Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 4:39, which says this:
"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."
Are we facing fearful trials and difficult hardships today? Then, let us soak up verses like the one above. By faith in Jesus, let us "know" "this day" (and not some time in the future); and let us take it to “heart”—that there is only one God; and that He rules in heaven, and on earth.
Since this *is* the case—and all faithful churched Christians know that it is—then, what do we have to worry about? God has heaven covered; and God has the earth covered. His enemies are active here on earth—there is no doubt about that—but the Lord is the King, and He will crush them, after He has used them up for His glory. Therefore, let us rest in The Triune God *to-day*; and take a lot of heart in our holy (and true) faith in The Christ of the one true religion.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Satan puts good names on sin . . . “ —Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Mon., 5/30/16 Devotion (Ps. 85:6)
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 85:6, which says this:
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"
God's people tend to fall asleep, spiritually. From time to time we need to be awakened, and renewed (or revived) in our holy faith—which will then re-kindle our love for Christ. We should humbly ask God to do this: corporately, as His church; and individually, for our own souls. The revived heart is enam-ored with God, filled with true and (often) inexpressible joy, and is in a lively state of willing obedience.
Our God can fan into flame even a very small spark. Do we have the life of Christ in us? Then, we may be assured: God can revive us again.
[Puritan quote of the day: "All the riches of the world, or the honors and pleas-ure of it, all the learning, the power, and the policy of the world, all the worldly titles and distinctions cannot make the sinful creature happy or do him any good.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Christ is the Christian's All"]
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 85:6, which says this:
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"
God's people tend to fall asleep, spiritually. From time to time we need to be awakened, and renewed (or revived) in our holy faith—which will then re-kindle our love for Christ. We should humbly ask God to do this: corporately, as His church; and individually, for our own souls. The revived heart is enam-ored with God, filled with true and (often) inexpressible joy, and is in a lively state of willing obedience.
Our God can fan into flame even a very small spark. Do we have the life of Christ in us? Then, we may be assured: God can revive us again.
[Puritan quote of the day: "All the riches of the world, or the honors and pleas-ure of it, all the learning, the power, and the policy of the world, all the worldly titles and distinctions cannot make the sinful creature happy or do him any good.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Christ is the Christian's All"]
Monday, May 23, 2016
Mon., 5/23/16 Devotion (Ps. 77:13)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 77:13, where Asaph wrote these words:
"Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God?"
God always operates from His sanctuary. The Old Covenant sanctuary was a type of heaven, (cf. Heb. 8:4-5). In the heavenly sanctuary today, the Son of God intercedes for His saints by virtue of His atoning death, (cf. Heb. 7:25). The gathered church in Sunday worship constitutes the place of God's sanct-uary, (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-5). And finally, the individual hearts of the regenerate churchmen are also the place of His sanctuary, (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16).
*From* God's sanctuary goes forth praise of Christ, and the evangelism of the world. Let us be thankful that the true God is the God of the sanctuary: the place of worship and rest.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Here is a pillar of support to every soul who has broken off sin and espoused holiness. This is an undoubted evidence that you are a true child of God.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]
"Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God?"
God always operates from His sanctuary. The Old Covenant sanctuary was a type of heaven, (cf. Heb. 8:4-5). In the heavenly sanctuary today, the Son of God intercedes for His saints by virtue of His atoning death, (cf. Heb. 7:25). The gathered church in Sunday worship constitutes the place of God's sanct-uary, (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-5). And finally, the individual hearts of the regenerate churchmen are also the place of His sanctuary, (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16).
*From* God's sanctuary goes forth praise of Christ, and the evangelism of the world. Let us be thankful that the true God is the God of the sanctuary: the place of worship and rest.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Here is a pillar of support to every soul who has broken off sin and espoused holiness. This is an undoubted evidence that you are a true child of God.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]
Friday, May 20, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 5/20-22/16 Devotion
Yay—it is almost Sunday. We get to go back to church. Here are comforting words from the great Puritan pastor Richard SIbbes, relative to how believers are sometimes accosted by awful thoughts. May this be an encouragement to us, as we get ready to worship the Lord. (This is from Sibbes' "Bruised Reed" book.) . . .
"Some again are haunted with hideous representations to their imaginations, and with vile and unworthy thoughts of God, of Christ, of the Word, which, as busy flies, disquiet and molest their peace. These are cast in like wildfire by Satan, as may be discerned by the strangeness, the strength and violence, and the horribleness of them even to corrupt nature. A pious soul is no more guilty of them than Benjamin was when Joseph's cup was put into his sack. Among other helps recommended by godly writers, such as detestation of them and diversion from them to other things, let this be one, to complain to Christ against them, and to fly under the wings of His protection, and to desire Him to take our part against His and our enemy. Shall every sin and blas-phemy of man be forgiven, and not these blasphemous thoughts, which have the devil for their father, when Christ Himself was molested in this way so that He might comfort all poor souls in this condition?"
