Sat.-Sabbath, 7/25-26/26 Devotion

Dears:

Yesterday’s devotion may have seemed confusing; and I had some typos in it.  At the very bottom, those are corrected.

Here are some clearer words, from Thomas Goodwin. . . . “Do but possess your heart then with the thoughts that there is this fullness of grace, these great riches of mercy in God, and it will make your soul easily believe that there is a willingness in God to bestow them [those great riches of mercy], and that a He is resolved to give them out to you whenever you come to Him . . . "

“The believer’s faith has the freedom and liberty to draw in the ocean of God’s mercies, to draw (if it were possible) the whole of the sea itself to make a full stream for its support, and to help it off the ground, and to help its being borne aloft above all mire of temptations. Nor are there any restrictions about how much or how little it may let in; and to confirm this, why should not faith as well have this immediate recourse, in and with the promises while yet unperformed, unto these essential mercies beforehand, to bestow and give forth the things promised, as well as afterwards in thanksgiving, when we have received the mercies as performed  unto us, we bless God for them, and we celebrate all those essential mercies in God as the original and immediate cause of them? . . . The great return which the Gentiles, and all the nations in the world, are said to bring unto God (when converted by the gospel), as the richest present of thankfulness, is set out by this, ’to glorify God for His mercy,’ (Rom. 15:9). . . . "

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/24-26/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again. In order to prepare us for church worship on the Sabbath Day, here are some very good words from Thomas Goodwin, from his, “The Object and Actings of Justifying Faith” book.  (I have updated some of the language.) . . .

“The believer’s faith has the freedom and liberty to draw in the ocean of God’s mercies, to draw (if it were possible) the whole of the sea itself to make a full stream for its support, and to help it off the ground, and to help its being borne aloft above all mire of temptations. Nor are there any restrictions about how much or how little it may let in; and to confirm this, why should not faith as well have this immediate recourse, in and with the promises while yet un-performed, unto these essential mercies beforehand, to bestow and give forth the things promised, as well as afterwards in thanksgiving, when we have re-ceived the mercies as performed unto us, we bless God for them, and we celebrate all those essential mercies in God as the original and immediate cause of them? . . . The great return which the Gentiles, and all the nations in the world, are said to bring unto God (when converted by the gospel), as the richest present of thankfulness, is set out by this, ’to glorify God for His mercy,’ (Rom. 15:9). . . . "

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Wed., 7/22/26 Devotion (Mk. 4:38a)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 4:38a, which says this:

“But he [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. . . . ” (ESV)

For someone (me) who enjoys his naps, I can really appreciate this half-verse. Preaching can be extremely satisfyingly-exhausting. The Lord Jesus was physically-spent; and He needed some well-deserved rest.

. . . But, there was a huge storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were coming “unglued”; but the Messiah was perfectly at peace and calm. When we have our tribulations, let us call on the One who knows our struggles, who is even “in” the “boat” with us—and who yet has no perturbation of spirit. As we are in Jesus, we, His church, may be as tranquil as He is, by grace through faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "None are damned in the church but those who are determined to be . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

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Tues., 7/21/26 Devotion (Acts 8:5, 8)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 8:5 & 8, where these words are found:

“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

. . . So there was much joy in that city.” (ESV)

Sometimes I think we forget just how much joy is experienced when elect sinners hear the gospel preached/believe it/and realize that all their sins are forever remitted from them in the blood of the Son of God. Whole nations and cities and families can be so profoundly affected by this supernatural grace and wonder—that they are never the same again.

There is no joy, like the joy of knowing and loving God in and through Jesus Christ and His gospel of grace and mercy. There is always hope for the sinful world (to be made very happy), so long as we have Jesus, His good news, and His holy church.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The love of Christ for the elect is so great that God the Father looks upon it proper and suitable to account Christ and the elect as one, and accordingly to account what Christ does and suffers as if they did it and suffered it.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "The Wisdom of God"]

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Mon., 7/20/26 Devotion (Mk. 1:35)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 1:35, where we read these words:

“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)

No matter how “busy" the Lord Jesus Christ was, He always gave His Father the best of His time; and the “cream” of His affection. No matter how “full” His day was, nothing would ever intrude on this sacred prayer time. We sinners protest that we do not have time for God—but we say this because we are not being honest. We make time for what we want to do; and we avoid any-thing we would rather not do.

But, for the regenerate saints of the church who love God in Jesus Christ, time in prayer is not a chore; instead it is our chief delight—just like it was for our Gentle Shepherd (Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "But now Christ does that which we could not do, that is, fulfill the law for us. And He also does that which the law could not do, which was justify us.” —Obadiah Grew, in, "The Lord our Righteousness"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 7/17-19/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again. In order to prepare us for church worship on the Sabbath Day, here are some very good words from Thomas Goodwin, from his, “The Object and Actings of Justifying Faith” book.  (I have updated some of the language.) . . .

“A promise of life to a condemned man is sweet, for life is sweet, as we say; but, ‘Your lovingkindness,’ said David, who had tasted how good the Lord is, ‘is better than life,' and infinitely sweeter, (Ps. 63:3). And again David says, ‘Because Your mercy is good, deliver me,’ (Ps. 109:21). Deliverance was good; yes, but the mercy in God apprehended thereby was infinitely more good to him, which was the greatest incentive for [David] to seek deliverance. . . . And David in this psalm first laid hold on the goodness that is in the mercy of God, and then prays and pleads, ‘Deliver me.’ . . . And when the thing sought for comes to be granted and obtained, a believer rejoices more in the mercy and lovingkindness he finds to be in God’s heart towards him, than in the benefit given; and this is what takes his [the believer’s] heart—Ps. 31:7: ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy; for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities.’ That  God’s mercy and kindness should own his [David’s] soul at such a time, was more than the deliverance."

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Thurs., 7/16/26 Devotion (Josh. 23:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 23:11, which says this:

“Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.” (ESV)

Does it not seem a bit strange, that we have to be exhorted to “love” the Lord our God? But, what is our religion, or our life, if we do not love the Lord? Ba-sically, they are worthless (without this love). There is no obedience where there is not Spirit-wrought love for God; and this love of The Divine is the heart of all true religion.

No one loves God who does not love Him in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. All people who do not love Jesus Christ, in fact, hate God. Let all the church’s true saints love God in Christ with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength—and hence live life to the full, in the Person of Life, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[Prayer] is God conversing with man, and man with God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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