Yippee! Sunday is approaching! As we prepare for the Lord's Day, here is some encouragement from Thomas Watson’s, "A Body of Divinity" book:
"We glorify God, by praising him. Doxology, or praise, is a God-exalting work. Ps. 1:23: ‘Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.’ The Hebrew word 'Bara,' to create, and 'Barak,' to praise, are little different, because the end of creation is to praise God. David was called the sweet singer of Israel, and his praising God was called glorifying God. Ps. 86:12: ‘I will praise You, O Lord my God, and I will glorify Your name.’
"Though nothing can add to God’s essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others. When we praise God, we spread His fame and renown; we display the trophies of His excellency. In this manner the angels glorify Him; they are the choristers of heaven, and do trumpet forth His praise. Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels. Believers are called ‘temples of God,’ (1 Cor. 3:16). When our tongues praise, then the organs in God’s spiritual temple are sounding."
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Thurs., 1/30/14 Devotion (Esth. 7:10)
Today's encouragement comes from Esther 7:10, where we read these words:
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided."
Our Lord Jesus was hung on a cross, paying for the sins of all God's elect church. The cross (death and hell) was what *we* deserved for our sins. The perfect and pristine Son of God took our place on the cross (even as Haman died where he had designed the gallows for Mordecai). Through the Messi-ah's death, "The King's [God's] wrath subsided” totally against us, the regen-erate church.
The redemptive benefits of Jesus' sacrifice of His life on the cross only affect those who are atoned for by Him. In this sense, it is believers *especially* who put Jesus on the cross--because He died for *our* sins (and not for the reprobate). Let us marvel at God's grace and love to us, in Christ!
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is it to enjoy good health, a brave estate, and not to enjoy God?" --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided."
Our Lord Jesus was hung on a cross, paying for the sins of all God's elect church. The cross (death and hell) was what *we* deserved for our sins. The perfect and pristine Son of God took our place on the cross (even as Haman died where he had designed the gallows for Mordecai). Through the Messi-ah's death, "The King's [God's] wrath subsided” totally against us, the regen-erate church.
The redemptive benefits of Jesus' sacrifice of His life on the cross only affect those who are atoned for by Him. In this sense, it is believers *especially* who put Jesus on the cross--because He died for *our* sins (and not for the reprobate). Let us marvel at God's grace and love to us, in Christ!
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is it to enjoy good health, a brave estate, and not to enjoy God?" --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Wed., 1/29/14 Devotion (Gen. 30:2b)
Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 30:2b, which says this:
" . . . And [Jacob] said, 'Am I in the place of God . . . ?' "
Whenever anyone fails to look to Christ for the fullest degree of life and satis-faction, the inevitable consequence is the "deification of man." This is a very common form of idolatry. The simple fact is that no human being (who is not divine) can fully satisfy us. This would be true, even if this (non-divine) person was without sin.
Jacob could not give Rachel what she wanted (in the Genesis context above). Only God could do that. Let us be careful not to ascribe to anybody what only belongs to Christ alone: namely, the ability to make us supremely happy, con-tent, full, and free.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us labor to cherish union and hate division."
--Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
" . . . And [Jacob] said, 'Am I in the place of God . . . ?' "
Whenever anyone fails to look to Christ for the fullest degree of life and satis-faction, the inevitable consequence is the "deification of man." This is a very common form of idolatry. The simple fact is that no human being (who is not divine) can fully satisfy us. This would be true, even if this (non-divine) person was without sin.
Jacob could not give Rachel what she wanted (in the Genesis context above). Only God could do that. Let us be careful not to ascribe to anybody what only belongs to Christ alone: namely, the ability to make us supremely happy, con-tent, full, and free.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us labor to cherish union and hate division."
--Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tues., 1/28/14 Devotion (Esth. 5:2a)
Today's encouragement comes from Esther 5:2a, which says this:
"And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand." (ESV)
When God sees the church, the bride of Christ, approach the throne of grace in and through Jesus Christ alone, He is pleased to hold out the golden scepter of His love, mercy, and grace. All of this is because Jesus shed His precious blood for His people.
We all need to approach the throne of God today. We may not come there empty-handed. Instead, we have to bring with us, in the arms of our gospel faith, the Savior of our souls, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29). No other offering will be accept-ed.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A child of God keeps two books always by him: one to write his sins in, so that he may be humble; the other to write his mercies in, so that he may be thankful." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
"And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand." (ESV)
When God sees the church, the bride of Christ, approach the throne of grace in and through Jesus Christ alone, He is pleased to hold out the golden scepter of His love, mercy, and grace. All of this is because Jesus shed His precious blood for His people.
