Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Colossians 3:16.

 

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16.

 

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Some wrongly think that if they only sit through a sermon on Sunday that they received the means of grace.  But, there is so much more!

 

The word of Christ richly dwells within us when we eagerly with delight both hear and read God’s word and carefully meditate on it AND correctly understand it AND believe it with a steadfast heart AND effectively do it AND wisely teach it and admonish others AND sing with thankfulness in our hearts to God.  In summary, when we do so, we are like the blessed man in Psalm 1. 

 

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

 

This delight in the word of Christ and this singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God comes from a correct understanding of it.  There are those who hear and read God’s word and focus on themselves and what they should do.  That false understanding does not bring true delight nor thankfulness.  However, there are others who hear and read God’s word and focus on God and what He has done.  That correct understanding does bring true delight and thankfulness. 

 

Arminianism (and other false man-centered doctrine) focuses on alleged man’s free will and what man should do.  It’s hope and trust is in man to perfect himself by the Law and contribute something (whether it be works or faith) to his own salvation.  It falsely believes that God loves everybody and that God will gladly accept this man’s contribution as sufficient credit for salvation.  But, it also falsely believes that man can fall from grace, and thus it lives its life in fear.  

 

Calvinism a/k/a Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and what God has done.  It’s hope and trust is only in God, because it recognizes the “Total Depravity” of man (that man is dead in sin and can contribute nothing to his own salvation).  It truly believes that God only loves His elect, but that God will do everything necessary to bring His elect to salvation.  It truly believes in God’s work alone by grace alone from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints a/k/a Perseverance of the Saints”.  It rests secure and at peace with thanksgiving and joy in the work of Christ. 

 

Calvinism a/k/a Reformed Doctrine causes its believers to over-flow with gratitude.  “The LORD has done great things for us;  We are glad.”  Psalm 126:3  “For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 92:4

 

Calvinists are so eager and delighted to let this truly good news of the word of Christ richly dwell within them by doing as much as they can to both hear and read God’s word and carefully meditate on it AND correctly understand it AND believe it with a steadfast heart AND effectively do it AND wisely teach it and admonish others AND sing with thankfulness in their hearts to God.