Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 9:14-18.

“What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there?  May it never be!  For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGH THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:14-18.

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Other doctrine trusts man and man’s alleged free-will to provide what it believes is necessary for salvation, namely man’s works or at least man’s alleged free-will choice of Christ.

In sharp contrast, Reformed Doctrine trusts God and God’s Will to provide what is necessary for salvation.  “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Verses 15-16.

We tend to be focused on our own salvation and content for our assurance to be the end of it.

But, there is more in today’s Scripture than determining on Whom salvation depends.  “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGH THE WHOLE EARTH.”  Verse 17.

We see that God’s purpose and work are more than only our own salvation.  God uses other people, even hardening some, so that His name will be proclaimed through the whole earth.

Let us also look at the source of the mercy and compassion quote (“I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”).

“Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”  And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you;  and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”  Exodus 33:18-19.

God’s glory is the goal of God’s mercy and compassion.  God’s glory is even the goal of God’s hardening some.  

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

“Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;  whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;  so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:11.