Mon., 9/14/26 Devotion (2 Cor. 3:18a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 3:18a, where Paul wrote these words:

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. . . . "

This is one of the most encouraging texts in all of Holy Scripture. The church’s saints experience sufferings, deaths, and crosses—but all of these yield (through faith in Jesus) grace, life, and more Christlikeness. Are you suf-fering today? Are you dying to sin today? Are you faithfully bearing your cross as a churched disciple of Jesus today?

. . . If so, then rejoice: you are going to experience, even in this life, deliver-ance, resurrection, and godly character. Do not lose heart, dear Christians, everything that happens to you (in Jesus) is for your good.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The Son is the fullness of God, and the church is the fullness of the Son of God.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Glory of God"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 9/11-13/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here! As we prepare to worship God in church on His day, here are good words from Thomas Watson's, "All Things for Good” book. . . .

"Christ is in heaven . . . and He prays for all believers as He did for the apo-stles. ‘I do not pray for these alone but for all of them that shall believe in Me,' (Jn. 17:20). When a Christian is weak, and can hardly pray for himself, Jesus Christ is praying for him; and He prays for three things. First, that the saints may be kept from sin (Jn. 17:15): 'I pray that You would keep them from the evil [one].' We live in the world as in a pest house; Christ prays that His saints may not be infected with the contagious evil of the times. Second, for His people’s progress in holiness. 'Sanctify them,’ (Jn. 17:17). Let them have constant supplies of the Spirit, and be anointed with fresh oil. Third, for their glorification: 'Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am,’ (Jn. 17:24). Christ is not content till the saints are in His arms. This prayer, which He made on earth, is the copy and pattern of His prayer in heaven. What a comfort is this; when Satan is tempting, Christ is praying! This works for [our] good."

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Thurs., 9/10/26 Devotion (Ps. 53:5a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 53:5a, where we read these words:

"There they are in great fear where no fear was . . . "

David is (here above) musing on the ways of wicked men; but I wonder if this principle of misdirected fear does not often apply even to the true saints? Why should sincere believing Christian churchmen fear for the state of their souls (or of anything else), if they truly and really trust in Jesus alone for their salvation and the forgiveness of their sins?

We should fear God at all times; but in Christ this only leads to our loving Him all the more. This is possible if one condition is met, (and it is impossible if this condition is not met). And that condition is a good doctrinal and theologic-al understanding of the gospel, and of how justification is realized. When peo-ple mix works with their faith, it is no wonder they are in "great fear." They ought to be.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Even if sin did not bear such bitter fruit, if death did not grow on this tree, a gracious soul would forsake it out of love to God.”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

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Wed., 9/9/26 Devotion (1 Cor. 14:40)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 14:40, where we read these words:

"Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Paul ends the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians with these words (above). Earlier, he had given specific instructions about Sunday church worship in the con-gregation (in Corinth). Though the tongues/prophecy detail is now abrogated, in that God's full written revelation is now completed—everything was to be done, "decently and in order.”

The Lord is in no way a "kill-joy"; and His insistence on dignity and decorum in His worship is not designed to dishearten us. Instead, the exact opposite is true. God provides structure and order, so that in the church—particularly in Sunday worship—we have a practical "anchor," since we have to deal with a disordered and confused world (the rest of the week).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Flesh and blood may have its fears and disquiets, but grace checks them.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Content-ment"]

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Tues., 9/8/26 Devotion (1 Cor. 13:13)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 13:13, which says this:

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Love is greater than faith and hope, because love, like Christ, salvation, and the church lasts forever. As great as faith is—and it is *very* great because it is the grace by which we apprehend Christ and His righteousness—nonethe-less, in glory (heaven) it will not be necessary. The same can be said about hope, (which is also a marvelous mercy of God to us).

But love is special, because it will be perfected (and continued forever) in heaven; and it is to be our creed here on earth. True faith and true hope al-ways lead to inevitable (and invincible) love. Let us live in Christ's love today, and in so doing, bring Him a lot of glory.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a sinful modesty in Christians that they are not more free with their ministers and other spiritual friends in unburdening them-selves and opening the sores and troubles of their souls to them.” —Thomas Watson, in "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

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Mon., 9/7/26 Devotion (1 Cor. 12:31)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 12:31, where we read these words:

"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

After the Apostle Paul spent most of a chapter describing various spiritual gifts given to the church—some of which are still in use today; and others of which are not—he enjoins us to go after the "best” ones; but then tells us of "a more excellent way." This superlative path, of course, is that of love, eluci-dated so famously in the next chapter (1 Cor. 13).

Gifts and love are not at odds; but love is greater in every way. Gifts are of no account without love. The devil has excellent gifts (from God), but he has no proper love (for God). Let us employ our various God-given abilities fully and well—but let us always do it out of love for Christ, His gospel, and His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If temptations arise from natural causes, then natural means, as medicines, are to be used and applied, and people would do well to be persuaded thereunto.” —William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Wed., 9/2/26 Devotion (Ps. 42:1-2)

Today's encouragement comes from David's words, as they are found in Psalm 42:1 & 2:

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

For some reason, David had been separated from Jerusalem and the temple there. He could hardly wait to get back into the corporate worship of the God he loved so much. Though he could pray to his Lord, "from the heights of Hermon," (v. 6)—it was not the same to him, as when he joyfully went up to the "house of God," (v. 4).

Do we take delight in worshipping the True God in Jesus Christ, as His church? You can always tell a true saint: he or she longs to be God’s sweet presence, in the church worship service and in the prayer closet.

[Edwards quote of the day: "Defilers and profaners of ordinances, by known and allowed wickedness, provoke God more than the heathen who have no ordinances.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "A Warning To Professors of Religion"]

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