Thank you for your prayers. I am back home safe and sound. I had a spectacular time with my 7 other high school classmates – adventurous and very physically challenging hikes, unbelievably beautiful scenery, and wonderful fellowship. But, it is also great to be back refreshed, meditating and writing about God’s Word!
Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 8:16-24.
“16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; 19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, 20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.” 2 Corinthians 8:16-24.
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We have a God Who puts earnestness, love for others, wisdom, skill, gladness, diligence, readiness, and other blessed qualities into our hearts. We know this from God’s Word, and we can see proof of it in the lives of other saints, and we can boast about what God has done in others.
Exodus 31:6
“And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:”
“And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:”
Exodus 35:34
“He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”
“He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”
1 Kings 10:24
“All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.”
“All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.”
Ezra 7:27
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,”
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,”
Nehemiah 7:5
“Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:”
“Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:”
Psalm 4:7
“You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound.”
“You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound.”
Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Jeremiah 32:40
“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”
“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”
Ezekiel 36:26
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Hebrews 8:10
“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”
“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”
This past week, I had glimpses of wonderful qualities that God put in the hearts of my high school classmates. God put gladness into the heart of Dale, and he was constantly cheerful and chatty, encouraging us to continue and finish the long, difficult, and sometimes dangerous hikes. God put an ability to teach into the hearts of Lon and Roy, and they loved to tell stories and teach us so many things of what we saw and considered along the way. God put leadership and diligence into the heart of Harry, and he assembled us and carefully handled each detail of organization of the trip. God put fear of the Lord into Dave, and he was steadfast, keeping us on the trail, “not turning to the right or the left”. God put skill into Chuck, a builder by trade, and he gladly cooked every meal for us as well as take mission trips to build for others. God also put skill into Doug, a UPS driver by trade, and although he was not able to participate as much this trip, he was our skilled and careful driver on prior trips who made us feel safe.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 