Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 1:1.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

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“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:11.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11.

“6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:6-9.

“Of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.” Psalm 102:25.

“11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.” Psalm 89:11-12.

“3 For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
4 In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
5 The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Psalm 95:3-6.

“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:1-3.

“O LORD, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions.” Psalm 104:24.

“3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:3-9.

“Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.” Psalm 148:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:20-21.

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.”  Revelation 22:20-21.

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“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”  And let the one who hears say, “Come.”  …”  Revelation 22:17.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:33.

“… 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.

“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.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 52.  What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?

A.  That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person who before offered Himself for my sake to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven;  who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate me with all His chosen ones to Himself, into heavenly joys and glory.

“in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8.

“Hurry, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle or a young stag
On the mountains of spices.” Song of Solomon 8:14.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:18-19.

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”  Revelation 22:18-19.

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“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”  Deuteronomy 4:2.

“Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do;  you shall not add to nor take away from it.”  Deuteronomy 12:32.

“5 Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6.

We may quickly and lightly dismiss today’s Scripture, thinking that we are in no danger of adding to or subtracting from God’s words. But, let us be more careful and think more deeply. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3.

But, do we by our preaching and teaching add to God’s word by our own stories that we add to entertain and to show our own intelligence and our own goodness?

Do we by our preaching and teaching subtract from God’s word to pacify or satisfy our audience who do not want to be convicted by God’s word of their sin?

The following Scripture may help us by reminding us of the perfection of God’s word. Why tarnish or distract from the gold of God’s word by our gravel? Why subtract from God’s word to add our word?

“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:17.

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”  And let the one who hears say, “Come.”  And let the one who is thirsty come;  let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”  Revelation 22:17.

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My attitude is more like “Come later.”  Come after the Big Ten Football Championship, or if you can wait a little longer, come after my Carnival cruise.

Too often, I set my mind on the things that are on earth, not on the things that are above. I am like the ones in Jesus’ Parable of the Dinner.  “But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;  and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come;  for everything is ready now.’  But they all alike began to make excuses.  The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it;  please consider me excused.’  Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out;  please consider me excused.’  Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’”  Luke 14:16-20.

But, there is hope!

“And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.”  Luke 14:23.

Other doctrine places its hope in man’s alleged free will.

But, Reformed Doctrine places its hope in God’s “Irresistible Grace”, the “I”, of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof. 

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

And, there is more help!

God puts His Spirit within us.  God has joined us to Christ’s body, His bride, the church.  “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”  Verse 17. 

“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. 

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:16.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches.  I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”  Revelation 22:16.

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“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;  for the time is near.”  Revelation 1:1-3.

When Jesus states that He is “the root and the descendant of David”, He is emphasizing that He is man, the Son of Man, and that He is Christ the King, heir to the throne of King David and also heir to the other wonderful promises of God to David.

When Jesus states that He is “the bright morning star”, He is emphasizing that He is God, “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”  John 1:9.

Putting together these two qualities of being man and God, Jesus Christ is the perfect Mediator for us.  “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6. 

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?
A. For one who is very man, and perfectly righteous; and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also very God.

Q. 16. Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous?
A. Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others.

Q. 17. Why must He in one person be also very God?
A. That He might, by the power of His Godhead, sustain in His human nature the burden of God’s wrath; and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life.

Q. 18. Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God and a real righteous man?
A. Our Lord Jesus Christ who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”  2 Peter 1:19. 

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:12-15.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”  Revelation 22:12-15.  

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Our natural condition of pride and experience in the business world may lead us to think of different rewards. We may want credit for earning rewards based on our works. We may not be satisfied with eternal life and all the riches of heaven. We may want extra rewards, and we may want the extra rewards to set us higher in a pecking order above others.

But, we do notice in today’s Scripture, that Jesus refers to reward in the singular as “My reward is with Me” and not in the plural as “My rewards are with Me”. There is “only” the reward of eternal life in heaven covered by description “the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” and eternal punishment in hell covered by the description “Outside”.  Verses 14-15.

