Wed., 2/29/12 Devotion (1 Cor. 13:8a)

Today's encouragement comes from the few, but powerful words of 1 Corinthians 13:8a, where we read this:

"Love never fails. . . . "

Why does love never fail? Because love is the best barometer of the heart. It always exposes the truth; and everyone--without exception--is subject to its scrutiny. This is one of the reasons God insists that we love Him. Without sincere love for God, none of our other "services" rendered to Him mean anything--(in fact, they become abominable to Him).

The real important question for us today is, "Who (or what) do we love the *most*?" If Christ is not at the top, then we should face the fact that we are idolaters. The Lord would have us love other people, and even some things--but these must be subordinate to love for Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "He that frets will be willing to do evil; fretting Jonah was sinning Jonah, (Jon. 4:9)." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Tues., 2/28/12 Devotion (Ex. 12:13b)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 12:13b, where we read these words:

" . . . And when I see the blood, I will pass over you . . . "

The angel of death still stalks all those who are out of covenant with Christ (and His church). But those redeemed souls whose hearts are sprinkled by the blood of Jesus are safe--God passes over them, while He executes judgment on others.

It is not our "righteousness," our religiosity, our civility, nor our moral-
ity that causes God to pass over us, and spare us from judgment, hell, and damnation. Instead, it is only the blood righteousness of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29b). This righteousness of Christ is imputed to the hearts of sinners, by grace through faith in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Make it your main business, your chief study, your greatest care, to 'make your calling and election sure,' says the apostle." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Mon., 2/27/12 Devotion (1 Cor. 14:33)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 14:33, where we read these words:

"For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

Very sadly, there is a lot of confusion in a lot of churches today, (as there always has been, to one degree or another). But none of this confusion is from God. The Lord has laid-out enough content doctrine, theology, knowledge, and understanding in the Scriptures for faithful pastors and elders to quite sufficiently lead the flocks into fields of clarity, plenty, and peace.

But the problem is not with God--it is with sinful men who craft their own gospels, and who spurn the only true one. Let us, by grace, sin-
cerely cling to Jesus, and enjoy by faith the benefits of life in cove-
nant (church).

[Puritan quote of the day: "To have grace, and to be sure that we have grace, is glory upon the throne, it is heaven on this side [of] heaven." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 2/24-26/12 Devotion

Wahoo--it's almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church! Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. Here, he is talking about "Peace." . . .

"True peace flows from union with Christ. The graft must first be in-
oculated into the tree before it can receive sap or nourishment from it; so we must first be ingrafted into Christ, before we can receive peace from Him. Have we faith? By holiness we are made like Christ; by believing we are made one with Christ, and being in Christ we have peace, (John 16:33).

"True peace flows from subjection to Christ. Where Christ gives peace, there He sets up His government in the heart. 'Of His govern-
ment and peace there shall be no end,' (Isa 9:7). Christ is called 'a priest upon His throne,' (Zech 6:13). Christ as a priest makes peace; but He will be a priest upon His throne--He brings the heart in sub-
jection to Him. If Christ be our peace, He is our Prince, (Isa 9:6). Whenever Christ pacifies the conscience, He subdues the lust.

"True peace is after trouble. First, God lets loose a spirit of bondage. He convinces and humbles the soul; then He speaks peace. Many say they have peace, but is this peace before a storm, or after it? True peace is after trouble. First there was the earthquake, and then the fire, and then the still small voice, (1 Kings 19:12). You who never had any legal bruisings, may suspect your peace. God pours the golden oil of peace into broken hearts."

Thurs., 2/23/12 Devotion (Lk. 9:56a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 9:56a, where Jesus said this, especially to His disciples James and John:

"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."

James and his brother John (who later was known as the "disciple of love") wanted to call down fire on some Samaritans who did not wel-
come them--("just as Elijah did"--v. 54). But the Messiah reminds them that He came, not "to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

It is a temptation for God's people to desire, not the salvation of sin-
ners, but the destruction of the same. But would we have wanted God to look on we ourselves that way? Undoubtedly not. Let us develop more compassion and patience; and let us remember that Jesus came to call sinners (not righteous people) to repentance, (cf. Lk. 5:32).

[Puritan quote of the day: "God sometimes shows His sovereignty by showing mercy to the chief of sinners, on those who have been mur-
derers, profaners, and blasphemers." --Jonathan Edwards, in his ser-
mon, "God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men"]

Wed., 2/22/12 Devotion (Lk. 8:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 8:1, which says this:

"Now it came to pass, afterward, that [Jesus] went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him."

I wonder if we believers sometimes forget that the gospel of Christ's kingdom is one of "glad tidings." We bear our crosses, endure suffer-
ings and afflictions, and go through the furnace of purification (re-
pentance)--and this does not seem to be such a happy prospect.

But, indeed, these things *are* part and parcel of the gladness of soul and body that Jesus brings to His church. Renewed cleansing, and fo-
cused determination lead to a great degree of divine joy--unknown by and unparalleled by anything in the world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God has made man's emptiness and misery, his low, lost, and ruined state into which he sank by the fall, an oc-
casion of the greater advancement of His own glory." --Jonathan Ed-
wards, in his sermon, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]

Tues., 2/21/12 Devotion (Lk. 7:48)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 7:48, where we read these words:

"Then He [Jesus] said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' "

There are no more blessed words spoken to the soul, by Christ, than these. This woman's life would never be the same again. She would never have the wrath of God abiding over her again; and her love for and devotion to the Lord would always be driven--not by works--but by this stupendously-wonderful fact (that she had been forgiven).

This woman would continue to sin every day for the rest of her life on earth; but she would never look on her sins in the same way. Instead of relishing them, she would disdain them--out of love for God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "According to the measure of your faith, so will the measure of your love be." --Thomas Vincent, in, "The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ"]