Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 18:17, which says this:
"The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him."
This verse reminds us that it is always prudent to check out both sides of a story, before drawing any conclusions. Tale-bearers, gossips, and slanderers can sound quite convincing, until the full picture comes into view. Our flesh nature is too inclined to hear only what it wants to hear; and sometimes we get humbled by the truth.
If we were to listen only to those who hate Christ, where would any of us be today? Thankfully, by God's grace, we have been able to hear the gospel preached, and discern the "rest of the story”—which renders Jesus lovely to us (in the church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is a sanctified use of all troubles to God's children.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Wed., 3/30/16 Devotion (Php. 4:6)
Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 4:6, where Paul wrote these words:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God . . . "
The reality is that every normal person living in a fallen world experiences anxiety—and this includes even the most mature and seasoned Christian churchmen. But there is this one antidote to *all* anxiety, and that is prayer unto the true God through Jesus Christ. There are no concerns or worries of God’s parishioners that are "off limits" to Him. And there is no alternative pro-vided by the Lord, as to how we are to handle our troubles, than that of bringing them to Him in prayer.
Therefore, let us avail ourselves of this most-valuable resource; and let us recognize that as we pray, we are drawing ever-closer to our Savior.
[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . It is a matter of conscience to make our lives as comfortable as [they] may be.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God . . . "
The reality is that every normal person living in a fallen world experiences anxiety—and this includes even the most mature and seasoned Christian churchmen. But there is this one antidote to *all* anxiety, and that is prayer unto the true God through Jesus Christ. There are no concerns or worries of God’s parishioners that are "off limits" to Him. And there is no alternative pro-vided by the Lord, as to how we are to handle our troubles, than that of bringing them to Him in prayer.
Therefore, let us avail ourselves of this most-valuable resource; and let us recognize that as we pray, we are drawing ever-closer to our Savior.
[Puritan quote of the day: " . . . It is a matter of conscience to make our lives as comfortable as [they] may be.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Tues., 3/29/16 Devotion (Prov. 16:20b)
Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 16:20b, where we read these words:
" . . . And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he."
Why is the person who trusts in the Lord happy? Because he or she has everything to gain in Jesus, and nothing of value to lose. This soul puts all his stock in Jesus; and he knows that this investment cannot fail. The Christian churchman who truly and savingly trusts in the Lord Jesus loses only his sin; but he gains the entire world God created for him.
Do we *really* want to be happy, (or, are we just pretending we want to be happy)? Most people seek to find their "happiness" in sin and misery. But if we are truly serious about our life's happiness—then we will gladly trust in Christ (for all things).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ has taken away the venom and sting of the saints' sufferings: there is no wrath in their cup. Our sufferings Christ can make sweet.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
" . . . And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he."
Why is the person who trusts in the Lord happy? Because he or she has everything to gain in Jesus, and nothing of value to lose. This soul puts all his stock in Jesus; and he knows that this investment cannot fail. The Christian churchman who truly and savingly trusts in the Lord Jesus loses only his sin; but he gains the entire world God created for him.
Do we *really* want to be happy, (or, are we just pretending we want to be happy)? Most people seek to find their "happiness" in sin and misery. But if we are truly serious about our life's happiness—then we will gladly trust in Christ (for all things).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ has taken away the venom and sting of the saints' sufferings: there is no wrath in their cup. Our sufferings Christ can make sweet.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
Monday, March 28, 2016
Mon., 3/28/16 Devotion (Php. 2:14)
Today's encouragement comes from Philippians 2:14, where Paul wrote these words:
"Do all things without complaining and disputing . . . "
Complaining (grumbling), and disputing (arguing) come naturally to us fallen children of Adam. Do any parents ever have to train their children to complain or dispute? It comes easily to all of us, in our sinful conditions.
But gospel grace in Jesus transforms us from being grumblers and arguers, to being helpful and thankful. Paul will go on, and say that the genuineness of our Christian testimonies are directly linked to the godly attitude we are to have when we do anything, (see vv. 15-16). Today, let us trust Christ to give us supernatural grace to be grateful, not disgruntled.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is not one of us who does not have many mercies if we could just see them. But, because we do not have all that we desire, we lose the comfort of that which we have.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
"Do all things without complaining and disputing . . . "
Complaining (grumbling), and disputing (arguing) come naturally to us fallen children of Adam. Do any parents ever have to train their children to complain or dispute? It comes easily to all of us, in our sinful conditions.
But gospel grace in Jesus transforms us from being grumblers and arguers, to being helpful and thankful. Paul will go on, and say that the genuineness of our Christian testimonies are directly linked to the godly attitude we are to have when we do anything, (see vv. 15-16). Today, let us trust Christ to give us supernatural grace to be grateful, not disgruntled.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is not one of us who does not have many mercies if we could just see them. But, because we do not have all that we desire, we lose the comfort of that which we have.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
Friday, March 25, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 3/25-27/16 Devotion
Wahoo—Sunday—even Easter Sunday—is *almost* here! In order to prepare us for church worship, here is the incomparable Thomas Watson, from his ex-cellent work, "Heaven Taken by Storm":
"The next duty wherein we must offer violence to ourselves, is the religious sanctifying of the Lord's day. That there should be a day of holy rest dedicat-ed to God appears from its institution. 'Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.' Our Christian Sabbath comes in the place of the Jewish Sabbath: it is called 'the Lord's day,' (Rev. 1.10)—from Christ the Author of it.
