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. In what are we to be "strong"? 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 to be "strong" in this grace? By faith. When we believe God, that He will answer our prayers offered through Jesus, and help us in our needs—it greatly honors Him.
The thing to avoid, is the idea that we need to do something *before* we can be strong in Christ's grace. The truth is that strength comes as we appropri-ate to our hearts the Lord Jesus Himself by faith. Are we weak today? Let us put our faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "For from our neglect of prayer comes that dead-ness of spirit, that worldly-mindedness and unaptness to pray, to hear the Word, and to keep the Sabbath.” —John Preston, in his sermon entitled, "The Saint's Daily Exercise"]
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Wed., 10/31/18 Devotion (2 Ki. 13:23)
Happy Reformation Day!
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 13:23, where we read these words:
"But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regard-ed them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence."
This is a sweet verse (above). The reason the redeemed church is secure, and is not subject to the judgment we all deserve, is because of God's cove-nant with us in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father beholds the blood of Jesus’ atonement of His elect church, and He is satisfied that His righteous wrath against our sin is fully and justly expended (on Christ, His beloved Son).
Let us in the church never abuse or take for granted this great and unspeak-able privilege. Instead, let us make sure that our hearts are full of love for God—blessing and thanking Him for His kindness and generosity to us (in Christ).
[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"]
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Kings 13:23, where we read these words:
"But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regard-ed them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence."
This is a sweet verse (above). The reason the redeemed church is secure, and is not subject to the judgment we all deserve, is because of God's cove-nant with us in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father beholds the blood of Jesus’ atonement of His elect church, and He is satisfied that His righteous wrath against our sin is fully and justly expended (on Christ, His beloved Son).
Let us in the church never abuse or take for granted this great and unspeak-able privilege. Instead, let us make sure that our hearts are full of love for God—blessing and thanking Him for His kindness and generosity to us (in Christ).
[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"]
Monday, October 29, 2018
Mon., 10/29/18 Devotion (2 Tim. 1:6-7)
Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 1:6 & 7, where we read these words of Paul, to the minister Timothy:
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The good spiritual gifts God gives us, His ministers and parishioners, can sometimes settle, and become somewhat "dormant." When this happens, we tend to lose our edge, our courage, and our fortitude. Just as sometimes we have to "stoke" the coals in a fireplace to revive the flame—so we must do the same thing with the gifts resident in our souls.
Let us remember this: in a fallen world even good things tend to gravitate downward. It is our responsibility to refresh God's graces in us in Jesus, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day, (and then throughout the week).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Observe the happy condition of every child of God. All things work for his good, the best and worst things.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The good spiritual gifts God gives us, His ministers and parishioners, can sometimes settle, and become somewhat "dormant." When this happens, we tend to lose our edge, our courage, and our fortitude. Just as sometimes we have to "stoke" the coals in a fireplace to revive the flame—so we must do the same thing with the gifts resident in our souls.
Let us remember this: in a fallen world even good things tend to gravitate downward. It is our responsibility to refresh God's graces in us in Jesus, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day, (and then throughout the week).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Observe the happy condition of every child of God. All things work for his good, the best and worst things.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]
Friday, October 26, 2018
Fri.-Sabbath, 10/26-28/18 Devotion
Sunday IS coming! Praise God! Here is some brilliant genius from Thomas Watson, as it is found in his profound work, entitled, "The Art of Divine Con-tentment." Pastor Watson is dealing with Paul's assertion, as it is found in Php. 4:11:
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty. It shows how hard it was for the apostle to come to contentment of mind. It was not bred in nature. Paul did not come naturally by it; but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear. It was taught him by the Spirit.
"Whence our doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The busi-ness of [true] religion is not so easy as most imagine. 'I have learned,' says Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58:3)—and therefore facile [easy]. It comes as water out of a spring. It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken without storm; but matters of religion [viz. true Christianity] must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned; but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learn-ed.' "
"This word, 'I have learned,' is a word that imports difficulty. It shows how hard it was for the apostle to come to contentment of mind. It was not bred in nature. Paul did not come naturally by it; but he had learned it. It cost him many a prayer and tear. It was taught him by the Spirit.
