Wed., 7/8/26 Devotion (Matt. 18:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 18:6, where we read these words:

“ . . . but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (ESV)

Matthew, ch. 18 is famous for its “conflict resolution” verses; but this theme of “little ones” runs prominently through at least the first half of it. Jesus uses the “little ones” as the model of true greatness (vv. 2-4); and He makes a strong point about how precious those “little ones” who believe in Him are, to the Heavenly Father (v. 14).

The “sin confrontation” texts that follow (that are so well-known), may well still attach themselves (at least somewhat) to what preceded. Let us lead all the true church to Jesus all the time—especially the “little ones,” those who most particularly need our help and protection.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We borrow all our holiness from God. As the lights of the sanctuary were lighted from the middle lamp, so all the holiness of oth-ers is a lamp lighted from heaven.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divin-ity"]

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Tues., 7/7/26 Devotion (Matt. 17:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 17:8, where we read these words:

"When they [Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration]] had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

As great and impressive as Moses and Elijah were on the Mount of Transfig-uration, they were insignificant compared with the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in heaven, we will see, love, appreciate, and fellowship with multitudes of other saints—and yet, always, our gaze will be on our glorious Redeemer/Messiah/ Savior. We will be transfixed on Him.

None of this supreme glory of The One (Jesus) denigrates anyone who is in-ferior to Him. Instead, we enjoy all our derived glory from Him; and we are perfectly situated in God’s kingdom in such a way, that everyone and every-thing gets its proper and satisfying “due”—all in Christ our Head.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In a word, as Christ's Person excels your person, so His obedience infinitely exceeds your disobedience.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/3-5/26 Devotion

Happy 250th Birthday, USA!

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again. To help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Divine Cordial” book. . . .

"Love will make us stoop to the meanest [lowest] offices. Love is a humble grace, it does not walk abroad in state [or, “strut around”]; it will creep upon its hands. It will stoop and submit to anything whereby it may be serviceable to Christ. As we see in Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, both of them honorable persons, yet one takes down Christ's body with his own hands, and the other embalms it with sweet odors [spices]. It might seem much for persons of their rank to be employed in that service, but love made them do it. If we love God, we shall not think any work too mean [low] for us, by which we may be helpful to Christ's members. Love is not squeamish; it will visit the sick, relieve the poor, wash the saints' wounds. The mother that loves her child is not coy and nice; she will do those things for her child which others would scorn to do. He who loves God will humble himself to the meanest [lowest] office of love to Christ and His members."

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Thurs., 7/2/26 Devotion (Matt. 12:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 12:14, where we read these words:

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against [Jesus], how to destroy him.” (ESV)

Unregenerate though passionate overtly-religious sinners are the worst hu-man enemies of the Triune God, by far. “Garden-variety” sinners, who make no pompous claims to their own “righteousness,” are much to be preferred to Pharisees, hypocrites, and cruel, vicious religionists.

In the preceding verse, our Messiah had just cured a poor man of his wither-ed hand. What was the Pharisees’ reaction? Thankfulness? Praise? Wonder? No; they—the ones who claimed to uphold the Ten Commandments—“con-spire” to murder the Son of God who stood in their midst. No wonder they will occupy such low places in hell, barring regeneration and repentance.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

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Tues., 6/30/26 Devotion (Matt. 10:38)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 10:38, where we read these words:

“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (ESV)

These words of our blessed Messiah Jesus have kept a lot of honest people outside of the Christian faith, the church, eternal life, and heaven. But, for those elect souls who have become convinced, by sovereign grace, that Jesus is worth everything—they are willing to bear the cross.

“Bearing” our “cross” is to be identified with Christ (especially) in His suffer-ings and death (Php. 3:10); but also in His burial, resurrection, ascension, session, and glory in heaven.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ was made sin for saints, therefore their sin shall not hurt them.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Mon., 6/29/26 Devotion (Isa. 61:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 61:1a, where these great words are found:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor . . . ” (ESV)

Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ directly applied these words to Himself (in Lk. 4:18 ff.). Jesus came here to earth to save dirty, rotten sinners—who had be-come because of their sin—“poor,” and “captives,” “blind,” and “oppressed,” (see the balance of the texts).

Christ did not come to this fallen planet to redeem self-righteous people who think they can add anything to their supposed standing with God. Rather, He atones for those who recognize, by God’s grace, their total unworthiness and degradation. Let all the elect be “Prodigal” sons and daughters of the King of heaven—and come to Jesus joyfully, by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing within us that could justify, but something without us; not any righteousness inherent, but imputed. We may as well look for a star in the earth as for justification in our own righteous-ness.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 6/26-28/26 Devotion

As we prepare for Sunday's church worship, let us allow these words of Jona-than Edwards, from his sermon entitled, "A Warning to Professors of Reli-gion," to bless our hearts. . . .

"When we are in attendance on the ordinances of divine worship, we are in the special presence of God. When persons come and attend on the ordinan-ces of God, they are said to come before God, and to come into His pres-ence. Jer. 7:10: 'Come and stand before Me, in this house which is called by My Name.' Ps. 100:2: 'Come before His presence with singing.'

"In divine ordinances, persons have immediate [interaction] with God, either in applying to Him (as in prayer and singing praises), or in receiving from him, waiting solemnly and immediately on Him for spiritual good (as in hearing the Word), or in both applying to God and receiving from Him (as in the sacra-ments [baptism and the Lord's Supper])."

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