Thurs., 6/30/22 Devotions (Ps. 124:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 124:8, where we read these words:

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

To have the help of God is a big deal. To have the Lord fighting for us is a great asset. After all, He "made heaven and earth.” Let us think about this: the godless have this powerful Deity as their enemy. As long as they remain in their sin, He is always set against them. Even as they live, the Lord is simply allowing them to heap up wrath, that will be unleashed on them in due time.

. . . But not so for the true and redeemed church of Christ. Regenerated be-lievers in Jesus are aided and supported in our struggle down here. Life is never easy, but victory is always certain, because Christ's church has a good Captain, who helps us. For this, let us be thankful, and call upon our kind and gracious God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ was made sin for saints, therefore their sin shall not hurt them.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]

Wed., 6/29/22 Devotion (Ps. 121:1-2)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 121:1 & 2, where these great words are found:

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

When the Old Testament church members looked upon the hills around Jeru-salem, the one that especially caught their eye was Mt. Zion, on which was built the temple. Beholding this sight would raise the faithful saint's spiritual eyes even higher, to heaven itself, where God dwells in unapproachable light. We New Covenant-era believers do the same thing. Having beheld with the eyes of faith The Christ and His New Jerusalem having come down from heaven, (Rev. 3:12)—we then immediately raise our hearts, prayers, and thoughts to the highest heaven, where Jesus is now permanently enthroned.

Do we need help today? Let us look to our Redeemer, by faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing within us that could justify, but something without us; not any righteousness inherent, but imputed. We may as well look for a star in the earth as for justification in our own righteous-ness.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Tues., 6/28/22 Devotion (Deut. 33:26-27a)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 33:26 & 27a, where we read these words:

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

What great love and provision the Lord God gives His beloved church! She is aided on every side; and she has God Himself, with all His "excellencies" and strength, to support her. This God is incomparable; and He is eternal. He is also active—seen in His riding the heavens, to help us.

May all the Lord's children draw encouragement from the fact that their Fath-er in heaven loves them so much. May they know the comforts that come from God's abiding with us here (in Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "One subtle artifice of Satan is to bait his hook with religion.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Great Gain of Godliness"]

Mon., 6/27/22 Devotion (Matt. 7:29)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 7:29, where we read these words:

" . . . for He [Jesus] taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

All truly-called church ministers of the gospel are commanded to preach and teach "with all authority," as per this verse above; (cf. also Titus 2:15). Christ and His pastors (elders) are the ones on the earth uniquely vested with the authority to teach the world the truth about the most important things—partic-ularly those things that relate to the gospel of grace.

The scribes were weak, vacillating, and tentative. Jesus was strong, certain, and sure. True Christians actually long for authoritative preaching; false Christians cannot stand it. In truth, it is to the advantage of all people that the gospel of Jesus’ grace goes forth clearly and boldly.

[Puritan quote of the day: "But yet the greater instruments the Lord raises up for His glory, the greater service He calls them unto, the greater things may we hope He intends for His church.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excel-lency of a Gracious Spirit"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 6/24-26/22 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! In order to help get us ready for church, here is Thomas Watson, from his book entitled, "The Ten Commandments.”

"Faith in Christ is acceptable to God because it is a self-denying grace; it makes a man go out of himself, renounce all self-righteousness, and wholly rely on Christ for justification. It is very humble, it confesses its own spiritual bankruptcy, and lives wholly upon Christ. As the bee gets sweetness from the flower, so faith gets all its strength and comfort from Christ.

"Faith is a grace that is acceptable to God, because by faith we present a righteousness to Him which best pleases Him: we bring the righteousness of Christ into court, which is called 'the righteousness of God,’ (2 Cor 5:21). . . . A believer may say, 'Lord, it is not the righteousness of Adam, or of the angels, but of Christ who is God-Man, that I bring before You.' The Lord can-not but smell a sweet savor in Christ's righteousness."

Thurs., 6/23/22 Devotion (Isa. 55:2b)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 55:2b, where we read these words:

" . . . Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."

One of *the* great glories of the gospel—and it is vividly demonstrated in Isa. 55—is this dimension of our need to simply come, take, and "eat" to our heart's content of all the grace of God in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gluttony is a sin; but it is *not* a sin to sate oneself on as much of Christ and His goodness as anyone wants to.

Therefore, let all people recognize that God is good; and that He has prepar-ed a great feast for those who would but come and avail themselves of it—without money, without works, without effort, and without law. The church cer-tainly serves a wonderful God. Let us enjoy Him wholeheartedly.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The . . . people of God are . . . of God's special ac-quaintance, and so they have peace, for they walk with God, and have com-munion with Him.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Tues., 6/21/22 Devotion (Deut. 26:11)

Today's encouragement comes from Deuteronomy 26:11, where we read this:

"So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you."

Do we understand that it is actually sinful for us not to be thankful for our tem-poral (this-world) blessings? Do we know that it is gross ingratitude to despise God's good gifts? Some people, imaging themselves to be too "spiritual" to appreciate anything temporal, look down their noses at the Lord's provisions to them.

God is not honored by thanklessness for "normal" gifts to us, (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-5). Those who love Jesus, His gospel, and His church, will also rejoice in every *other* sweet thing He sends down to us from heaven. Let us give God praise and thanks for *all* His good provision.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God rewards His subjects in this life. He gives them inward peace and joy; a bunch of grapes by the way; and oft-times rich-es and honor.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]