Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 9:1-5.
“For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:1-5.
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As highlighted in bold italic font, the theme of today’s Scripture is the importance of being prepared.
If we should be prepared for good works, such as being prepared to give as we should, how much more prepared should we be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ and judgment day! “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matthew 24:42-44.
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:37-39.
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:3-6.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” 2 Peter 3:10-12.
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:2-4.
There are many things that cause us to lift our eyes from the things on the earth to the things above. Most importantly, Scriptures cause us to lift our eyes from the things on the earth to the things above.
But God causes even things that seem to us to be only bad to lift our eyes from the things on the earth to the things above. Wars, famines, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, coronavirus, other pestilence, and apostasy are just a few examples. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-21.
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13.
The Scriptures and even these things on the earth also serve to remind us of the importance of being prepared. The following example of Noah provides us a good example for us to follow. Through God’s grace working in me, I prepare these Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions in faith that, so to speak, they will be an “ark of salvation” for you all, my dear family and friends.
Through God’s grace working in you, what “ark of salvation” are you preparing for your family and friends? A true church? A Godly home? A Bible study? Something else?
“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Hebrews 11:7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 