Tues., 5/19/26 Devotion (2 Pet. 1:16)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Peter 1:16, where we read these words:

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (ESV)

Our Christian faith relies on credible eyewitnesses. Peter and the other apo-stles were principal among them. We trust their characters and their testi-monies—but we especially trust their Holy Spirit-inspired writings (scriptures, [cf. 2 Pet. 1:19; 3:16]).

All Holy Spirit-less religions rely on “myths”: be these “Jewish” myths, or other kinds, (cf. Titus 1:14). But the heavenly gospel faith relies on Truth: the Per-son of Truth Jesus Christ—who sent His apostles and ministers into the world to preach His good news of grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's blood is the object of faith, and faith brings peace.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Mon., 5/18/26 Devotion (1 Pet. 5:10)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Peter 5:10, where we read these words:

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has call-ed you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (ESV)

A little bit of suffering in Christ leads to a whole lot of wonderful blessing in Christ. Because we are (past tense) “called to [God’s] eternal glory in Christ,” suffering results in positive graces for us: restoration, confirmation, strength-ening, and establishment—all in Jesus.

Those who will not suffer with Christ receive none of this—but that is because they do not belong to Christ. All the regenerate church members suffer and glory in our Blessed Redeemer. Let us be glad to do so.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As you have any spiritual comfort from Christ, spend all for Christ . . . " —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 5/15-17/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Richard Sibbes, from his, "The Bruised Reed" book. . . .

"Truth is truth, and error, error, and that which is unlawful is unlawful, whether men think so or not. God has put an eternal difference between light and darkness, good and ill, which no creature's conceit can alter; and therefore no man's judgment is the measure of things further than it agrees to truth stamp-ed upon things themselves by God. For this reason, because a wise man's judgment agrees to the truth of things, a wise man may in some sense be said to be the measure of things, and the judgment of one holy wise man to be preferred before a thousand others. Such men usually are immovable as the sun in its course, because they think, and speak and live by rule. A Josh-ua and his house will serve God (Josh. 24:15), whatsoever others do, and will run a course contrary to the world, because their judgments lead them a con-trary way. . . .

"Satan, 'the prince of this world,' is judged by the gospel, and the Spirit ac-companying it. His lies are discovered, his enterprises laid open. Therefore when the gospel was spread the oracles ceased, Satan fell from heaven like lightning (Lk. 10:18). Men were translated out of his kingdom into Christ's. Where prevailing is by lies, discovery is victory: 'they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men,' (2 Tim. 3:9). So that manifesta-tion of error gives a stop to it, for none will willingly be deceived. Let truth have full scope without check or restraint, and let Satan and his instruments do their worst, they shall not prevail, as Jerome says of the Pelagians in his time: 'The discovery of your opinions is the vanquishing of them, your blas-phemies appear at the first blush.' "

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Thurs., 5/14/26 Devotion (1 Pet. 1:25)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Peter 1:25, where we read these words:

“ ‘ . . . but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.“ (ESV)

This is an amazing verse. Peter declares that God’s scripture is eternal and inviolable. The apostle then asserts that the scripture’s core message is that of the gospel itself, (the “good news”). This “good news” gets “preached” by Christ’s ministers; and it reaches God’s elect people.

There is no good news where there is no divinely-given scripture; and there is no such thing as God’s scripture, being properly-understood and -applied, that does not bring us to Jesus, in the preaching of gospel grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Compare sin with hell, and you shall see that sin is worse.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

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Wed., 5/13/26 Devotion (Ps. 62:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 62:8, which says this:

“Trust in him [the Lord] at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (ESV)

The exigencies and difficulties of life on a fallen planet compel the church’s saints—in a fresh way everyday—to have to “trust” in Him; and to “pour out” our hearts (and burdens) to Him, all in and through Christ.

In this psalm, David calls on “people,” virtually *all* people, to do this. For those who do this “trusting” and “pouring out," through sincere faith in Jesus, God is shown to be their strong and real “refuge."

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you would be rid of Satan from coming into your quarters, fall you upon his.” [In other words, attack him (the devil).] —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Tues., 5/12/26 Devotion (Jas. 4:6)

Today's encouragement comes from James 4:6, where we read these words:

“But he [God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ ” (ESV)

First of all, notice that it is God Himself who gives us grace. Without grace (Christ) we can do nothing. Then, observe that God is actively antagonistic toward the proud (especially the spiritually proud)—but that He “gives [even more] grace to the humble.”

Do we want to be safe and secure? Then, let us nestle our hearts and selves in the heart of God through Jesus Christ (by faith), humbly acknowledging our complete dependence on our Savior.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A heartless, drooping, and discouraging life and walk is very unbecoming the gospel of Christ.” —James Durham, in, "The Un-searchable Riches of Christ"]

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Mon., 5/11/26 Devotion (Num. 20:11a)

Today's encouragement comes from Numbers 20:11a, where we read these words:

"And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice . . . " (ESV)

This act of exasperation cost Moses entrance into the Promised Land; but—in a strange sense—it portended the atonement of God’s entire elect church. The Messiah (the Rock) had to be “smitten”; and, in reality, only those who re-ceive the benefits of Jesus’ redemption did this “smiting,” in the most pro-found sense.

. . . Ironically, God even uses our sins to accomplish His great (and some-times greatest) ends. If there was no murdered/sacrificed Christ, there would be no forgiveness of the sins for God’s elect church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If the church is beautiful beyond all other of the children of men, how beautiful is Jesus Christ, from Whom the church derives all its comeliness?” —Thomas Vincent, in, "The True Christian's Love To The Unseen Christ"]

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