Happy Reformation Day!
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 3:14, where we read these words:
"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them . . . "
As we come to a clearer and clearer understanding of the gospel--we must "continue" in it (that greater light). The blessed knowledge that regenerated Christians are truly righteous in God's sight--not because of our own alleged righteousness--but because of the imputed right-eousness of Christ (received by faith alone), becomes for us a great comfort.
Let us never move away from our lifeline, our happiness, and our power supply. Let us "continue" in the gospel, knowing that we received it (ul-tiimately) by divine revelation from God Himself.
[Puritan quote of the day: "For want of hearts full of love [for God, men have heads full of error." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wed., 10/30/13 Devotion (2 Tim. 2:1)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 2:1, where we read these words:
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
This is a precious verse. What are we to be "strong" in? The "grace that is in Christ Jesus." What is this grace? It is sufficient grace--that is more than able to meet our specific, everyday and eternal needs. How are we "strong" in this grace? By faith. When we believe God, that He will answer our prayers, and help us in our needs--it greatly honors Him.
The thing to avoid, is the idea that we need to "get our acts together" *before* we can be strong in Christ's grace. The truth is that this simple faith, whereby we appropriate to our hearts the Lord Jesus Himself *causes* us to "get our acts together." Are we weak today? Let us put our faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "For from our neglect of prayer comes that deadness of spirit, that worldly-mindedness and unaptness to pray, to hear the Word, and to keep the Sabbath." --John Preston, in his ser-mon entitled, "The Saint's Daily Exercise"]
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
This is a precious verse. What are we to be "strong" in? The "grace that is in Christ Jesus." What is this grace? It is sufficient grace--that is more than able to meet our specific, everyday and eternal needs. How are we "strong" in this grace? By faith. When we believe God, that He will answer our prayers, and help us in our needs--it greatly honors Him.
The thing to avoid, is the idea that we need to "get our acts together" *before* we can be strong in Christ's grace. The truth is that this simple faith, whereby we appropriate to our hearts the Lord Jesus Himself *causes* us to "get our acts together." Are we weak today? Let us put our faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "For from our neglect of prayer comes that deadness of spirit, that worldly-mindedness and unaptness to pray, to hear the Word, and to keep the Sabbath." --John Preston, in his ser-mon entitled, "The Saint's Daily Exercise"]
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tues., 10/29/13 Devotion (2 Tim. 1:7)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 1:7, where Paul wrote these words:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
To fear from time to time in a fallen world is natural and to be expect-ed. But God does not give His children a "*spirit* of fear." Instead, His Spirit working in us effects energy, grace, and sanity. None of this is to deny that even the best of churchmen fail to live up to our potential and our resources (in Christ); but the point is that we should be more and more *governed* by the Spirit that is from God.
Practically-speaking, this will mean that instead of cowering before fearful specters of the future, we begin to face them head-on, in ad-vance--believing that our God is going before us, to give us the victory (in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "If God thought it fit that Adam in innocence should not be alone, but should have a helper, much more now in a state of defection since the fall do we need others' help as well as our own." --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
To fear from time to time in a fallen world is natural and to be expect-ed. But God does not give His children a "*spirit* of fear." Instead, His Spirit working in us effects energy, grace, and sanity. None of this is to deny that even the best of churchmen fail to live up to our potential and our resources (in Christ); but the point is that we should be more and more *governed* by the Spirit that is from God.
Practically-speaking, this will mean that instead of cowering before fearful specters of the future, we begin to face them head-on, in ad-vance--believing that our God is going before us, to give us the victory (in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "If God thought it fit that Adam in innocence should not be alone, but should have a helper, much more now in a state of defection since the fall do we need others' help as well as our own." --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]
Monday, October 28, 2013
Mon., 10/28/13 Devotion (Ps. 119:86c)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 119:86c, where we read these few words:
" . . . Help me!"
Sometimes the best prayers are the simplest ones. God is not con-cerned about flowery oratory in prayer. He would rather hear a few syllables of gut-wrenching honesty, than a whole bunch of religious babble (or proud utterances).
Do we need help today? Let us ask Christ for it. Let us be as specific as we can be, for our own soul's well-being; but let us not for a moment think that the Lord cannot figure out what we are trying to say--espe-cially if we are having a hard time getting the words out. Prayer is im-portant--but it is not a magical genie coming out of a bottle, and God does not hold us to any particular formulas.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is no such thing as any inordinate-ness in holy affections; there is no such thing as excess in longings after the discoveries of the beauty of Christ Jesus . . . Men may be as covetous as they please (if I may so speak) after spiritual riches . . . " --Jonathan Edwards, in one of his sermons]
" . . . Help me!"
Sometimes the best prayers are the simplest ones. God is not con-cerned about flowery oratory in prayer. He would rather hear a few syllables of gut-wrenching honesty, than a whole bunch of religious babble (or proud utterances).