"Whence our doctrine: GOOD THINGS ARE HARD TO COME BY. The busi-ness of [true] religion is not so easy as most imagine. 'I have learned,' says Paul. Indeed you need not teach a man to sin; this is natural, (Ps. 58:3)—and therefore facile [easy]. It comes as water out of a spring. It is an easy thing to be wicked. Hell will be taken without storm; but matters of religion [viz. true Christianity] must be learned. To cut the flesh is easy, but to prick a vein, and not to cut an artery, is hard. The trade of sin needs not to be learned; but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry: 'I have learn-ed.' "
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Thurs., 10/25/18 Devotion (Dan. 10:19a)
Today's encouragement comes from Daniel 10:19a, where we read these words:
"And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' "
Are we servants of the Lord? Do we desire to put our lives at His feet every-day? If so, let us be encouraged by these words (above). God tenderly loves His ministers and His laymen who are called by His Name. Daniel, who was being addressed in the verses above, had been very weak and heavy-heart-ed. These words encouraged him, and strengthened him.
One touch from Christ—one word from His mouth—is enough to overcome whatever weariness or exhaustion we feel. Let us know that God loves His churchmen more than we could ever know.
[Puritan quote of the day: "However rugged or hard our path in following the Lord may seem to the flesh . . . yet where there is a spiritual eye, the way of holiness appears exceedingly lovely and beautiful.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
"And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' "
Are we servants of the Lord? Do we desire to put our lives at His feet every-day? If so, let us be encouraged by these words (above). God tenderly loves His ministers and His laymen who are called by His Name. Daniel, who was being addressed in the verses above, had been very weak and heavy-heart-ed. These words encouraged him, and strengthened him.
One touch from Christ—one word from His mouth—is enough to overcome whatever weariness or exhaustion we feel. Let us know that God loves His churchmen more than we could ever know.
[Puritan quote of the day: "However rugged or hard our path in following the Lord may seem to the flesh . . . yet where there is a spiritual eye, the way of holiness appears exceedingly lovely and beautiful.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Wed., 10/24/18 Devotion (Dan. 9:18b)
Today's encouragement comes from Daniel 9:18b, where Daniel prays these words:
" . . . For we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."
If we had to approach God, and present our petitions to Him based on our righteous deeds, we would never come to the Lord, ever. Besides that, we would have no basis for our prayers, because we do not *have* any righteous deeds. Do we wish to compare ourselves to Daniel, and imagine we are "bet-ter" than he was? I think not.
We come to God on the perfect merits of *Christ’s* righteousness, which is imputed to the church believers, by sovereign grace. This is the ground on which we may rightly approach God. The Lord will hear the prayers of those who come to Him on this gospel basis (alone). He disregards all other peti-tions.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Hell did not know what it did when it crucified Christ; death, with all its armies, was put to death with Him.” —Richard Al-leine, in, "Heaven Opened"]
" . . . For we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."
If we had to approach God, and present our petitions to Him based on our righteous deeds, we would never come to the Lord, ever. Besides that, we would have no basis for our prayers, because we do not *have* any righteous deeds. Do we wish to compare ourselves to Daniel, and imagine we are "bet-ter" than he was? I think not.
We come to God on the perfect merits of *Christ’s* righteousness, which is imputed to the church believers, by sovereign grace. This is the ground on which we may rightly approach God. The Lord will hear the prayers of those who come to Him on this gospel basis (alone). He disregards all other peti-tions.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Hell did not know what it did when it crucified Christ; death, with all its armies, was put to death with Him.” —Richard Al-leine, in, "Heaven Opened"]
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Tues., 10/23/18 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 supplications."
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 religious people all over the world say all the time.) God hears prayers that are made in the Name of and 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 people who *really* want to be heard. God never refuses anyone who asks for His very best. Any that request Jesus as their all-in-all, will be given Him.
[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 af-fections that there can be no true religion without them.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in, "A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections"]
"I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications."
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 religious people all over the world say all the time.) God hears prayers that are made in the Name of and 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 people who *really* want to be heard. God never refuses anyone who asks for His very best. Any that request Jesus as their all-in-all, will be given Him.
[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 af-fections that there can be no true religion without them.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in, "A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections"]
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