Wed., 6/24/26 Devotion (Isa. 56:6b, 7a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 56:6b & 7a, where we read these words:

" . . . Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My cove-nant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. . . . "

There is, I think, such a thing as “covenantal perfection”—where the regener-ate saints of Christ’s church are so much in love with God, that they keep, by His grace alone, the stipulations of the “covenant.” By this, I mean, they are joyful in the church services every Sunday/they submit to the discipline of the church/and they do the work of the ministry.

In our natural selves, we are infinitely gross sinners. In Jesus, we are new creatures. In our daily walks, we continue to sin, though we are making prog-ress in Christlikeness. In our outward covenant in the church we are “perfect-ly” faithful, by grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Prayer is the pouring out of the soul to God; not the pouring out of words, nor the pouring out of expressions; but the pouring out of the soul to God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Tues., 6/23/26 Devotion (Isa. 55:1a, 3a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 55:1a & 3a, where we read these words:

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. . . . Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live . . . "

God lays-out a great feast, and He invites all nations to it. To partake of the luscious fare of the Christ who is set before us sinners, all that is necessary is our "taking" of Him (by faith). Money, effort, works—none of these may be used, to "buy," earn, or apprehend the Lord Jesus.

The practical dimension for getting the goods of the banquet of Christ and His kingdom is simply to "hear," (as v. 3a says, above). The church proclaims the good news of the Redeemer's free grace; and the only ones who benefit from it are those who come with empty and hungry hearts, and who unashamedly gorge themselves on the Lord's promises and Provision (of Jesus). Let us be good “feasters” on Christ, the Bread of Life, today!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Justification admits of no degrees. No, not in heav-en—you are not more justified there than you are here. You are now as per-fectly justified as ever and as accepted of Christ as ever.” —Jeremiah Bur-roughs, in, "Gospel Remission"]

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Mon., 6/22/26 Devotion (Isa. 54:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 54:17, where the prophet wrote these great words:

" 'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the ser-vants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the LORD.”

This (above) is an absolutely amazing verse. The promise found here is re-served *only* (now, in the New Covenant aegis) for Christ-loving and faithful members of the church which gathers on the Lord’s Days to worship God in and through the mediation of Jesus Christ.

The “righteousness” (or, “vindication”) that the saints possess is sealed in the blood of the Son of God, and it is validated in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The enemies of the church have no chance against the true saints. Praise God!

[Puritan quote of the day: "Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christi-anity. An error about justification is dangerous, like a defect in a foundation.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

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Fri.-Sabbath, 6/19-21/26 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is *almost* here! In order to help get us ready for church, here is the incomparable Thomas Watson, from his book, entitled, "The Art of Divine Contentment":

"Let us beg the Spirit of God to teach us; we must be 'divinely taught.' The eunuch could read, but he could not understand, till Philip joined himself to his chariot, (Acts 8:29). God's Spirit must join Himself to our chariot; He must teach, or we cannot learn. 'All your children shall be taught of the Lord,' (Isa. 54:13). A man may read the figure on the dial, but he cannot tell how the day goes, unless the sun shines upon the dial.

"We may read the Bible over, but we cannot learn the purpose, till the Spirit of God shines into our hearts, (2 Cor. 4:6). O implore this blessed Spirit! It is God's prerogative-royal to teach: 'I am the Lord thy God, who teaches you to profit,' (Isa. 48:17)."

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Thurs., 6/18/26 Devotion (Rev. 20:14b, 15)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 20:14b & 15, where we read these words:

“This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (ESV)

Though it is true, that everyone in hell would rather be there, than in the pres-ence of the glorified Lord Jesus—this fact in no way lessens the pains and torments of that awful place. Hell was originally designed—not for human be-ings—but for Satan and his fellow fallen demons.

Let all of us flee to Jesus for the forgiveness of all our sins. Only sinners can go to heaven—but only those sinners who become new creatures in Christ, and now love the Holy Trinity through their living faith in Him.

[Edwards quote of the day: "God, in the sentence of justification, pronounces a man perfectly righteous, or else he would need a further justification after he is justified.” —Jonathan Edwards, in, "Justification By Faith Alone"]

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Wed., 6/17/26 Devotion (Ps. 110:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 110:1, where we read these words:

“The LORD says to my Lord: ’Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ” (ESV)

This (above) is one of those great Trinitarian verses of the OT. The Father (“LORD,” in this case), tells Christ (“my Lord”), to “sit at [His] right hand.” And all of these words were directly inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

Ps. 110:1 is the most quoted verse from the OT, in the NT. Whether cited in the Synoptic Gospels, Acts, Hebrews, or First Corinthians, it extols Jesus as the One placed in the throne of the church and the whole world. Let us bless Him as God's happy and forgiven people.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you look into the scripture, you will observe that when the people of God fall, usually they fail in that grace wherein they most excel.” —William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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Tues., 6/16/26 Devotion (Rev. 18:2b, 4b)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 18:2b & 4b, where we read these words:

“ ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons’ . . . ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins’ . . . ” (ESV)

In this section of the Book of Revelation, The Triune God, His saints, His apostles, His prophets, and His angels are all celebrating the destruction of Jerusalem (which would happen in 70 AD)—[see v. 20]. The new heavenly Jerusalem had come; and the old was done away with.

. . . Still, God’s people, Christ’s church, was to “come out” of old Jerusalem prior to its impending doom (prophesied in v. 2). The saints did this, and they were spared. Let all the elect/redeemed of Christ leave off all the remnants of “oldness,” and embrace Jesus in His perfect “newness."

[Puritan quote of the day: "As God is the worst enemy, so He is the best friend, the truest friend, the most real friend in all the world.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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