Mon., 8/31/20 Devotion (Ps. 39:7)

Today's encouragement comes from the words of Psalm 39:7, which say this:

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You."

In vv. 4-6, David had surveyed his life, and determined that there was not really that much to it, especially from a timeframe perspective. Now, it is as if he says to God, "In light of the brevity of my existence, what does it all amount to? What am I here for?" And the answer, by grace, is, "I am here for You, Lord. You are the only One I hope in."

What do we "wait for"? If it is for anything less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself we are wasting our lives, and our days. Let us put all our hope in Him. Let us patiently "wait" for Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "True [gospel] mourning begins in the love of God, and ends in the hatred of sin.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 8/28-30/20 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is fast approaching. In order to help prepare us for the church's worship of Almighty God on His holy day, here is Thomas Watson, from his "Heaven Taken by Storm" book:

"When this blessed [Sabbath/Sunday] approaches, we must lift up our heart in thankfulness to God, that He has put another opportunity into our hands for gaining heavenly wisdom. These are our spiritual harvest-days. Now the wind of God's Spirit blows upon the sails of our affections, and we may be much further on in our heavenly voyage. Christian, lift up your heart to God in thankfulness, that He has given you another golden season, and be sure you improve it. It may be the last. Seasons of grace are not like the tide; if a man misses one tide, he may have another.

"This Sunday approaching, we must in the morning dress and fit our souls for the receiving of the Word. The people of Israel had to wash their garments before the law was delivered to them. Our hearts must be washed by prayer and repentance, since the oracles of God are about to be delivered to us."

Thurs., 8/27/20 Devotion (1 Cor. 1:18)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 1:18, which says this:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perish-ing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Why do some people fail to respond to the amazing truth that a perfect God-Man died on a cross for wicked sinners? Partly, because they think the message is foolish, (see the verse above). And why do they think this? Because they cannot conceive of themselves as that bad; and they want salvation mixed with their own works (or alleged righteous-ness).

Why, on the other hand, do other sinners receive the grace of the cross, and experience redemption in Jesus? Because God regenerates them by the Holy Spirit; and they recognize the truth: that their sins put the Beloved One on the cruel tree (cross); and that true atonement is pow-erful—strong enough to effect the forgiveness of their sins (all in Christ).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Where the aim and bent of the soul is to-wards God, there is grace, though opposed.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 8/26/20 Devotion (Ps. 34:4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 34:4, where we read these words:

"I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

David's method (above) for dealing with fears is a great model for all believers. Usually, our natural tendency when we are fearful—instead of going to God with it—is to allow it to worry us, and to wear us down. Fear is a powerful emotion; the only true antidote to it is the peace that only Christ can give.

And how do we attain to the experience of that kind of peace? By seek-ing the Lord (see above). Once God has "heard" us, we have the assur-ance that our concern is laid to rest. The Holy Spirit communicates this to our hearts; and we can go on living confidently and courageously, in the grace and love of Christ—all by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "When a man can praise God for what he has, God will give him more, and give him a better condition.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Tues., 8/25/20 Devotion (Rom. 15:13)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 15:13, where we read these words:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

This sweet verse (above) ought to encourage all of us true Christians, today. Note that it is "in believing" that we receive the blessings of joy and peace from the "God of hope." It is not in doing, trying, or striving that we benefit from these heavenly things—but rather in "believing."

Let all of us who have put our faith in Jesus, and who are joined to Him in His church "abound in hope." We are the only ones who have a rea-son to have hope at all; and we are to flourish in it. Hope in Christ will never disappoint. Let us fully trust in Him this day.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If you would regain a comfortable assurance of God's love, keep a holy and conscientious care to live in grace throughout the course of your lives.” —Christopher Love, in, "The De-jected Soul's Cure"]

Mon., 8/24/20 Devotion (Ps. 32:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 32:1, where we read these words:

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."

If sins are covered—and they can only be atoned for by apprehending the benefits of Christ's sacrifice of Himself on the cross, by faith—then a person is truly blessed. If a soul lives in unforgiveness before God, that soul can in no way be truly happy, or at peace.

Forgiven people are not sinless people—they continue to struggle, while they live here. But the guilt of their trespasses is forever removed, and their iniquity is not "imputed" to them, (see v. 2). Instead, Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to them. Who are these blessed peo-ple? Believing Christian churchmen—who do not trust in themselves, but in Jesus alone.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We then, who are Christians, having made a vow to Christ in baptism, and so often renewed it in the blessed Sacra-ment [of the Lord's Supper], should, with much contentment, choose rather to suffer than violate our sacred oath.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Wed., 8/12/20 Devotion (Rom. 2:28a, 29a)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 2:28a & 29a, where we read these words:

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly . . . but he is a Jew who is one in-wardly . . . "

Paul here (above) affirms that the true Jew is one who believes in Jesus—be he or she a Jew or a Gentile (by ethnicity). All of the Old Testament Jewish believers put their trust in Jesus (though they did not yet know His name). The same is true in the New Testament, and in the era of the New Covenant (in which we currently live).

