Fri.-Sabbath, 12/5-7/25 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here. To help us prepare for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his "All Things for Good," or, "A Divine Cordial" book:

"The word preached works for good. It is a savor of life, it is a soul-transform-ing word. It assimilates the heart into Christ’s likeness; it produces assurance. 'Our gospel came to you not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,' (1 Thess. 1:5). It is the chariot of salvation.

"Prayer works for good. Prayer is the bellows of the affections; it blows up holy desires and ardors of soul. Prayer has power with God. It is a key that unlocks the treasury of God’s mercy. Prayer keeps the heart open to God, and shut to sin. . . . Prayer is the Christian’s gun, which he discharges against his enemies. Prayer is the sovereign medicine of the soul. Prayer sanctifies every mercy (1 Tim. 4:5). It is the dispeller of sorrow: by venting the grief it eases the heart. When Hannah had prayed, 'She went away, and was no more sad,' (1 Sam. 1:18). And if it has these rare effects, then it works for good."

Thurs., 12/4/25 Devotion (Lk. 18:14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 18:14a, where we read these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ:

“I tell you, this man [the tax collector] went down to his house justified, rather than the other [the pharisee]. . . . "

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is one of the all-time greatest stories ever told. How wonderful is it, that a wretched sinner, who only acknowledges himself to be such, is “justified”—while the self-righteous, law-mongering, works-oriented Pharisee goes home condemned?!

. . . Only a God of infinite grace could accomplish such a thing. Let all of us sinners rejoice that we have a Savior; and let all smug religionists grovel in their polluted delusions (until or unless they come to the Truth [Jesus]).

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not how much we do, but how much we love.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Wed., 12/3/25 Devotion (1 Jn. 2:2)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 2:2, where we read these words:

“[Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (ESV)

Not only does Jesus Christ’s blood atonement satisfy for the regenerate people (currently) in His church—He (Christ) is the only hope for the entire rest of the world (also). *All* the sins of the elect are (or will be) expunged in Christ’s perfect sacrifice before the Father; and the gospel is available for all sinners everywhere.

No one is saved (redeemed) outside of Jesus, but everyone is a candidate for this blessed condition, which is received by faith in the Christ of the gospel of grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Keep conscience clear and clean from secret sins. . . . Will you be so bold as to come before the God of heaven when He knows you maintain some secret sin in your hearts?” —Samuel Lee, in, "Secret Prayer Successfully Managed"]

Tues., 12/2/25 Devotion (Lk. 16:13b)

 Today's encouragement comes from Luke 16:13b, where we read these words, spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ:

“ . . . You cannot serve God and money.” (ESV)

It is intriguing to consider what our Lord Jesus does not say. He does not aver, “You cannot serve God and sin,” or, “ . . . God and self,”

or, “ . . . God and Satan,” or, “ . . . God and the world.” Money is the absolute antitype and gauge of the heart, vis.-a-vis. God.

There is nothing inherently wrong with money; there is everything inherently wrong with our hearts. Only regeneration in Christ frees us from the intractable idolatry of worshipping money. May all the church’s liberated saints bless their Father for this joyous emancipation!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Now Christ and the church are all one. They make but one mystical body. The church is the queen, and Christ is the King.”

—Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Mon., 12/1/25 Devotion (Lk. 15:21)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 15:21, where we read these won-derful words:

“And the [prodigal] son said to [his father], ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "

This speech by the Prodigal Son is probably the greatest one ever recorded in the Holy Scriptures, with respect to it coming from a fallen sinner. Whose heart would not be melted by such words? The running father, who already loved his returning son, would have been completely overwhelmed by such sincere contrition and humility.

. . . And so it is with God our Heavenly Father. He is simply incapable of doing anything but embracing, kissing, and loving every repentant sinner who comes to Him in and through faith in the merits and atonement of Jesus Christ, His own natural Son.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For the greatest and most glorious work that you can perform is not nearly worth so much as one drop of the blood of Christ.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 11/28-30/25 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here! Again, we get to go back to church. In order to help us prepare for Sabbath Worship, here are some great words from Jonathan Edwards, from his, “The History of the Work of Redemption” book. . . .

“If it had not been for the history of the Old Testament, how woefully should we have been left in the dark about many things which the church of God needs to know! How ignorant should we have been of God’s dealings towards mankind, and towards His church, from the beginning! We would have been wholly in the dark about the creation of the world, the Fall of man, the first rise and continued progress of the dispensations [eras] of grace towards fallen mankind! And we should have known nothing how God at first set up a church in the world, and how it was preserved; after what manner He govern-ed it from the beginning; how the light of the gospel first began to dawn in the world; how it increased, and how things were preparing for the coming of Christ.

“If we are Christians, we belong to that building of God that has been the sub-ject of our discourse from this text; but if it had not been for the history of the Old Testament, we should never have known what was the first occasion of God’s going about this building, and how the foundation of it was laid at first, and how it has gone on from the beginning. . . . "

Wed., 11/26/25 Devotion (Lk. 10:21a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 10:21a, where we read these words:

“In that same hour [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth . . . ’ ” (ESV)

Imagine the perfect Son of God standing on the sin-cursed earth offering hearty and joyful praise and thanks to His Father in heaven. And, for what was Jesus so overjoyed? That the Father had revealed the king-dom of God to “little children,” those who believed in and followed the Messiah.

The “wise” and “understanding” of the world—all those who seek their end in anyone or -thing but Christ—get nothing; but the children of grace get everything in the Redeemer. May our “thanksgivings” unto God be princi-pally for the gift of His Son, the One who is at the center of all things.

[Puritan quote of the day: "So let us seriously and fruitfully consider what excellent times the Lord has set us in, and respond thankfully and obedi-ently.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]