Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 5:1, where we read these words:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
The glorious freedom that the children of grace enjoy is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly seeking to steal it away from us who are in the faithful church. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, maintained, and emboldened--otherwise, the "gospels" of works, self, and law will infiltrate the soul, and destroy all our joy.
The Galatians had heard the gospel of grace from Paul. They initially embrac-ed it. Later, they heard a gospel of law, and they began to believe it. Paul's words throughout the epistle were designed to bring them back to Christ. May we find our souls resting in Jesus' righteousness alone, today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Full assurance is 'optimum maximum,' the best and greatest mercy; and therefore God will only give it to His best and dear-est friends." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Tues., 3/18/14 Devotion (Ex. 29:43)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 29:43, where we read these words:
"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory."
God meets with people in His "tabernacle," or "sanctuary." Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His resurrected and glorified body, has already "entered" this realm in heaven (cf. Heb. 9:12 & 24). Now, because the God-Man has finished His work, and poured out His Spirit on His New Covenant Church, the sanctuary is “universalized," if you will—as the church is found all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in three particular covenantal “places”: heaven, humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath [Sunday] church worship services. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our full access to God, in and through Jesus; and let us be care-ful to always approach Him by grace through faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort." --Thomas Brooks, in "Heaven on Earth"]
"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory."
God meets with people in His "tabernacle," or "sanctuary." Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His resurrected and glorified body, has already "entered" this realm in heaven (cf. Heb. 9:12 & 24). Now, because the God-Man has finished His work, and poured out His Spirit on His New Covenant Church, the sanctuary is “universalized," if you will—as the church is found all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in three particular covenantal “places”: heaven, humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath [Sunday] church worship services. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our full access to God, in and through Jesus; and let us be care-ful to always approach Him by grace through faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "He that is most tender of God's honor, shall find by experience that God is most mindful of his comfort." --Thomas Brooks, in "Heaven on Earth"]
Monday, March 17, 2014
Mon., 3/17/14 Devotion (Ex. 28:12b)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 28:12b, where we read these words:
" . . . So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial."
Whereas Aaron the high priest bore the names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord, as he entered the Most Holy Place--so our Lord Jesus Christ bears the individual names of all His redeemed churchmen, as He presents us to the Father as the beneficiaries of His atonement.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the church's high priest. If we are in Christ today--by faith and by baptism—let us not be overly disturbed by our sins. They have been dealt with at the cross. A Person of infinite worth has died for them; and He is now forever risen from the dead, interceding for us in heaven.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not always high water with saints, sometimes they are reduced to a very low ebb." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
" . . . So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial."
Whereas Aaron the high priest bore the names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord, as he entered the Most Holy Place--so our Lord Jesus Christ bears the individual names of all His redeemed churchmen, as He presents us to the Father as the beneficiaries of His atonement.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the church's high priest. If we are in Christ today--by faith and by baptism—let us not be overly disturbed by our sins. They have been dealt with at the cross. A Person of infinite worth has died for them; and He is now forever risen from the dead, interceding for us in heaven.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not always high water with saints, sometimes they are reduced to a very low ebb." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Friday, March 14, 2014
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/14-16/14 Devotion
Wahoo--Sunday is ALMOST here! In order to help prepare sincere believers for their Sabbath worship of the Triune God on the Lord's Day, here is the great Thomas Watson, from his wonderful book, "A Body of Divinity":
"Go to Christ's blood for peace. Some go to fetch their peace from their own righteousness, not Christ's. They go for peace to their holy life, not Christ's death. If conscience be troubled, they strive to quiet it with their duties. This is not the right way to peace. Duties must not be neglected, nor yet idolized. Look to the blood of sprinkling, (Heb. 12:24). That blood of Christ which paci-fied God, must pacify conscience. Christ's blood being sucked in by faith, gives peace. 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God,' (Rom. 5:1): No balm to cure a wounded conscience, but the blood of Christ."
"Go to Christ's blood for peace. Some go to fetch their peace from their own righteousness, not Christ's. They go for peace to their holy life, not Christ's death. If conscience be troubled, they strive to quiet it with their duties. This is not the right way to peace. Duties must not be neglected, nor yet idolized. Look to the blood of sprinkling, (Heb. 12:24). That blood of Christ which paci-fied God, must pacify conscience. Christ's blood being sucked in by faith, gives peace. 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God,' (Rom. 5:1): No balm to cure a wounded conscience, but the blood of Christ."