We all need to approach the throne of God today. We may not come there empty-handed. Instead, we have to bring with us, in the arms of our gospel faith, the Savior of our souls, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29). No other offering will be accept-ed.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A child of God keeps two books always by him: one to write his sins in, so that he may be humble; the other to write his mercies in, so that he may be thankful." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
Monday, January 27, 2014
Mon., 1/27/14 Devotion (Gen. 28:12)
Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 28:12, where we read these words:
"Then he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."
In Jacob's dream, notice where the ladder is "set up." It is not set up in heaven, but on the earth. This is intriguing, because sometimes we mistakenly separate heaven and earth, and imagine that they are radi-cally "divided" from one another. The actual truth is that they are *unit-ed* in the "Ladder," the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is this an encouragement for us who are alive "down here" today? Because it reminds us that our lives here are as full and rich as the lives of the saints above (in the triumphant church). They have Jesus; we have Jesus. Heaven is where Jesus is. The closer we are to Him in this world, the closer we are to heaven (in its essence).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let me not deny myself comfort and God glory both at once." --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
"Then he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."
In Jacob's dream, notice where the ladder is "set up." It is not set up in heaven, but on the earth. This is intriguing, because sometimes we mistakenly separate heaven and earth, and imagine that they are radi-cally "divided" from one another. The actual truth is that they are *unit-ed* in the "Ladder," the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is this an encouragement for us who are alive "down here" today? Because it reminds us that our lives here are as full and rich as the lives of the saints above (in the triumphant church). They have Jesus; we have Jesus. Heaven is where Jesus is. The closer we are to Him in this world, the closer we are to heaven (in its essence).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let me not deny myself comfort and God glory both at once." --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
Friday, January 24, 2014
Fri.-Sabbath, 1/24-26/14 Devotion
Yippee--it's almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from "All Things for Good," in order to help get us ready for Sabbath worship of the Tri-une God:
"Here is a sovereign elixir of unspeakable comfort to those who are the called of God. Their salvation rests upon God's purpose. 'The founda-tion of God stands sure, having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity,' (2 Tim. 2:19).
"Our graces are imperfect, our comforts ebb and flow, but God's foun-dation stands sure. They who are built upon this rock of God's eternal purpose, need not fear falling away; neither the power of man, nor the violence of temptation, shall ever be able to overturn them."
"Here is a sovereign elixir of unspeakable comfort to those who are the called of God. Their salvation rests upon God's purpose. 'The founda-tion of God stands sure, having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity,' (2 Tim. 2:19).
"Our graces are imperfect, our comforts ebb and flow, but God's foun-dation stands sure. They who are built upon this rock of God's eternal purpose, need not fear falling away; neither the power of man, nor the violence of temptation, shall ever be able to overturn them."
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Thurs., 1/23/14 Devotion (Gen. 24:3a)
Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 24:3a, where we read these words:
"And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth . . . "
I like this phrase: "The God of heaven and the God of the earth." Let us focus on the "earth" part for a moment. Are we ever tempted to think that God runs heaven; but that the devil, or maybe sinners them-selves own the earth? If we are inclined toward that error, we need to remedy that with the Bible's own teaching. The full truth is that God is the Supreme Governor of the earth, (as well as heaven).
The Lord put earth under the church's feet; and we are His vice-re-gents, to rule and tend it. But, in the exclusive sense, the Lord Himself is the "God of the earth." Let us be thankful for this; and commit our-selves to serving Him well down here.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Whoever is set up on earth, they are set up by our Lord. 'By Me,' says He, 'kings reign, and princes decree jus-tice.' " --John Bunyan, in "All Loves Excelling"]
"And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth . . . "
I like this phrase: "The God of heaven and the God of the earth." Let us focus on the "earth" part for a moment. Are we ever tempted to think that God runs heaven; but that the devil, or maybe sinners them-selves own the earth? If we are inclined toward that error, we need to remedy that with the Bible's own teaching. The full truth is that God is the Supreme Governor of the earth, (as well as heaven).
The Lord put earth under the church's feet; and we are His vice-re-gents, to rule and tend it. But, in the exclusive sense, the Lord Himself is the "God of the earth." Let us be thankful for this; and commit our-selves to serving Him well down here.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Whoever is set up on earth, they are set up by our Lord. 'By Me,' says He, 'kings reign, and princes decree jus-tice.' " --John Bunyan, in "All Loves Excelling"]
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