Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%202&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.  But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.  Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:5-8.  

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Love of others motivated Paul to share the gospel with the Thessalonians and others.

“Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”  Verse 8.

“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”  2 Corinthians 12:15.

And, like Paul, we also should love one another.

“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”  1 John 3:23.

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love abides in death.  …  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”  I John 3:14 and 18.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God;  and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has seen God at any time;  if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”  1 John 4:7-12. 

We also remember the prior verse to today’s Scripture, and we remember yesterday’s devotion.  When we love others, we do not want the wrath of God to come upon them, so we share “….  Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”  1 Thessalonians 1:10.

“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”  1 Corinthians 14:1.

“He (Jesus) *said to him (Peter) again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord;  You know that I love You.”  He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”  John 21:14.

But, as I meditated on my bed late last night about these Scriptures, my heart felt hard, ice cold, and I realized that due to my natural condition, I would never love as I should nor share the gospel as I should without God doing a miraculous work in my heart.

I then remembered and meditated upon Scriptures that I have quoted so often in these Reformed Doctrine Devotions.   

So, there is hope!

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  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 36:26-27. 

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,”  1 Corinthians 2:12.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

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

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  … We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:16 and 19.