Today's encouragement comes from the words of Psalm 39:7, which say this:
"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You."
In vv. 4-6, David had surveyed his life, and determined that there was not really that much to it, especially from a timeframe perspective. Now, it is as if he says to God, "In light of the brevity of my existence, what does it all amount to? What am I here for?" And the answer, by grace, is, "I am here for You, Lord. You are the only One I hope in."
What do we "wait for"? If it is for anything less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself we are wasting our lives, and our days. Let us put our hope in Him. Let us "wait" for Him.
[Puritan quote of the day: "True [gospel] mourning begins in the love of God, and ends in the hatred of sin.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Beatitudes"]
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Wed., 8/30/17 Devotion (1 Sam. 23:14)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Samuel 23:14, where we read these words:
"And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand."
The devil, and his human minions seek the Lord's true churchmen "every day"; but thankfully, our Father does not allow us to be delivered into their hands. There are times when it is appropriate for us to hide in God's "strong-holds"; and there are other times when we have to go on the offensive, and put the devil to flight (cf. Jas. 4:7).
In any case, there is never a permanent reprieve from this spiritual dynamic down here in this world. All the time, we believers are to be watchful and dili-gent.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The fragrance of the graces of God's Spirit in His people, which is delightful to God and His saints, puts wicked men into a rage.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand."
The devil, and his human minions seek the Lord's true churchmen "every day"; but thankfully, our Father does not allow us to be delivered into their hands. There are times when it is appropriate for us to hide in God's "strong-holds"; and there are other times when we have to go on the offensive, and put the devil to flight (cf. Jas. 4:7).
In any case, there is never a permanent reprieve from this spiritual dynamic down here in this world. All the time, we believers are to be watchful and dili-gent.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The fragrance of the graces of God's Spirit in His people, which is delightful to God and His saints, puts wicked men into a rage.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Tues., 8/29/17 Devotion (1 Sam. 22:23)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Samuel 22:23, where we read these words (of David):
"Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."
The Lord Jesus might say these very same words to all His sincere church-men. We live in a dangerous world—surrounded by many perils and fears. But there is no need to be discouraged, nor afraid, so long as we are with the King. He protects His Own.
As we stray from the Redeemer, we increase our uncertainly and confusion. As we abide with Christ, by faith, we enjoy His sweet presence, and we ex-perience many seasons of comfort and joy, (though sometimes with hardship and difficulty).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Godly sorrow shows itself to be ingenuous [real/
sincere] because when a Christian knows that he is out of the gun-shot of hell and shall never be damned, yet still he grieves for sinning against that free grace which has pardoned him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Re-pentance"]
"Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."
The Lord Jesus might say these very same words to all His sincere church-men. We live in a dangerous world—surrounded by many perils and fears. But there is no need to be discouraged, nor afraid, so long as we are with the King. He protects His Own.
As we stray from the Redeemer, we increase our uncertainly and confusion. As we abide with Christ, by faith, we enjoy His sweet presence, and we ex-perience many seasons of comfort and joy, (though sometimes with hardship and difficulty).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Godly sorrow shows itself to be ingenuous [real/
sincere] because when a Christian knows that he is out of the gun-shot of hell and shall never be damned, yet still he grieves for sinning against that free grace which has pardoned him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Re-pentance"]
Mon., 8/28/17 Devotion (Ps. 36:8)
Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 36:8, where we read these words:
"They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."
Such is the state (above) of all God's sincere Christian churchmen—who rest all their hopes for redemption and forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ (alone). They are given a lot: abundant satisfaction from God's fullness of His house (church). On top of this, they drink daily of the Water of Life (Christ). He is God's "River" of "pleasures."
Is the faithful life easy? No. Are there struggles that accrue to it, that even the unregenerate do not have to deal with? Yes. But, in the full scope of things, the true believer has a very wonderful life and inheritance (in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us assure ourselves that God's grace, even in this imperfect state, is stronger than man's free will in the state of original per-fection.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
"They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."
Such is the state (above) of all God's sincere Christian churchmen—who rest all their hopes for redemption and forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ (alone). They are given a lot: abundant satisfaction from God's fullness of His house (church). On top of this, they drink daily of the Water of Life (Christ). He is God's "River" of "pleasures."
Is the faithful life easy? No. Are there struggles that accrue to it, that even the unregenerate do not have to deal with? Yes. But, in the full scope of things, the true believer has a very wonderful life and inheritance (in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let us assure ourselves that God's grace, even in this imperfect state, is stronger than man's free will in the state of original per-fection.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
Friday, August 25, 2017
Fri.-Sabbath, 8/25-27/17 Devotion
Wahoo—it is almost Sunday again!! We *get* to go back to church! Here is Richard Sibbes, from his amazing "The Bruised Reed" book. . . .
"SIMPLICITY AND HUMILITY
"Preachers should take heed likewise that they hide not their meaning in dark speeches, speaking in the clouds. Truth fears nothing so much as conceal-ment, and desires nothing so much as clearly to be laid open to the view of all. When it is most unadorned, it is most lovely and powerful. Our blessed Saviour, as He took our nature upon Him, so He took upon Him our familiar manner of speech, which was part of His voluntary abasement [condescen-sion]. Paul was a profound man, yet he became as a nurse to the weaker sort (1 Thess. 2:7).
