Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 17:11b, where we read these words:
" . . . for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."
This (above) is a cardinal doctrine of the True Religion. If any sinner is to be redeemed at all, it will not be via works, law, supererogation of saints, angels, being good, paying one's taxes, or not killing other people. If anyone is to have sins remitted, it must be through *blood* atonement.
. . . But not just *any* blood will do: it must be the blood of a perfect, sinless, righteous *human* Savior. Only Jesus meets this requirement. He is both God and man—and He is the *only* "Mediator between God and men," (as per 1 Tim. 2:5). The faith of regenerated churchmen is a bloody faith. There is no "sterile" salvation in God's economy. Let all the saints rejoice, that the "Lamb of God" (Jesus) has borne away our iniquities, in His bloody cross.
[Puritan quote of the day: "To read the word [of God] is a duty, but Satan sometimes puts men upon it when it is unseasonable. To read it at home when God's word is being preached, or the sacrament administered, is un-seasonable, yea, sinful . . . “ —Thomas Watson, in, "The Lord's Prayer"]
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Wed., 4/12/17 Devotion (1 Tim. 1:15)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Timothy 1:15, where Paul wrote these great words:
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
Are we sinners today? Do we know ourselves to be such? If so, then there is hope for us. Jesus Christ does not save self-righteous non-sinners. Instead, He redeems hopelessly lost, messed-up wretches. People who think of them-selves as “good” do not need a Savior. These kinds of “good" people go to hell. Bad people, redeemed by Jesus' blood, and who end up loving Him, and being HIs true church, go to heaven.
So, let us remember why Christ came: to save sinners. Let us be glad for this wondrous fact.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus God is said in Scripture to impute righteous-ness 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"]
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
Are we sinners today? Do we know ourselves to be such? If so, then there is hope for us. Jesus Christ does not save self-righteous non-sinners. Instead, He redeems hopelessly lost, messed-up wretches. People who think of them-selves as “good” do not need a Savior. These kinds of “good" people go to hell. Bad people, redeemed by Jesus' blood, and who end up loving Him, and being HIs true church, go to heaven.
So, let us remember why Christ came: to save sinners. Let us be glad for this wondrous fact.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Thus God is said in Scripture to impute righteous-ness 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"]
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Tues., 4/11/17 Devotion (Ps. 18:1-2)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 18:1 & 2, where we read these words:
"I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
When God does something overtly good for us—then, all of a sudden we are awakened from our spiritual slumber, and we give Him heartfelt praise and thanks. We then feel a bit ashamed, that we failed to praise our Lord in the same way when the "sun was not shining," so to speak.
But such is life. We are typically so overrun by our feelings and emotions, that it is hard for us to be rational in our faith walk. As we grow in gospel grace, let us always thank God for all things—because, in Jesus, the church is *always* supremely blessed.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your greatest sufferings comparable to the least spark of grace or beam of glory revealed in you or to you?” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
"I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
When God does something overtly good for us—then, all of a sudden we are awakened from our spiritual slumber, and we give Him heartfelt praise and thanks. We then feel a bit ashamed, that we failed to praise our Lord in the same way when the "sun was not shining," so to speak.
But such is life. We are typically so overrun by our feelings and emotions, that it is hard for us to be rational in our faith walk. As we grow in gospel grace, let us always thank God for all things—because, in Jesus, the church is *always* supremely blessed.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your greatest sufferings comparable to the least spark of grace or beam of glory revealed in you or to you?” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]
Monday, April 10, 2017
Mon., 4/10/17 Devotion (2 Thess. 2:16-17)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Thessalonians 2:16 & 17, where we read these words:
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, com-fort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
In order for any of us to be effective Christians, we need to have a base of comfort (or security). Without this, we will never endeavor to act on our faith (through God-honoring deeds and words). This is why the Apostle Paul en-courages the church to know that they are loved by God; and that they have received hope and grace in Christ.
If we are in Jesus today, we are in a blessed position—whether we feel like we are, or not. May God make His face shine on us, Christ's church, today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, com-fort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
In order for any of us to be effective Christians, we need to have a base of comfort (or security). Without this, we will never endeavor to act on our faith (through God-honoring deeds and words). This is why the Apostle Paul en-courages the church to know that they are loved by God; and that they have received hope and grace in Christ.
If we are in Jesus today, we are in a blessed position—whether we feel like we are, or not. May God make His face shine on us, Christ's church, today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Friday, April 7, 2017
Fri.-Sabbath, 4/7-9/17 Devotion
Wahoo—it is almost Sunday! We get to go to church! Here is Thomas Wat-son, from his "The Ten Commandments" book. . . .
"But I fear I have no faith, it is so weak!
"If you have faith, though but in its infancy, be not discouraged. For, 1) A little faith is faith, as a spark of fire is fire. 2) A weak faith may lay hold on a strong Christ; as a weak hand can tie the knot in marriage as well as a strong one. She, in the gospel, who but touched Christ, fetched virtue from Him. 3) The promises are not made to strong faith, but to true. The promise does not say, 'he who has a giant faith, who can believe God's love through a frown, who can rejoice in affliction, who can work wonders, remove mountains, stop the mouth of lions, shall be saved’—but whosoever believes, be his faith never so small.
