Monday, May 12, 2025

Mon., 5/12/25 Devotion (Jas. 4:6)

Today's encouragement comes from James 4:6, where we read these words:

"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' "

Are we not glad that God "gives more grace"? This is sanctifying grace, that both causes us to humble ourselves (before the Lord), and increases our hu-mility (before Him). No one in their right mind would really want to be "re-sisted" by God. Who could withstand the Almighty?

Let us humble ourselves today, under the Lord's powerful hand; and in that position enjoy the sweet peace and freedom that only come to the contrite of heart. In Christ, God does not, and cannot "resist" the truly humble soul. To them, He "gives more grace."

[Puritan quote of the day: "When you go to mourn for sin, begin aloft with Christ: and do not always think to begin below with sin, and so to come up to Christ; but begin aloft with Christ, and so by your humiliation, fall down upon sin.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Friday, May 9, 2025

Fri.-Sabbath, 5/9-11/25 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here. We get to go back to church again! In order to help us get ready for Sabbath worship, here is Thomas Watson, from his, “The Great Gain of Godliness” book. (This book is elucidating Malachi 3:16-18). . . .

“See the mercifulness of God to His children, Who blots their sins out of His book of remembrance, and writes their good deeds in His book of remem-brance: ‘I, even I, am He that bots out your transgressions,’ (Isa. 43:25). This is a metaphor borrowed from the case of a creditor who takes his pen and blots out the debt owing to him; so says God, I will ‘blot out your transgres-sions.’ Or as the Hebrew has it, ‘I am blotting them out.’

“God in forgiving sin passes an act of oblivion or amnesty (forgetting): ‘I will remember their sin no more,’ (Jer. 31:34). God will not upbraid His people with their former offenses. We never read that when Peter repented Christ upbraided him for his denial of his Lord. Oh, the heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to His people! He remembers everything but their sins. He writes down their good thoughts and speeches in a merciful book of remem-brance; but their sins are as if they had never been; they are carried into the land of oblivion."

Friday, April 18, 2025

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/18-20/25 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here. We get to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, again! In order to help us get ready for the church’s Sabbath worship, here are sweet words from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, entitled, “The Grace of God.” . . .

“God has given even fallen man such a gift that He has left nothing for man to do that he may be happy but to receive what is given to him. Though he has sinned, God requires no amends to be made by him. He requires of him no restoration; if they will receive His Son from Him, He requires neither money nor price. Man is to do no penance in order to be forgiven. What God offers, He offers freely. God offers man eternal happiness upon far more gracious terms since he is fallen than before. Before, he had to do something himself for his happiness: he was to obey the law. But since he is fallen, God offers to save him for nothing, only if he will receive salvation as it is offered, that is, freely through Christ and by faith in Him."

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Wed., 4/16/25 Devotion (Ps. 25:10)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 25:10, where we read these words:

"All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

This verse (above) conveys a beautiful doctrine. Toward all the church’s saints, those who love Christ sincerely through regeneration, God has nothing but “mercy” and “truth” to show them, and demonstrate to them. The “keep-ers” of God’s “covenant” and “testimonies” are the authentic, still-struggling churchmen who take their baptismal and covenant vows with utmost and heartfelt seriousness.

. . . Therefore, if we are in Christ and His church today, believing the gospel of grace through sheer sovereign mercy, let us fully-recognize that our Father al-ways (and without any failure) exercises mercy and truth toward us—all in His beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The best men are severe to themselves, but ten-der toward others.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tues., 4/15/25 Devotion (Ps. 23:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 23:1, where we read these words:

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

These familiar words of David (above) wed together the ownership God has of His people with the fact that their needs and legitimate desires will be taken care of. David seems to be saying, "Since I have the Lord, everything is cov-ered.”

On the other hand, those who do not possess Jesus Christ by faith "want," or are in need of *everything.* They have nothing of value; and their lives are devoid of positive purpose and meaning. Let all the regenerate church rejoice in the fact that we are in our Redeemer's "sheepfold"; and let us be compas-sionate toward those who are not, as we seek to bring the gospel to them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Faith is to be prized, and other things undervalued, at least not to be trusted in as the chief [good].” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]

Monday, April 14, 2025

Mon., 4/14/25 Devotion (1 Tim. 3:15b, c)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 3:15b & c, where we read these words:

" . . . I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is writing to the pas-tor Timothy—so that he (Timothy) would then model grace and humility to and with the members of the congregation. The entire church, then, would consti-tute and broadcast the gospel truth of the living God.

Until (or unless) we learn the principles of church life—we will be of little ac-count anywhere else in the world: be it in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, or our culture(s). Regenerative faith in Jesus re-sults in covenant faithfulness in church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In your daily practice do not trust too much in any outward performance or task, making idols of outward things.” —Richard Sib-bes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Friday, April 11, 2025

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/11-13/25 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is *just about* here! In order to get us ready for the church's Sabbath worship of God, here is Thomas Watson, from, "A Divine Cordial," (or, "All things For Good"). . . .

"We love a saint, though he has many personal failings. There is no perfec-tion here. In some, rash anger prevails; in some, inconstancy; in some, too much love of the world. A saint in this life is like gold in the ore, much dross of infirmity cleaves to him, yet we love him for the grace that is in him. A saint is like a fair face with a scar: we love the beautiful face of holiness, though there be a scar in it. The best emerald has its blemishes, the brightest stars their twinklings, and the best of the saints have their failings. You that cannot love another because of his infirmities, how would you have God love you?"