Do we need help today? Let us ask Christ for it. Let us be as specific as we can be, for our own soul's well-being; but let us not for a moment think that the Lord cannot figure out what we are trying to say--espe-cially if we are having a hard time getting the words out. Prayer is im-portant--but it is not a magical genie coming out of a bottle, and God does not hold us to any particular formulas.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is no such thing as any inordinate-ness in holy affections; there is no such thing as excess in longings after the discoveries of the beauty of Christ Jesus . . . Men may be as covetous as they please (if I may so speak) after spiritual riches . . . " --Jonathan Edwards, in one of his sermons]
Friday, October 25, 2013
Fri.-Sabbath, 10/25-27/13 Devotion
Yippee--it's almost Sunday. In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his elucidation of the second petition ("Thy Kingdom Come") of The Lord's Prayer (which is also the title of his book):
"Here is comfort to those who are the subjects of the King of heaven. God will put forth all the royal power for their help and comfort. (1) The King of heaven will plead their cause. 'I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you,' (Jer 51:36). (2) He will protect his people. He sets an invisible guard about them. 'I will be unto her a wall of fire round about,' (Zech 2:5). A wall, that is defensive; a wall of fire, that is offen-sive. (3) When it may be for the good of His people, he will raise up deliverance to them. 'The Lord saved them by a great deliverance,' (1 Chron 11:14). God reigning as a king, can save any way; even by con-temptible means, as the blowing of the trumpets, and blazing of lamps, (Judges 7:20). By contrary means; as when He made the sea a wall to Israel, and the waters were a means to keep them from drowning. The fish's belly was a ship in which Jonah sailed safe to shore. God will never want ways of saving His people; rather than fail, their very ene-mies shall do his work, (2 Chron 20:23). He sets Ammon and Mount Seir one against another. As God will deliver His people from temporal danger, so from spiritual danger, as from sin, and from hell. 'Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come,' (1 Thess 1:10)."
"Here is comfort to those who are the subjects of the King of heaven. God will put forth all the royal power for their help and comfort. (1) The King of heaven will plead their cause. 'I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you,' (Jer 51:36). (2) He will protect his people. He sets an invisible guard about them. 'I will be unto her a wall of fire round about,' (Zech 2:5). A wall, that is defensive; a wall of fire, that is offen-sive. (3) When it may be for the good of His people, he will raise up deliverance to them. 'The Lord saved them by a great deliverance,' (1 Chron 11:14). God reigning as a king, can save any way; even by con-temptible means, as the blowing of the trumpets, and blazing of lamps, (Judges 7:20). By contrary means; as when He made the sea a wall to Israel, and the waters were a means to keep them from drowning. The fish's belly was a ship in which Jonah sailed safe to shore. God will never want ways of saving His people; rather than fail, their very ene-mies shall do his work, (2 Chron 20:23). He sets Ammon and Mount Seir one against another. As God will deliver His people from temporal danger, so from spiritual danger, as from sin, and from hell. 'Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come,' (1 Thess 1:10)."
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thurs., 10/24/13 Devotion (Ps. 118:5)
Today's encouragement comes from Ps. 118:5, where we read these words:
"I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place."
One of the reasons God allows His beloved churchmen to find them-selves in trouble, is so that they will call upon Him in prayer. If we never had any needs, we would quickly forget about God, and live as if He did not exist. When it pleases the Lord, He sets us in a "broad place"--a situation of relative calm and comfort.
Let us not despair in distress. Instead, we should call on the Lord. He is very pleased to rescue His children who acknowledge that He (God) alone can really help them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Despair is an exceedingly vile and con-temptible sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gra-cious Spirit"]
"I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place."
One of the reasons God allows His beloved churchmen to find them-selves in trouble, is so that they will call upon Him in prayer. If we never had any needs, we would quickly forget about God, and live as if He did not exist. When it pleases the Lord, He sets us in a "broad place"--a situation of relative calm and comfort.
Let us not despair in distress. Instead, we should call on the Lord. He is very pleased to rescue His children who acknowledge that He (God) alone can really help them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Despair is an exceedingly vile and con-temptible sin." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gra-cious Spirit"]
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Wed., 10/23/13 Devotion (Ps. 116:1)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 116:1, where we read these words:
"I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplica-tions."
Among many other reasons, here is a good one for us to love God: He hears the prayers of His faithful churchmen (saints). What prayers does God "hear," in the covenantal sense? (After all, He knows the things religionists all over the world are babbling out all the time.) God hears prayers that are made through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But even these prayers should be sincere and earnest. God hears prayers that come from the heart. He answers those people who *real-ly* want to be heard. God does not hear prayers offered from self-,
law-, or works-righteousness; but He does hear those that are "soak-ed," as it were, in the blood righteousness of Jesus.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them." --Jon-athan Edwards, in, "A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections"]
"I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplica-tions."
Among many other reasons, here is a good one for us to love God: He hears the prayers of His faithful churchmen (saints). What prayers does God "hear," in the covenantal sense? (After all, He knows the things religionists all over the world are babbling out all the time.) God hears prayers that are made through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But even these prayers should be sincere and earnest. God hears prayers that come from the heart. He answers those people who *real-ly* want to be heard. God does not hear prayers offered from self-,
law-, or works-righteousness; but He does hear those that are "soak-ed," as it were, in the blood righteousness of Jesus.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them." --Jon-athan Edwards, in, "A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections"]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
