Thurs., 6/25/26 Devotion (Matt. 5:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 5:20, where our Savior said these words, in His "Sermon on the Mount":

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

People naturally and understandably think that the scribes’ and Pharisees’ “righteousness” required a lot of them. And, in one sense it did. But the truth is, that their (false) “righteousness” is the “easy” one, the “doable” one. True, gospel righteousness in Jesus’ blood and resurrection is *infinitely* more dif-ficult to attain. In fact, it is impossible, except by miraculous regeneration.

The religion of works or performance is “a piece of cake,” compared to “taking up one’s cross” and “following” Jesus. Let us throw ourselves entirely on our Savior, and forsake all self-righteousness.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As godly men shall never be condemned for their sins, so their sins shall never part God and them.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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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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Sat.-Sabbath, 6/13-14/26 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday. Richard Sibbes is the Puritan doctor of sad souls. Here is his gospel remedy, taken from "The Bruised Reed." . . .

"Among other causes of discouragement, some are much vexed with scruples, even against the best duties; partly by disease of body, helped by Satan's malice in casting dust in their eyes in their way to heaven; and partly from some remainder of ignorance, which, like darkness, breeds fears—ig-norance especially of this merciful disposition in [Christ], the persuasion of which would easily banish false fears. They conceive of Him as One on watch for all advantages against them, in which they may see how they wrong not only themselves but Christ's goodness.

"This scrupulosity, for the most part, is a sign of a godly soul, as some weeds are of a good soil. Therefore they are the more to be pitied, for it is a heavy affliction, and the ground of it in most is not so much from trouble of con-science as from a disordered imagination. The end of Christ's coming was to free us from all such groundless fears. There is still in some such ignorance of that comfortable condition we are in under the covenant of grace as to discourage them greatly."

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Mon., 6/15/26 Devotion (Rev. 17:14b)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 17:14b, where we read these words:

" . . . and those who are with Him [Christ] are called, chosen, and faithful."

The Holy Scriptures clearly teach that God elects some (not all) people unto salvation—and that He then places them into His true church (cf. Eph. 1:3-6). But what is sometimes not emphasized enough is the fact that those who are truly chosen, and therefore really redeemed, *will be "faithful" and/or persevering* in this life.

In other words, there is no such thing as an unfaithful "chosen" person. If we *are* chosen, by grace, we *will be* faithful in Christ and His church. Some people (hypocrites) have a false assurance in this regard. They believe in the doctrine—but they do not possess the goods. Let us be true Christian church-men: acknowledging that we are chosen, and showing it by being faithful.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Going to hear a sermon in jest has proved some men's conversion in earnest.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]

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Wed., 6/10/26 Devotion (Isa. 42:6-7)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 42:6 & 7, where we read these words:

“ ‘I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.’ ” (ESV)

Notice here, that our Heavenly Father took even His Own natural Son Jesus Christ “by the hand,” and He “kept” Him (Jesus). All the glories of the Messi-ah’s ministry mentioned after this, viz. being the “covenant,” the “light,” the giver of sight and emancipator of prisoners—are (all) premised on the Father “tak[ing]” His Son “by the hand,” and “keep[ing]” Him.

And so it is with the elect/redeemed members of Christ’s church, as well. *All* of our being, our ministry, and our success is the result of our Father “holding our hand,” and leading us to His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a true rule in divinity [theology] that the desire for any grace is the grace itself; for to desire to believe is faith, and true desire to repent is repentance, and true desire to mourn for sin is mourning for sin.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

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Mon., 6/8/26 Devotion (Isa. 41:10)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 41:10, where we read these great words:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

This promise (above) is for the regenerate members of Christ’s faithful church (in the Old Covenant aegis and the New). It is intriguing, that God opens with “fear not.” . . . Everything we do today, in the power of the Holy Spirit, is ef-fected by God Himself. Because of this, we may be assured of victory (in Jesus alone).

What is our role in all this? Faith. Faith in Christ and His gospel of grace; faith in the goodness and promises of our loving Heavenly Father; and faith that the Holy Spirit will apply all of God’s miraculous provisions to us (in our Re-deemer).

[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . Get your self-love mortified, even religious self-love.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

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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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