Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 12:12, which says this:
"When he [King Rehoboam] humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah."
It is amazing, what a little (but genuine) humility will do for any one of us. God was about ready to "clean Rehoboam's clock" for his idolatry—but when the prophet came and rebuked him, he (the king) repented. God seems to be practically unable to look on a contrite soul with anything but grace, mercy, and divine pity.
This is the glory of the believing and faithful churched Christian: he or she can come to God in Christ alone—which is the ultimate expression of sincere hu-mility. No works are trusted in, nor alleged self-righteousness—only the right-eousness of The Pristine Savior (plus nothing).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Are your sins high as heaven? The mercies of God are above the heavens.” —Isaac Ambrose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Monday, December 10, 2018
Mon., 12/10/18 Devotion (Lk. 24:27)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:27, where we find these words:
"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [Christ] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
Why did Jesus employ the Scriptures (only), when He was teaching His dis-ciples all things concerning Himself? Why did He not use tradition, councils, and the opinions of ancient church leaders? Because those sources were not inspired of God—they had no ultimate authority over His disciples' consci-ences.
Let us be sure we garner what we are going to know about God from the Holy Scriptures. This will require the ministry of the church, to be sure—but your ministers, if they are faithful, will be seeking to preach The Christ revealed to us in His resurrection and His Holy Book.
[Puritan quote of the day: "None can better discover Satan's sleights and poli-cies, than those who have been long in the fencing-school of temptation.”
—Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [Christ] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
Why did Jesus employ the Scriptures (only), when He was teaching His dis-ciples all things concerning Himself? Why did He not use tradition, councils, and the opinions of ancient church leaders? Because those sources were not inspired of God—they had no ultimate authority over His disciples' consci-ences.
Let us be sure we garner what we are going to know about God from the Holy Scriptures. This will require the ministry of the church, to be sure—but your ministers, if they are faithful, will be seeking to preach The Christ revealed to us in His resurrection and His Holy Book.
[Puritan quote of the day: "None can better discover Satan's sleights and poli-cies, than those who have been long in the fencing-school of temptation.”
—Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Friday, December 7, 2018
Fri.-Sabbath, 12/7-9/18 Devotion
Wahoo—Sunday is almost here! In order to help get us ready for the church’s worship of The Triune God, here is Thomas Watson, from "All Things for Good," or, "A Divine Cordial":
"The word preached works for good. It is a savour of life. It is a soul trans-forming word. It assimilates the heart into Christ’s likeness; it produces as-surance. 'Our gospel came to you not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,' (1 Thess. 1:5). It is the chariot of salva-tion.
"Prayer works for good. Prayer is the bellows of the affection. It stirs up holy desires and ardours of soul. Prayer has power with God. It is a key that un-locks the treasury of God’s mercy. Prayer keeps the heart open to God, and shut to sin. It assuages the intemperate hearts and swellings of lust. It was Luther’s counsel to a friend, when he perceived a temptation begin to arise, to betake himself to prayer. Prayer is the Christian’s gun, which he discharges against his enemies. Prayer is the sovereign medicine of the soul. Prayer sanctifies every mercy, (1 Tim. 4:5). It is the dispeller of sorrow: by venting the grief it eases the heart. When Hannah had prayed, 'She went away, and was no more sad,' (1 Sam. 1:18). And if it has these rare effects, then it works for good."
"The word preached works for good. It is a savour of life. It is a soul trans-forming word. It assimilates the heart into Christ’s likeness; it produces as-surance. 'Our gospel came to you not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,' (1 Thess. 1:5). It is the chariot of salva-tion.
"Prayer works for good. Prayer is the bellows of the affection. It stirs up holy desires and ardours of soul. Prayer has power with God. It is a key that un-locks the treasury of God’s mercy. Prayer keeps the heart open to God, and shut to sin. It assuages the intemperate hearts and swellings of lust. It was Luther’s counsel to a friend, when he perceived a temptation begin to arise, to betake himself to prayer. Prayer is the Christian’s gun, which he discharges against his enemies. Prayer is the sovereign medicine of the soul. Prayer sanctifies every mercy, (1 Tim. 4:5). It is the dispeller of sorrow: by venting the grief it eases the heart. When Hannah had prayed, 'She went away, and was no more sad,' (1 Sam. 1:18). And if it has these rare effects, then it works for good."
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Thurs., 12/6/18 Devotion (2 Chron. 6:18a)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 6:18a, where we read these words:
"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? . . . "
Solomon's question, asked during his long prayer of the dedication of the temple, was fully and finally answered when Jesus Christ came to earth in His Incarnation, (which we celebrate at Advent). Indeed, God *does* dwell with people on earth, even today—in and through the glorious Son of God who is the Head of His church (His dwelling place on earth).
