Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  Here is a link to that full Scripture –

 

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:7-10. 

 

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We may not have a comparable vision and revelation of heaven that Paul had, but we may still exalt ourselves.  We also may not have a comparable thorn in the flesh that Paul had, but we may experience weaknesses.  We can take warning that “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled”, and we can take comfort that “whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”  Matthew 23:12

 

 

Isaiah 42:8
“I am the LORD, that is My name;  I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

 

Isaiah 48:11
“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;  For how can My name be profaned?  And My glory I will not give to another.”

 

 

But, God will not tolerate any sharing of credit for man’s salvation.  That is why Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism is so important.  It humbly starts by recognizing man’s “Total Depravity” and total inability to contribute anything to his salvation.  This is the “T” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of salvation also known as the Five Points of Calvinism.  It proceeds then according to Scripture (and logically*) to give all credit to God for salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to finally “Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints”, which is the “U”, “L’, “I”, “P” of “TULIP”.  (*If man is truly dead in sin, then it is logical that man cannot contribute anything to his salvation.  His salvation is “unconditional”;  man cannot contribute any condition that would motivate God to elect him.)      

 

 

Psalm 10:17
“O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear”

 

Psalm 25:9
“He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.”

 

Psalm 34:2
“My soul will make its boast in the LORD;  The humble will hear it and rejoice.”

 

Psalm 37:11
“But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

 

Psalm 69:32
“The humble have seen it and are glad;  You who seek God, let your heart revive.”

 

Psalm 76:9
“When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth.  Selah.”

 

 

“⁵ Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
⁶ Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ To make them sit with princes,
With the princes of His people.
⁹ He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!”  Psalm 113:5-9.

 

 

Proverbs 11:2
“When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.”

 

Proverbs 16:19
“It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

 

Proverbs 29:23
“A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.”

 

Isaiah 2:11
“The proud look of man will be abased And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”

 

Isaiah 66:2
“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

 

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances;  Seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.

 

Matthew 18:4
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

 

 

“And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:  ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people:  swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week;  I pay tithes of all that I get.’   But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’  I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other;  for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 18:9-14.

 

James 4:10
“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

 

1 Peter 3:8
“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;”

 

1 Peter 5:5
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;  and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 

1 Peter 5:6
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,”