Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 1:12-14.

“For our proud confidence is this:  the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.  For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;  just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 1:12-14.

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Paul said the following about what some of the Corinthians said about himself.  “For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”  Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.”  2 Corinthians 10:10-11.

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”  1 Timothy 1:5.

In today’s Scripture, Paul said:  “… in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world …”  Verse 12.

We should be sincere as Paul:  “we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.”  But, it is too tempting and too easy to deceive others.

We should be holy as Paul.  It is easy to be holy when writing, but when we leave the desk, it is too tempting and too easy to get encumbered and entangled in sin.

In summary, we should be a good example like Paul.  “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.  You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;  just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”  1 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;  having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:9-11.

The following Scriptures fill out our desires. 

“Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.”  Hebrews 13:18.

“having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.  In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”  Acts 24:15-16.

But, even though we believe “there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” and also try to “do my best”, we need help.  

Despite all the good reasons to be sincere, holy, and otherwise conduct ourselves honorably in all things, Paul recognized in today’s Scripture that we needed more than “fleshly wisdom”, we need help.  We need God and “the grace of God”.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-9.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.