Tues., 11/10/09 Devotion (Ps. 142:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 142:7, where David wrote these words:

"Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

This is a neat last verse of this psalm, because David started-out very down and dejected. Just as the dark clouds hide the bright sun--so life's struggles may hinder our view of the Son of God. Still, let us remember that He is there; and that He will again (soon) show His wondrous face (to our souls).

It is highly God-pleasing when the saints praise Him in earnest, even when they feel blue. When we are finally delivered, we will wish we had glorified Christ with vigor and enthusiasm.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Church is the wisest body and society in the world. Indeed, all the world besides is a company of mere fools and madmen." --Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Discourse concerning Love"]

Mon., 11/9/09 Devotion (2 Ki. 22:8)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 22:8, where these words are found:

"Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it."

Whenever the Holy Scriptures are "discovered," especially for the very first time, by Spirit-ripened souls--the results are revolutionary. When young King Josiah had this newly-found scroll read to him, he responded with humility, contrition, and repentance. He then embarked on his wonderful and far-reaching reforms (in Judah).

Does the Holy Book, in conjunction with the Spirit and life in the church, revolutionize our lives? If so, let us be encouraged. If not, let us be concerned.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The heart will tell us that sin is but small, and, being small, it is venial. The heart will apologize for sin, masking bad transactions over with golden pretenses." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon, "The Spiritual Watch"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 11/6-8/09 Devotion

Yippee--it's almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here are words from Thomas Watson's, "The Lord's Prayer" book:

"True faith is wrought by the ministry of the word. 'Faith comes by hearing,' (Rom. 10:17). Peter let down the net of his ministry, and at one draught caught three thousand souls. Let us examine how our faith was wrought. Did God in the ministry of the word humble us? Did He break up the fallow ground of our heart, and then cast in the seed of faith? A good sign; but, if you know not how you came by your faith, suspect yourselves; as we suspect men to have stolen goods, when they know not how they came by them.

"True faith is at first small, like a grain of mustard-seed; it is full of doubts and fears; it is smoking flax: it smokes with desire, but does not flame with comfort. It is so small that a Christian can hardly discern whether he has faith or not.

"True faith is joined with sanctity. . . . Though faith does but touch Christ, it fetches a healing virtue from Him. Justifying faith does that in a spiritual sense which miraculous faith does; it removes the mountains of sin, and casts them into the sea of Christ's blood."

Thurs., 11/5/09 Devotion (2 Ki. 18:22)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 18:22, where we read these words:

"But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God,' is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem'?"

This verse (above) records the words of the Assyrian official, who was seeking to taunt and discourage the people of Jerusalem, during Hezekiah's reign. What is intriguing, is that he thought Hezekiah (who was a very faithful believer in the Lord) had *dishonored* God, by his (Hezekiah's) tearing down of "high places" and "altars."

In the True Religion, less is more. And even though there were fewer places for people to be religious--the ground was laid for them to be actually faithful and obedient (to God), through Hezekiah's reforms. Let us be less-impressed by pomp and circumstance; and more com-
mitted to God's truth.

[Puritan quote of the day: " 'Yes, I know, Satan, that Christ loves me, because you tell me that He hates me.' " --William Bridge, in, "A Lift-
ing Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 11/4/09 Devotion (Titus 3:1a, 2c)

Today's encouragement comes from Titus 3:1a & 2c, where we read these words:

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities . . . showing all humility to all men."

One of the pastor's main roles, according to Paul, is that of teaching the church to be submissive, and humble. Even God's true children can tend to get on their "high horses," so to speak. God would never have us disobey Him, in order to please a human ruler--but this is almost never the situation with which we are faced.

Since the church always has the upper hand, it should be "easier" for us to be good citizens, and humble people--because we know that we serve the Supreme King, who makes all things right, in His own good time. Let us today actually *obey* God, in reference to rulers and others--rather than presuming to sit in His (God's) seat.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Purity of heart is the jewel which is hung only upon the elect. As chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from a harlot, so the true saint is distinguished from the hypocrite by his heart-purity." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]

Tues., 11/3/09 Devotion (Ps. 128:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 128:5, where we read these words:

"The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jeru-
salem all the days of your life."

This is a sweet benediction (above). What better life is there, than to be blessed by God "out of Zion," viz. from His church? And what more pleasant prospect is there, than to "see the good of Jerusalem," viz. the church, the people of God, "all the days of [our lives]"?

These are the values the Lord places on life on earth; and they are the ones we ought to aspire to, as well. As we do so, by grace, we learn how to live in heaven, while we are yet on the earth. May all God's children be encouraged today, not despairing, but looking to Him for help and grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Hence we learn that a life of holiness is the pleasantest life in this world, because in such a life we have the imperfect beginnings of a blessed and endless sight of God."
--Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Pure in Heart Blessed"]

Mon., 11/2/09 Devotion (Hos. 8:14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Hosea 8:14a, where we read these words:

"For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and has built temples . . . "

At first glance, this is a strange couplet (above). Israel *forgets* God; and then goes out and *builds temples*. Here, we see the incurable religiosity of all men everywhere. Just because sinners choose to dishonor the True God--this does absolutely nothing to alleviate their need to worship *some* god, of some sort.

Let us resolve to remember that every unbeliever we talk to today--be they allegedly as "irreligious" as they want to pretend to be--are diligently building temples for their false deities. We also would be in this boat, except that God has miraculously and sovereignly brought us to Himself, and placed us in Jesus, and His church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He that enjoys much of God in this life carries heaven about him. . . . The enjoyment of God's sweet pres-
ence here is an earnest of our enjoying Him in heaven." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]