Today's encouragement comes from Luke 24:5b & 6a, where we read these words:
" . . . [The angels] said to [the women], 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! . . . ' "
The Christian faith is based in objective and historically-verifiable facts. This is helpful for the faithful believer, since there are numerous other (though spurious) claims to ultimate truth that we must constantly reject. Our sanctifi-cation struggle is not so much in comprehending *that* Jesus is alive, and has risen from the dead—as much as it is in *acting* on this knowledge with faith.
The Lord would have each of us who are bound to Him in the church seek Christ earnestly today—but not where the world looks for help (viz. in graves and death). Instead, let us rise up in prayer to where only redeemed church-men may go for assistance (viz. the throne of grace in heaven).
[Augustine quote of the day: “It is enough for the Christian to believe that the only cause of all created things . . . is the goodness of the Creator, the one true God.” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Monday, March 9, 2020
Mon., 3/9/20 Devotion (Job 38:4a)
Today's encouragement comes from Job 38:4a, where we read these words:
"Where were you [Job] when I [The Lord] laid the foundations of the
earth? . . . "
Whenever sinful humans are tempted to call God Himself to some alleged “bar" of their own haughty “justice”—it is prudent to recall words like these (above), which the Lord spoke to Job. The answer to God's question, of course, is that Job did not yet exist; and, on top of that, his very being would be completely dependent upon The One he (Job) was calling into question.
Let us find comfort in the fact that our Creator is also the Redeemer of His church; and that though sometimes His providences baffle us, we know that God always has the best in mind for those He loves in Jesus, (cf. Rom. 8:28).
[Augustine quote of the day: “God comprehends all that takes place in time—the not-yet-existing future, the existing present, and the no-longer-existing past—in an immutable and eternal present.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
"Where were you [Job] when I [The Lord] laid the foundations of the
earth? . . . "
Whenever sinful humans are tempted to call God Himself to some alleged “bar" of their own haughty “justice”—it is prudent to recall words like these (above), which the Lord spoke to Job. The answer to God's question, of course, is that Job did not yet exist; and, on top of that, his very being would be completely dependent upon The One he (Job) was calling into question.
Let us find comfort in the fact that our Creator is also the Redeemer of His church; and that though sometimes His providences baffle us, we know that God always has the best in mind for those He loves in Jesus, (cf. Rom. 8:28).
[Augustine quote of the day: “God comprehends all that takes place in time—the not-yet-existing future, the existing present, and the no-longer-existing past—in an immutable and eternal present.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
Friday, March 6, 2020
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/6-8/20 Devotion
Hip, hip, hooray—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his "The Ten Commandments" book:
"Meditating on a Lord's Day morning on Christ's love, would kindle love in our hearts to Him. How can we look on His bleeding and dying for us and our hearts not be warmed with love to Him? Love is the soul of religion, the purest affection. It is not rivers of oil, but sparks of love that Christ values.
"And sure, as David said, 'While I was musing the fire burned,' (Psa. 39:3)—so, while we are musing of Christ's love in redeeming us, the fire of our love will burn towards Him. And then the Christian is in a blessed Sabbath-frame, when, like a seraphim [angel], he is burning in love to Christ."
"Meditating on a Lord's Day morning on Christ's love, would kindle love in our hearts to Him. How can we look on His bleeding and dying for us and our hearts not be warmed with love to Him? Love is the soul of religion, the purest affection. It is not rivers of oil, but sparks of love that Christ values.
"And sure, as David said, 'While I was musing the fire burned,' (Psa. 39:3)—so, while we are musing of Christ's love in redeeming us, the fire of our love will burn towards Him. And then the Christian is in a blessed Sabbath-frame, when, like a seraphim [angel], he is burning in love to Christ."
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Thurs., 3/5/20 Devotion (2 Cor. 4:10)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 4:10, where we read these words:
" . . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
One of the best things about Christian suffering is that it does so much good for ourselves and the rest of the church. Believers are united to Jesus Christ. The church is His metaphorical and mystical "body." To be joined to Christ means that we are bonded to Him in both His death *and* His resurrection. Without being "crucified with" Christ, we cannot be "raised with" Him.
Therefore, let us look upon our most difficult heart-struggles today with a dif-ferent eye—the eye of faith. What is hard now, helps ourselves and others now, (in ways that we cannot fully understand). And, if we are willing to suffer *with* Jesus, we will also enjoy and experience His glory, in this world, and in the one to come, (cf. Rom. 8:17).
[Augustine quote of the day: “Thus, a person who evaluates according to rea-son has far more freedom of choice than one who is driven by need or influ-enced by passion.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
" . . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
One of the best things about Christian suffering is that it does so much good for ourselves and the rest of the church. Believers are united to Jesus Christ. The church is His metaphorical and mystical "body." To be joined to Christ means that we are bonded to Him in both His death *and* His resurrection. Without being "crucified with" Christ, we cannot be "raised with" Him.
