Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“Question 1.   What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”  (Emphasis added). 

I belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. 

My devotion for today included I Corinthians 6:19-20:  “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  (Emphasis added). 

I belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. 

Please note from Question 1 of the Heidelberg Cathechism that belonging to Christ is our only comfort in life and death.  Our comfort is not our free-will.  Our comfort is not our ability to resist the power of the devil.  Our comfort is not our ability to be obedient and serve God.  Our comfort is not our ability to care and provide for ourselves.  Our comfort is not even that we are somehow worthy in ourselves of Christ’s love.

Our only comfort in life and death is that we have a faithful Savior to Whom we belong Who “makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him”, Who “assures me of eternal life”, Who “delivered me from all the power of the devil”, Who “hath fully satisfied for all my sins”, and Who “so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head”. 

It is a simple truth.  It is a beautiful truth.  But, it has many glorious consequences which we will discover each day, standing in awe and adoring our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.  I belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.