Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁷  “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  Luke 18:15-17. 

We are therefore eager to learn how a child receives the kingdom of God.

The first thing we notice is that “they were bringing even their babies to Him”.  This speaks of the irresistible grace that we see in John 6:44:  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;  and I will raise him up on the last day.”  Just as the parents were irresistably bringing their babies to Jesus, the Father irresistably draws His elect to Jesus.

Consider that the children did not come to Jesus through their wisdom or through their “free will choice”.  Instead, the children came to Jesus, just because their parents brought them.

This is “irresistible grace” which is the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a Reformed Doctrine. 

This past Saturday, seven former NFL football stars were inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Although most tried to be humble and give credit to their teammates, they entered the Hall of Fame, because they earned it by their works. 

With the kingdom of God, we enter it as a child.  We may prefer to enter the kingdom of God like these seven former NFL football stars based on our own works (and strong drive or willpower) and likewise get the glory, but we enter the kingdom of God just because we were brought into the kingdom of God by our Heavenly Father.     

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.   

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.  (Emphasis added.)