Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 11:1-1-9.

 

“Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.  It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.  They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.”  And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.  They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”  The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.  The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language.  And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.  Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”  So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth;  and they stopped building the city.  Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth;  and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.”  Genesis 11:1-9. 

 

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The LORD’s will was that Noah and his descendants would populate (fill) the earth.  “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”  Genesis 9:1.  See also Genesis 9:7. 

 

But, “They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”  Verse 4.

 

“So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth;  and they stopped building the city.”  Verse 8.

 

The LORD likewise wants us to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”   Jesus commands us to “… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Mark 16:15

 

Some of us will remain close to family and friends where we grew up.  But, others of us will be scattered across the country and even the world.  

 

Hopefully, today’s Scripture will particularly encourage those of us who move away from where we grew up that the LORD causes our “scattered” movement to accomplish His will that we “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”, that we “… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” 

 

 

“You are the salt of the earth;  but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

                                                      

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16.

Like salt needs to be scattered across the meat to penetrate and preserve every part of the meat, we need to be scattered across the world to penetrate and preserve every part of the world. 

Like light needs to penetrate the darkness to reach every corner to expose everything and to provide light for all to see, we need to penetrate the spiritual darkness, to reach every corner of the world, to expose all wickedness, and to enlighten everyone with the light of the Gospel.  

Some of us may be seasoning injected into one part of the meat.  But, some of us may be scattered like salt grains across the whole broad surface.

Some of us may be lighthouses.  But, some of us may be flashlights to bring light to others far away.

The LORD blesses us by causing us to be scattered to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”   The LORD blesses us by causing us to be scattered to “… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”