Fri.-Sabbath, 11/6-8/26 Devotion

Thank God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. He is dealing with Justification below. . . .

"What is meant by justification?

"It is 'verbum forense,' a word borrowed from law-courts, wherein a person arraigned is pronounced righteous, and is openly absolved. God, in justifying a person, pronounces him to be righteous, and looks upon him as if he had not sinned.

"What is the source of justification?

"The 'causa,' the inward impellant motive or ground of justification, is the free grace of God: 'Being justified freely by His [God's] grace.' Ambrose expounds this, as, 'not of the grace wrought within us, but the free grace of God.' The first wheel that sets all the rest running is the love and favor of God; as a king freely pardons a delinquent. God does not justify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us makes us worthy.

"What is the ground, or that by which a sinner is justified?

"The ground of our justification is Christ's satisfaction made to His Father. If it be asked, 'How can it stand with God's justice and holiness to pronounce us innocent when we are guilty?'--the answer is, that Christ having made satis-faction for our fault, God may, in equity and justice, pronounce us righteous. It is a just thing for a creditor to discharge a debtor of the debt, when a satis-faction is made by the surety.

"But how was Christ's satisfaction meritorious, and so sufficient to justify?

"In respect of the divine nature. As He was man He suffered, as God He sat-isfied. By Christ's death and merits, God's justice is more abundantly satisfied than if we had suffered the pains of hell forever."

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Thurs., 11/5/26 Devotion (Phil. 18)

Today's encouragement comes from Philemon, v. 18, where we read these words:

“If he [Onesimus] has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” (ESV)

Paul is saying here, “Impute Onesimus’ wrong to my account.” The Apo-stle employs the same Greek word here, as he does in the famous Ro-mans “imputation” texts. The point is, that our sins have been imputed to Christ’s account; and His righteousness has been imputed to ours.

. . . But who are these “ours”? These are those who have been born again to a living hope in the Redeemer of God’s elect. Imputation is beautiful: it is le-gal, it is forensic, it is absolute; and it lasts forever. Let the true church bless God for Jesus Christ, the One who made perfect atonement for us.

[Puritan quote of the day: " 'Yes, I know, Satan, that Christ loves me, be-cause you tell me that He hates me.’ " —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Wed., 11/4/26 Devotion (Titus 3:1-2)

Today’s encouragement comes from Titus 3:1 & 2, where we read these very pertinent and relevant words:

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” (ESV)

Sometimes we are vividly reminded about what really counts in the world. The faithful church must both take the lead in all God-glorifying behavior; and we must set the example for everyone else.

These words (above) are perfectly-suited for our day. Let all of us in the true church today find all our rest in Jesus; and, because we worship God (and not idols), we can live totally above the clamor and desperation of the world of sinners.

[Puritan quote of the day: “People are brought into the church by the liberty of the gospel and preserved by government.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]

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Tues., 11/3/26 Devotion (Ps. 126:3)

Today’s encouragement comes from Psalm 126:3, where we read these love-ly words:

“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad." (NKJV)

All those for whom “The LORD has done great things,” are “glad.” And we are “glad” because the “great things” done for us are all done in and through the One (Jesus Christ) who is, Himself, the only Source of all true and satisfying “gladness.”

The “great things” all start with and emanate from Jesus’ cross, resurrection, and ascension—and they “flow” down to the church’s saints like so many di-vine “avalanches” of blessing, grace, mercy, and gladness.

[Edwards quote of the day: "Hence we learn that a life of holiness is the pleasantest life in this world, because in such a life we have the imperfect be-ginnings of a blessed and endless sight of God.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Pure in Heart Blessed"]

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Mon., 11/2/26 Devotion (Ps. 124:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 124:8, where David wrote these words:

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

True born-again churched Christians find their help in Christ alone. No one else can really and fully satisfy or assist us. No matter where *others* go for their aid—the sincere child of God knows that his or her deepest and most profound needs must be met by The Lord (alone).

And this is a very wise and reasonable approach to life. After all: God "made heaven and earth." If The Lord has that much amazing power—then surely He can take care of the concerns of us, the people of His church. Is our help "in the name of the Lord" today?

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is very sinful to give way to vain thoughts at this time [of hearing preaching]; because, when we are hearing the word, we are in God's special presence.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Command-ments"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 10/30-11/1/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for the church's worship of God, here is the amazing Thomas Watson, from his "A Divine Cordial” book. . . .

"If it be God's purpose that saves, then it is not free will. The Pelagians are strenuous asserters of free will. They tell us that a man has an innate power to effect his own conversion; but this text [Eph. 1:11] confutes it. Our calling is 'according to God's purpose.' The Scripture plucks up the root of free will: 'It is not of him that wills,' (Rom. 9:16). All depends upon the purpose of God. When the prisoner is cast [bound] at the bar, there is no saving him, unless the king has a purpose to save him. God's purpose is His royal prerogative.

"If it is God's purpose that saves, then it is not merit. Bellarmine holds that good works do expiate [take away] sin and merit glory; but the text says that we are called according to God's purpose, and there is a parallel Scripture: 'Who has saved us, and called us, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace,' (2 Tim. 1:9). There is no such thing as merit. Our best works have in them both defection and infection, and so are but glittering sins; therefore if we are called and justified, it is God's purpose that brings it to pass."

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Thurs., 10/29/26 Devotion (2 Tim. 1:7)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 1:7, which says this:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Ministers have to be pretty stout souls—and Paul knew that Timothy's natural disposition was anything but "Type A." Still, the apostle reminded the young pastor that God's provisions in his (Timothy's) ordination included courage, sweetness, and firm resolve.

The world around us *can* at times be a pretty foreboding (fearful) place; but the Lord has given each of His churchmen—clergy *and* laity—a Spirit, not of cowardice—but one of true skill in living; charity; and solid, spiritual reason. Let all God's believing children rise up today, and shed everywhere the light of Christ's grace. Let us take our rightful places as the royalty of heaven (here on earth).

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has God to be his God is so well content-ed with his condition that he does not much care whether he has anything else.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

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