Whatever struggle or difficulty we may be facing today may be much eased by the faithful reflection of our souls on this blessed truth: that Immanuel is with us, here and now, in Jesus.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Lord, let the [magnet] of Your Spirit draw my heart upward. Lord, dig the earth out of my heart; teach me how to possess the world, and not love it; how to hold it in my hand, and not let it get into my heart.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Commandments"]
"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? . . . "
Solomon's question, asked during his long prayer of the dedication of the temple, was fully and finally answered when Jesus Christ came to earth in His Incarnation, (which we celebrate at Advent). Indeed, God *does* dwell with people on earth, even today—in and through the glorious Son of God who is the Head of His church (His dwelling place on earth).
Whatever struggle or difficulty we may be facing today may be much eased by the faithful reflection of our souls on this blessed truth: that Immanuel is with us, here and now, in Jesus.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Lord, let the [magnet] of Your Spirit draw my heart upward. Lord, dig the earth out of my heart; teach me how to possess the world, and not love it; how to hold it in my hand, and not let it get into my heart.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Commandments"]
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Wed., 12/5/18 Devotion (Lk. 19:5)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 19:5, where we read these words:
"And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him [Zacchaeus], and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.' "
This is the only place in the Gospels where I can recall that the Son of God actually "looked up" at any man. Zacchaeus, the once-proud, swindling tax collector, is now humbled, and honored (by Christ's presence in his heart, and his house).
Zacchaeus' conversion was thorough. He was a new man. From now on, the former-cheater would now always "look up" at the Blessed Savior, and give Him all the glory and honor. May we do the same.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely, did the devil know how much benefit ac-crues to the saints by temptation, he would forbear to tempt.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "All Things for Good"]
"And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him [Zacchaeus], and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.' "
This is the only place in the Gospels where I can recall that the Son of God actually "looked up" at any man. Zacchaeus, the once-proud, swindling tax collector, is now humbled, and honored (by Christ's presence in his heart, and his house).
Zacchaeus' conversion was thorough. He was a new man. From now on, the former-cheater would now always "look up" at the Blessed Savior, and give Him all the glory and honor. May we do the same.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely, did the devil know how much benefit ac-crues to the saints by temptation, he would forbear to tempt.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "All Things for Good"]
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Tues., 12/4/18 Devotion (2 Chron. 3:8a)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 3:8a, where we read these words:
"And he [Solomon] made the Most Holy Place. . . . "
What a remarkable statement (above). A fallen man, a sinner, would make the most holy place—the very pattern of what exists in heaven?! God honors us, His church, by making us His spiritual temple (1 Pet. 2:4-5). Think of it: Mary, a fallen soul, bears the sinless Christ Child. Faithful churchmen, though depraved sinners (in ourselves), become the vessels of the blessed Holy Spirit, (see 2 Cor. 4:7).
The redeemed church—even now—is nestled in the very heart of the Holy Trinity, in that God's children are *in* the Son of God, who is now both God and man. Do we need "self-esteem"? Here is where to find it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not how much we do, but how much we love.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"And he [Solomon] made the Most Holy Place. . . . "
What a remarkable statement (above). A fallen man, a sinner, would make the most holy place—the very pattern of what exists in heaven?! God honors us, His church, by making us His spiritual temple (1 Pet. 2:4-5). Think of it: Mary, a fallen soul, bears the sinless Christ Child. Faithful churchmen, though depraved sinners (in ourselves), become the vessels of the blessed Holy Spirit, (see 2 Cor. 4:7).
The redeemed church—even now—is nestled in the very heart of the Holy Trinity, in that God's children are *in* the Son of God, who is now both God and man. Do we need "self-esteem"? Here is where to find it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not how much we do, but how much we love.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Monday, December 3, 2018
Mon., 12/3/18 Devotion (1 Jn. 2:2a)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 2:2a, where we read these words:
"And He [Christ] Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . "
"Propitiation" means atonement, sacrifice, satisfaction. Jesus Christ Himself, plus nothing, is the "propitiation" for the sins of all God's elect church, who will be saved in time and space. Our works are not our propitiation. Our efforts are not. Our "working together with God" is not.
Christ *alone* Himself satisfies God's wrath against sin; and He (Jesus) bore the punishment for the redeemed. Therefore, let us forever put away all false and God-dishonoring "gospels" of works or law or self; and let us rejoice in the fact that we have a real and blessed Savior (in Jesus).
[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] gave His only begotten Son to be a propitia-tion for our sin, and accepted His suffering instead of ours.” —John Shower, in, "God's Thoughts and Ways are Above ours"]
"And He [Christ] Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . "
"Propitiation" means atonement, sacrifice, satisfaction. Jesus Christ Himself, plus nothing, is the "propitiation" for the sins of all God's elect church, who will be saved in time and space. Our works are not our propitiation. Our efforts are not. Our "working together with God" is not.
Christ *alone* Himself satisfies God's wrath against sin; and He (Jesus) bore the punishment for the redeemed. Therefore, let us forever put away all false and God-dishonoring "gospels" of works or law or self; and let us rejoice in the fact that we have a real and blessed Savior (in Jesus).
[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] gave His only begotten Son to be a propitia-tion for our sin, and accepted His suffering instead of ours.” —John Shower, in, "God's Thoughts and Ways are Above ours"]
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