One of the most clear and dramatic teachings of one reward, eternal life in heaven, is Jesus’ Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard in which each of the laborers received the same one reward, namely one denarius (so to speak, a just and exact amount of money for a full day’s labor) but which some of the laborers complained:  “These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.”  Jesus answered:  “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?  Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’  So the last shall be first, and the first last.”  See Matthew 20:1-16.  

Even one of the Parables that I thought would be an example of different rewards, the Parable of the Talents, there was only one reward.  The exact same reward was given to the one who was entrusted with five talents and brought his master five more talents as to the one was given to the one who was entrusted with two talents and gained two more talents.  “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.’”  Matthew 25:21 (five talents) and Matthew 25:23 (two talents).  

In Jesus’ discourse of the Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, notice that despite mentioning different services that I quote below, the Son of Man separates into only two groups, the sheep on the right and the goats on the left, and there were only the reward of eternal life and the punishment of eternal punishment.  

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;  I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink;  I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me;  I was in prison, and you came to Me.’”  Matthew 25:34-36.

“These will go away into eternal punishment (the goats), but the righteous into eternal life (the sheep).”  Matthew 25:46.

If God gives the greatest and most comprehensive reward to us (eternal life including all the riches of heaven) by grace alone, then it is both logical and supported by Scripture that God will give us other lesser rewards (if any) by grace alone.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

“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.

If different rewards were so important, compared to the one reward of eternal life, then one would expect more to be mentioned about different rewards in the Reformed Confessions of Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dordt, and Belgic Confession. But, we do not see much presented of different rewards. (As I have stated in both the Headnotes of “About Me” and “Links”: “The reader is advised to follow the example set forth in Acts 17:11: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”)

For example, consider the very lukewarm statement in Belgic Confession in Article 24: Of man’s Sanctification and Good Works.

“… In the meantime, we do not deny that God rewards our good works, but it is through his grace that he crowns his gifts. …”

First, the statement that God rewards our good works is not positively declared; it is only not denied. Second, in any event, the statement does not declare that there are plural rewards, only that God rewards, which the writer could maintain is by one reward, eternal life. Third, the emphasis of this article is on the following central point. “Therefore we do good works, but not to merit by them, (for what can they merit?) nay, we are beholden to God for the good works we do, and not he to us, since it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

As another example, consider the following Question and Answer from the Heidelberg Catechism which would present a good opportunity to present different rewards, but it does not do so.

Q. 86. Since then we are delivered from our misery merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

A. Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image; that so we may testify by the whole of our conduct our gratitude to God for His blessings, and that He may be praised by us; also, that every one may be assured in himself of his faith by the fruits thereof; and that by our godly conversation others may be gained to Christ.

In summary and conclusion, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.  “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:10-11.

“And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong;  and the one who is filthy, still be filthy;  and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness;  and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”  Revelation 22:10-11.

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Why does today’s Scripture state:  “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong;  …  and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness;  …”?

Scripture clearly and repeatedly shows that God condemns and punishes wrongdoing.  

“The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.” Proverbs 14:32.

“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Colossians 3:25.

By its statement, today’s Scripture seems to me to be sarcastic. Oxford Languages defines sarcasm as “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” Oxford Languages defines irony as “the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.”

Likewise we see in Scripture the response of the Lord to the rebellious who state:

“3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:3-4.

Thus, rather than think by today’s expression that the LORD is wringing his hands as if there is nothing He can do about wrongdoers, today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the sovereignty of the LORD.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

“18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” Psalm 73:18-19.

“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.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?”  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?  The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:15-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:7-9.

“And behold, I am coming quickly.  Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.  And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.  But he *said to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”  Revelation 22:7-9.

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“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;  for the time is near.”  Revelation 1:3.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

“9 Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the LORD, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.” Psalm 96:9-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:3-6.

“There will no longer be any curse;  and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;  they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  And there will no longer be any night;  and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them;  and they will reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”;  and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.”  Revelation 22:3-6.  

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Today’s Scripture highlighted in bold italic reminds us of one of the roles of the Holy Spirit.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine;  therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-15.

“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 36:27. 

Thus, we have both the Word and the Spirit to disclose to us what is to come, to guide us into all the truth, to cause us to heed the words of this book, and to worship God.

“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.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.”  Revelation 22:20.