Therefore, let us look upon our most difficult heart-struggles today with a dif-ferent eye—the eye of faith. What is hard now, helps ourselves and others now, (in ways that we cannot fully understand). And, if we are willing to suffer *with* Jesus, we will also enjoy and experience His glory, in this world, and in the one to come, (cf. Rom. 8:17).
[Augustine quote of the day: “Thus, a person who evaluates according to rea-son has far more freedom of choice than one who is driven by need or influ-enced by passion.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Wed., 3/4/20 Devotion (Ex. 15:3, 13a)
Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 15:3 & 13a, which says this:
"The LORD is a Man of war; the LORD is His name. . . . You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed."
Note (above) how God's warrior nature, and His love nature are not at all at odds with one another. In fact, if God was *not* a "Man of war," He could not be the God of love. YHWH goes to war with our sins and His church's ene-mies; and, in so doing, He expresses His affection for the objects of His re-demption (all atoned-for in Christ).
Let us cast off all sophomoric notions of God, that would make Him a crotch-ety figure in heaven, hoping we would do something right, for once. Instead, let us view Him in His true colors, even as the written word of God reveals Him: as a God who punishes all sin; and yet cherishes many sinners (through Jesus’ atonement).
[Augustine quote of the day: “Of all visible things, the universe is the greatest; of all invisible realities, the greatest is God.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
"The LORD is a Man of war; the LORD is His name. . . . You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed."
Note (above) how God's warrior nature, and His love nature are not at all at odds with one another. In fact, if God was *not* a "Man of war," He could not be the God of love. YHWH goes to war with our sins and His church's ene-mies; and, in so doing, He expresses His affection for the objects of His re-demption (all atoned-for in Christ).
Let us cast off all sophomoric notions of God, that would make Him a crotch-ety figure in heaven, hoping we would do something right, for once. Instead, let us view Him in His true colors, even as the written word of God reveals Him: as a God who punishes all sin; and yet cherishes many sinners (through Jesus’ atonement).
[Augustine quote of the day: “Of all visible things, the universe is the greatest; of all invisible realities, the greatest is God.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Tues., 3/3/20 Devotion (Lk. 17:5)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:5, where we read these words:
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' "
When we churchmen are faced with impossible tasks, an understandable re-sponse to them, is to say to God: "Increase our faith.” Sometimes, the Lord does not answer this request in the way we would expect. Instead, He re-minds us that we do not need *much* faith; but that rather we need *sincere* faith; and that it must be in the Only One (Christ) who can usher us into the embraces of The Holy Trinity.
Let us be sure that we do not look for *more* of anything in our Christian lives, without first availing ourselves of what we *already* possess. The exer-cise of faith does not require a lot of religious activity; but it does call on our hearts to truly believe in the Christ of the Gospel.
[Augustine quote of the day: “[God] has given to [human beings] good gifts suited to their existence here below.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 19.]
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' "
When we churchmen are faced with impossible tasks, an understandable re-sponse to them, is to say to God: "Increase our faith.” Sometimes, the Lord does not answer this request in the way we would expect. Instead, He re-minds us that we do not need *much* faith; but that rather we need *sincere* faith; and that it must be in the Only One (Christ) who can usher us into the embraces of The Holy Trinity.
Let us be sure that we do not look for *more* of anything in our Christian lives, without first availing ourselves of what we *already* possess. The exer-cise of faith does not require a lot of religious activity; but it does call on our hearts to truly believe in the Christ of the Gospel.
[Augustine quote of the day: “[God] has given to [human beings] good gifts suited to their existence here below.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 19.]
Monday, March 2, 2020
Mon., 3/2/20 Devotion (Lk. 16:31)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 16:31, where we read these words:
"But he ['Abraham'] said to him [the 'rich man'], ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ "
Since faith is sovereignly given to sinners through *hearing* the gospel preached (Rom. 10:17), and not through *seeing* miracles performed—we should not be surprised to be taught this principle here (above, from Luke’s gospel), by our Lord Jesus.
Sometimes well-meaning and sincere Christians mistakenly think that sinners will be converted by *seeing* various spectacular religious marvels (even like someone rising from the dead). But this is not the case at all. Instead, God would have His church faithfully preach the Good News of Jesus. Through this message of grace, the Holy Spirit will convert those whom God chooses to redeem.
[AUGUSTINE quote of the day: “Plato did not hesitate to say that to philoso-phize is to love that God whose nature is incorporeal.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 8.]
"But he ['Abraham'] said to him [the 'rich man'], ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ "
Since faith is sovereignly given to sinners through *hearing* the gospel preached (Rom. 10:17), and not through *seeing* miracles performed—we should not be surprised to be taught this principle here (above, from Luke’s gospel), by our Lord Jesus.
Sometimes well-meaning and sincere Christians mistakenly think that sinners will be converted by *seeing* various spectacular religious marvels (even like someone rising from the dead). But this is not the case at all. Instead, God would have His church faithfully preach the Good News of Jesus. Through this message of grace, the Holy Spirit will convert those whom God chooses to redeem.
[AUGUSTINE quote of the day: “Plato did not hesitate to say that to philoso-phize is to love that God whose nature is incorporeal.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 8.]
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