Fri.-Sabbath, 12/29-31/23 Devotion

Happy New Year, everyone!

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 Command-

ments.” . . .

"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 indigence [poverty], and lives wholly upon Christ. . . .

"Faith is a grace acceptable to God, because by faith we present a righte-ousness 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). To bring Christ's righteousness, is to bring Benjamin with us. 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 cannot but smell a sweet savor in Christ's righteousness."

Thurs., 12/28/23 Devotion (Rev. 19:6b)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 19:6b, where we read these words:

"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

Are we not glad that this statement above is true—today? It does not say, "The Lord *will* reign someday”; or, “Christ's reign means that everything goes according to our desires and without a hitch." The sovereign rule of our Messiah—between His resurrection and the great Judgment Day—is a do-minion from the midst of a redeemed church, which (in its militant state) finds itself in a fallen world.

Let us not be too moved by troubles, trials, tribulations, wars and rumors of wars; or by anything else, be it good or bad. Over all these things our triune Lord God Omnipotent reigns.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You have a good God, a good Christ, and a good gospel.” —Obadiah Sedgwick, in, "The Anatomy of Secret Sins"]

Wed., 12/27/23 Devotion (Zech. 14:8-9)

Today's encouragement comes from Zechariah 14:8 & 9, where we read these words:

"And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—'The LORD is one,' And His name one.”

This day *has* occurred, as Jesus inaugurated it in His first Advent, and cul-minated it in His resurrection, and the pouring out of His Spirit on His church at Pentecost. Now, the whole earth: east and west, north and south, are all fed by Christ from heaven, as He brokers His blessings through His church on earth.

The “oneness" of God was amplified in Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, of John, ch. 17, (cf. v. 11, for an example). The believing church is made covenantally "one" with the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. For these unspeakable blessings let us give thanks to the Lord.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing that we do or can do, nothing that angels do or can do for us, that can reconcile us to God; but we are reconcil-ed to God in Christ.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Reconciliation"]

Tues., 12/26/23 Devotion (2 Chron. 29:5b)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 29:5b, where we read these words:

" . . . Sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place."

Chapter 29 of 2 Chronicles gives us in the faithful church a good model for the restoration of the world, following years of apostasy and sin. The doors of the church are to be repaired and opened first; then, the ministers are gather-ed and consecrated to the Lord; and finally, the people come, contribute, and worship (according to God's own design).

But one of the first necessities is the carrying out of the "rubbish from the holy place," (see above). We have the privilege and responsibility of thoroughly ridding the church and her worship of all the man-made clutter that has de-prived the God of heaven of His rightful due, and sinners of a clear view of Jesus. But before we can take the garbage out of the sanctuary, we must be cleansed in our own hearts, through faith in the purifying blood of Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Tell me, saints, is it not a more sweet, comfortable, and delightful thing to look more upon one another's graces than upon one another's infirmities?” —Thomas Brooks, in, "United we Stand"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 12/22-24/23 Devotion

Merry Christmas. everyone!

Here is the devotion. . . .

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Aug-ustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

"Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keep-ing watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood be-fore them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were great-ly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'

"So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a man-ger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorify-ing and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." (Luke 2:1-20)

Thurs., 12/21/23 Devotion (Jn. 11:26b)

Today's encouragement comes from the few words of John 11:26b, where we read this:

" . . . Do you believe this?"

Our Lord Jesus asked this question (above), of Martha, the sister of Lazarus. Christ is asking her if she believes a body of doctrine that He had just taught her—regarding Himself (Jesus), the veracity (power) of faith, and the resur-rection of the dead.

Such is the nature of all good doctrine, and of the churchman's belief in it: when rightly-construed it (good doctrine) always directs the believer to the Person of the God/Man Jesus Christ. The difference between a regenerated Christian and the devil himself, is not that we believe different things about historical facts—but that the true saint's faith resides ultimately in the Person and atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer (Jesus).

[Puritan quote of the day: "A man by faith may come into the presence of God with open mouth and speak all his mind unto God.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]

Wed., 12/20/23 Devotion (2 Chron. 24:18a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 24:18a, where we read these words:

"Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols . . . "

This text (above) pretty well sums-up the religious life of all professing Chris-tians. So long as we stay close to the Lord, and hence find ourselves in His "house," we are fine, safe, and secure. But just as soon as we abandon the Lord, and leave His "house," we end up worshipping wood, rocks, sticks, dirt, and dung.

What a contrast: on one hand, we have communion with the God who creat-ed all things, and has re-created His church saints into the image of Jesus; and on the other hand, we end up bowing down to things infinitely below us. Let all of us recognize the key and critical importance of staying in God's "house," the holy church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As there was but one ark to save the world from drowning, so there is but one Jesus to save sinners from damning.” —Thom-as Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]