Thurs., 7/4/13 Devotion (Matt. 14:13a, 23)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 14:13a & 23, where we read these words:

"When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. . . . And when He [Christ] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when eve-ning came, He was alone there."

Notice all the references in these verses (above), to Christ being *alone*. God does not want us to be hermits, nor anti-social; but if we are to do well in our public ministries (whatever those may entail), then we have got to spend some good, quality "alone time" with our Father in heaven.

We can practically "feel" how important this was to Jesus, as we read the Gospel accounts. If Christ, the Perfect One, needed time with God--how can we, who are sinners, need it any less?

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ loves to taste of the good fruits that come from us, even though they will always savour of our old nature."
--Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 7/3/13 Devotion (Josh. 5:12)

Today's encouragement comes from Joshua 5:12, where we read these words:

"Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year."

When we enter the promised land of life in Christ, His gospel, His church, and His means of grace--we no longer look for, desire, or need the "extraordinary" measures (that God sometimes uses, to get peo-ple's attention). The Lord is more pleased with and honored by "ordin-ary" means: like preaching, the sacraments (of baptism and the Lord's Supper), and church discipline.

Many religionists today--as has always been the case--are all consum-ed with crazy stuff. Let us, God's sane (but beloved) churchmen, enjoy Him in the ways that He is most pleased to reveal Himself.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Feeling and freeness of spirit are often re-served until duty is discharged." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Tues., 7/2/13 Devotion (Ps. 130:3-4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 130:3 & 4, where we read these words:

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

Everyone's problems, at base, all have to do with forgiveness. Human beings' biggest issue is sin against God. To know that our sins are ac-tually forgiven in the blood atonement of Christ, apprehended by grace through faith alone, is the greatest singular blessing we may enjoy--in this world, and the next.

That knowledge opens up for us the very face of God. We know that we are loved by Him, even though we are still sinners (down here). It is hard to believe that such a perfect God could actually love His church--even after their sins are gone--but it is our blessed responsibility to be-lieve this precious truth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, among that cloud of witnesses, we see Rahab, Gideon, and Samson ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Heb. 11:31-32)." --Richard Sib-bes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Mon., 7/1/13 Devotion (Ps. 126:5-6)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 126:5 & 6, where we read these words:

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

This is a neat promise. Sometimes the burdens of this life seem al-most overwhelming. There is *always* hope, however, for the faithful Christian churchman. Those who love God are not immune to trouble. In fact, it is sure to find them. But what we have, that others do not, is a blessed assurance that our trials will be (and are) redeemed, in Christ.

Are we "sowing in tears" today? Let us not get too discouraged, or dis-appointed. If we belong to Christ, and trust Him alone for our salvation, we will soon be "coming again with rejoicing."

[Puritan quote of the day: "God can pick sense out of a confused pray-er." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/28-30/13 Devotion

Praise the Lord--it's almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "The Ten Commandments" book:

"Each Sabbath may be the last we shall ever keep. We may go from the place of hearing to the place of judging--and shall not we give rev-erend attention to the word? Did we think when we come into God's house 'Perhaps this will be the last time that ever God will counsel us about our souls'; and before another sermon death's alarm will sound in our ears; with what attention and devotion should we feel, and our af-fections would be all on fire in hearing!

"You must give an account for every sermon you hear. 'Give an ac-count of your stewardship,' (Lk. 16:2). So will God say, 'Give an ac-count of your hearing. Have you been affected with the word? Have you profited by it?' How can we give a good account, if we have been distracted in hearing, and have not taken notice of what has been said to us? The judge to whom we must give an account is God. Were we to give account to man, we might falsify accounts; but we must give an account to God. . . . "

Thurs., 6/27/13 Devotion (Matt. 7:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 7:7, where our Lord Jesus said this:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

This promise is not made to just anyone--but to Christ's redeemed church alone. But what a great promise it is! Sometimes we think we are "asking," "seeking," and "knocking," when in fact we are not. What the Savior has in mind here is this: those who know themselves to be-long to God ought to clearly formulate their desires, and then earnestly seek them from Him--with expectation that they will be granted.

God's favor to His church is not given because we are so good, or faithful. Instead, it is given because we, by grace, *believe* the gospel, and *believe* that the Lord is both good and true. God is more than eager to give sweet gifts to His children.

[Puritan quote of the day: "What greater unthankfulness can there be than to despise any help that Christ in mercy has provided for us?"
--Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]

Wed., 6/26/13 Devotion (Isa. 58:13b-14a)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 58:13b & 14a, where we read these words:

"And [if you] call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD hon-orable . . . Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD . . . "

How do we "delight" ourselves "in the Lord"? Or, to put it another way, "How do we experience the truest, highest, and most lasting and sat-isfying pleasure?" The answer: by delighting in the *same* things that God Himself does.

The Lord delights in seeing faith and repentance in people, which mani-fest themselves immediately in love for Christ, His gospel, the Sabbath Day (Sunday), church, and worship. Do we want to be really happy, like God is? If so, then we must adopt His values, His priorities, and His love-objects.

[Puritan quote of the day: "We must keep grace in exercise. It is not sleepy habits, but grace in exercise, that preserves us." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]