Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 
      “Glory to God in the highest,
       And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:10-14.  (Emphasis added.) 

The title of this devotion is “Love, Joy, and Peace”.  You can see the joy and peace in verses 10 and 14.  The love is in John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (Emphasis added.)

I think that sometimes we are be so intent on maintaining that God does not love everyone, although it is true although it is true that God does not love everyone, that we fail to sufficiently appreciate God’s love for us, His elect. 

I think that sometimes we are so intent on maintaining that God does not show grace and favor to everyone, although it is true that God does not show grace and favor to everyone, that we fail to sufficiently appreciate God’s grace and favor on us, His elect.

I think that sometimes we are so intent on maintaining that God does not give real joy and peace to everyone, although it is true that God does not give real joy and peace to everyone, that we fail to sufficiently appreciate the real joy and peace that God gives to us, His elect. 

We know the Scripture of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem so well that sometimes we read it as if our eyes gloss over the words such that we fail to sufficiently appreciate this love, joy, and peace.

We would do well today to meditate on this love, joy, and peace and remember that it is for us, the elect.  Most of all, we appreciate the love, joy, and peace of the salvation of our souls.

I have said before that he who comes to God and has faith “must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

Do we have the faith of a child at Christmas who sincerely and wholeheartedly believes that his father will give him good Christmas gifts?

Do we reveal our joy or suppress it?

And yet, our minds are not set on the Cadillac nor set on the vacation or retirement.  We may appreciate these things, and we often do get to enjoy those good things whether we own them or not* (see postscript below), but our mind is set on things above.  “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Colossians 3:2-3. 

Our love is in the Lord.  “… the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:5. 

Our joy is in the Lord.  “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;  And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11

Our peace is in the Lord.  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

In other words, someone may look at our situation and not comprehend why we have such peace, love, and joy, but we do have it.  The outward physical facts of our situation may not warrant such love, joy, and peace, but we have it, and we show it.  The Holy Spirit within us produces the fruit of “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

* Post-Script – I also think that we fail to fully appreciate good things that we get to enjoy, but we do not own them. 

                            

Do we truly need to own the Cadillac?   We don’t need to own the Cadillac to enjoy a ride in the Cadillac.  

 

Do we truly enjoy a vacation in someone else’s vacation home?  We don’t need to own the vacation home to be a guest and enjoy it.  We don’t need to even be a guest in the vacation house to enjoy the view provided by public parks and views. 

                                      

It is not the intent of this devotion to neglect our responsibility to realize and enjoy the good physical things that God has given us.  Sometimes, if not most times, we get to enjoy those things as a non-owner. 

 

Lack of ownership is not all bad, because those “non-owned” good physical things are likely to be newer and fresher and more enjoyable to us than they are to the owner who is used to them and we do not have the responsibility to maintain those things.