Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 1:1-9.

“1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead;  now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.  3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.  5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;  I will not fail you or forsake you.  6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  7 Only be strong and very courageous;  be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you;  do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  9 Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:1-9.

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The basis of our faith is that the LORD our God is with us wherever we go and that He will not fail us or forsake us.

The basis of our faith is not our own strength nor our own wisdom nor our own courage nor our own alleged free-will nor our other abilities.

Yes, we need to be strong and courageous.  Yes, we need to be careful to obey.

But, God is the One Who is at work within us:  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:27.

What seems more consistent with all of this? 

Reformed Doctrine which focuses on God and what God has done for us from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation? 

Or, other doctrine which focuses on man and what man should do through his alleged free-will?

If we are dependent on our own strength, our own wisdom, and our own alleged free-will, we will certainly fail and fear.

But, if we are dependent on God and believe what He has accomplished for us as taught by Reformed Doctrine (including that He continues to be with us wherever we go and that He will not fail us or forsake us), then we will have success and be strong and courageous.