Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 2:20-22.

 

“²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.  ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.  ²² Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:20-22.

 

—————————-

 

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?   What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?   And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:21-23.

 

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:18.

 

God’s elect are made “vessels of mercy” which are made “for honorable use” such as “gold and silver vessels”.  The non-elect are made “vessels of wrath” which are made “for common use” such as “vessels of wood and of earthenware”.  God’s elect are made “to honor”.  The non-elect are made “to dishonor”. 

 

 

“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.

 

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

 

“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.

 

 

“The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.”  Proverbs 16:4.

 

Psalm 110:1
“The LORD says to my Lord:  “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

 

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”  2 Peter 3:7.

 

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.”  Psalm 97:1-3. 

 

Proverbs 21:15
“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.”

 

 

Today’s Scripture concludes:  “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  Verse 22.  Likewise, 2 Peter 1:4-11 commands us to apply all diligence and “in our faith” add moral qualities.  “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;  for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  2 Peter 1:10-11.

 

Likewise, the Canons of Dordt (First Head of Doctrine) urge us who do use the means of grace and do seek to act rightly that we “ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate (vessels of wrath), but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.”

                                     

Article 16.  Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.  Much less cause have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, though they seriously desire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that measure of holiness and faith to which they aspire;  since a merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.  But this doctrine is justly terrible to those, who, regardless of God and of the Savior Jesus Christ, have wholly given themselves up to the cares of the world, and the pleasures of the flesh, so long as they are not seriously converted to God.