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 faithfully-churched children of God enjoy is a priceless treasure. This is why the world, the flesh, and the devil are constant-ly seeking to steal it from us. Gospel liberty must be zealously guarded, main-tained, 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 truly initially embraced it. Later, they heard a gospel of law, and they began to believe it. Paul's words throughout the book were designed to bring them back to Jesus. May we find our souls resting in Christ's 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"]
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Wed., 3/18/20 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 has, in His resurrected and glorified body, 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 greatly expanded, all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in heaven, in humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath (Sunday) church convocations. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our access to Him, in and through Christ—and let us be careful to always approach Him by grace through faith.
[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 has, in His resurrected and glorified body, 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 greatly expanded, all over the face of the earth.
God dwells in heaven, in humble hearts, and in holy Sabbath (Sunday) church convocations. Let us be sure to avail ourselves of our access to Him, in and through Christ—and let us be careful to always approach Him by grace through faith.
[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"]
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Tues., 3/17/20 Devotion (Jn. 7:1)
Today’s encouragement comes from the interesting words of John, ch. 7, v. 1. Here is what we read there:
“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, be-cause the Jews were seeking to kill Him.” (ESV)
In light of current events, I think this is kind of an intriguing verse. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself took care, to avoid being somewhere where He did not *need* to be, in order to preserve His precious life.
Of course, our Messiah ended up *going* to Judea; and eventually to the cross and resurrection just outside Jerusalem. But, before His “time” to die and rise for His elect church, Jesus was mindful of His safety and well-being. And so, in faith and without fear, we, the members of the true church, should be as well.
[Augustine quote of the day: “The sure and proper foundation of the catholic [i.e. orthodox (in the fifth century context)] faith is Christ.” —from, “The Enchi-ridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, be-cause the Jews were seeking to kill Him.” (ESV)
In light of current events, I think this is kind of an intriguing verse. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself took care, to avoid being somewhere where He did not *need* to be, in order to preserve His precious life.
Of course, our Messiah ended up *going* to Judea; and eventually to the cross and resurrection just outside Jerusalem. But, before His “time” to die and rise for His elect church, Jesus was mindful of His safety and well-being. And so, in faith and without fear, we, the members of the true church, should be as well.
[Augustine quote of the day: “The sure and proper foundation of the catholic [i.e. orthodox (in the fifth century context)] faith is Christ.” —from, “The Enchi-ridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
Monday, March 16, 2020
Mon., 3/16/20 Devotion (Jn. 16:33)
Today's encouragement comes from John 16:33, where our Lord Jesus said this:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Notice that the churched Christian's peace is in Christ. It may never be found in the "world," or in anything other than Christ. Our union with Jesus causes us to be able to be genuinely cheerful, even as we are going through very difficult hardships.
All of this is because our Savior has "overcome the world." The world no longer has controlling power over us (who are in Christ). We, in Jesus, have also "overcome" it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Begin with simple things, for all truth begins with simple things. A man can never write good cursive till he has first learned his letters.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way to True Happiness"]
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Notice that the churched Christian's peace is in Christ. It may never be found in the "world," or in anything other than Christ. Our union with Jesus causes us to be able to be genuinely cheerful, even as we are going through very difficult hardships.
All of this is because our Savior has "overcome the world." The world no longer has controlling power over us (who are in Christ). We, in Jesus, have also "overcome" it.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Begin with simple things, for all truth begins with simple things. A man can never write good cursive till he has first learned his letters.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way to True Happiness"]
Friday, March 13, 2020
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/13-15/20 Devotion
Sunday is coming! What an honor: to be in the church's worship on the Lord's Day. Here is Thomas Watson, from, "The Art of Divine Contentment.” . . .
"This doctrine shows how a Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven on earth, be the times what they will: by Christian content-ment. The comfort of life does not consist in having much. It is Christ’s max-im, ‘Man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he posses-ses,' (Lk. 12:15)--but it is in being contented. . . . Contentment lies within a person, in the heart; and the way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet."
"This doctrine shows how a Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven on earth, be the times what they will: by Christian content-ment. The comfort of life does not consist in having much. It is Christ’s max-im, ‘Man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he posses-ses,' (Lk. 12:15)--but it is in being contented. . . . Contentment lies within a person, in the heart; and the way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet."
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Thurs., 3/12/20 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 Christ was quite careful regarding those with whom He would totally commit Himself; and those with whom He would not. Though the Mes-siah was not burdened with the curse of original sin (or any sin, for that mat-ter)—He still completely understood what it (sin) was, and what it did to man-kind.
The people in Jn., ch. 2, were "believing" in Him; but they were *not* *really* 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 of us who say we are God's true children prove to be sincere in our loving faith in Jesus.
[Augustine quote of the day: “For what is that which we call evil but the ab-sence of good?” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
"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 Christ was quite careful regarding those with whom He would totally commit Himself; and those with whom He would not. Though the Mes-siah was not burdened with the curse of original sin (or any sin, for that mat-ter)—He still completely understood what it (sin) was, and what it did to man-kind.
The people in Jn., ch. 2, were "believing" in Him; but they were *not* *really* 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 of us who say we are God's true children prove to be sincere in our loving faith in Jesus.
[Augustine quote of the day: “For what is that which we call evil but the ab-sence of good?” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Wed., 3/11/20 Devotion (Job 40:8b)
Today's encouragement comes from Job 40:8b, where we read these words:
" . . . Would you [Job] condemn Me [God] that you may be justified?"
Fallen sinners, outside of Christ, always do exactly what we read here (above). They "condemn" God in all kinds of ways, in order to seek to "justify” themselves—pretending that they are better than the Lord. Of course, God understood Job's heart, and the Lord knew, in reality, that Job really *did* find his justification in Christ, and not in himself. (See Job 19:25-27 as evidence of this.)
All of us regenerate churchmen should beware of the fact that whenever we are uncomfortable or inconvenienced—our temptation, just as it was with Job, is to "condemn" God, and "justify" ourselves. Let us rather see things as they really *are*, in Christ; and recognize that the Lord is *always* right, just, holy, gracious, merciful, and loving.
[Augustine quote of the day: “And in the universe, even that which is called evil, when it is regulated and put in its own place, only enhances our admira-tion for the good.” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
" . . . Would you [Job] condemn Me [God] that you may be justified?"
Fallen sinners, outside of Christ, always do exactly what we read here (above). They "condemn" God in all kinds of ways, in order to seek to "justify” themselves—pretending that they are better than the Lord. Of course, God understood Job's heart, and the Lord knew, in reality, that Job really *did* find his justification in Christ, and not in himself. (See Job 19:25-27 as evidence of this.)
All of us regenerate churchmen should beware of the fact that whenever we are uncomfortable or inconvenienced—our temptation, just as it was with Job, is to "condemn" God, and "justify" ourselves. Let us rather see things as they really *are*, in Christ; and recognize that the Lord is *always* right, just, holy, gracious, merciful, and loving.
[Augustine quote of the day: “And in the universe, even that which is called evil, when it is regulated and put in its own place, only enhances our admira-tion for the good.” —from, “The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love”]
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