Fri.-Sabbath, 7/31-8/2/26 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.) . . .

“Let me tell you, that when your souls are first turned to God, and when you believe, though perhaps you know neither the time nor the thing I now speak of, yet notwithstanding, even at that time, God the Father rises up in heaven (as I may so express it), and as Jesus Christ said to His mother when He hung upon the cross, ‘Woman, behold your son,’ so says God the Father, ‘Son, over there is a soul which I gave You from everlasting, for which You died upon the cross, and now is the fullness of the time for You to have mercy upon that soul. Go take him and own him for Yourself, and actually now pos-sess him.’ This you have here in Jn. 6:37: ‘All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me.’ Here is, you see, a giving before our coming, and it is a giving at the present time, to distinguish it from that [giving] from everlasting; a deed of gift is made, and that by the Father; an actual delivery [is made], whereby the soul is put into the hands of Jesus Christ."

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Thurs., 7/30/26 Devotion (Acts 17:16)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 17:16, where we read these words:

“Now while Paul was waiting for [Silas & Timothy] at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” (ESV)

The proper impetus for our spirits being “provoked” because of rampant idol-atry is the glory of God, the fact that sinners do not know the gospel, and the resulting misery that comes to creatures made in the image of God.

Idolatry does not hurt God; but it does hurt us. Paul did not content himself with being “provoked”; instead, he went about engaging the people of Athens, relating to them, quoting their poets, and (most-importantly) preaching the gospel of Jesus and His grace and love to them. Let all the church’s saints do the same.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Who ever stayed and waited long upon God, but he had [i.e. received] more than he prayed for?” —William Bridge, in, "A Lift-ing Up For the Downcast"]

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Mon., 7/27/26 Devotion (Acts 14:27)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 14:27, which says this:

“And when they [Paul & Barnabas] arrived [in Antioch] and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he [God] had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (ESV)

We think of Lewis' & Clark’s expedition to be monumental; we consider the manned moon landings to be amazing—but nothing can match the adventure into the “twilight zone,” accomplished by Paul and Barnabas in their First Mis-sionary Journey.

. . . The reason for this, is because what God does through Christ’s gospel and His church ministers on earth is more spectacular than anything that can be accomplished in ordinary human affairs. Only Jesus’ own Incarnation “tops”’ the marvel of the gospel going out into the dark corners of this fallen globe.

[Edwards quote of the day: "God's will will be done upon us whether we do His will or not. There is no such thing as frustrating the Almighty.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "God Does What He Pleases"]

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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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