Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:1-4.
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall reverence his mother and his father, and you shall keep My sabbaths; I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:1-4.
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Today’s Scripture reminds us three times in only four short verses: “I am the LORD your God.”
You would think that we would be more careful learning about the attributes of the LORD our God revealed in Scripture. But, we desire more to build an idol of god of our fantasy within our mind.
So, who is the LORD?
Is He a god of our desires and fantasy that loves everyone but bows down to alleged human free-will and waits with arms folded to see if someone will accept him or not?
Or, is the God, the God revealed in Scriptures, a sovereign and victorious God Who hates and punishes the wicked but Who loves His elect and does everything to save them such that not one of His elect perishes?
Simply, is the LORD a reactor or an initiator?
Is the LORD more concerned about His holiness and our holiness or is the LORD more concerned about what we want?
Jeremiah 9:23-24 drives home this point that our single focus should be to learn about Who is this LORD of Scriptures.
“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.
Calling yourself a Christian is not enough.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23.
Even zeal is not enough.
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:1-3.
We may have a mind that loves to pursue idols, the god of our fantasy. We may be lost. We may be dead in sin.
But, there is hope!
We have a Savior and Good Shepherd Who makes alive those dead in sin, Who seeks out the lost and saves, and Who guides His sheep into all truth.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:1-7.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16:13.
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 