Hip, hip, hooray—it is almost Sunday! In order to help us get ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, on God's Mercy, from his wonderful "A Body of Divinity" book. . . .
"We are to look upon God in prayer, not in His judgement robes, but clothed with a rainbow full of mercy and clemency. Add wings to prayer. When Jesus Christ ascended up to heaven, that which made Him go up there with joy was, 'I go to My Father’—so that which should make our hearts ascend with joy in prayer, is, 'We are going to the Father of mercy, who sits upon the throne of grace.' Go with confidence in this mercy; as when one goes to a fire, not doubtingly, saying, 'perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.'
"Believe in God's mercy. 'I will trust in the mercy of God for ever,' (Psa. 52:8). God's mercy is a fountain opened. Let down the bucket of faith and you may drink of this fountain of salvation. What greater encouragement to believe than God's mercy? God counts it His glory to be scattering pardons; He is de-sirous that sinners should touch the golden sceptre of His mercy and live."
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Thurs., 9/29/16 Devotion (Gal. 5:1)
Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these great words:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Every day when we wake up we are faced with an array of forces that are dead-set on robbing us of our joy in Christ. First among them is our own flesh, which continues to desire to have a right standing with God independently of Jesus' blood atonement. On top of this, there is the world of works-religion, which preaches law to us, and insists that we be enslaved by rules (just like they are).
It takes courage, determination, and intentionality *not* to be swept away with the rest of the world, which is in bondage to its own "righteousness." Let all faith-redeemed churchmen trust, not in themselves, but in Jesus only. Let us reaffirm our liberty in Christ today, by faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The devil is the most sullen spirit there is, and yet the most proud.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Every day when we wake up we are faced with an array of forces that are dead-set on robbing us of our joy in Christ. First among them is our own flesh, which continues to desire to have a right standing with God independently of Jesus' blood atonement. On top of this, there is the world of works-religion, which preaches law to us, and insists that we be enslaved by rules (just like they are).
It takes courage, determination, and intentionality *not* to be swept away with the rest of the world, which is in bondage to its own "righteousness." Let all faith-redeemed churchmen trust, not in themselves, but in Jesus only. Let us reaffirm our liberty in Christ today, by faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The devil is the most sullen spirit there is, and yet the most proud.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wed., 9/28/16 Devotion (2 Sam. 24:14)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Samuel 24:14, where we read these words:
"And David said to Gad [the prophet], 'I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall in-to the hand of man.' "
When faced with the options of dealing directly with God, or with man, David chose God. Why? Because he knew the Lord to be gracious and merciful. Al-so, he knew that man can be cruel and brutal. What an enlightened perspec-tive! Today, most sinners imagine themselves to be good, fair, and even-handed; while they think God is mean and unreasonable.
Actually, the exact opposite is the case. The Lord is good; He is slow to an-ger, and abounding in lovingkindnesses. Sinners, on the other hand, are vi-cious and unjust. Let us today—just like David—cast ourselves on *God's* mercy, trusting in Jesus, and not in man.
[Puritan quote of the day: "That sin is worse than affliction is evident because the greatest judgment God lays upon a man in this life is to let him sin without control.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
"And David said to Gad [the prophet], 'I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall in-to the hand of man.' "
When faced with the options of dealing directly with God, or with man, David chose God. Why? Because he knew the Lord to be gracious and merciful. Al-so, he knew that man can be cruel and brutal. What an enlightened perspec-tive! Today, most sinners imagine themselves to be good, fair, and even-handed; while they think God is mean and unreasonable.
Actually, the exact opposite is the case. The Lord is good; He is slow to an-ger, and abounding in lovingkindnesses. Sinners, on the other hand, are vi-cious and unjust. Let us today—just like David—cast ourselves on *God's* mercy, trusting in Jesus, and not in man.
[Puritan quote of the day: "That sin is worse than affliction is evident because the greatest judgment God lays upon a man in this life is to let him sin without control.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Tues., 9/27/16 Devotion (Ps. 78:38a, 39a)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 78, verses 38a & 39a, where we read these words:
"But [God], being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity . . . For He remem-bered that they were but flesh . . . "
Behold the amazing mercy and forbearance of God. In Ps. 78, the Lord's con-tinued kindnesses to a stubborn and rebellious people are rehearsed over and over. So it is true today: Christ's New Covenant church is also made up of people who are saints and yet still sinners. We need the grace and kind-ness of our Heavenly Father every day.
Believers are also able to emulate their Lord: whereas God sees us as "but flesh”—let us remember that our fellow brothers and sisters in the church are also "but flesh," even as we are, as well. This should make us sympathetic to-ward one another; and it should arrest our tendency to be harsh with each an-other.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord expects praise wherever you have com-fort.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
"But [God], being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity . . . For He remem-bered that they were but flesh . . . "
Behold the amazing mercy and forbearance of God. In Ps. 78, the Lord's con-tinued kindnesses to a stubborn and rebellious people are rehearsed over and over. So it is true today: Christ's New Covenant church is also made up of people who are saints and yet still sinners. We need the grace and kind-ness of our Heavenly Father every day.
