Today’s devotion is Luke 8:18.
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.
See also the following verses which are very similar. The fact that this message is repeated so often in Scripture should indeed make us “take care how we listen”.
Matthew 13:12
“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
Matthew 25:29
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
Mark 4:25
“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
Luke 19:26
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
If you have God’s grace, then more shall be given to you. If you do not have God’s grace, then even what you think may be a blessing will be taken away from you.
Proverbs 11:23
“The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.”
“The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.”
I. If you have God’s grace, then more shall be given to you.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3.
Proverbs 10:22
“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.”
“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.”
“But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us–by me and Silvanus and Timothy–was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” 2 Corinthians 1:18-19.
II. If you do not have God’s grace, then even what you think may be a blessing will be taken away from you.
“8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger;
The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
And fire will devour them.
10 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
11 Though they intended evil against You
And devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12 For You will make them turn their back;
You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.” Psalm 21:8-13.
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger;
The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
And fire will devour them.
10 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
11 Though they intended evil against You
And devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12 For You will make them turn their back;
You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.” Psalm 21:8-13.
Nahum 1:2
“A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.”
“A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.”
Nahum 1:6
“Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire And the rocks are broken up by Him.”
“Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire And the rocks are broken up by Him.”
“But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site, And will pursue His enemies into darkness.” Nahum 1:8.
Romans 1:18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”
“Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” Psalm 73:18-19.
You cast them down to destruction.
How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” Psalm 73:18-19.
In conclusion, there is no common grace. Only the elect, the righteous, those who have Christ as their Savior, have grace. Only they are blessed. Only they receive blessings.
The wicked do receive good gifts, like rain and sunshine, but for them, it is not a blessing. Rather, it is a curse. As Psalm Chapter 73 describes, the wicked are set up for destruction. They are swept away. For a good link to articles on this subject – Click here: Pamphlets and Articles
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 