Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 29, 2021

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD … How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 5:25-31.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son.  Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.”  Then Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters.  So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.”  Genesis 5:28-31. 

——————

“3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5.

Consider Lamech’s statement highlighted above in today’s Scripture. Are children a blessing, primarily because they work for us and thus “give us rest from our work”?

Or, are children a blessing to us primarily in other ways?

We cannot ignore that as a practical experience particularly on farms and other family-owned labor-intensive businesses which has been the majority of world history, children certainly have provided much needed labor and that has been the primary blessing that children have been to many parents throughout history. 

But now, we see fewer families on farms and other family-owned labor-intensive businesses where children provided labor.  Rather, we are confronted more with the cost of raising each child.  The United States Department of Agriculture at its official website reports:  “Based on the most recent data from the Consumer Expenditures Survey, in 2015, a family will spend approximately $12,980 annually per child in a middle-income ($59,200-$107,400), two-child, married-couple family. Middle-income, married-couple parents of a child born in 2015 may expect to spend $233,610 ($284,570 if projected inflation costs are factored in*) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise a child through age 17. This does not include the cost of a college education.”  The Cost of Raising a Child Posted by Mark Lino, Economist at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in Food and Nutrition on Feb 18, 2020. 

Yikes!  If we walk by sight, rather than by faith, to use the title of yesterday’s devotion, we would now either have no children or fewer children.  

But, most importantly, what does Scripture state?  

In my study of Scripture, I found little to support the first view that children a blessing, primarily because they work for us and thus “give us rest from our work”.  

The closest Scripture that I found that would support the view that children a blessing, because they work for us and thus “give us rest from our work” is the following 1 Timothy 5:3-4.

“Honor widows who are widows indeed;  but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.”  1 Timothy 5:3-4.

Instead, the following Scriptures provide the dominant theme of what I found.  

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife;  and they shall become one flesh.”  Genesis 2:24. 

“Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you;  for I do not seek what is yours, but you;  for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”  2 Corinthians 12:14.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22.

Next, I point out that Bible Gateway, my online resource to the New American Standard 1995 version that I use, has the Footnote to Genesis 5:29 “Lit comfort us in”.  The King James Version of the verse is:  “29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”  Emphasis added by Bill.

Along this comfort theme, consider the following Scripture.

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her.  And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.  May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age;  for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”  Ruth 4:13-15.

My testimony to date is that it seems to me that the biggest blessing my children, three sons, have been to me (that comes to my mind using the language in these Scriptures) is not their labor, but rather they are both a “comfort” Genesis 5:29 KJV and “a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age” Ruth 4:15.  

But, things could change for me over time, and I also do not want to neglect or diminish the importance of what other Scriptures state nor the practical experiences of other Christian parents. 

And so we do not love sons more than daughters, let us note in the preceding Scripture the reference to Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, “…  for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”  Ruth 4:15.

In conclusion, please consider the following points.

We know that not all the saints who have been blessed by God have had biological children.  They have had other blessings, and they have had spiritual children, so to speak.  Nor do we necessarily think that the more children a father and mother have, the more proportionately they are blessed by God.  So to speak, their quiver may be filled with one child or three children or ten children or different number of children. 

Above all, we trust in God, our Heavenly Father, to provide what is best for us.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 28, 2021

“for we walk by faith, not by sight—”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 5:21-24.

“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.  Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.  So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.  Enoch walked with God;  and he was not, for God took him.”  Genesis 5:21-24.  

——————

“5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death;  and he was not found because God took him up;  for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.  6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:5-6. 

Last night as I was preparing this devotion, I focused on Enoch’s walk with God and examples in Scripture about walking with God such as “walk in My statutes”, “walk humbly with your God”, “walk in newness of life”, “walk by the Spirit”, “walk in love”, and “walk in the Light”.

But, this morning as I found and read the main text about what Scripture concluded about Enoch, Hebrews 11:5-6, I noticed two things.  

First, in verse 5 above, I was surprised to read that nothing is said about Enoch walking with God.  Verse 5 only commended Enoch by stating that “he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.”  

Second, although verse 6 above applies generally to all the saints in the Hall of Faith and also applies to us today, verse 6 should also specifically be connected to Enoch.  We see both the conjunction “And” leading verse 6 and that verse 6 immediately follows verse 5.  We also see Enoch’s “pleasing to God” defined in verse 6 as “And without faith it is impossible to please Him”.

Sometimes, we can get lost in a Christian checklist of things that we should do:  “walk in My statutes”, “walk humbly with your God”, “walk in newness of life”, “walk by the Spirit”, “walk in love”, and “walk in the Light”.  Although these things are important and good, let us not forget the main point taught by Enoch’s life and Scripture.  Walking by faith is what all the saints did in Hebrews chapter 11. “By faith” leads each sentence of what the saints did.  “For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:2.     

