Fri.-Sabbath, 6/5-7/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is a snippet from Martin Luther's "Declaration," found at the beginning of his Galatians commentary. . . .

"First of all, we speak of the argument of this epistle [of Galatians]. In it Paul is seeking to establish the doctrine of faith, grace, forgiveness of sins, or Christian righteousness in order that we may know the difference be-tween Christian righteousness and all other kinds of righteousness. There are many sorts of righteousness. There is a civil or political righteousness, which kings, princes of the world, magistrates and lawyers deal with. There is also a ceremonial righteousness, which the traditions of men teach. Besides these, there is another righteousness, called the righteousness of the law, or the Ten Commandments.

"Above all these, there is yet another righteousness: the righteousness of faith or Christian righteousness, which we must diligently discern [isolate] from the others. The others are quite contrary to this righteousness, both because they flow out of the laws of kings and rulers, religious traditions, and the commandments of God; and because they consist in our works, and may be wrought by us either by our natural strength, or else by the gift of God. These kinds of righteousness are also the gift of God, like all other good things which we enjoy.

"But the most excellent righteousness of faith, which God through Christ, without any works, imputes to us, is neither political, nor ceremonial, nor the righteousness of God's law, nor consists of works, but is contrary to these; that is to say, it is a mere passive righteousness, as the others are active. For in the righteousness of faith, we work nothing, we render nothing unto God, but we only receive, and allow Another to work in us, that is to say, God. This is a righteousness hidden in a mystery, which the world does not know. In-deed, Christians themselves do not thoroughly understand it, and can hardly take hold of it in their temptations. Therefore it must be diligently taught, and continually practiced.” [Italics mine]

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Tues., 5/26/26 Devotion (1 Jn. 5:4)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 5:4, where these great words are found:

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

Whatever comes from heaven is sure to be stronger than anything originating in the fallen world. Regeneration is a miraculous heavenly new birth (cf. Jn. 3:1 ff.). A true saint is born of God, from above. This God-given faith is our solid "victory" that subdues the world (under us). The faith of sincere Christian churchmen is victorious—not in itself—but because of Who it is that it fetches to our hearts: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us never lose sight of the primacy of faith in Jesus. Many voices encour-age a works-or self-righteous religion on us. Let us remember this: God is only pleased with a life in love with Christ. Anything good in or from us will *only* flow from Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There are many ways to hell; men may go there whichever way their fancy leads them; but there is only one direct road to heaven.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Sat.-Sabbath, 5/23-24/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We GET to go back to church, to worship God together. In order to help get us ready, here is the great Puritan Richard Sibbes, from his excellent book, "The Bruised Reed." . . .

"Preachers should take heed likewise that they hide not their meaning in dark speeches, speaking in the clouds. Truth fears nothing so much as conceal-ment, and desires nothing so much as clearly to be laid open to the view of all. When it is most unadorned, it is most lovely and powerful. Our blessed Savior, as He took our nature upon Himself, so He took upon Himself our fa-miliar manner of speech, which was part of His voluntary abasement. Paul was a profound man, yet he became as a nurse to the weaker sort (1 Thess. 2:7).

"That spirit of mercy that was in Christ should move His servants to be con-tent to abase themselves for the good of the meanest [lowest/humblest]. What made the kingdom of heaven 'suffer violence' (Matt. 11:12) after John the Baptist's time, but that comfortable truths were laid open with such plain-ness and evidence that the people were so affected with them as to offer a holy violence to obtain them?

"Christ chose those to preach mercy who had felt most mercy, as Peter and Paul, that they might be examples of what they taught. Paul became all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22), stooping unto them for their good. Christ came down from heaven and emptied Himself of majesty in tender love to souls. Shall we not come down from our high conceits to do any poor soul good? Shall man be proud after God has been humble? We see the ministers of Satan turn themselves into all shapes to 'make one proselyte' (Matt. 23:15). We see am-bitious men study accommodation of themselves to the humors of those by whom they hope to be raised; and shall not we study application of ourselves to Christ, by Whom we hope to be advanced, nay, are already sitting with Him in heavenly places? After we are gained to Christ ourselves, we should labor to gain others to Christ. Holy ambition and covetousness will move us to put upon ourselves the disposition of Christ. But we must put off ourselves first."

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Thurs., 5/21/26 Devotion (2 Pet. 3:15b-16)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Peter 3:15b & 16, where we read these words:

“ . . . just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wis-dom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures." (ESV/italics mine)

I think that this is a singularly intriguing Scripture (above). Peter equates Paul’s epistles with “the other Scriptures.” Paul is on an equal footing with Moses/John with Isaiah/Jude with Jeremiah/Matthew and the other Gospel writers with David or Solomon.

“Ignorant” and “unstable” people “twist” all the Scriptures to their own per-verse ends. Paul—who often is a target of the godless who hate Christ—is not alone in this regard. Let all the true saints of the church treasure all 66 Books of God’s Holy Bible.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Every godly, gracious man is a praying man.”

—William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Wed., 5/20/26 Devotion (Ps. 73:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 73:25, where we read these words:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire be-sides you.” (ESV)

This is a beautiful verse (above). The psalmist had struggled mightily with the apparent-well-being of the wicked; and now he (the psalmist) is resting his soul in the God Who makes all things right; and Who is in charge of every-thing.

The church’s true saints desire Jesus above all else. Having Him totally satis-fies us. Losing our “sense” of Him unnerves us—but it compels us to seek Him in a new and fresh way.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The valley of your discouragements shall be the door and inlet unto all your rest and comfort.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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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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