Weekly Newsletter
Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
Last week we began looking at J.C. Ryle’s “Seven Marks of a Right Heart Before God.” As a faithful pastor and preacher, Ryle lived from 1816-1900 and was known as a great evangelical bishop of England in the 19th century. His sermons and his books are laden with Scripture, and pierce through the haze of compromise, hypocrisy, and shallowness. From his book, Old Paths, Ryle challenged his readers to invite God’s Word to do its supernatural work in their hearts.
Let me again encourage you to not just read them, but carefully examine the state of your own heart before God as you prayerfully study each of the Scriptures listed. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov.4:23; see Matt.12:35).
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #44):
Deuteronomy 7-9; 2Chronicles 29-32; Psalm 125-127; Ecclesiastes 3-4; Zeph.; Acts 11-12; James 4-5
Recommended Reading:
“A Heart for God” by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Last week we began looking at J.C. Ryle’s “Seven Marks of a Right Heart Before God.” As a faithful pastor and preacher, Ryle lived from 1816-1900 and was known as a great evangelical bishop of England in the 19th century. His sermons and his books are laden with Scripture, and pierce through the haze of compromise, hypocrisy, and shallowness. From his book, Old Paths, Ryle challenged his readers to invite God’s Word to do its supernatural work in their hearts.
Let me again encourage you to not just read them, but carefully examine the state of your own heart before God as you prayerfully study each of the Scriptures listed. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov.4:23; see Matt.12:35).
1) A right heart is a new heart.
2) A right heart is a broken and contrite heart.
3) A right heart is a heart which believes on Christ alone for salvation, and in which Christ dwells by faith (Rom. 10:10; Eph. 3:17). It rests all its hopes of pardon and eternal life on Christ’s atonement, Christ’s mediation, and Christ’s intercession. It is sprinkled in Christ’s blood from an evil conscience (Heb. 10:22). It turns to Christ as the compass-needle turns to the north. It looks to Christ for daily peace, mercy, and grace – as the sunflower looks to the sun. It feeds on Christ for its daily sustenance, as Israel fed on the manna in the wilderness. It sees in Christ a special fitness to supply all its needs and requirements. It leans on Him, hangs on Him, builds on Him, cleaves to Him, as its physician, guardian, husband, and friend.
4) A right heart is a purified heart (Acts 15:9; Matt. 5:8). It loves holiness and hates sin. It strives daily to cleanse itself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1). It abhors that which is evil, and cleaves to that which is good. It delights in the law of God, and has that law engraved on it, that it may not forget it (Psalm 119:11). It longs to keep the law more perfectly, and takes pleasure in those who love the law. It loves God and people. Its affections are set on things above. It never feels so light and happy as when it is most holy; and it looks forward to heaven with joy, as the place where perfect holiness will at length be attained.
5) A right heart is a praying heart. It has within it “the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15). Its daily feeling is, “Your face, Lord, will I seek” (Psalm 27:8). It is drawn by a habitual inclination to speak to God about spiritual things – weakly, feebly, and imperfectly perhaps – but speak it must. It finds it necessary to pour out itself before God, as before a friend, and to spread before Him all its needs and desires. It tells Him all its secrets. It keeps back nothing from Him. You might as well try to persuade a person to live without breathing, as to persuade the possessor of a right heart to live without praying.
(continued, Lord willing, next week)
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #44):
Deuteronomy 7-9; 2Chronicles 29-32; Psalm 125-127; Ecclesiastes 3-4; Zeph.; Acts 11-12; James 4-5
Recommended Reading:
“A Heart for God” by Sinclair B. Ferguson
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