“for we walk by faith, not by sight—”  2 Corinthians 5:7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 27, 2021

“when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 5:1-20.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.  He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created.”  Genesis 5:1-2.   

————–

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;  …”  Genesis 1:26.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”  2 Peter 1:2-7.

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”  Ephesians 4:24.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;  for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  2 Peter 1:8-11.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

“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.

“Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— …

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;  just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;  and be thankful.”  Colossians 3:9-10 and 12-15.  

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 26, 2021

“I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain” – “and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 4:25-26.

“Adam had relations with his wife again;  and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.”  To Seth, to him also a son was born;  and he called his name Enosh.  Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.”  Genesis 4:25-26.

————–

Again, we see a work of God, and we look eagerly as to what similar and even greater work that God may do in the future.  

Or, in other words, what else does God appoint? 

So to speak, not only did God graciously provide another offspring to Adam and Eve in place of Abel so they could live on through their descendants, God graciously provided that Abel would continue to live on through his faith.  “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”  Hebrews 11:4.

We too have the hope that through God’s appointment we would continue to live even after we physically die in two ways. 

First, we will live on through God’s gift of eternal life.  “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord;  and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”  Acts 13:48.

Second, we will live on through God’s provision that the our labors during our life would continue to bear fruit even after our death.  “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  John 15:16.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone;  but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  John 12:24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 24, 2021

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” – “The LORD is your keeper”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 4:8-24.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Cain told Abel his brother.  And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”  And he said, “I do not know.  Am I my brother’s keeper?”  He said, “What have you done?  The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.  Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.  When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you;  you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”  Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear!  Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground;  and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”  So the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.”  And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.”  Genesis 4:8-15.  

—————-

When questioned by the LORD about Abel, Cain replied:  “I do not know.  Am I my brother’s keeper?”  (A “keeper” is defined as a “guard, protector”.  Dictionary Concordance of my Bible, “New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)” published by The Lockman Foundation.)

Although Cain lied to the LORD, even apparently defensively and sarcastically, we notice in today’s Scripture that the LORD even protected evil Cain to a certain extent.  “…  And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.”  Verse 15.  (As a quick side note, the LORD protected evil Cain not out of any grace or favor to Cain, but for the LORD’s purpose, like the LORD had a purpose in raising up Pharaoh, but whom the LORD later drowned with his army in the sea.  Romans 9:17 and Exodus chapter 14.)  But, we can be assured that if the LORD protected evil Cain to a certain extent, then how much more will the LORD protect His beloved, His chosen ones, His righteous ones!  

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the LORD being our keeper.  

“5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121:5-8.

“3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:3-4.

Consider the amount of attention and tender care and protection that the LORD gives to Israel figuratively described as a vineyard of wine.

“2 In that day,
“A vineyard of wine, sing of it!
3 “I, the LORD, am its keeper;
I water it every moment.
So that no one will damage it,
I guard it night and day.” Isaiah 27:2-3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 23, 2021

“And why has your countenance fallen?” – “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 4:1-7.

“Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.”  Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel.  And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.  Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.  And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.  So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?  And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door;  and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”  Genesis 4:1-7.

————–

“3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.” Psalm 32:3-4.

But, there is hope!

“I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:5.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9.

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” Psalm 32:1-2.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

Article 3. By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

Article 5. By such enormous sins, however, they very highly offend God, incur a deadly guilt, grieve the Holy Spirit, interrupt the exercise of faith, very grievously wound their consciences, and sometimes lose the sense of God’s favor, for a time, until on their returning into the right way of serious repentance, the light of God’s fatherly countenance again shines upon them.

Article 6. But God, who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls; nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of adoption, and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit sins unto death; nor does he permit them to be totally deserted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.

Article 8. Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings; which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen; but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.

Article 9. Of this preservation of the elect to salvation, and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers for themselves may and ought to obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they arrive at the certain persuasion, that they ever will continue true and living members of the church; and that they experience forgiveness of sins, and will at last inherit eternal life.

This precious point is “Preservation of the Saints” a/k/a “Perseverance of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt. Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end: from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”.

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7.

Even our repentance is a work of God.

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31.

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:18.

The following Scripture teaches us to trust God.

“8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.” Psalm 32:8-9.

Psalm chapter 32 concludes with our countenance lifted up by God.

“10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:10-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 22, 2021

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 3:22-24.

“Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil;  and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.  So He drove the man out;  and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”  Genesis 3:22-24.

——————-

Scripture later teaches us that God does give eternal life to His elect, so today’s Scripture should not be understood that God does not want any humans to live forever.  

Rather, God does not want man to gain eternal life through man’s work or even through as little as man’s will, represented by man’s stretching out his hand and taking and eating.  Moreover, we remember that it was through man’s will and man’s work represented by man’s stretching out his hand and taking and eating that man sinned against God and incurred spiritual death.  See Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:6.

