Praise God: Sunday is *almost* here! In order to prepare us for Sabbath church worship, here is Thomas Watson, that esteemed Puritan pastor, from his work, entitled, "The Beatitudes.” . . .
"Let us carry ourselves as the children of God in magnanimity and heroical-ness [heroism]. The saints are high-born. They are of the true bloodroyal, born of God. They must do nothing sneakingly or sordidly. They must not fear the faces of men. As said that brave-spirited Nehemiah, 'Shall such a man as I flee?' (Neh. 6:11)—so should a child of God say, 'Shall I be afraid to do my duty? Shall I unworthily comply and prostitute myself to the lusts and [opin-ions] of men?' The children of the Most High should do nothing to stain or dis-honor their noble birth. A king's son scorns to do anything that is below him."
Friday, January 29, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Thurs., 1/28/16 Devotion (Esth. 5:2a)
Today's encouragement comes from Esther 5:2a, which says this:
"And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand." (ESV)
When God sees the redeemed church, the bride of Christ, approach the throne of grace, He is pleased to hold out the golden scepter of His love, mer-cy, and generosity. All of this is because Jesus shed His precious blood for His people.
We all need to approach the throne of God today. Let us not come empty-handed. We must bring with us, in the arms of our supernatural faith, the Sav-ior of our soul, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29). No other offering will be accepted.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A child of God keeps two books always by him: one to write his sins in, so that he may be humble; the other to write his mer-cies in, so that he may be thankful.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
"And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand." (ESV)
When God sees the redeemed church, the bride of Christ, approach the throne of grace, He is pleased to hold out the golden scepter of His love, mer-cy, and generosity. All of this is because Jesus shed His precious blood for His people.
We all need to approach the throne of God today. Let us not come empty-handed. We must bring with us, in the arms of our supernatural faith, the Sav-ior of our soul, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29). No other offering will be accepted.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A child of God keeps two books always by him: one to write his sins in, so that he may be humble; the other to write his mer-cies in, so that he may be thankful.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Wed., 1/27/16 Devotion (Acts 27:11)
Today's encouragement comes from Acts 27:11, which says this:
"Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul."
This one little verse summarizes the fatal error most people make. They listen to their pocket books, their carnal hopes, and their vain lusts, *more* than they heed the word and gospel of God. And, of course, the result, in every case without exception, is the shipwreck of their lives, their estates, and all their hopes and dreams.
May we be wiser than this, by the sufficient grace given the church in the gos-pel of Christ. May God's people listen to Him; do His will; endure and enjoy what He lays-out; and find, in the end, the shores of heaven.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What Satan did in tempting man to fall is made an occasion of the contrary to what he intended in that it gave occasion for God to glorify Himself all the more, and gives occasion for the elect being brought to higher happiness.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
"Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul."
This one little verse summarizes the fatal error most people make. They listen to their pocket books, their carnal hopes, and their vain lusts, *more* than they heed the word and gospel of God. And, of course, the result, in every case without exception, is the shipwreck of their lives, their estates, and all their hopes and dreams.
May we be wiser than this, by the sufficient grace given the church in the gos-pel of Christ. May God's people listen to Him; do His will; endure and enjoy what He lays-out; and find, in the end, the shores of heaven.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What Satan did in tempting man to fall is made an occasion of the contrary to what he intended in that it gave occasion for God to glorify Himself all the more, and gives occasion for the elect being brought to higher happiness.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tues., 1/26/16 Devotion (Acts 26:28, 29)
Today's encouragement comes from Acts 26:28 & 29, which says this:
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' And Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me to-day, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.' "
Do we realize that believing Christian churchmen are the only people in the whole world who actually have both the right and the responsibility to urge all other people everywhere to become exactly as we are (with regard to our faith in Christ, and our union with Him and each other in the church)? That is a pretty bold and audacious fact.
But *all* people everywhere also desire that everyone else be "like them," too. This is because all sinners want to justify themselves, as they take com-fort from others who share in their errors. True Christians, on the other hand, want everyone to be "like us," so that everybody can be happy and free (in the truest sense) in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is said of Christ and David, that their hearts were eaten up with a holy zeal for God's house.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' And Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me to-day, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.' "
Do we realize that believing Christian churchmen are the only people in the whole world who actually have both the right and the responsibility to urge all other people everywhere to become exactly as we are (with regard to our faith in Christ, and our union with Him and each other in the church)? That is a pretty bold and audacious fact.