Believers are also able to emulate their Lord: whereas God sees us as "but flesh”—let us remember that our fellow brothers and sisters in the church are also "but flesh," even as we are, as well. This should make us sympathetic to-ward one another; and it should arrest our tendency to be harsh with each an-other.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord expects praise wherever you have com-fort.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
Monday, September 26, 2016
Mon., 9/26/16 Devotion (Gal. 2:21)
Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 2:21, where we read these great words:
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
The Apostle Paul was adamant about not giving in on the gospel of grace. Like us, he felt the pressure to compromise the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ—but he refused to do so. There is always a tendency in all of us to resort back to works, or law, as the means of our seeking a right standing with God. But this is to lose Jesus altogether; and to commit the most heinous spiritual crime against God—The One who saves His church by Christ's blood atonement alone, received by faith alone.
The church in Galatia temporarily caved-into the Judaizers of their day. Many in our time are doing the same thing. Let us continue to cling to Jesus, by faith—and hence, be His faithful church.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely it is best for you which Providence has ap-pointed, and one day you yourselves will judge it so to be.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
The Apostle Paul was adamant about not giving in on the gospel of grace. Like us, he felt the pressure to compromise the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ—but he refused to do so. There is always a tendency in all of us to resort back to works, or law, as the means of our seeking a right standing with God. But this is to lose Jesus altogether; and to commit the most heinous spiritual crime against God—The One who saves His church by Christ's blood atonement alone, received by faith alone.
The church in Galatia temporarily caved-into the Judaizers of their day. Many in our time are doing the same thing. Let us continue to cling to Jesus, by faith—and hence, be His faithful church.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely it is best for you which Providence has ap-pointed, and one day you yourselves will judge it so to be.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
Friday, September 23, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 9/23-25/16 Devotion
Wahoo—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again. In order to help get us ready, here is Richard Sibbes, from his, "The Bruised Reed"
book. . . .
"WHY CHRIST'S KINGDOM MUST PREVAIL
"Christ has conquered all in His own person first, and He is 'over all, God blessed for ever' (Rom. 9:5); and therefore over sin, death, hell, Satan and the world. And, as He has overcome them in Himself, so He overcomes them in our hearts and consciences. We commonly say that conscience makes a man kingly or contemptible, because it is planted in us to judge for God, eith-er with us or against us. Now if natural conscience be so forcible, what will it be when, besides its own light, it has the light of divine truth put into it? It will undoubtedly prevail, either to make us hold up our heads with boldness or abase us beneath ourselves. If it subjects itself, by grace, to Christ's truth, then it boldly faces death, hell, judgment and all spiritual enemies, because then Christ sets up His kingdom in the conscience and makes it a kind of paradise.
"The sharpest conflict which the soul has is between the conscience and God's justice. Now if the conscience, sprinkled with the blood of Christ, has prevailed over assaults fetched from the justice of God, now satisfied by Christ, it will prevail over all other opposition whatsoever."
book. . . .
"WHY CHRIST'S KINGDOM MUST PREVAIL
"Christ has conquered all in His own person first, and He is 'over all, God blessed for ever' (Rom. 9:5); and therefore over sin, death, hell, Satan and the world. And, as He has overcome them in Himself, so He overcomes them in our hearts and consciences. We commonly say that conscience makes a man kingly or contemptible, because it is planted in us to judge for God, eith-er with us or against us. Now if natural conscience be so forcible, what will it be when, besides its own light, it has the light of divine truth put into it? It will undoubtedly prevail, either to make us hold up our heads with boldness or abase us beneath ourselves. If it subjects itself, by grace, to Christ's truth, then it boldly faces death, hell, judgment and all spiritual enemies, because then Christ sets up His kingdom in the conscience and makes it a kind of paradise.
"The sharpest conflict which the soul has is between the conscience and God's justice. Now if the conscience, sprinkled with the blood of Christ, has prevailed over assaults fetched from the justice of God, now satisfied by Christ, it will prevail over all other opposition whatsoever."
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Thurs., 9/22/16 Devotion (2 Sam. 18:9b)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Samuel 18:9b, where we read these words:
" . . . so he [Absalom] was left hanging between heaven and earth."
When our Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross, bearing the sins of all the elect church from all time, He hung, as it were, "between heaven and earth." He bridged the infinite gap between a holy God and sinful men. The regenerate churchman, who struggles through the process of sanctification, also, in a sense, is suspended "between heaven and earth." Our old flesh nature is at war with our new Christ nature.
Where are the eyes of our hearts focused, today? If they are on the things of the world, we will naturally gravitate there. If they are on Jesus, we will, by grace, soar aloft (in our souls).
[Puritan quote of the day: "In His last sufferings, Christ sapped the very foun-dations of Satan's kingdom. He conquered His enemies in their own territor-ies, and beat them with their own weapons, as David cut off Goliath's head with his own sword.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Excellency of Christ"]
" . . . so he [Absalom] was left hanging between heaven and earth."
When our Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross, bearing the sins of all the elect church from all time, He hung, as it were, "between heaven and earth." He bridged the infinite gap between a holy God and sinful men. The regenerate churchman, who struggles through the process of sanctification, also, in a sense, is suspended "between heaven and earth." Our old flesh nature is at war with our new Christ nature.
Where are the eyes of our hearts focused, today? If they are on the things of the world, we will naturally gravitate there. If they are on Jesus, we will, by grace, soar aloft (in our souls).
[Puritan quote of the day: "In His last sufferings, Christ sapped the very foun-dations of Satan's kingdom. He conquered His enemies in their own territor-ies, and beat them with their own weapons, as David cut off Goliath's head with his own sword.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Excellency of Christ"]
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