Fri.-Sabbath, 3/27-29/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday. We *get* to go back to church! In order to help us get ready, here is Thomas Watson, from his "A Body of Divinity" book. TW is referring to Sanctification here. . . .

"Sanctification is a progressive thing. It is growing; it is compared to seed which grows: first the blade springs up, then the ear, then the ripe corn in the ear—such as are already sanctified may be more sanctified, (2 Cor 7:1). Jus-tification does not admit of degrees; a believer cannot be more elected or jus-tified than he is—but he may be more sanctified than he is. Sanctification is still increasing, like the morning sun, which grows brighter to the full meridian. Knowledge is said to increase, and faith to increase, (Col 1:10; 2 Cor 10:15). A Christian is continually adding a cubit to his spiritual stature. It is not with us as it was with Christ, who received the Spirit without measure; for Christ could not be more holy than He was. We have the Spirit only in measure, and may be still augmenting our grace . . . Sanctification is progressive; if it does not grow, it is because it does not live. Thus you see the nature of sanctification."

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Thurs., 3/26/26 Devotion (Eph. 6:24)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 6:24, where we read these lovely closing words of the Apostle Paul:

“Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” (ESV)

Love is everything in life, faith, and religion. If we do not love Jesus Christ, then we do not love anyone or anything aright; and our lives are little more than worthless and meaningless existences.

Those who love Jesus Christ do so by grace; and they are the happy recipi-ents of more and more divine and miraculous grace—since God bountifully crowns everyone who loves His Son “with love incorruptible."

[Puritan quote of the day: "Begin with simple things, for all truth begins with simple things. A man can never write good cursive till he has first learned his letters.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way To True Happiness"]

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Wed., 3/25/26 Devotion (Eph. 5:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 5:1, where we read these words of Paul:

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (ESV)

I like the ESV’s use of the word “beloved” here. Beloved children of God hap-pily imitate their beloved Heavenly Father. Our Father forgives/we forgive; our Father is tenderhearted/we are tenderhearted; our Father is kind/we are kind. (All of this is as per the previous verse, Eph. 4:32.)

. . . And all of this is because of Jesus, our glorious and cherished Redeemer and elder brother. Our Father forgave us, His true church, because the blood of His beloved Son was shed for us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A sanctified mind will make every creature a ladder to heaven.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]

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Tues., 3/24/26 Devotion (Eph. 4:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 4:14, where we find these Holy Spirit-inspired words of the Apostle Paul:

“ . . . so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (ESV)

Those who are not well-shepherded fall into all the calamity listed (above). Christ-called pastors set the “anchor” for the church’s saints. The parishioners are safe, as they hold to the Head (Jesus); they are “at sea” as they abandon their only hope.

Satan and the world are ruthless, (as this verse above describes them). Let us cling to Jesus, as His church, believing the promises of the gospel of grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offen-sive souls.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

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Mon., 3/23/26 Devotion (Eph. 2:15)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 2:15, where we read these amazing words:

“ . . . by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he [Christ] might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so mak-ing peace . . . ” (ESV)

Our Lord Jesus Christ “bulldozed” away the now no longer pertinent or neces-sary ceremonial law, so as to make a fresh New Covenant “temple,” made up of both Jews and Gentiles. As long as the ceremonies remained, there would be division, and peace would be impossible.

. . . But in Himself—in His life, death, and resurrection—our Lord Jesus fulfill-ed all the ceremonies. Now, because of this, there is no separation in the church between Jews and Gentiles. God be praised!

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church, in all the works of mercy, owns the hand of God.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 3/20-22/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We *get* to go back to church again. In or-der to get us ready, here is Thomas Watson, teaching on God's Providence, from his book, "A Body of Divinity." . . .

"Divine providence is irresistible. There is no standing in the way of God's providence to hinder it. When God's time had come for Joseph's release, the prison could hold him no longer. 'The king sent and loosed him,' (Ps. 105:20). When God would indulge the Jews with liberty in their religion, Cyrus, by a providence, puts forth a proclamation to encourage the Jews to go and build their temple at Jerusalem, and worship God, (Ezra 1:2-3). If God will shield and protect Jeremiah's person in captivity, the very king of Babylon shall take care of the prophet, and give charge concerning him that he wants for no-thing, (Jer. 39:12).

"God is to be trusted when His providences seem to run contrary to His prom-ises. God promised to give David the crown, to make him king; but provi-dence ran contrary to His promise. David was pursued by Saul, and was in danger of his life, but all this while it was David's duty to trust God. Please ob-serve, that the Lord by difficult providences often brings to pass His promise. God promised Paul the lives of all that were with him in the ship; but the providence of God seemed to run quite contrary to His promise—for the winds blew, the ship split and broke in pieces. Thus God fulfilled His promise; upon the broken pieces of the ship they all came safe to shore. Trust God when providences seem to run quite contrary to promises."

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Thurs., 3/19/26 Devotion (Gal. 5:1)

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

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (ESV)

The glorious liberty that the true children of God enjoy in Christ is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are always seeking to steal it away from us who are faithful in Jesus and His church. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, maintained, and emboldened—otherwise, the "gospels" of works, self, and law will infiltrate the soul, and destroy all our joy. Holy Spirit-less religion is our freedom’s worst enemy.

The Galatians had heard the gospel of grace from Paul. They initially embrac-ed it. Later, they heard a gospel of law, and they began to flirt with it. Paul's words throughout the epistle were designed to bring them back to Jesus. May we find our souls resting in Christ's' righteousness alone, today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Full assurance is 'optimum maximum,' the best and greatest mercy; and therefore God will only give it to His best and dear-est friends.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven On Earth"]

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