But *all* people everywhere also desire that everyone else be "like them," too. This is because all sinners want to justify themselves, as they take com-fort from others who share in their errors. True Christians, on the other hand, want everyone to be "like us," so that everybody can be happy and free (in the truest sense) in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is said of Christ and David, that their hearts were eaten up with a holy zeal for God's house.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
Monday, January 25, 2016
Mon., 1/25/16 Devotion (Gen. 26:18)
Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 26:18, where we read these words:
"And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them."
This is a really neat verse to encourage healthy church life today, or in any era. Isaac went back to the original wells of water that his father Abraham had enjoyed. The world, just like the Philistines of old, are always seeking to "stop up" the sources of the church's grace, received from the Father through Christ.
But, instead of responding to needs by trying "new things," Abraham's son goes back to the *old* tried and true springs of life. Let us live by this prin-ciple, too. And let the church call the gospel the truth—using the same names our fathers employed. The "old paths" are better—just as the prophet said, in Jeremiah 6:16a.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian must neither be a dead sea nor a rag-ing sea.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
"And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them."
This is a really neat verse to encourage healthy church life today, or in any era. Isaac went back to the original wells of water that his father Abraham had enjoyed. The world, just like the Philistines of old, are always seeking to "stop up" the sources of the church's grace, received from the Father through Christ.
But, instead of responding to needs by trying "new things," Abraham's son goes back to the *old* tried and true springs of life. Let us live by this prin-ciple, too. And let the church call the gospel the truth—using the same names our fathers employed. The "old paths" are better—just as the prophet said, in Jeremiah 6:16a.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian must neither be a dead sea nor a rag-ing sea.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
Friday, January 22, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 1/22-24/16 Devotion
Wahoo—it is almost Sunday! Here is the great Thomas Watson, from his, "The Doctrine of Repentance" book:
"A man may restrain the acts of sin, yet not turn from sin in a right manner. Acts of sin may be restrained out of fear or design, but a true penitent turns from sin out of a religious principle, namely, love to God. Even if sin did not bear such bitter fruit, if death did not grow on this tree, a gracious soul would forsake it out of love to God. This is the most kindly turning from sin.
"When things are frozen and congealed, the best way to separate them is by fire. When men and their sins are congealed together, the best way to sepa-rate them is by the fire of love. Three men, asking one another what made them leave sin: one says, 'I think of the joys of heaven'; another, 'I think of the torments of hell'; but the third, 'I think of the love of God, and that makes me forsake it. How shall I offend the God of love?’ "
"A man may restrain the acts of sin, yet not turn from sin in a right manner. Acts of sin may be restrained out of fear or design, but a true penitent turns from sin out of a religious principle, namely, love to God. Even if sin did not bear such bitter fruit, if death did not grow on this tree, a gracious soul would forsake it out of love to God. This is the most kindly turning from sin.
"When things are frozen and congealed, the best way to separate them is by fire. When men and their sins are congealed together, the best way to sepa-rate them is by the fire of love. Three men, asking one another what made them leave sin: one says, 'I think of the joys of heaven'; another, 'I think of the torments of hell'; but the third, 'I think of the love of God, and that makes me forsake it. How shall I offend the God of love?’ "
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Thurs., 1/21/16 Devotion (Acts 21:29)
Today's encouragement comes from Acts 21:29, where we read these words:
"(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)"
This account (above) is in reference to the fact that some Jews from Asia who were very angry with Paul had seen him (Paul) with this Gentile man, in Jeru-salem. They then *assumed* that Paul had brought (the Gentile) into the temple—when, in fact, he had not done so. Then, on the basis of this errant notion, they created a riot in the city, and almost tore Paul into pieces.
But such is the nature of mindless religious irrationality. It fans hell’s flames in the fallen world. Someone's innocent association with someone else is con-strued to be heresy, blasphemy, or bad policy. As gracious Christians, let us seek to bring Jesus to all people—and be glad when they come to Him and His church. After all, what would folks think of Christ, if they saw *us* (as we are still in the flesh) with *Him*?
[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man's comforts and grievances are hid from the world; natural men are strangers to them.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
"(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)"
This account (above) is in reference to the fact that some Jews from Asia who were very angry with Paul had seen him (Paul) with this Gentile man, in Jeru-salem. They then *assumed* that Paul had brought (the Gentile) into the temple—when, in fact, he had not done so. Then, on the basis of this errant notion, they created a riot in the city, and almost tore Paul into pieces.
But such is the nature of mindless religious irrationality. It fans hell’s flames in the fallen world. Someone's innocent association with someone else is con-strued to be heresy, blasphemy, or bad policy. As gracious Christians, let us seek to bring Jesus to all people—and be glad when they come to Him and His church. After all, what would folks think of Christ, if they saw *us* (as we are still in the flesh) with *Him*?
[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man's comforts and grievances are hid from the world; natural men are strangers to them.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
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