Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“¹ For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;  ² for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.  ³ But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared;  ⁴ otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence.  ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.”  2 Corinthians 9:1-5.

 

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When we read the Scripture for today, we can be tempted to take our eyes off God and try to focus on ourselves and try to perfect ourselves.  The Scripture (immediately following today’s Scripture) combats that temptation by describing what God has prepared and done for us, and so, as always, it is important to consider the context of any Scripture.  God willing, we will get to that Scripture tomorrow or the next day.  But, for today, I want to be more general and consider other Scripture. 

 

First, let us remember Who God is.  We have a God Who delights in “lovingkindness, justice and righteousness” and Who sovereignly and actively exercises them on earth.  God does not just wait with arms folded waiting to see what we will do.  “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

 

We have a God Who prepared us like a potter prepares his pottery.  “And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,”  Romans 9:23  “Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 5:5

                                 

We have a God Who even prepared our works.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

                             

We cannot even fathom all that God has prepared for us.  “but just as it is written, “ THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

 

And, so we can read today’s Scripture with faith and comfort that God makes us willing and ready for whatever He wants us to do.  Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 1 states:

 

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

 

In conclusion, these Scriptures and Reformed Confession are a very immediate help to me as I face today (Monday) going back to work after my vacation and to others as they also go back to work after a weekend.  God has prepared us for whatever we may face today.