Tues., 3/10/26 Devotion (Lk. 24:45)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:45, where we read these amaz-ing words:

"And [Jesus] opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

We fallen sinners in Adam are so completely destitute of our spiritual senses, that we are incapable of (even) comprehending the Holy Scriptures until Jesus Christ “opens our understanding.” This is for our good. If we “under-stood” them before this time, we would be so petrified of God, that we would never want to hear/read them again.

The now-ascended Christ, with His Father, sends the Holy Spirit to “open” our "understanding.” When this happens, we behold Jesus in every word; and we read the Bible aright, for the first time.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Only Christ can satisfy the soul. All other ways and things will only end in disappointment.” —John Owen, in, "Communion With God"]

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Mon., 3/9/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 8:23b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 8:23b, where we read these words:

“ . . . And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.” (ESV)

The body of Christ, the people of Christ, are, in a very important sense, “the glory of Christ.” This intriguing phrase reflects Isa. 46:13c: “ . . . Israel my glory.”

The true church is the new liberated “Jerusalem” above, filled with children of the free woman (Sarah); whereas the “Jerusalem” below is in bondage, filled with the children of the slave woman (Hagar)—cf. Gal. 4:21-28. Let us as God’s beloved and forgiven people shine, as “the glory of Christ."

[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens.” —Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/6-8/26 Devotion

Bless 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 17, Chapter 11). . . .

“The psalm continues, ‘For you have not created all the sons of men for no-thing.’ The truth is that all the sons of men would have been created for no-thing, had there not been one Son of Man who was the ’substance’ of Israel, a Son of Man through whom many sons of men would be set free. For at this time all mankind had fallen from the truth into futility through the sin of the first man; that is why another psalm says, ‘Man has become like a thing of futility; his life passes away like a shadow.’ Yet God did not create all the sons of men for nothing, seeing that He sets many free from this futility through Jesus the Mediator; while as for those who, in His foreknowledge, were not to be set free, He created them for the advantage of those who were to be liberated, and to mark the contrast between the two mutually opposed cities. Thus we may be sure that their creation was not in vain; it was included in a design of supreme beauty and justice, a design for the whole rational creation."

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Thurs., 3/5/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 4:4)

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

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (ESV)

Those who do not believe in Jesus have become slaves of Satan. He “blinds” their “eyes,” so that they are robbed of all the best glory of earth and heaven—Who is Jesus Christ, the very image of God.

Let us pray for dear souls who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will, (2 Tim. 2:26); and gently seek to bring them to the loving Savior, (2 Tim. 2:25).

[Edwards quote of the day: "Every man is as his God is. If you would know whether a man is a godly man or not, you must inquire what his god is like.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "A Truly Godly Man Prefers God Before All Others"]

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Wed., 3/4/26 Devotion (Lk. 18:9)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 18:9, which says this:

“He [Jesus] told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: . . . ” (ESV)

The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is the one that most infuriates unregenerate self-righteous people. The tax collector goes home “justified”; and the devoutly-religious guy goes home condemned.

. . . The spiritual chasm between these two human beings is not what they do, but what they say. The pharisee says, “I am better than the publican.” The tax collector says, “I am nothing but a vile sinner.” The sinner is justified unto glory; the religious hypocrite is condemned unto perdition.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We need to understand that when we come to hear the Word, we come to hear that which has so much life in it that every sermon we hear we must expect to be nearer heaven or nearer hell.” —Jere-miah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]

Tues., 3/3/26 Devotion (Lk. 17:21b)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:21b, where we read these words of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ:

“ ‘ . . . for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’ ” (ESV)

I rather like the ESV’s translation (here/above). When asked, “When the king-dom . . . would come?”—our Savior said (in so many words), “It is already here. It is here in ME Myself. I am the very ‘essence’ of the king-dom of God.”

Many contemporary alleged “kingdom-seekers” are idolaters. There is no “kingdom of God” where Jesus is not. This kingdom is everywhere Jesus is, (and this includes His faithful church on earth).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's church is the house which He has built on a perfect number of pillars so that it might be stable, resting on a good foun-dation.” —John Owen, in, "Communion With God"]

Mon., 3/2/26 Devotion (Lk. 16:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 16:16, where we read these words:

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” (ESV)

Sometimes we regenerated Christian churchmen forget that everyone wants and seeks after what *we* already possess in Jesus Christ. The only thing that matters in the world is Jesus, His gospel, and His church. Everyone knows this in his or her heart—and they are all “pressing in” to get a piece of the action.

But only those who submit in faith to the King (Jesus) receive His blessings. Let us preach the good news; and know and believe that God will draw His elect unto Himself, and place them in Christ’s body, His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If we once get the victory over ourselves, all other things are conquered with ease.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]