Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³²  “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;  and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

 ³³  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”  Luke 1:31-33.

In my devotion yesterday, I gave my testimony about attending, being a member, and even a lay leader, of a wide range of different Protestant churches.  I stated:  “At first, I did not realize that Reformed doctrine would not necessarily be preached in all Christian Protestant churches.  I thought that the problem was just with a particular minister …”. 

Even though one would expect that there would be a wide range of different doctrine taught in these different churches, there was a common theme that just did not feel right to me.  There was a focus on man and what man should do and the alleged free will of man. 

It was subtle.  Not one of these churches would deny that God was sovereign and that God was in control.  Even yesterday, I drove past a church that I know is very Arminian, and there is a sign outside which reads:  “Don’t worry.  God is in control.”  These churches paid “lip-service” to God’s sovereignty, but that “lip-service” made the overall sermons and teachings all that more deceptive and disturbing.  I learned that the conclusion or “crescendo” of the sermon revealed the heart of such doctrine, and the conclusion and “crescendo” was always:  “Now, this is what we need to do for the Lord.”  

In sharp contrast to the man-centered doctrine in these churches, I read the simple, undiluted, powerful and God-centered message of this Scripture today:  “… the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;   and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”  Luke 1:32-33.  Later, we read in verse 37:  “For nothing will be impossible with God.”  

Doesn’t the following Scripture ring true?!  Doesn’t the following Scripture likewise focus on the sovereignty of God?  Doesn’t the following Scripture likewise prophesy on the reign of Christ?!  Doesn’t the following Scripture prophesy on how man tries to resist (but without success) the sovereignty of God?!  

^“2  The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
    ³  “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!”
    ⁴  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them.
    ⁵  Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying,
    ⁶  “But as for Me, I have installed My King
         Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
    ⁷  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    ⁸  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    ⁹  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
    ¹⁰  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth.
    ¹¹  Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling.
    ¹²  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
         For His wrath may soon be kindled
         How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:2-12.