Mon., 12/29/08 Devotion (2 Chron. 34:3)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 34:3, which says this:

"For in the eighth year of [Josiah's] reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images."

Josiah, one of the all-time greatest kings of Judah, was only 16 years-old when he began doing great things for the church of God. His grandfather Manasseh had wasted most of his life, and all of his youth, in idolatrous blasphemy. Josiah's father Amon had not been promising at all. Humanly-speaking, it is astounding that Josiah, from such an early age, would be so very great.

Josiah reminds us that the church's children and youth need not wait to grow old, in order to be effective in the kingdom of God. May they be zealous for the Lord, and his house, from their earliest days.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Word written is a repository in which God has laid up sovereign oils and balsams to recover sick souls; and the word preached is the pouring out of these oils, and applying them to the sick patient." --Thomas Watson, in his sermon entitled, "The Soul's Malady and Cure"]

Wed., 12/24/08 Devotion (Jn. 14:22)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Today's encouragement comes from John 14:22, where we read these words:

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him [Jesus], 'Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?' "

This is the only time in the Gospel accounts (I know of) where Judas (not Iscariot) is quoted. His question is a good one. Jesus Christ *is* "manifest[ed] to the whole world" in a gospel proclamative sense. We especially see this happen at Christmas--as the angels declare that Christ's good news is for "all people," (Lk. 2:10).

And yet Judas' query *is* legitimate, and Jesus does not correct him. Christ manifests Himself to His church in a covenantal way that is completely foreign to all those who are outside of her (the church). In light of this, let us all be found in Christ, which is the same thing as being in the church (properly-covenanted).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ may be called 'the Word' because He is the great Revealer of the secrets of heaven." --John Colquhoun, in his sermon, "The Incarnation of Christ"]

Tues., 12/23/08 Devotion (Jn. 13:1b)

Today's encouragement comes from John 13:1b, where we read these words:

" . . . Having loved His own who were in the world, He [Christ] loved them to the end."

This is a beautiful phrase. The Lord Jesus loves His churchmen who are yet "in the world," viz. down here, where it's tough, and where sin and the fall still assault us. This is because the church is "His own." He possesses them, by virtue of His redemption of their souls. And Christ loves us "to the end." He doesn't give up on us, just because we stumble around, and fail a lot of times.

Isn't this a grand and glorious Savior? Even as He was anticipating His most grievous suffering (on the cross), He was thinking of us, and serving us. Let all His church love Christ in sincerity; and may we find our peace only in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "And in the dispensing of the gospel, especially in the preaching and unfolding of the Word, the riches of God in Christ are unfolded . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]

Mon., 12/22/08 Devotion (2 Chron. 26:15b-16a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 26:15b & 16a, which says this:

"So [Uzziah's] fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped [by God] till he became strong. But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction . . . "

God's true churchmen *are* to become "strong." That is a significant goal of the Christian life, (see Eph. 6:10). But strength is *never* to lead to independence (from God). True, Spirit-wrought strength makes the believer *more*, not less, aware of his or her reliance upon the Lord. To be strong in Christ is to become more humble, more faithful, and more obedient.

King Uzziah of Judah abused his strength, to his own hurt. May we not follow in his steps.

[Puritan quote of the day: "My services are weak, yet I am a child; my graces are feeble, yet I am a child; my desires are faint, my wants many, my enemies strong, yet I have God for my Father. This answers
all." --Robert Harris, in "The Way to True Happiness"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 12/19-21/08 Devotion

Wahoo--it's almost Sunday, the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection, one of God's 52 holy days a year! Shifting gears today, here are the words of my second favorite Puritan of all time: the great Richard Sibbes. This snippet comes from a treatise of his, entitled, "Denial of the Best for the Church's Benefit":

"A second thing that I observe hence is this, holy and gracious men, that are led by the Spirit of God, can deny themselves and their own best good for the church's benefit. They know that God has appointed them as instruments to convey good to others; and knowing this, they labor to come to Paul's spirit, to desire to live, to have life in patience, and death in desire in regard of themselves. For it would be much better for a good man to be in heaven, out of misery, and out of this conflicting condition with the devil and devilish-minded men.

"The reason is, because a good man, as soon as he is a good man, has the spirit of love in him, and 'love seeks not its own,' (1 Cor. 13:6), but the good of another; and as the love of Christ and the love of God possesses and seizes upon the soul, so self-love decays. What is gracious love but a decay of self love? The more self-love decays, the more we deny ourselves."

Thurs., 12/18/08 Devotion (Jn. 8:24b)

Today's encouragement comes from John 8:24b, where we find our Lord Jesus saying this:

" . . . For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

Jesus is speaking to very religious people here. It is interesting that He does *not* say, "If you don't straighten-up your acts you will
die . . . "; or, "If you don't do enough good deeds you will die . . . "; or, "If you aren't more religious you will die . . . " Instead, Christ demands one thing (only): believing that He (Jesus) is the Son of
God--or else we will die in our sins.

Why is this so hard for us sinners to grasp? The gospel is so simple that self-righteous people find it highly offensive. Jesus' blood atonement virtually *excludes* anything that we could add to it, via works or self-sacrifice, etc. This gospel brings God glory, and us good, (but we get no credit for our salvation).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Zeal makes the blood rise when God's honor is impeached. . . . He who zealously loves his friend cannot bear to hear him spoken against and be silent." --Thomas Watson, in "The Godly Man's Picture"]

Wed., 12/17/08 Devotion (Jn. 7:12a, 43)

Today's encouragement comes from John 7:12a & 43, where we read these words:

"And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him [Jesus]. . . . So there was a division among the people because of Him."

Our Lord Jesus Christ is *the* most controversial Person to ever exist. To this day, He divides people from one another--when He wrenches His children away from their sin, their idols, and whatever else ails them. Christ is also the Great Unifier: but the *only* people He positively brings together are His churchmen.

The Redeemer has no interest in satisfying anyone but His Father, and, through the Spirit, His church. Because of this, those who wish to deal with Him on any terms other than saving faith find themselves flabbergasted, confused, and in disarray. May we be "one" with Christ, as we find ourselves "in" Him, by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A child of God makes his estate [viz. all that he owns] a golden clasp to bind his heart faster to God, a footstool to raise him up higher towards heaven." --Thomas Watson, in "The Beatitudes"]