Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 

^“who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14 

 

^“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.”  Titus 3:1.

 

^“This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.”  Titus 3:8. 

 

I have a German Short-Haired Pointer Dog named Sam.  That dog, Sam, was “born to run”.  When Sam runs, it looks to me like he is smiling.  It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so zealous to run.

 

We too were “born to run”, so to speak.  There are good deeds that we were born to do.  ^“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.  Each of us have different good works that we were born to do.   

 

When I walk out of my bedroom in the morning, I will bring out either one of two athletic shoes:  one is for the gym and the other is for a walk around the park in which I will take Sam.  Sam sits right in front of my bedroom door and is entirely ready for me to come out of that door.  If I bring out the gym shoes, he immediately knows and walks away, very slowly and very disappointed, to his bed.  However, if I bring out the “walking” shoes, he immediately gets so excited.  He runs around in circles and leads me to the leash.  It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so ready to go on a walk.

 

We too are ready for every good deed.  We look for opportunities to do those good deeds.  When I read my daily devotion, I think:  “Is there anything in here about which I should write?”  I have my daily devotion in the morning, so there is time to write. 

 

So, I start my walk with Sam.  Sam first bolts down the driveway as if he is going to take off without me, but he immediately turns around on a dime and runs to me as if he is thinking:  “Are you coming?  Are you coming?”  Sam does this about five or so times until we are past the driveway and on the street at which point Sam knows that he is definitely on his walk.  Sam is careful to make sure that he is going on that walk.   It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so careful to go on a walk.   

 

We too are careful to engage in good deeds.  My best friend Harry met a small young girl without legs whom he taught in Sunday School.  He got to meet her family who adopted her, and he got their permission to take her and her brother “on walks” in or around the dunes of Lake Michigan.  He would carry her on his back.  When I complemented Harry on this good deed, he shrugged and said:  “She never complains.  She is always so cheerful.  In any event, I just got to do it.  I do it for myself as much as I do it for her.”  Harry is careful to engage in good deeds.  

 

Trust Christ who makes you zealous, ready, and careful for every good deed.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.   

 

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” ”  Isaiah 52:7.

                                                                     

Isn’t that what we are zealous, ready, and careful to do?! 

Yes!  We bring good news.  We announce peace.  We bring good news of happiness.  We announce salvation.  We say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

It is a beautiful thing to watch.