Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:9-15.
“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:9-15.
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Yesterday, we learned about the Lord as “the righteous Judge”, Who will award the crown of righteousness “to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing”. 2 Timothy 4:8. Today, we learn about the Lord as “the righteous Judge” Who “will repay him according to his deeds”. In other words, a righteous judge not only rewards the righteous; a righteous judge punishes the wicked.
What would we think of a judge who only rewarded the righteous and did not justly punish the wicked? We would quickly throw him or her out of office. If justice is so important to us for our earthly welfare, how much more important should justice be for our spiritual welfare!
But more importantly, Scripture is filled with descriptions of the Lord, as a Righteous Judge Who punishes the wicked. Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: punish
Here are a few Scriptures.
Proverbs 10:16
“The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.”
“The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.”
Isaiah 13:11
“Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”
“Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”
Psalm 81:15
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.”
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.”
Proverbs 15:10
“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die.”
“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die.”
Isaiah 26:21
“For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.”
“For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.”
Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 23:33
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.” 2 Peter 2:4-10.
Therefore, let us more fully understand and know and appreciate that the Lord is a Righteous Judge Who justly punishes the wicked.
“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.
“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!” Psalm 58:10-11.
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!” Psalm 58:10-11.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 