Tues., 10/27/26 Devotion (Ps. 119:52)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 119:52, where we read these words:

"I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself."

The best way to get a good perspective on the present and the future, is to heartily believe in the God who has decreed all things in eternity past. It is also helpful to remember how gracious the Lord has been to His church in days gone by. All this has the effect of giving us confidence and peace in the current situation (be it "good" or "bad").

But only the faithful churched Christian can do this happy “remembering," however. For the unbelievers, their musings on God are *not* comforting at all. After all, God's "judgments" are just that, for them—unless they come by grace to faith in Christ. For us believers, on the other hand, God's judgment has already been poured out on Jesus (on the cross) for us. We can and should rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God intermixes mercy with affliction. He steeps His sword of justice in the oil of mercy. There was no night so dark but Israel had a pillar of fire in it.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]

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Mon., 10/26/26 Devotion (1 Tim. 4:4-5)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 4:4 & 5, which says this:

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (ESV)

In the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood all of God’s creation is sanctified. What used to be “unclean,” is no longer unclean. Christ has abolished all ceremon-ial distinctions between created beings. The impetus for the true church’s ap-preciation of all God’s creation is our “thanksgiving”; and this is expressed through faith in the word of God and prayer unto our good God (v. 5).

Because all created things are now equally “good,” the saints may (and should) enjoy them to the glory of God in Jesus Christ, and to the satisfaction and benefit of our redeemed souls and bodies.

[Edwards quote of the day: "The people of God are begotten through the edu-cation, instruction, and endeavors of those who were God's people before. Therefore, the church is represented in Scripture as being the mother of its members, (Gal. 4:26).” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Christians a Chosen Generation"]

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Sat.-Sabbath, 10/24-25/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is only hours away! In order to help prepare us for church, here are some good words from Thomas Watson, from his, "All Things for Good” masterpiece. . . .

"See then what an encouragement there is to become godly. All things shall work for good. Oh, that this may induce the world to fall in love with [the true] religion! Can there be a greater magnet to piety? Can anything more prevail with us to be good [Christians], than this; all things shall work for our good? [True] religion is the true philosopher's stone that turns everything into gold. Take the sourest part of [true] religion, the suffering part, and there is comfort in it. God sweetens suffering with joy; He candies our wormwood with sugar. Oh, how may this bribe us to godliness! 'Acquaint now yourself with God, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto you,' (Job 22:21). No man did ever come off a loser by his acquaintance with God. By this, good shall come unto you, abundance of good, the sweet distillations of grace, the hidden manna, yes, everything shall work for good. Oh, then get acquaintance with God, espouse His interest."

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Wed., 9/30/26 Devotion (Gal. 6:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 6:16, where Paul wrote these words:

“And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and up-on [or, 'even upon'] the Israel of God.” (ESV)

The “rule” of the “new creation” in Christ (v. 15), makes the Israel of God, i.e. the elect and redeemed church, precious and treasured to the Holy Trinity. And, for the church’s saints, “peace” and “mercy” are ours in our Lord Jesus.

As the Israel of God “boasts” only in the “cross” of Christ (v. 14), we glory in the full blessings of Abraham, who was justified by faith. Now, as Abraham’s progeny of faith, we rejoice in the “Seed” of our redemption, our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you love anything, love something better than yourself; and that only is Christ, who is altogether lovely.” —Thomas Watson, in his sermon entitled, "Christ's Loveliness"]

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Tues., 9/29/26 Devotion (Gal. 5:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these great words:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

Every day when we wake up we are faced with an array of forces that are dead-set on robbing us of our joy and freedom in Christ. First among them is our own flesh, which continues to desire to have a right standing with God in-dependently of Jesus' blood atonement. In league with this, is the world of works-religion, which preaches law to us, and insists that we be enslaved by rules (just like they are).

It takes courage, determination, and intentionality *not* to be swept away with the rest of the world, which is in bondage to its own "righteousness." Let all faith-redeemed regenerate churchmen trust, not in themselves, but in Jesus only. Let us reaffirm our liberty in Christ today, by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The devil is the most sullen spirit there is, and yet the most proud.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]

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Mon., 9/28/26 Devotion (Gal. 4:6-7)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 4:6 & 7, where we read these words:

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (NKJV)

[Of course, “sons,” includes “daughters.”] Because the Holy Spirit dwells in true Christians, we are able, at all times, to earnestly call out to our Heavenly Father. In our most grievous moments, and most tense times, He is there, to hear our passionate petitions.

. . . Not only this, we are now the heirs of all the glory that is in Christ Jesus. Because we are children of God, we are the recipients of all our Father’s kindnesses to us; we relish His love, and trust Him for all His grace. Regener-ate Christians, by far and away, are the most blessed people to be found on earth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Keep your ear open to God and shut out sin; deaf-en your ears to the lies of the slanderer and the heretic. Do not let him have your ear who comes to rob you of your heart.” —Thomas Watson, in his ser-mon, "The Spiritual Watch"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 9/25-27/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his book, entitled, "The Ten Commandments.” . . .

"True faith is grounded upon knowledge. Knowledge carries the torch before faith. There is a knowledge of Christ's glorious excellencies, (Php. 3:8). He is made up of all love and beauty. True faith is a judicious intelligent grace, it knows Whom it believes, and why it believes. Faith is seated as well in the understanding as in the will. It has an eye to see Christ, as well as a wing to fly to Him. Such therefore as are veiled in ignorance, or have only an implicit faith to believe as the church believes, have no true and genuine faith.

"Faith lives in a broken heart. 'The father cried out with tears, "Lord, I be-lieve," ' (Mk. 9:24). True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin. They, there-fore, whose hearts were never touched for sin, have no faith. If a physician should tell us there was an herb that would help us against all infections, but it always grows in a watery place; if we should see a herb like it in color, leaf, smell, blossom, but growing upon a rock, we should conclude that it was the wrong herb. So saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a weeping eye and a tearful conscience. If, therefore, there be a show of faith, but it grows upon the rock of a hard impenitent heart, it is not the true faith."

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