Thurs., 10/17/24 Devotion (Dan. 2:44)

Today's encouragement comes from Daniel 2:44, where we read these words:

"And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

Daniel is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar here, and he is explaining the king's dream. The "kingdom" that Daniel is referring to here, is the establishment of, and the proliferation of the New Covenant church, by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior's kingdom is now in the process of "break[ing] in[to] pieces" all op-posing "kingdoms."

Some of these counterfeit "kingdoms" arise even among professing, errant Christians. Others of them are wholly and self-proclaimedly "anti-Christian." All of them are in the process of falling at the feet of King Jesus. For this, let all the churched kingdom people give Him praise—even now.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Many, in a fit of terror, are willing to do or to suffer anything to keep out of hell and go to heaven; but when the fit is over, they will not deny themselves and take up the cross to follow Christ.” —Isaac Am-brose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]

Wed., 10/16/24 Devotion (1 Thess. 2:4)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:4, where we read these words:

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."

The ministers of the church who are truly called by God are sent to speak to all people everywhere the gospel of Christ's grace. But we are to do so with our minds on the Triune God first. God is our principal “Audience.” What is it that *God* wants us to say? This is what must be preached. The faithful cler-gy do not poll the people, to determine what they want to hear. Instead, we "poll" the Lord (via His written Word), in order to know what He would have us proclaim.

This principle is then passed down to the entire church, wherein the people of God begin to think this way, too. They begin to ask, "What is it that Christ would have me do, and say?" This is the way to be effective for Jesus in the world. Then, when God "tests our hearts," we pass with flying colors—be-cause of Christ alone.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ is in the ship of His church; do not fear sink-ing. The church's anchor is cast in heaven. Do we not think that God loves His church, and takes as much care of it as we can?” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Tues., 10/15/24 Devotion (1 Ki. 18:21a)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Kings 18:21a, where we read these words:

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. . . . ' "

I like this perspective, put forth by the prophet Elijah. Even today this principle still applies. All people worship some deity (alleged, or true). Our attitude should sincerely be: "Let the best [God] win." Is the Muslim god the true one? Then everybody should worship it. Is the atheists' god the true one? Then we should bow down to it. Is the secularists' god true? Let all men honor it (or her, or whatever). Is the Triune God of the faithful Christian church the only Real Deity that exists? Then, all human beings should worship Him.

. . . It turns out that the Holy Trinity *is* the one and only God. We know this—among other reasons—by the resurrection of the Son of God, who lives and reigns today. Christ can withstand all pretenders to His throne. Let us worship the Christian God; and not fear any of the fake ones.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There are the greatest reasons in the world to be a Christian . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

Mon., 10/14/24 Devotion (Ezek. 47:12b)

Today's encouragement comes from Ezekiel 47:12b, where we read these amazing words:

"They [the trees] will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."

The first part of Ezekiel, ch. 47, is remarkable—one of my favorite sections of the Bible. The expanse of the New Covenant church, and the spread of Jesus' gospel of grace are all in view here. This is all happening today. Christ dwells in the "sanctuary," (the church). The church, through the Holy Spirit's application of the gospel, feeds, nourishes, and heals the world. And, in time, the "knowledge of the Lord covers the earth, as the waters cover the sea.” (Cf. Hab. 2:14.)

Let us be thankful that the God of heaven has *not* abandoned His fallen world, or the people therein. He has left His colony, the church, here. As the Body of Christ, let us be "feeders" and "healers" of the whole earth—through the preaching of the gospel of our Redeemer’s free and abundant grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace continues and increases.” —Richard Sib-bes, in "Glorious Freedom"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 10/11-13/24 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The Lord's Prayer” book. . . .

"If all be a gift, then it is not a debt, and we cannot say to God as that creditor who said, 'Pay me what you owe,' (Matt. 18:28). Who can make God a debt-or, or do any act that is obliging and meritorious? Whatever we receive from God is a gift; we can give nothing to Him but what He has given to us. 'All things come from You, and of Your own have we given to You, ' (1 Chron. 29:14).

"David and his people offered to the building of God's house gold and silver, but they offered nothing but what God had given them. 'Of Your own have we given You.' If we love God, it is He that has given us a heart to love Him. If we praise Him, He both gives us the organ of tongue, and puts it in tune. If we give alms to others, He has given alms to us first, so that we may say, 'We of-fer, O Lord, of Your own to You.' Is all a gift, how absurd, then, is the doctrine of merit? . . . We cannot deserve a bit of bread, much less a crown of glory. If all be a gift, then merit is exploded, and shut out of doors."

Thurs., 10/10/24 Devotion (Col. 1:16a)

Today's encouragement comes from Colossians 1:16a, where we read these words of Paul:

"For by Him [Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible . . . "

God created everything that is—everything that has a real essence; and He did this through His Son, Christ our Lord. There may be discussions (some-times legitimate) about whether this was an instantaneous creation, or not—but the germane fact is that God created everything, and He did it through Christ (The Word). Nothing exists that God did not create. (The Lord did not create sin or any evil—as these privations of good do not have a real es-sence.)

In the beauty of this season, let us thank God for His power and glory in His creation. But let us do this with an eye to something even greater: the re-cre-ation of dead souls, who now make up the regenerated members of the body (church) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The hypocrite takes more care to make a covenant than to keep it, and is more studious to enter into religion than that religion should enter into him.” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "God's Anatomy Upon Man's Heart"]

Wed., 10/9/24 Devotion (Ps. 94:19)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 94:19, where we read these words:

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

This verse describes life in the fallen world infected with sin. The faithful churchman does indeed feel "anxieties"; but he or she also experiences abundant "comforts" in Christ. False forms of Christianity argue that these two are incompatible. The Scripture, on the other hand, affirms that both conster-nation *and* consolation coexist in the children of God.

Even our Savior had "anxieties." Do we remember His time in the Garden of Gethsemane? But our comforts in Christ outweigh our troubles in a shaken world. Let us thank our good and loving God for this.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a vain thing to think that true religion can be maintained, and have the liberty of it, without some difference of opinion among us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Hope"]