The "new" "Israel of God," the New Covenant church (cf. Gal. 6:16b), is made up of Jews *and* Gentiles; and they are all the authentic sons of Abraham, the father of our faith. Let us (especially who were Gentiles by birth) thank God that He has ingrafted us into the one great Vine of Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If the church is beautiful beyond all other of the children of men, how beautiful is Jesus Christ, from whom the church derives all its comeliness?” —Thomas Vincent, in, "The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ"]

Tues., 8/11/20 Devotion (Rom. 1:17a, 18a)

Today's encouragement comes from Paul's words, as they are found in Ro-mans 1:17a & 18a:

"For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to

faith . . . For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men . . . "

Notice that God makes two "revelations" here, both within the space of only two verses. The first is His "righteousness"; and the second is His "wrath." The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel (and its elect recipients); and it is received and lived-in by faith in Christ alone. The wrath of God is re-vealed to the entire world; and is manifest in the consciences of all men—especially to those who never repent.

The only difference between those who receive the righteousness of God and the wrath of God is faith in Jesus. "The just live by faith," (Rom. 1:17b); whereas the wicked are "given up to uncleanness," (Rom. 1:24a). What is be-ing revealed to our hearts today: God's righteousness or His wrath?

[Puritan quote of the day: "A good life adorns religion, a good tongue propa-gates it.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]

Mon., 8/10/20 Devotion (Acts 28:6)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 28:6, where these words are found:

"However, they were expecting that [Paul] would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god."

Behold the amazing fickleness of religious people. In v. 4, the Maltese natives thought Paul was a murderer. Two verses later, they think he is a god. There is a lesson here: it is the weakness of the flesh to automatically run to wild ex-tremes, in the evaluation of people. The truth is that even the redeemed of the Lord operate in the "middle," "gray area," where our new natures in Christ prevail—through great struggle—over our old natures in Adam.

Let us be wary of either exalting or demeaning God's people. Only Christ is 100% perfect in every way.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Zeal quickens the pursuit after glory. Zeal, encoun-tering difficulty, is emboldened by opposition and tramples upon danger.”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 8/7-9/20 Devotion

 So as to help prepare us for the Lord's Day's church worship service, here are some good words from the great Jonathan Edwards, as they are taken from his sermon entitled, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence":

"The grace of God in bestowing this gift [of grace] is most free. God was under no obligation to bestow it. He might have rejected fallen man as He did the fallen angels. We never did anything to merit it; it was given while we were yet enemies, and before we had so much as repented. It was from the love of God, who saw no excellency in us to attract it; and it was without ex-pectation of ever being requited [paid back] for it.

"And it is from mere grace that the benefits of Christ are applied to such and such particular persons. Those who are called and sanctified are to attribute it to the good pleasure of God's goodness alone, by which they are distinguish-ed. God is sovereign, and has mercy on whom He will have mercy."

Thurs., 8/6/20 Devotion (Acts 24:25a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 24:25a, which says this:

"Now as [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid . . . "

Here (above) the Apostle Paul is evangelizing the public official Felix. The *order* of Paul's discourse is intriguing (as it is given us by the Holy Spirit, here in the Book of Acts). The apostle *starts* with "righteousness." We can be sure he put all the stress on *Christ's* righteousness, imputed to sinners, by grace through faith (alone). Only then, does Paul go into "self-control," and "the judgment to come."

Too often well-meaning believers seek to "evangelize" by telling people they need to change the way they live; and by "scaring" them (with judgment). These areas are important; but they are never effective without the gospel: the righteousness of Christ being freely offered to sinners.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The word 'Father' is a sweet word, for it sweetens all our duties.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 8/5/20 Devotion (Ps. 4:6-7)

Today's encouragement comes from David's words of Psalm 4:6 & 7, which say this:

"There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good?' LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased."

Many pessimists are abroad today, especially in the religious world. Pessim-ism is a good cloak, (or so it is thought), for unbelief. David's hope was not in the things worldlings seek after (solely): money, clothing, houses, prestige, etc. David enjoyed, as all the godly do, a "secret feast" of the soul, whereby he was constantly nourished and refreshed in Christ.

Let us behold the Messianic (church) kingdom with the eyes of faith in our Lord Jesus. Even today, all the godly partake of the realm of Christ's grace. As we do so, we carry about with us, even here and now, a real piece of heaven.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As God has two places He dwells in, heaven and a humble heart, so the devil has two places he dwells in, hell and a hard heart.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Tues., 8/4/20 Devotion (Acts 22:8a, 10a)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 22:8a & 10a, where we read these words:

"So I [Paul] answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ . . . So I [Paul] said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ "

All human beings—even extremely zealous pharisaical ones, like the pre-converted Paul—know that there is a God. What they do not know is that He is accessed through a God-Man “Lord”—that being Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.

Once Paul knew that it was the Risen Jesus who was speaking to him, he (Paul) was in a position to ask Christ what he should do. God had Paul go into Damascus, get baptized, and hear what his marching orders for the rest of his life would be. There is a lesson here for us who are (by grace) faithful in God’s church: we who know Christ, by sovereign grace, will exercise faith in living for Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Whatsoever you desire that God should give you, cast that upon the Lord.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Mon., 8/3/20 Devotion (Jer. 31:12a, c)

Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 31:12a & c, where we read these words:

"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD . . . Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all."

Jeremiah the prophet (above) is speaking of the Gospel times the church has lived in since the resurrection of the Messiah. Believers stream to Christ, singing His praise in and as His body, His church. Their souls are satisfied and nourished.  They continue to struggle with the flesh, sin, the world, and the devil—but they do not "sorrow" anymore, because their sins are forgiven.

Let us—who even just yesterday (Sunday) were on "Mt. Zion," meeting with and worshipping our Savior—go forth rejoicing this week, as we serve our King in the various places in which He has assigned us.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Difficulty commends duty, and the less you have to sweeten your action the more sweet it is to God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lift-ing Up for the Downcast"]