Fri.-Sabbath, 10/4-6/24 Devotion

Praise God—Sunday is almost here again! In order to help us get ready for the church’s worship of our Triune God, here are good words from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, entitled, “Charity More Excellent Than the Extraordinary Gifts of The Spirit.” . . .

“The grace of God in the heart is a gift of the Holy Spirit peculiar to the saints; it is a blessing that God reserves only for those who are the objects of His special and peculiar love. But the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit are what God sometimes bestows on those whom He does not love, but hates, which is a sure sign that the one is infinitely more precious and excellent than the other. That is the most precious gift that is most an evidence of God’s love. But the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were, in the days of inspiration and miracles, no sure sign of the love of God. The prophets were not wont to build their persuasion of the favor and love of God on their being prophets and hav-ing revelations, but on their being sincere saints. Thus it was with David (see Psalm 15:1-5; 17:1-3; and 119 throughout); indeed, the whole book of Psalms bears witness to this.

“Though the Apostle Paul was so greatly privileged with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, he was yet so far from marring the evidences of his good estate that he expressly declares that without charity they are all nothing."

Thurs., 10/3/24 Devotion (Eph. 3:21)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 3:21, where we read these words:

" . . . to Him [God] be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

God will get His greatest levels of glory in and through Christ’s true and re-deemed church—more than anywhere else. The reason for this, is that the regenerate saints (who make it up) are the recipients of the most miraculous and marvelous grace. They are given the very best of heaven, even while they are here on the earth. And this most wonderful gift is that of the Son of God Himself.

Let us build our lives around Christ. If we will do this, we will inevitably find ourselves relishing and serving His church. Let us do all this by grace, through faith in Jesus.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If God brings any beginnings of grace to truth, the victory is already gotten.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Wed., 10/2/24 Devotion (Eph. 2:8-9)

Today's encouragement comes from Ephesians 2:8 & 9, where we find these remarkable words:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

We sinners are not saved by anything we do. This truth can be extremely hard to accept, because we are so geared in our natural flesh to believing the exact opposite. After the Fall of man in the Garden, works went out the win-dow, (but our memory of them never left us).

To seek to be redeemed by works, or to supposedly sustain a relationship with God through works, is a great affront to Christ and the gospel. If we could be saved by what we do, why would God the Father send His precious Son to die on a cruel cross for wretched sinners? Let us be grateful that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This pleases God; and it brings us the best of everything.

[Puritan quote of the day: "To be rich in goods and rich in goodness is a hap-py condition.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Tues., 10/1/24 Devotion (Ps. 84:10)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 84:10, wherein we read these words:

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wick-edness."

Even the humblest baptized newborn, being a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is more exalted and noble than the most affluent, proud, and self-sufficient unbeliever (or religious hypocrite). One day in God's house (church) is better than a thousand in a "paradise" of sin and lust.

What do *we* prefer? Those who do not love Christ value everything before Him. Those Christians who love Jesus would take Him over anything else.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If God should make more worlds for [a redeemed soul], yet if He does not give Himself to it [the redeemed soul], it would not be satisfied.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]