Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:1.

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”  1 Thessalonians 4:1.

——————-

It is Thanksgiving Day.  My first thought this morning was to skip writing devotion today:  “I can take today off.  After all, it is a holiday, Thanksgiving Day!”

But, I did not feel quite right to take today off, so my second thought was to write something “easy and breezy” like how we should be thankful to God for all of His blessings.

But, my third thought was that just as I almost always stayed with the next Scripture in line to prepare the next Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotion, I should continue to do so for today even though it is Thanksgiving day. 

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”  Verse 1.

If anyone had an excuse to coast to the finish line, it was Paul.  But, what was Paul’s attitude?  What did Paul do?

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude;  and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:12-16.

And, there is hope!

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians+3&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;  for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”  For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?  1 Thessalonians 3:6-10. 

—————–

We are concerned and pray and pleased to hear when our family and friends are prospering financially and are in good health.

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”  3 John 1:2.

But, let us be most concerned, most earnestly pray, and most pleased to hear that they stand firm in the Lord as shown by today’s Scripture.   

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”  3 John 1:4.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”  1 Thessalonians 2:13. 

——————

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” Proverbs 16:20.

“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.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

“For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.  You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;  just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”  1 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

—————

Fathers and mothers want to be a good example to their children.

Ministers want to be a good example to their congregation.

And, so we can understand that Paul wanted to be a good example to the Thessalonians in today’s Scripture.

We want to do all things that would help our children, our congregation, and those who follow and walk with us, to walk in a manner worthy of God.

In today’s Scripture, Paul mentioned three things that he did to help the Thessalonians walk in a manner worthy of God.  First, he supported himself so that he was not a burden to them.  Verse 9.  Second, he lived “devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly”.  Verse 10.  Third, he was “exhorting and encouraging and imploring” them.  Verse 11.

Paul needed and received God’s grace to be such a good example and do these things, and we likewise need and will receive God’s grace to be such a good example and do these things and other things to lead and help others walk in a manner worthy of God.

But, there is also a lesson here for us children, us congregation, and us followers of our leaders.  Watch them.  Learn from them.  Follow them.  Walk with them!     

“My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.” Psalm 101:6.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20.

“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 has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  … 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 and 25.

But, in conclusion, we also pay attention to the last phrase of today’s Scripture:  “who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”  There are those children, those congregation, and those who are with us for at least a while and who see everything that we do, who will not follow us and who will not walk with us and who will not walk in a manner worthy of God. These ones are not the elect.  They are reprobates.  

The concluding Scripture points to those disciples of Jesus who were with Jesus and heard all the teachings of Jesus and saw all of His miracles, but yet they withdrew and did not follow Jesus any more and did not walk in a manner worth of God.  

In summary, just as our ability to lead is dependent on God’s grace, the ability to follow is dependent on God’s grace.

“And He (Jesus) was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.  So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”  Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”  John 6:65-69.