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, His Gospel, 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 morality that causes God to pass over us, and spare us from judgment, hell, and damna-tion. Instead, it is only the blood righteousness of Jesus, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (Jn. 1:29b). This righteousness of Christ is legally 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"]
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Mon., 2/27/17 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 congregations today, (as there always has been, to one degree or another). But none of this befuddlement is from God. The Lord has laid-out enough content doctrine, theology, know-ledge, and understanding in the Scriptures for faithful pastors and elders to quite sufficiently lead the flocks of God into fields of clarity, plenty, and peace—by always focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ.
The problem is not with God—it is with sinful men who craft their own gos-pels, and who spurn the only true one. Let us, by grace, sincerely cling to Jesus, and enjoy by faith the benefits of life and order in the covenant of His true 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"]
"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 congregations today, (as there always has been, to one degree or another). But none of this befuddlement is from God. The Lord has laid-out enough content doctrine, theology, know-ledge, and understanding in the Scriptures for faithful pastors and elders to quite sufficiently lead the flocks of God into fields of clarity, plenty, and peace—by always focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ.
The problem is not with God—it is with sinful men who craft their own gos-pels, and who spurn the only true one. Let us, by grace, sincerely cling to Jesus, and enjoy by faith the benefits of life and order in the covenant of His true 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"]
Friday, February 24, 2017
Fri.-Sabbath, 2/24-26/17 Devotion
Praise God that it is almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church. Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. Here, he is talk-ing about "Peace." . . .
"True peace flows from union with Christ. The graft must first be inoculated 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, (Jn. 16:33).
"True peace flows from subjection to Christ. Where Christ gives peace, there He sets up His government in the heart. 'Of His government 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 subjection 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 con-vinces 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 Ki. 19:12). You who never had any legal bruisings, may sus-pect your peace. God pours the golden oil of peace into broken hearts."
"True peace flows from union with Christ. The graft must first be inoculated 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, (Jn. 16:33).
"True peace flows from subjection to Christ. Where Christ gives peace, there He sets up His government in the heart. 'Of His government 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 subjection 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 con-vinces 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 Ki. 19:12). You who never had any legal bruisings, may sus-pect your peace. God pours the golden oil of peace into broken hearts."
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Thurs., 2/23/17 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 welcome them—("just as Elijah did”—v. 54). But the Messiah reminded 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 sinners, 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 murderers, profaners, and blasphemers.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men"]
"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 welcome them—("just as Elijah did”—v. 54). But the Messiah reminded 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 sinners, 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 murderers, profaners, and blasphemers.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men"]
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Wed., 2/22/17 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 vil-lage, 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 sufferings and afflic-tions, and go through the furnace of purification (repentance)—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 focused de-termination lead to a great degree of divine joy—unknown by and unparal-leled 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 occasion of the greater advancement of His own glory.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]
"Now it came to pass, afterward, that [Jesus] went through every city and vil-lage, 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 sufferings and afflic-tions, and go through the furnace of purification (repentance)—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 focused de-termination lead to a great degree of divine joy—unknown by and unparal-leled 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 occasion of the greater advancement of His own glory.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "God Glorified in Man's Dependence"]
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Tues., 2/21/17 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-won-derful fact (that Christ had forgiven her all her sins).
This woman would continue to sin every day for the rest of her life on earth (just like we do); but she would never look on her sins in the same way. In-stead 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"]
"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-won-derful fact (that Christ had forgiven her all her sins).
This woman would continue to sin every day for the rest of her life on earth (just like we do); but she would never look on her sins in the same way. In-stead 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"]
Monday, February 20, 2017
Mon., 2/20/17 Devotion (Lk. 6:19)
Today's encouragement comes from Luke 6:19, where we read these words:
"And the whole multitude sought to touch Him [Jesus], for power went out from Him and healed them all."
Jesus Christ is unquestionably and undoubtedly, by far and away, the most amazing Person alive today, or who has ever lived. As Christian churchmen, our challenge is not so much to get people interested in Him, as much as it is to simply help them get a "glimpse" of Him. Once this happens, by divine grace, they are "hooked," (as it were).
For all of us: let us understand that we must have "contact" with Jesus today, if we are to have any life at all; and the healing of our souls, minds, hearts, and spirits.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Have you not thought sometimes, at [hearing] a sermon, the minister has spoken to none but you, and that some or other has told the minister what you have said, what you have done, what you have thought?" —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]
"And the whole multitude sought to touch Him [Jesus], for power went out from Him and healed them all."
Jesus Christ is unquestionably and undoubtedly, by far and away, the most amazing Person alive today, or who has ever lived. As Christian churchmen, our challenge is not so much to get people interested in Him, as much as it is to simply help them get a "glimpse" of Him. Once this happens, by divine grace, they are "hooked," (as it were).
For all of us: let us understand that we must have "contact" with Jesus today, if we are to have any life at all; and the healing of our souls, minds, hearts, and spirits.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Have you not thought sometimes, at [hearing] a sermon, the minister has spoken to none but you, and that some or other has told the minister what you have said, what you have done, what you have thought?" —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]
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