"Some again are haunted with hideous representations to their imaginations, and with vile and unworthy thoughts of God, of Christ, of the Word, which, as busy flies, disquiet and molest their peace. These are cast in like wildfire by Satan, as may be discerned by the strangeness, the strength and violence, and the horribleness of them even to corrupt nature. A pious soul is no more guilty of them than Benjamin was when Joseph's cup was put into his sack. Among other helps recommended by godly writers, such as detestation of them and diversion from them to other things, let this be one, to complain to Christ against them, and to fly under the wings of His protection, and to desire Him to take our part against His and our enemy. Shall every sin and blas-phemy of man be forgiven, and not these blasphemous thoughts, which have the devil for their father, when Christ Himself was molested in this way so that He might comfort all poor souls in this condition?"
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Thurs., 5/19/16 Devotion (Isa. 19:24-25)
Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 19:24 & 25, which finds the pro-phet writing these remarkable words:
"In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inher-itance.' "
We should be so encouraged by the New Covenant's promises of the gos-pel’s and the church's universality, and realized victory. For Isaiah to proph-esy these words must have seemed extremely preposterous and impossible to his contemporaries. But, because of the coming of the "Rod from the stem of Jesse [Christ]," (Isa. 11:1 ff.)—the fulfillment of this prophecy was not only possible, but inevitable. (For a good NT explanation of the folding together of all the nations into the church, see Eph. 2, esp. vv. 11-13.)
Let us revel in the wonderful strength of our Savior; and thank God for His comprehensive rule of the entire world.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Which of these two is more fit to take place, God's justice or man's reason? . . . The plumb line of our reason is too short to fath-om the depth of God's justice.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
"In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inher-itance.' "
We should be so encouraged by the New Covenant's promises of the gos-pel’s and the church's universality, and realized victory. For Isaiah to proph-esy these words must have seemed extremely preposterous and impossible to his contemporaries. But, because of the coming of the "Rod from the stem of Jesse [Christ]," (Isa. 11:1 ff.)—the fulfillment of this prophecy was not only possible, but inevitable. (For a good NT explanation of the folding together of all the nations into the church, see Eph. 2, esp. vv. 11-13.)
Let us revel in the wonderful strength of our Savior; and thank God for His comprehensive rule of the entire world.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Which of these two is more fit to take place, God's justice or man's reason? . . . The plumb line of our reason is too short to fath-om the depth of God's justice.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Wed., 5/18/16 Devotion (Ps. 71:16b)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 71:16b, where we read these words (of David):
" . . . I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only."
This little phrase (above) is a good reminder that the *only* One who has any inherent "righteousness" is the Triune God alone. All of our righteousness is derived from Christ, the Second Person. When it comes to the greatest form of righteousness (i.e. justification before God), this is imputed to the churched Christian; and it is received by faith in Jesus—His blood atonement and justi-fying resurrection. When it comes to any form of "civil" righteousness (which cannot and does not save), any person may have it, and it is given as a token of God's "common" grace.
Let us who have received the gift of faith in Christ bless God that we possess *His* (Jesus') Own righteousness. This is the great advantage of believing the gospel and being members of the true church; and it is cause for great re-joicing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The truth is, we should listen as much to the voice of God in the ministry of His Word as if the Lord should speak out of the clouds to us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Worship"]
" . . . I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only."
This little phrase (above) is a good reminder that the *only* One who has any inherent "righteousness" is the Triune God alone. All of our righteousness is derived from Christ, the Second Person. When it comes to the greatest form of righteousness (i.e. justification before God), this is imputed to the churched Christian; and it is received by faith in Jesus—His blood atonement and justi-fying resurrection. When it comes to any form of "civil" righteousness (which cannot and does not save), any person may have it, and it is given as a token of God's "common" grace.
Let us who have received the gift of faith in Christ bless God that we possess *His* (Jesus') Own righteousness. This is the great advantage of believing the gospel and being members of the true church; and it is cause for great re-joicing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The truth is, we should listen as much to the voice of God in the ministry of His Word as if the Lord should speak out of the clouds to us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Worship"]
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Tues., 5/17/16 Devotion (1 Pet. 4:19)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Peter 4:19, where we read these words:
"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."
Suffering is never fun; but it can forward the genuine progress of the saints. It has a cleansing effect on the soul; and it draws us back to Christ. If we are going to have to suffer anyway, let us do so for doing good, or for insisting on God's ways. "Commit[ting sour] souls" to God means that we do what is right, and leave the consequences with the Lord.
It is interesting that Peter refers to the Lord as a faithful "Creator," at the end of this verse—rather than a Redeemer. God's creation covers everything in the universe: those things that positively affect our obedience, and those things that "negatively" affect it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Satan tempts to sin under a pretense of religion. He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an angel of light.”
—Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."
Suffering is never fun; but it can forward the genuine progress of the saints. It has a cleansing effect on the soul; and it draws us back to Christ. If we are going to have to suffer anyway, let us do so for doing good, or for insisting on God's ways. "Commit[ting sour] souls" to God means that we do what is right, and leave the consequences with the Lord.
It is interesting that Peter refers to the Lord as a faithful "Creator," at the end of this verse—rather than a Redeemer. God's creation covers everything in the universe: those things that positively affect our obedience, and those things that "negatively" affect it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Satan tempts to sin under a pretense of religion. He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an angel of light.”
—Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
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