Fri.-Sabbath, 2/6-8/26 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 14, Chapter 4). . . .

“So when man lives by the standard of truth he lives not by his own standard, but by God’s. For it is God who has said, ‘I am the Truth.’ By contrast, when he lives by his own standard, that is by man’s and not by God’s standard, then inevitably he lives by the standard of falsehood. Not that man himself is falsehood, since his author and creator is God, who is certainly not the author and creator of falsehood. The fact is that man was created right, on condition that he should live by the standard of his creator, not by his own, carrying out not his own will but his creator’s. Falsehood consists in not living in the way for which he was created.

“Man has undoubtedly the will to be happy, even when he pursues happiness by living in a way which makes it impossible of attainment. What could be more of a falsehood than a will like that? Hence we can say with meaning that every sin is a falsehood. . . . What is the reason for this, except that well-be-ing can only come to man from God, not from himself? . . . "

Thurs., 2/5/26 Devotion (Rom. 8:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 8:16, which says this:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of

God . . . ” (ESV)

If today you know in your heart of hearts that you are an elect/forgiven/justif-ied/sanctified/glorified/beloved sinner-saint Christian churchman, then this precious realization is solely the result of the Holy Spirit having confirmed this reality and truth with and in your own spirit.

No one else in the whole world “knows” beyond any shadow of a doubt, that he or she is actually perfectly “right” with the Holy God, except those who are truly born again to a living hope in Jesus Christ, (cf. 1 Pet. 1:3).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Saul's sparing Agag lost him the kingdom, and your sparing sin will lose you the kingdom of heaven.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Mischief of Sin"]

Wed., 2/4/26 Devotion (Gen. 37:31)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 37:31, where we read these words:

"So they [Joseph's brothers] took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood."

Joseph's "coat of many colors" was impressive in itself; but once it had been "defiled" by blood, it became an emblem of something much greater: the atonement of sinners, wrought by the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Joseph's brothers, in our fallen states, we hate the One (Christ) who is uniquely endowed with God's favor; and we willingly put Him (Jesus) on the cross.

But the very blood we shed there became for us, the church, the only means of our justification, or right standing with God. Now, the "Lamb of God,” Jesus Christ our Lord, is our highest love, and the Object of our worship and praise. Only Almighty God could effect such a remarkable transformation!

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a sin to dwell on sin and turmoil our thoughts about it, when we are called to thankfulness.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]

Tues., 2/3/26 Devotion (Job 2:3a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 2:3a, where we read these words:

“And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job . . .’ ” (ESV)

This is the second time God had asked the old snake this same question (see 1:8). The Lord is “baiting” Lucifer to trouble Job, so that He (God) will prove His servant, and show him (Job) to be made of very good spiritual “stuff.”

When troubles come our way, we will not like them; but, if they come as tests of our faith in and love for God in and through Jesus, then passing them (the tests) is to our very great benefit.

[Edwards quote of the day: "Inquire then how it is with you, whether you pre-fer God before all other things.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "A Truly Godly Man Prefers God Before All Others"]

Mon., 2/2/26 Devotion (Rom. 5:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 5:1, where we read these words:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . "

The glorious past tenses found in Rom. 5:1-11, are enough to live on in this world. These include justification and peace (v. 1); access by faith into grace, standing, and rejoicing (v. 2); the love of God having been poured into our hearts (v. 5); salvation from God’s wrath (v. 9); and reconciliation with God (vv. 10-11).

True Christian churchmen who love God through the Spirit’s regeneration of our hearts have everything we really need, in order to glorify our Father and enjoy our forgiven and eternal life in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the glory of the times we live in, but God's face revealed in Christ?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

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"]