"Our Sabbath is altered by Christ's own appointment. He arose this day out of the grave, and appeared on it often to His disciples, (1 Cor. 16:1)—to intimate to them (says Athanasius) that He transferred the Sabbath to the Lord's day. And St. Augustine says that by Christ's rising on the first day of the week, it was consecrated to be the Christian Sabbath, in remembrance of His resur-rection.
"This day was anciently called 'dies lucis,' 'the day of light,' as Junius ob-serves. The other days of the week would be dark, were it not for the shining of the sun of righteousness on this day. This day has been called by the an-cients, 'regina dierum,' 'the queen of days.’
"The primitive church held this day in high veneration. It was a great badge of their religion; for when the question was asked, 'servasti dominicum?,' 'do you keep the Sabbath?'; the answer was, 'Christianus sum,' 'I am a Christian; I dare not omit the celebration of the Lord's day!' "
"The next duty wherein we must offer violence to ourselves, is the religious sanctifying of the Lord's day. That there should be a day of holy rest dedicat-ed to God appears from its institution. 'Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.' Our Christian Sabbath comes in the place of the Jewish Sabbath: it is called 'the Lord's day,' (Rev. 1.10)—from Christ the Author of it.
"Our Sabbath is altered by Christ's own appointment. He arose this day out of the grave, and appeared on it often to His disciples, (1 Cor. 16:1)—to intimate to them (says Athanasius) that He transferred the Sabbath to the Lord's day. And St. Augustine says that by Christ's rising on the first day of the week, it was consecrated to be the Christian Sabbath, in remembrance of His resur-rection.
"This day was anciently called 'dies lucis,' 'the day of light,' as Junius ob-serves. The other days of the week would be dark, were it not for the shining of the sun of righteousness on this day. This day has been called by the an-cients, 'regina dierum,' 'the queen of days.’
"The primitive church held this day in high veneration. It was a great badge of their religion; for when the question was asked, 'servasti dominicum?,' 'do you keep the Sabbath?'; the answer was, 'Christianus sum,' 'I am a Christian; I dare not omit the celebration of the Lord's day!' "
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Thurs., 3/24/16 Devotion (Jn. 14:27b)
Today's encouragement comes from John 14:27b, where we find the Redeemer saying this:
" . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
The most fearless people are those who are the most naturally timid and afraid. This seems odd, but it is true. The reason for this is because Christ in-stills confidence in those who—in themselves—would lack it the most. This boldness is a result of faith in Jesus. The believer says, "God commands me not to fear, therefore, I will trust in Christ, and be fearless in Him."
The apostles themselves were good examples of this. Some of them were ini-tially falsely self-confident (like Peter); but all of them were really fearful by nature. Only after the power of the Holy Spirit fell on them at Pentecost were they filled with so much divinely-inspired assurance, that nothing could stop them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offen-sive souls.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
" . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
The most fearless people are those who are the most naturally timid and afraid. This seems odd, but it is true. The reason for this is because Christ in-stills confidence in those who—in themselves—would lack it the most. This boldness is a result of faith in Jesus. The believer says, "God commands me not to fear, therefore, I will trust in Christ, and be fearless in Him."
The apostles themselves were good examples of this. Some of them were ini-tially falsely self-confident (like Peter); but all of them were really fearful by nature. Only after the power of the Holy Spirit fell on them at Pentecost were they filled with so much divinely-inspired assurance, that nothing could stop them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offen-sive souls.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wed., 3/23/16 Devotion (Jn. 13:35)
Today's encouragement comes from John 13:35, where our Lord Jesus said this:
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (ESV)
The distinguishing mark of the followers of Jesus is love; not knowledge, un-derstanding of doctrine, the skill to parse Greek words, or the ability to spell "presbyterian." The world (rightly) cares nothing about any of these things. God has so constituted human nature, that the only great magnet to the church is the love of the saints for one another, which flows from their undying affection for, and loyalty to their Redeemer, the Lord Jesus.
Let us abandon all the fleshly and failed means of "church growth"; and com-mit ourselves to the Messiah's simple formula: "Love one another, and all the world will know that you belong to Me."
[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man loves God and therefore delights to be in His presence; he loves God and therefore takes comfort in nothing with-out Him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (ESV)
The distinguishing mark of the followers of Jesus is love; not knowledge, un-derstanding of doctrine, the skill to parse Greek words, or the ability to spell "presbyterian." The world (rightly) cares nothing about any of these things. God has so constituted human nature, that the only great magnet to the church is the love of the saints for one another, which flows from their undying affection for, and loyalty to their Redeemer, the Lord Jesus.
Let us abandon all the fleshly and failed means of "church growth"; and com-mit ourselves to the Messiah's simple formula: "Love one another, and all the world will know that you belong to Me."
[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man loves God and therefore delights to be in His presence; he loves God and therefore takes comfort in nothing with-out Him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]
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