch from Christ--one word from His mouth--is enough to over-come whatever weariness or exhaustion we feel. Let us know that God loves His churchmen more than we could ever know.
[Puritan quote of the day: "However rugged or hard our path in fol-lowing the Lord may seem to the flesh . . . yet where there is a spiritual eye, the way of holiness appears exceedingly lovely and beautiful." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wed., 10/24/12 Devotion (Ps. 118:5)
Today's encouragement comes from Ps. 118:5, where we read these words:
"I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place."
One of the reasons our good God allows us, His beloved churchmen, to find ourselves in trouble, is so that we will call upon Him in prayer. If we never had any needs, we would quickly forget about God, and live as if He did not exist. When it pleases the Lord, He sets us in a "broad place"--a situation of relative calm and comfort.
Let us not despair in distress. Instead, let us call on the Lord. He is very pleased to rescue His children who acknowledge that He (the Lord) alone can really help us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Despair is an exceedingly vile and con-temptible sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Grac-ious Spirit"]
"I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place."
One of the reasons our good God allows us, His beloved churchmen, to find ourselves in trouble, is so that we will call upon Him in prayer. If we never had any needs, we would quickly forget about God, and live as if He did not exist. When it pleases the Lord, He sets us in a "broad place"--a situation of relative calm and comfort.
Let us not despair in distress. Instead, let us call on the Lord. He is very pleased to rescue His children who acknowledge that He (the Lord) alone can really help us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Despair is an exceedingly vile and con-temptible sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Grac-ious Spirit"]
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tues., 10/23/12 Devotion (1 Tim. 1:15)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 1:15, where we read these amazing words of Paul:
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
If we are sinners, and we know ourselves to be such--then there is real hope for us. Christ did not come to earth to save good people, (because there *are no* "good people"). Jesus did not come here to make people nice, nor civil, nor easy to get along with. Instead, He came to redeem real sinners from their real sin.
Who are the "chief" of these sinners, according to Paul? Not the slimy abortionists and drug-dealers (as vile as they are)--but rather the re-ligious pharisees, the theological "know-it-alls" who think they are better than God Himself. Paul was turned from one of those, into a true minister of Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a Christian's duty to triumph, not only over the world, but over Satan." --William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
If we are sinners, and we know ourselves to be such--then there is real hope for us. Christ did not come to earth to save good people, (because there *are no* "good people"). Jesus did not come here to make people nice, nor civil, nor easy to get along with. Instead, He came to redeem real sinners from their real sin.
Who are the "chief" of these sinners, according to Paul? Not the slimy abortionists and drug-dealers (as vile as they are)--but rather the re-ligious pharisees, the theological "know-it-alls" who think they are better than God Himself. Paul was turned from one of those, into a true minister of Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a Christian's duty to triumph, not only over the world, but over Satan." --William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
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