Fri.-Sabbath, 4/29-5/1/22 Devotion

Thank God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help prepare us for The Lord’s Day, here is Thomas Watson, from his, "All Things for Good” book. . . .

"Let us then ascribe the whole work of grace to the pleasure of God's will. God did not choose us because we were worthy, but by choosing us He makes us worthy. Proud men are apt to assume and arrogate too much to themselves, in being sharers with God. While many cry out against church sacrilege, they are in the meantime guilty of a far greater sacrilege, in robbing God of His glory, while they go to set the crown of salvation upon their own head. But we must resolve all into God's purpose. The signs of salvation are in the saints, but the cause of salvation is in God.

"If it be God's purpose that saves, then it is not free will. The Pelagians are strenuous asserters of free will. They tell us that a man has an innate power to effect his own conversion; but this text [Eph. 1:11] confutes it. Our calling is 'according to God's purpose.' The Scripture plucks up the root of free will. 'It is not of him that wills,' (Rom. 9:16). All depends upon the purpose of God. When the prisoner is brought before the judge, there is no saving him, unless the judge has a purpose to save him. God's purpose is His royal prerogative."

Thurs., 4/28/22 Devotion (Heb. 3:1-2)

Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 3:1 & 2, where we read these words:

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apo-stle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house."

Remaining faithful over the long haul is not an easy thing to do. Most people that venture off on their Christian journeys, eventually end up giving up the fight. The key to faithfulness is never found within us—but is always and only in the Object of the true disciple's love and devotion: The Lord Jesus Christ.

This was why Moses was able to persevere to the end—because he never lost sight of Christ. Is Jesus our "Apostle," the One who fulfilled the mission of our redemption? Is He our "High Priest," the One whose atonement cleanses us of all our sin? If so, then we will, by grace, remain faithful. But this is all of God's sovereign doing. He gets the glory.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The remembrance of past goodness is very helpful for present encouragement. This rule David followed in Ps. 42:6: 'O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore will I remember You from the land of Jordan.’ “ —Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Wed., 4/27/22 Devotion (Ps. 38:15a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 38:15a, where we read these few but important words of David:

"For in You, O LORD, I hope . . . "

Do we hope in the Lord? Hope implies need, vulnerability, danger, and antici-pation. And, if our hope is in the Lord Jesus, then this is evidence that we are perfectly secured in Him (by faith); and our sins, which are many, are not ac-counted to us.

Being united to Christ; and having the assurance of God’s love is nothing less than heaven on earth. Let us be faithful and fruitful churchmen; and enjoy Christ’s sweet peace and rest, as we hope in the Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "When enemies like lions have risen up against us to devour us, free grace has snatched us out of the mouth of these lions.”

—Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]

Tues., 4/26/22 Devotion (Ps. 37:4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 37:4, where David wrote this:

"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

The reason God can give anything and everything that is desired, by a hum-ble, Spirit-filled, loving, and faithful Christian churchman is because there is perfect harmony between God's will, and this believer's will. Those who de-light in Christ seek their fulfillment and their pleasure in Him alone. And be-cause they love God, they only want from Him those things that glorify the Lord, and build up Christ's church.

We will never delight in God so long as we love our sin. But, when we forsake our sin, and cleave to Christ—we never ever regret it. God will be no man's debtor; He will fill us with His delights. If we delight ourselves in Jesus, we may do whatever we want to—because what we want to do is to please God, since we love Him so much, (because He first loved us).

[Puritan quote of the day: "God's glory is much promoted by the preaching of the Word, which is His engine whereby He converts souls.” —Thomas Wat-son, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Mon., 4/25/22 Devotion (Ps. 36:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 36:8, where these great words are found:

"They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."

God is not against our pleasure—so long as we find it all in Christ. In fact, God is totally committed to our happiness. The true Christian must go through many trials in this life (to be sure); but this in no way diminishes the fact that he or she enjoys the greatest, and most satisfying delights (in this life). The professing Christian who always hangs the head, frowns, and is sullen in spirit is telling the world that he or she does not have a very good God.

When we fully avail ourselves of Jesus, and of all His provisions which He metes-out in and through His gospel and His church—we know everything of which David speaks (above).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Get contentment into the sling of your heart, and with this sacred stone you may both defy the world and conquer it.” —Thom-as Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 4/22-24/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. He is addressing God's Mercy in this section. . . .

"God's mercy is free. To claim merit is to destroy mercy. Nothing can deserve mercy, because we are polluted in our guilt; nor can we force God’s mercy. We may force God to punish us, but not to love us. 'I will love them freely,' (Hos. 14:4). Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace. Election is free: 'He has chosen us in [Christ], according to the good pleasure of His will,' (Eph. 1:4). Justification is free: 'Being justified freely by His grace,' (Rom. 3:24). Salvation is free: 'According to [God’s] mercy He saved us,' (Titus 3:5). If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, he would show none at all.

"God's mercy is an overflowing mercy; it is infinite. 'Plenteous in mercy, (Psa. 86:5). 'Rich in mercy,' (Eph. 2:4). 'Multitude of mercies,' (Psa. 51:1). The cup of wrath drips, but the fountain of mercy runs. The sun is not so full of light as God is of mercy. God has morning mercies. 'His mercies are new every mor-ning,' (Lam. 3:23). He has night mercies: 'In the night His song shall be with me,' (Psa. 13:8). God has mercies under heaven, which we taste; and in heaven, for which we hope."

Thurs., 4/21/22 Devotion (2 Tim. 4:5)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Timothy 4:5, where we read these words:

"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evan-gelist, fulfill your ministry."

Paul's exhortation to his fellow-comrade in the church's ministry is a straight-forward and difficult one. Timothy will need to be "watchful," or on-guard; and this in "all things." He will need to "endure afflictions," (or persevere through difficult trials). On top of this, Timothy is to be always mindful of his responsi-bility to "do the work of an evangelist." Finally, Paul would have his young protégé not fall short of his life-goal, but rather "fulfill [his] ministry."

How do any of us—be we of the clergy or the laity—succeed at the high and holy callings (and commands) that God gives us? By humble faith in our Ris-en Lord Jesus. There is no room for laxity or slothfulness. The sincere Chris-tian is on a mission; and his or her life is never without challenges and bles-sings (on faithfulness).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ does His church more good now that He is in heaven . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]