Tues., 4/7/26 Devotion (1 Thess. 4:1, 10b)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:1 & 10b, where these words are found:

“Finally, then, brethren, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God, just as you are do-ing, that you do so more and more. . . . But we urge you, brothers, to do this [loving of the church] more and more . . . " (ESV/emphasis mine)

There is always more sin to be repented of/more humility and lowliness to de-scend to/more grace and glory to ascend to/and more love in Jesus to enjoy. We never get to a point—even in heaven as the church triumphant—that we plumb the depths of God’s love for us in Christ, (though there, we do not need to deal with sin).

. . . Those who imagine themselves to “arrive” in this life, have not even got-ten off the starting blocks. Jesus is the beginning, the middle, and the end.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For any to say that, though their mind be ignorant yet their heart is good, they may as well say that, though they are blind yet their eyes are good.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

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Mon., 4/6/26 Devotion (1 Thess. 3:6b, 10a, 11)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 3:6b, 10a, 11, where we collate parts of these three verses:

“ . . . [you] long to see us, as we long to see you/ . . . as we pray . . . that we may see you face to face/ . . . Now may our God . . . direct our way to

you . . . ” (ESV)

Observe how intensely the Thessalonian Christians wanted to see Paul; and (especially) how ardently Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians. The saints of Christ’s church love one another; and they want to be in each other’s pres-ence. And why? Largely, to mutually-encourage one another (see vv. 10b & 13).

This kind of affection is most lovely, tender, secure, holy, pure, and bold. This is heaven on earth; and it is experienced only by those who love Jesus and the people who make up His struggling yet beautiful church.

[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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Fri.-Sabbath, 4/3-5/26 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday—Easter Sunday, no less—is *just about* here! In order to get us ready for the church's Sabbath worship of God, here is the incom-parable Thomas Watson, from "A Divine Cordial," (or, "All Things For Good"):

"We love a saint, though he has many personal failings. There is no perfec-tion here. In some, rash anger prevails; in some, inconstancy; in some, too much love of the world. A saint in this life is like gold in the ore, much dross of infirmity cleaves to him, yet we love him for the grace that is in him. A saint is like a fair face with a scar: we love the beautiful face of holiness, though there be a scar in it. The best emerald has its blemishes, the brightest stars their twinklings, and the best of the saints have their failings. You that cannot love another because of his infirmities, how would you have God love you?"

Thurs., 4/2/26 Devotion (Col. 3:3)

Today's encouragement comes from Colossians 3:3, where we read these words:

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (ESV)

Where is Christ’s human body? In heaven. Where are the regenerate saints of the church? “Hidden with Christ in God.” Therefore, where are our hearts and minds, when we are functioning as our true selves? With Christ, in God, in heaven.

. . . This explains why Paul tells us to “seek” things that are “above,” (v. 1); and why we are to “set our minds” on things that are “above,” (v. 2). When we are “real,” we are living in Christ; when we are “false,” we are living in futility.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is better to go with difficulty to heaven than with ease to hell.” —Thomas Watson, in the preface to, "The Doctrine of Repent-ance"]

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Wed., 4/1/26 Devotion (Col. 2:16-17)

Today's encouragement comes from Colossians 2:16 & 17, which says this:

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (ESV)

In Himself, His cross, and His resurrection, our Lord Christ “canceled” the “debt” of the “legal demands” of the old ceremonial law, (v. 14). The “shadow” is now gone/the “substance” (Christ) is now here. Because of this, the Colos-sian church (and the true church today) is no longer bound to these ceremo-nies; and the Judaizing influencers are now put to open “shame,” (v. 15).

In Jesus, “the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and [His church has] been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority,” (vv. 9-10). Praise God!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ's prayer takes away the sins of our prayers.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things For Good"]

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Tues., 3/31/26 Devotion (Col. 1:10a)

Today's encouragement comes from Colossians 1:10a, where we read these words:

" . . . so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him . . . “ (ESV)

Is it not wonderful, to know that we saints of the church may be “fully pleas-ing” to the Lord? We are “fully pleasing” to God in Jesus (alone); and the evi-dence of our unqualified acceptance is our sincere, Holy Spirit-inspired desire to know and love the Triune God, (as is clear from the surrounding verses).

How could we be anything but “fully pleasing” to God the Father, when and as we love Him in and through His beloved and Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord?

[Puritan quote of the day: "God does not bring His people into troubles, and leave them there.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things For Good"]

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Mon., 3/30/26 Devotion (Php. 4:5b-6)

Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 4:5b & 6, where Paul wrote these words:

“ . . . The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (ESV)

I like the way the ESV configures these two verses. *Because* “The Lord is at hand,” we are able and invited (by God), to, “not be anxious about anything”; and to take everything to Him through “prayer,” etc.

If “The Lord” was *not* “at hand,” we could never do this. But our blessed Messiah, Jesus Christ, is our Immanuel, our “God *with* us.” Let all of us saints take full advantage of our heavenly inheritance in Jesus, and bring *everything* to our Triune God in prayer: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . It is a matter of conscience to make our lives as comfortable as they may be.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict With Itself"]