God does want man to gain eternal life only through God’s will and God’s work.  

“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.”  Romans 9:15-16. 

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.”  John 5:21.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9. 

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

“Jesus spoke these things;  and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come;  glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.”  John 17:1-2.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,”  Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  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 26-31.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 21, 2021

“He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 3:20-21.

“Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.  The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”  Genesis 3:20-21.

——————-

We remember earlier in the chapter that Adam and Eve clothed themselves “…  and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”  Genesis 3:7.  

We compare Genesis 3:7 with verse 21 in today’s Scripture.  “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”  Verse 21.  We notice two major contrasting points about the clothing.  First, we notice that the LORD God made the clothing in today’s Scripture compared to Adam and Eve who made the clothing earlier.  Second, we notice the much superior clothing of “garments of skin” compared to “sewed fig leaves” for “loin coverings”.

We meditate on what this work of God could lead to future work of God.

“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10.

Finally, and more generally, let us use this lesson to remember that whenever we see a work of God, let us use it to motivate us to look eagerly as to what similar and even greater work that God may do in the future. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” Matthew 6:30.

“20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.” Psalm 33:20-21.

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:31-33.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 20, 2021

“So teach us to number our days” – “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 3:17-19.

“17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;

Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
19 By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19.

————–

“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5. 

“7 For we have been consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.
8 You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:7-12.

We do not have time nor the strength to play church. We don’t have time to shrug our shoulders and flip-flop back and forth between doctrines, thinking that we only need to attend church, rather than to diligently study Scripture and come to abiding faith in Who God is and what He has done for us. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 6:39-40.

What is your image of God?

Is your image of God as one who loves everybody but only waits and hopes that the individual will use his alleged free-will to accept him? Do we prefer this image of God because it appeals to most people, our sense of fairness, and our pride and desire to be in control and boast that we deserve some credit for contributing to our salvation?

Or, is your image of God as a victorious warrior who does all that is necessary to secure the salvation of only, but all, of His elect? Do we use Scripture alone to form our image of God and humbly and joyfully use our few days to pursue that God of the Scripture?

Consider that Scripture exhorts us to seek for wisdom as one would seek for silver or hidden treasure.

“4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:4-5.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.

If we are to “strive to enter through the narrow door” and seek wisdom and the kingdom of heaven as one would search for hidden treasure with all of our heart, how much more should we seek the one true God and the one true doctrine of salvation with all of our heart!!!

“And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:23-24.

Most doctrine is like a broad bridge open to everyone, but it only goes half-way across the river. Such doctrine teaches that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and God wants to save everyone, but it is up to man to contribute something worthy of salvation whether it be works or at least alleged free-will choice of Christ. The only difference between the unsaved and saved is that the saved does works or maybe as little as uses his alleged free-will choice of Christ to, so to speak, jump from the end of the bridge, across the river, to the shore of salvation. Most doctrine believes that everyone has an equal opportunity to be saved, so the bridge is broad in that sense, but that Christ’s death completely saved no one in particular. Only those who do sufficient works or who take a sufficient “free will leap of faith” to the shore of salvation will be saved. Thus, the bridge is wide, open to everyone, but it only goes halfway across the stream. Accordingly, the saved have reason to boast for contributing to their own salvation and showing themselves worthy of salvation.

In sharp contrast to most doctrine, Reformed Doctrine is like a narrow bridge only open to God’s elect, but the narrow bridge goes all the way across the river to the shore of salvation. Reformed Doctrine teaches that God only loves His elect and only wants to save them and that Christ died only for the elect. In summary, God does everything necessary for the salvation of His elect. Reformed Doctrine teaches that man is “dead” in sin, hostile to God, cannot please God, cannot understand the things of God, and is in bondage to sin and Satan (which is summarized by the phrase “Total Depravity” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt), such that man can not contribute anything to his salvation and God must do everything for the elect, including making them alive (regenerating them), giving them faith, sanctifying them, and preserving them to salvation, so that all of God’s elect will be saved. Accordingly, God’s elect have no reason to boast, because God provided everything needed for their salvation.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

“My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.” Psalm 34:2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 19, 2021

“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” – “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 3:14-16.

“14 The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
16 To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:14-16.

—————–

But, regarding verse 16, there is hope for the woman in pain in childbirth, and more generally for all of us!

“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come;  but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.  Therefore you too have grief now;  but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”  John 16:21-22.  

But, regarding verse 15 and the continued hatred and hostility (enmity) between Satan and God’s children, although Satan persecutes God’s children, there is hope for God’s children who will overcome Satan!

“…  The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him;  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”  1 John 3:8-9.

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them;  because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4.

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”  1 John 2:13-14.

“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.  The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.  And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;  he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.  For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.  Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.  …  So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”  Revelation 12:7-17.

“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also;  and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10.

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