Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 1:12-14.

 

“¹² For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.  ¹³ For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;  ¹⁴ just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.”  2 Corinthians 1:12-14. 

 

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Some preachers and teachers like to show off their own knowledge to make themselves look smart.  Some preachers and teachers like to focus on themselves to make themselves look pious.  Some preachers and teachers like to use self-depreciating humor to make themselves look cute.  There are many other examples.  But, what all these preachers and teachers have in common is their insincerity and lack of holiness.

 

Paul examines himself and his partners in the gospel and declares his proud confidence that they have conducted themselves “in holiness and godly sincerity“.  Paul is not boasting to make himself look good, because he quickly follows that he and his partners in the gospel have conducted themselves “not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God”  And, he makes these statements so that the Corinthians will be proud of them and thankful to God.

 

Next, we can learn a lesson from verse 13:  “For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;”.  Our sermons and teachings should be understandable.  It is not the length of the sermon (or the amount covered) that matters most.  The listener should be able to understand and remember and summarize the sermon and teaching.  The sermon and teaching should feed and strengthen the listener throughout the week. 

 

I certainly recognize that there are huge differences between sermons and Sunday School Classes (or Bible studies) and daily devotions such as I write.  There are different goals.  So, for whatever it is worth, when I write my daily devotions, I try to do the following, although not always.  First, I pick as small section of Scripture that I believe the reader will actually read and somewhat remember.  Second, I try to determine the most important point of that Scripture, and I limit myself to making one or two or three points that the reader will remember.  Third, I try to pick a good title that will both best present the subject matter of the devotion and that will also interest the reader.  Fourth, I try to use short sentences and short tight paragraphs to help the devotion be more understandable.  Fifth, I don’t worry about presenting everything or dealing with every possible objection.  Sixth, I try to focus on God and what He has done.  Seventh, I try to include worthwhile Scripture elsewhere that I remember or can obtain by a keyword search, so that I can provide the meat for the devotion.

 

 

Proverbs 10:11
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

 

Proverbs 13:14
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.”

 

Proverbs 16:22
“Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.”

 

Proverbs 18:4
“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”

 

John 7:38
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”