Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 11:20-47.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2011&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“As for Abshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the thirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them;  and he had a name as well as the thirty.  Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander;  however, he did not attain to the first three.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab.  He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.  He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five cubits tall.  Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.  These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men.  Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three;  and David appointed him over his guard.

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Why mention that Abshai “did not attain to the first three” and that Benaiah “did not attain to the three”? 

Normally, when we are honoring outstanding people, we do not mention that they were not among the Top Three.

I think it is profitable to meditate upon a possible purpose for including it in today’s Scripture.

Generally, in life, we are tempted to be satisfied with “good enough”. 

But, what does Scripture state?

“Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.”  1 Corinthians 4:24. 

But, there is hope!

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Galatians 3:24.

“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.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6. 

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

So, let us go back to the “Therefore you are to be perfect” verse.  You will be perfect, because “your heavenly Father is perfect” and He will provide everything that you need to be perfect.    

Likewise, we read:  “For by one offering He (Christ) has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14. 

“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.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 5:10-11.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“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.