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Thurs., 3/13/14 Devotion (Job 42:5-6)
Today's encouragement comes from Job 42:5 & 6, where we read these words:
"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
The church’s ministers preach the word of the gospel; the Holy Spirit applies that word to the hearts of the elect redeemed; but it is only when the believer "sees" Christ, with the eyes of faith, that he or she is thoroughly humbled, and marvels at God's love.
This is the universal testimony of all the Scriptures--(see Isa., ch. 6 as a clas-sic example). Do we need to hear about the Lord Jesus? Yes. But we also need to behold Him with the eyes of faith. In so doing, we will never be the same; and we will forever disdain our formerly-held (but putrid) self-righteous-ness.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely, it is better to lack any mercy than a humble heart, it is better to have no mercy than lack a humble heart." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
The church’s ministers preach the word of the gospel; the Holy Spirit applies that word to the hearts of the elect redeemed; but it is only when the believer "sees" Christ, with the eyes of faith, that he or she is thoroughly humbled, and marvels at God's love.
This is the universal testimony of all the Scriptures--(see Isa., ch. 6 as a clas-sic example). Do we need to hear about the Lord Jesus? Yes. But we also need to behold Him with the eyes of faith. In so doing, we will never be the same; and we will forever disdain our formerly-held (but putrid) self-righteous-ness.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely, it is better to lack any mercy than a humble heart, it is better to have no mercy than lack a humble heart." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Wed., 3/12/14 Devotion (Jn. 2:24-25)
Today's encouragement comes from John 2:24 & 25, where we read these words:
"But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."
The Lord Jesus was quite careful regarding those with whom He would totally commit Himself; and those with whom He would not. Though our Messiah was not burdened with the curse of original sin (or any sin, for that matter)--He still completely understood what it (sin) was, and what it did to mankind.
The people in Jn., ch. 2, were "believing" in Jesus; but they were *not* *real-ly* believing in Him. They were impressed by Christ's miracles; but they were not moved to love Him on the grounds and basis of who He was (as the Son of God). May all God's true churchmen prove to be sincere in our faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[Ministers'] success depends entirely and absolute-ly on the immediate blessing and influence of God." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]
"But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."
The Lord Jesus was quite careful regarding those with whom He would totally commit Himself; and those with whom He would not. Though our Messiah was not burdened with the curse of original sin (or any sin, for that matter)--He still completely understood what it (sin) was, and what it did to mankind.
The people in Jn., ch. 2, were "believing" in Jesus; but they were *not* *real-ly* believing in Him. They were impressed by Christ's miracles; but they were not moved to love Him on the grounds and basis of who He was (as the Son of God). May all God's true churchmen prove to be sincere in our faith.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[Ministers'] success depends entirely and absolute-ly on the immediate blessing and influence of God." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]
Monday, March 3, 2014
Mon., 3/3/14 Devotion (2 Cor. 2:14a)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 2:14a, where we read these words:
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . "
How is it that God *"always"* leads His church in triumph in Christ? After all, do we not often fail; and are our lives not many times filled with stress, confu-sion, and uncertainty? The answer, of course, is, “yes, they are"; but this in no way negates the inevitable success of the children of God, as we are now in Christ, by faith.
The principle here is that it is our *faith* that is our victory, (even as 1 Jn. 5:4b explicitly states). Since we have Christ, by faith--nothing can conquer us. If our sins are forgiven, and we have a right standing with God, through the im-puted righteousness of Christ (apprehended by faith alone)--then what can defeat us? Nothing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Beware you do not lose your God in the crowd and hurry of earthly business." --John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . "
How is it that God *"always"* leads His church in triumph in Christ? After all, do we not often fail; and are our lives not many times filled with stress, confu-sion, and uncertainty? The answer, of course, is, “yes, they are"; but this in no way negates the inevitable success of the children of God, as we are now in Christ, by faith.
The principle here is that it is our *faith* that is our victory, (even as 1 Jn. 5:4b explicitly states). Since we have Christ, by faith--nothing can conquer us. If our sins are forgiven, and we have a right standing with God, through the im-puted righteousness of Christ (apprehended by faith alone)--then what can defeat us? Nothing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Beware you do not lose your God in the crowd and hurry of earthly business." --John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
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