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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Tues., 9/1/26 Devotion (Ps. 40:17a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 40, v. 17a, which says this:

"But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. . . . “

King David wrote these words (above). He was "poor and needy" in that he knew he was bankrupt before God—possessing no inherent righteousness of his own. All of David's favor with God came through his union (by faith) with Christ. But what is very intriguing in this verse is the expression, "The LORD thinks upon me."

Can we picture the God who created the entire universe "thinking” “upon" us, His church? He does. We may not think of ourselves as particularly interest-ing—but the body of Christ, and the individual members of the church are of infinite interest to God. He "thinks" on us; and all His thoughts are for our good, our welfare, our betterment, and our prosperity in Christ. Let *us* think on Jesus today; and thank God for His goodness.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Do not say thus, 'I shall never be helped; I am in a sad condition and shall never be better.' . . . This you cannot say, for who knows what God will do?” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Down-cast"]

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Mon., 8/31/26 Devotion (Ps. 39:7)

Today's encouragement comes from the words of Psalm 39:7, which say this:

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You."

In vv. 4-6, David had surveyed his life, and determined that there was not really much to it, with respect to its timeframe on earth. Now, it is as if he says to God, "In light of the brevity of my existence here in this world, what does it all amount to? What am I here for? What am I to do?" And the answer, by grace, is, "I am here for You, Lord. You are the only One I hope in."

What do we "wait for"? If it is for anything less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself we are wasting our lives, and our days. Let us put *all* our hope in Jesus. Let us patiently and faithfully "wait" for Him—joyfully doing God’s will as we anticipate His deliverances of us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "True [gospel] mourning begins in the love of God, and ends in the hatred of sin.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 8/21-23/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We get to go back to church again. In order to help us get ready for the Lord's Day, here is Martin Luther, from his preface to his "Galatians" commentary. . . .

"Just as the earth does not generate rain and cannot of itself work to produce it, but receives it by the mere gift of God from above, so this heavenly right-eousness is given us by God without our working for or deserving it. See, then, how much the earth is able by itself to do in getting showers of rain to make it fruitful; that much, and no more, are we able to do by our own strength and works in winning this heavenly and eternal righteousness. We shall never be able to attain it unless God Himself bestows it on us, imputing it to us by His gift beyond words. The greatest wisdom of Christians, then, is to have nothing to do with the law and works and the whole of active right-eousness, especially when the conscience wrestles with God's judgment. On the other hand, the quintessence of wisdom among those who are not among God's people is to know and earnestly follow the law and active righteous-ness."

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Fri.-Sabbath, 8/14-16/26 Devotion

So as to help prepare us for the Lord's Day's church worship services, here are some good words from the great Jonathan Edwards, as they are taken from his sermon entitled, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence." . . .

"The grace of God in bestowing this gift [of grace] is most free. God was un-der no obligation to bestow it. He might have rejected fallen man as He did the fallen angels. We never did anything to merit it; it was given while we were yet enemies, and before we had so much as repented. It was from the love of God, who saw no excellency in us to attract it; and it was without ex-pectation of ever being requited [paid back] for it. And it is from mere grace that the benefits of Christ are applied to such and such particular persons. Those who are called and sanctified are to attribute it to the good pleasure of God's goodness alone, by which they are distinguished. God is sovereign, and has mercy on who He will have mercy."

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Thurs., 8/13/26 Devotion (Rom. 3:20a)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 3:20a, which says this:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His [God's]

sight . . . "

This (above) is a great, and comforting text. If we were to be saved by works, or the deeds of the law, then we could not and would not be saved at all. Where would the "end line" be, where we could know we had finally done enough "good" and meritorious actions, so as to wrench from God His favor, and salvation?

Works-religion is the domain of the devil, and of all the false religions of the world. Only "faith-religion" pleases God—since it embraces Jesus *alone* as the sole satisfaction before a Holy Judge for sin, and sinners. Those who trust in their works are proud and vile in the eyes of God. The Lord looks with more mercy on atheists, than He does on self-righteous professedly-religious peo-ple, who think they can rely on their works.

[Puritan quote of the day: "I would rather believe poor doubting Thomas than confident Peter . . . " —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Wed., 8/12/26 Devotion (Ps. 16:3)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 16:3, where we read these words penned by David:

“As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” (ESV)

“The saints in the land,” or, in today’s New Covenant-era parlance, “The Christ-loving regenerate saints of the Christian church,” are, by far and away, not only the “excellent” ones, they are also the supernaturally and heavenly blessed ones, who are, among all the peoples of the earth, truly and remarkably unique.

King David loved those who loved the Christ (to come, in his day). Those were the people that were dearest to him (David)—because those were the souls who were nearest to the heart of the Triune God. Their sins are all forgiven in Jesus’ blood; and they are precious to God, saints, and elect angels.

 
[Puritan quote of the day: "Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

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