Fri.-Sabbath, 1/30-2/1/26 Devotion

Praise God, the Sabbath Day (Sunday) is almost here! We get to go back to church. In order to help us get ready for worship, here are great words from Augustine’s “City of God” book. (This comes from Book 11, Chapter 2). . . .

“ . . . And so the  mind had to be trained and purified by faith; and in order to give man’s mind greater confidence in its journey towards the truth along the way of faith, God the Son of God, who is Himself the Truth, took manhood without abandoning His godhead, and thus established and founded this faith, so that man might have a path to man’s God through the Man who was God. For this is ‘the mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.’ As man He is our mediator; as man He is our way. For there is hope to attain a journey’s end when there is a path which stretches between the traveler and his goal. But if there is no path, or if a man does not know which way to go, there is little use in knowing the destination. As it is, there is one road, and one only, well secured against all possibility of going astray; and this road is provided by One who is Himself both God and man. As God, He is the goal; as man, He is the way."

Thurs., 1/29/26 Devotion (Mk. 1:35)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 1:35, which says this:

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (ESV)

Earlier in this very same chapter, our Messiah spent forty days in the “wilder-ness,” (vv. 12-13). Undoubtedly, He spent a lot of time in prayer with His Fa-ther while He was there. Here, as our Lord’s public ministry is heating-up, He desires this sweet alone-time with His Father.

. . . Regenerate Christians do the same thing. We recognize that we are help-less without our God—and so we go to Him often, in and through our Media-tor, the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us labor to cherish union and hate division.”

—Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Wed., 1/28/26 Devotion (Matt. 28:18)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 28:18, where we read these words:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’ " (ESV)

These words which preface “The Great Commission” establish the basis for the church’s entire ministry throughout all of history. Jesus Christ’s incarna-tion inaugurated the God/Man’s authority; and the risen Messiah’s crowning in glory after His ascension fully and finally sealed it.

The church’s saints do not have to wait for our Redeemer to be given author-ity—rather, we get to celebrate the fact that He already has all of it, in heaven and on earth.

[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"]

Tues., 1/27/26 Devotion (Matt. 27:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 27:14, where we read these words:

“But [Jesus] gave [Pilate] no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (ESV)

Sometimes silence is the best answer; and this was certainly true here. Pilate was fair, compared to the high priest—but neither of them were to receive many words from our blessed Messiah. Jesus had to die for His people; and these men had to do the evil deed.

. . . This does not mean that God’s children should never (and can never) de-fend themselves. Sometimes it is noble for us to do so. Still, we should be thankful that the “Lamb of God” “opened not His mouth,” (Isa. 53:7).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Let me not deny myself comfort and God glory both at once.” —Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]

Mon., 1/26/26 Devotion (Acts 26:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 26:25, where Paul said this:

“But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.’ ” (ESV)

Spirit-filled churchmen, and Spirit-filled and truly-called ministers, are the most sane and rational people in the world. Absolute “rationality” is godliness devoid of fallenness. Nutty religious people are the antithesis of honorable sinners who love God (through Christ) in sincerity.

Do you cherish Jesus today? If so, recognize yourself to be the model of grace and reason that all the world needs to see (and hear).

[Puritan quote of the day: "As wise and learned as you are, take heed to your-selves lest Satan outwit you. The devil is a greater scholar than you, and a nimbler disputant.” —Richard Baxter, in, "The Reformed Pastor"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 1/23-25/26 Devotion

Thank God, the Sabbath Day (Sunday) is almost here! We get to go back to church. In order to help us get ready for worship, here are great words from Augustine’s “City of God” book. (This comes from Book 8, Chapter 24). . . .

“ . . . What was established by infidelity was removed by faith; what was es-tablished by opposition to true religion was removed by conversion to the one true and holy God.

“The lament of Hermes [that the world was turning to Christ] was concerned only with Egypt; but the change was not confined to that country. It has hap-pened throughout the world, and the whole earth sings a new song to the Lord, as was truly prophesied in the Scriptures and in the writings of the prophets, where we read, ‘Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.’ And this is the title of the psalm just quoted: When the house was being built, after the captivity. Indeed this house, the City of God, which is the holy Church, is now being built in the whole world after the captivity in which the demons held captive those men who, on believing in God, have become like ‘living stones’ of which the house is being built."

Thurs., 1/22/26 Devotion (Matt. 22:16b, c)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 22:16b & c, which says this:

“ . . . 'Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appear-ances.’ ” (ESV)

These words, spoken by God’s avowed enemies, are completely true. The problem is, the pharisees and the Herodians did not believe them. They were lying to Jesus, to seek to “entangle” Him in His words, (v. 15).

Let us not be naive about religious people—even many who claim to be Christians. We should always “err” on the side of “grace”; but the “proof” will be in the “pudding” of regenerative faith, or the lack thereof.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Believing in Christ is the great thing that God presses upon sinners throughout the Scripture . . . ” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices"]