Tues., 3/10/09 Devotion (Lk. 24:5b-6a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:5b & 6a, where we read these words:

" . . . [The angels] said to [the women], 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! . . . ' "

Your Christian faith is based in objective and historically-verifiable facts. This is helpful for the churchman, since there are numerous other (though spurious) claims to ultimate truth that we must constantly reject. Our sanctification struggle is not so much in comprehending *that* Jesus is alive, and has risen from the dead--as much as it is in *acting* on this knowledge with faith.

The Lord would have each of us who are bound to Him in the church seek Christ earnestly today--but not where the world looks for help (viz. in graves), but where only the saints may go for assistance (viz. the throne of grace in heaven).

[Puritan quote of the day: "God has made man's emptiness and misery, his low, lost, and ruined state into which he sank by the fall, an occasion of the greater advancement of His own glory." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]

Mon., 3/9/09 Devotion (Job 38:4a)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 38:4a, where we read these words:

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . "

Whenever we are tempted to call God Himself to some "bar of justice"--it is prudent for us to recall words like these (above), which the Lord spoke to Job. The answer to God's question, of course, is that Job did not yet exist; and, on top of that, his very being would be completely dependent upon the very One whose judgment he (Job) was calling into question.

Let us find comfort in the fact that our Creator is also the Redeemer of His church; and that though sometimes His providences baffle us, we know that God always has the best in mind for those He loves, (cf. Rom. 8:28).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus God is said in Scripture to impute righteousness to them who believe, not because they have this righteousness in them, but because He reckons it as theirs, and reckons them righteous by it." --Obadiah Grew, in "The Lord our Righteousness"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 3/6-8/09 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday. In order to help get you ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his "Happiness of Drawing Near to
God" book:

"How we are capable of drawing near to God? By nature we stand in opposition to God, (Col. 1:21)--being alienated and enemies. How then can we approach nigh to God? Answer: It is through a Mediator. Jesus Christ is the screen between us and divine justice. Christ as our High Priest assumes our flesh. Christ's flesh is called a 'veil,' (Heb. 10:20). As Moses when his face shone so exceedingly bright put a veil upon it, and then Israel might approach near to him and look upon him: so Christ having veiled Himself with our human nature, we may now draw nigh to God and behold Him.

"And as Christ makes way for us into the Holy of Holies by His incarnation: so by His crucifixion, He died to make God and us friends. The divine law being infringed, God's justice was provoked, and satisfaction demanded, before we could approach to God in an amicable way. Now here Christ as our Priest shed His blood for our sins, and so made the atonement, (Col. 1:20): 'Having made peace through the blood of His cross.' As Joseph being so great at court, made way for all his brethren to draw near into the king's presence, (Gen. 47:2), so Jesus Christ is our Joseph, that makes way for us by His blood, that we may now come near into God's presence. Through Christ, God is pleased with us; He holds forth the golden scepter, that we may draw near, and touch the top of the scepter."

Thurs., 3/5/09 Devotion (2 Cor. 4:1)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 4:1, where we read these words:

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."

It is easy to "lose heart" in this fallen world. The better or more noble the cause, the greater the opposition and discouragement of it. Paul knew two things (from above): that he had been called to his apostleship (by God), and that he had received mercy (from God).

These two truths alone were sufficient to prevent the Apostle from "losing heart." If you are a faithful churchman today, then you also have a ministry, and you have received mercy. In light of this wonderful fact, serve Christ with humility and boldness today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Every man is as his God is. If you would know whether a man is a godly man or not, you must inquire what his god is like." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "A truly Godly man prefers God before all others"]

Wed., 3/4/09 Devotion (2 Cor. 3:5b-6a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 3:5b & 6a, where we read these words:

" . . . But our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant . . . "

Christ's truly called church ministry *is* indeed sufficient, but the pastors' sufficiency is entirely "from God." This truth gives confidence to the sincere parishioner, since the same good God is making them sufficient in their ministry and witness, as well.

The work of the church and the gospel is too great for any man to do on his own. He must be "made sufficient" by God. It is an honor to be partakers of the ministry of the "new covenant." Let churchmen pray for each other, and hold their clergymen (especially) before the throne of grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God sits at the stern of His Church. Some-
times it is as a ship tossed upon the waves . . . but cannot God bring this ship to haven though it meets with a storm upon the sea?"
--Thomas Watson, in "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Tues., 3/3/09 Devotion (Lk. 17:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:5, where we read these words:

"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' "

When we believers are faced with impossible tasks, our typical response to God is: "Increase our faith." And though this is not an undesirable goal; the Lord does not answer this request in the way we would expect. Instead, He says that we don't need *much* faith; but that rather we need *sincere* faith, and that in the Only One who can help us (God).

Let us be sure that we do not look for more of anything in our church lives, without first availing ourselves of what we already possess. The exercise of faith does not require a lot of religious "hub-bub"; but it does call on our hearts to truly believe in the Christ of the Gospel (of the forgiveness of sins).

[Puritan quote of the day: "The true God perfectly knows the circum-
stances of everyone who prays to Him throughout the world."
--Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Most High a Prayer-Hearing God"]

Mon., 3/2/09 Devotion (2 Cor. 1:24b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 1:24b, where we read these few words:

" . . . For by faith you stand."

No matter what happens to us, no matter what troubles and/or struggles we have to face--so long as we have and exercise sincere faith in Christ we "stand." This is an encouragement of great magni-
tude, because otherwise we must seek to "stand" on some other basis--and this usually comes down to our works, or what we do (and these are always insufficient).

Justification is apprehended by faith; but so is sanctification. Some-
times the pruning process is difficult and tedious--but, so long as we have genuine (though yet imperfect) faith, we "stand" before Almighty God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus, affliction is nothing to them who have no guilt, but those who have the guilt of sin upon them, when they come to suffer, their guilt is a thousand times more than their affliction." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in "The Evil of Evils"]