"A reed is but weak, especially when it is bruised; yet a promise is made to it. 'A bruised reed shall He not break,' (Matt. 12:20). 4) A weak faith may be fruitful. Weakest things multiply most. The vine is a weak plant, but it is fruit-ful. The thief on the cross, who was newly converted, was but weak in grace; but how many precious clusters grew upon that tender plant! He chided his fellow-thief. 'Do you not fear God?' (Luke 23:40). He judged himself, 'We in-deed suffer justly.' He believed in Christ, when he said, 'Lord.' He made a heavenly prayer, 'Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' Weak Christians may have strong affections. How strong is the first love, which is after the first planting of faith! 5) The weakest believer is a member of Christ as well as the strongest; and the weakest member of the body mystic shall not perish. Christ will cut off rotten members, but not weak members. There-fore, Christian, be not discouraged. God, who would have us receive them that are weak in faith, will not Himself refuse them, (Rom. 14:1)."
"But I fear I have no faith, it is so weak!
"If you have faith, though but in its infancy, be not discouraged. For, 1) A little faith is faith, as a spark of fire is fire. 2) A weak faith may lay hold on a strong Christ; as a weak hand can tie the knot in marriage as well as a strong one. She, in the gospel, who but touched Christ, fetched virtue from Him. 3) The promises are not made to strong faith, but to true. The promise does not say, 'he who has a giant faith, who can believe God's love through a frown, who can rejoice in affliction, who can work wonders, remove mountains, stop the mouth of lions, shall be saved’—but whosoever believes, be his faith never so small.
"A reed is but weak, especially when it is bruised; yet a promise is made to it. 'A bruised reed shall He not break,' (Matt. 12:20). 4) A weak faith may be fruitful. Weakest things multiply most. The vine is a weak plant, but it is fruit-ful. The thief on the cross, who was newly converted, was but weak in grace; but how many precious clusters grew upon that tender plant! He chided his fellow-thief. 'Do you not fear God?' (Luke 23:40). He judged himself, 'We in-deed suffer justly.' He believed in Christ, when he said, 'Lord.' He made a heavenly prayer, 'Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' Weak Christians may have strong affections. How strong is the first love, which is after the first planting of faith! 5) The weakest believer is a member of Christ as well as the strongest; and the weakest member of the body mystic shall not perish. Christ will cut off rotten members, but not weak members. There-fore, Christian, be not discouraged. God, who would have us receive them that are weak in faith, will not Himself refuse them, (Rom. 14:1)."
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Thurs., 4/6/17 Devotion (Lev. 9:4b)
Today's encouragement comes from Leviticus 9:4b, where we read these few words:
" . . . For today the LORD will appear to you."
Every Lord's Day (Sunday), in the proper worship of the true church, God "ap-pears" to His people, and visits them, with His grace and mercy (in Christ). In Leviticus, ch. 9, God came to the people in their worship, (see vv. 23-24). But the Lord may also "appear" to His saints throughout the week—subordinate to Sabbath worship, but nonetheless every bit as really.
Are our hearts troubled today? Are we contrite and broken before God? Do we mourn our sins; and cry out for Jesus, and His grace? Then, God is cer-tainly near to us, visiting us, (cf. Ps. 34:18).
[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has God to be his God is so well content-ed with His condition that he does not much care whether he has anything else.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
" . . . For today the LORD will appear to you."
Every Lord's Day (Sunday), in the proper worship of the true church, God "ap-pears" to His people, and visits them, with His grace and mercy (in Christ). In Leviticus, ch. 9, God came to the people in their worship, (see vv. 23-24). But the Lord may also "appear" to His saints throughout the week—subordinate to Sabbath worship, but nonetheless every bit as really.
Are our hearts troubled today? Are we contrite and broken before God? Do we mourn our sins; and cry out for Jesus, and His grace? Then, God is cer-tainly near to us, visiting us, (cf. Ps. 34:18).
[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has God to be his God is so well content-ed with His condition that he does not much care whether he has anything else.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Wed., 4/5/17 Devotion (1 Thess. 2:4)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:4, where Paul wrote these words to the church:
"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."
Like Paul, faithful church ministers today are not so concerned about any fal-len human beings, as they are about pleasing their Sovereign Lord. God's under-shepherds know that they are of no good to man at all, unless they are first and foremost honoring to and properly-representing their Lord Jesus, who sent them out to preach.
The same could be said for any churched Christian. The believer's primary goal is to see Christ as the sole "audience" of all his or her worship and obe-dience. In this way (only) is effective ministry, and victorious living possible.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Indeed, sometimes grace is as a sleepy habit in the soul, like sap in the vine—not exerting its vigor, due to spiritual sloth or by reason of falling into some sin—but this is only for a while. The spring of grace will come, the flowers will appear, and the fig tree will put forth her green figs.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."
Like Paul, faithful church ministers today are not so concerned about any fal-len human beings, as they are about pleasing their Sovereign Lord. God's under-shepherds know that they are of no good to man at all, unless they are first and foremost honoring to and properly-representing their Lord Jesus, who sent them out to preach.
The same could be said for any churched Christian. The believer's primary goal is to see Christ as the sole "audience" of all his or her worship and obe-dience. In this way (only) is effective ministry, and victorious living possible.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Indeed, sometimes grace is as a sleepy habit in the soul, like sap in the vine—not exerting its vigor, due to spiritual sloth or by reason of falling into some sin—but this is only for a while. The spring of grace will come, the flowers will appear, and the fig tree will put forth her green figs.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
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