"That spirit of mercy that was in Christ should move His servants to be con-tent to abase themselves for the good of the lowest. What made the kingdom of heaven 'suffer violence' (Matt. 11:12) after John the Baptist's time, but that comfortable truths were laid open with such plainness and evidence that the people were so affected with them as to offer a holy violence to obtain them?
"Christ chose those to preach mercy who had felt most mercy, as Peter and Paul, that they might be examples of what they taught. Paul became all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22), stooping unto them for their good. Christ came down from heaven and emptied Himself of majesty in tender love to souls. Shall we not come down from our high conceits to do any poor soul good? Shall man be proud after God has been humble? We see the ministers of Satan turn themselves into all shapes to 'make one proselyte' (Matt. 23:15). We see am-bitious men study accommodation of themselves to the humors of those by whom they hope to be raised, and shall not we study application of ourselves to Christ, by whom we hope to be advanced, nay, are already sitting with Him in heavenly places? After we are gained to Christ ourselves, we should labor to gain others to Christ. Holy ambition and covetousness will move us to put upon ourselves the disposition of Christ. But we must put off ourselves first."
"SIMPLICITY AND HUMILITY
"Preachers should take heed likewise that they hide not their meaning in dark speeches, speaking in the clouds. Truth fears nothing so much as conceal-ment, and desires nothing so much as clearly to be laid open to the view of all. When it is most unadorned, it is most lovely and powerful. Our blessed Saviour, as He took our nature upon Him, so He took upon Him our familiar manner of speech, which was part of His voluntary abasement [condescen-sion]. Paul was a profound man, yet he became as a nurse to the weaker sort (1 Thess. 2:7).
"That spirit of mercy that was in Christ should move His servants to be con-tent to abase themselves for the good of the lowest. What made the kingdom of heaven 'suffer violence' (Matt. 11:12) after John the Baptist's time, but that comfortable truths were laid open with such plainness and evidence that the people were so affected with them as to offer a holy violence to obtain them?
"Christ chose those to preach mercy who had felt most mercy, as Peter and Paul, that they might be examples of what they taught. Paul became all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22), stooping unto them for their good. Christ came down from heaven and emptied Himself of majesty in tender love to souls. Shall we not come down from our high conceits to do any poor soul good? Shall man be proud after God has been humble? We see the ministers of Satan turn themselves into all shapes to 'make one proselyte' (Matt. 23:15). We see am-bitious men study accommodation of themselves to the humors of those by whom they hope to be raised, and shall not we study application of ourselves to Christ, by whom we hope to be advanced, nay, are already sitting with Him in heavenly places? After we are gained to Christ ourselves, we should labor to gain others to Christ. Holy ambition and covetousness will move us to put upon ourselves the disposition of Christ. But we must put off ourselves first."
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Thurs., 8/24/17 Devotion (Ps. 32:1-2)
Today's encouragement comes from the great words of David, as found in Psalm 32:1 & 2:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Bles-sed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."
Are our sins forgiven in the blood atonement of Christ? If so, then we are truly blessed. The forgiven soul is a cleansed soul. It is not an experientially perf-ect soul—it still sins a lot, all the time. But the forgiven soul is a sincere soul. It no longer loves sin; in fact, it hates it. This is what is meant by the spirit having no deceit (above).
No amount of religion, devotion, activity, speech, knowledge, or spirituality can replace or make up for the pardoned soul. As we are forgiven in Jesus' blood, let us rejoice greatly in Him.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The beauties and excellencies of the Son of God will afford to all the saints inconceivable and eternal delights.” —Isaac Am-brose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Bles-sed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."
Are our sins forgiven in the blood atonement of Christ? If so, then we are truly blessed. The forgiven soul is a cleansed soul. It is not an experientially perf-ect soul—it still sins a lot, all the time. But the forgiven soul is a sincere soul. It no longer loves sin; in fact, it hates it. This is what is meant by the spirit having no deceit (above).
No amount of religion, devotion, activity, speech, knowledge, or spirituality can replace or make up for the pardoned soul. As we are forgiven in Jesus' blood, let us rejoice greatly in Him.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The beauties and excellencies of the Son of God will afford to all the saints inconceivable and eternal delights.” —Isaac Am-brose, in, "The Christian Warrior"]
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Wed., 8/23/17 Devotion (Ps. 31:14-15a)
Today's encouragement comes from David's Holy Spirit-inspired words of Psalm 31:14 & 15a:
"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand . . . "
Are we confused today about how to pray, or how to live? If so, here is a good and simple place to start. God is pleased with faith, no matter what the rest of our lives lack. He also likes to be "owned" by His faithful churchmen—so we ought to pray, "You are *my* God." If we are concerned about our future, or that of those we care for, it is helpful to recognize that our times are in God's hands.
Life is not all that complicated. Let us unclutter our souls; and love Christ to-day.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The gospel stands in no need of external evidenc-es of its truth and divinity. It carries its own light and evidence with it.” —Jon-athan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand . . . "
Are we confused today about how to pray, or how to live? If so, here is a good and simple place to start. God is pleased with faith, no matter what the rest of our lives lack. He also likes to be "owned" by His faithful churchmen—so we ought to pray, "You are *my* God." If we are concerned about our future, or that of those we care for, it is helpful to recognize that our times are in God's hands.
Life is not all that complicated. Let us unclutter our souls; and love Christ to-day.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The gospel stands in no need of external evidenc-es of its truth and divinity. It carries its own light and evidence with it.” —Jon-athan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]
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