Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:20-21.

 

“²⁰  Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 

                                           

 ²¹  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’  For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  Luke 17:20-21.

                                     

 

“First, the kingdom of heaven started with a very small beginning, kind of like it was hidden like a mustard seed in the earth or leaven buried within the flour.  Second, the kingdom of heaven grew, expanded, or permeated to powerfully be and affect a very large amount.  …  The powerful size or the powerful permeation of the kingdom of heaven should be encouraging to us.  Some wrongly wring their hands in worry as if the kingdom of heaven is weak and impotent.  This belief and attitude dishonors God.  But, we see here that the kingdom of heaven is large and glorious like a tree and that it powerfully permeates (like leaven) and affects everything:  “… the word of truth, the gospel  … has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing …”.  Colossians 1:5-6.  (Parenthetical addition added today to this prior devotion).

 

 

And, what is His purpose?  Is His purpose to build some earthly utopia?  Is that the kingdom of God?  No! 

 

Although we appreciate the protection and comfort of whatever such earthly civilization can bring, it is only like a husk protecting the all important ear of corn. 

 

 

^“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”  

 

Article 7. Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written: “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.

In conclusion, through God’s grace in remembering and applying all these verses and Reformed confession, we can now better understand Jesus’ words:  “For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  What an encouragement that God is at work in our midst to accomplish His purpose!