Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 1:8-15.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.  For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.  For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.  I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.  I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”  Romans 1:8-15.

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It was a good thing for Paul to do (preach the gospel to those in Rome).

It was also good for Paul to be so eager to do it.

But, for some unknown reason, Paul was “prevented so far” from doing it according to “the will of God”.

Likewise, there may be some good things that we can do and that we are eager to do, but for some unknown reason we are “prevented so far” from doing it according to “the will of God”.

Other doctrine is baffled, bewildered, discouraged, and dismayed.

But, Reformed Doctrine is patient, peaceful, joyful, and steadfast, because it trusts God and His sovereignty. 

Reformed Doctrine is thankful and praises God, knowing that God will establish His purpose and accomplish all of His good pleasure. 

“19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.”  Psalm 103:19-21.

“The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9.

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Individually, we may not do it.  But, God will do it.

“What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  1 Corinthians 3:5-7.

Even though Paul had not yet gone to Rome to preach the gospel, Paul recognized the work of God in “all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints”.  “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.”  Verses 7-8.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 28:25-31.

“And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying,

‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,
“YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES;
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”’

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles;  they will also listen.”  [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]

And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.”   Acts 28:25-31.

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Despite most of the Jews’ lack of understanding and their hindrance, God provided a door of opportunity to Paul to preach and teach to the Gentiles who would listen.  And, despite Paul being confined to his own rented quarters, Paul preached and taught “with all openness, unhindered.”

This is a lesson to us who feel hindered, confined, or limited in some way.  We may have physical ailments.  Or, we may have a family to take care of at home.  We may have work outside the home, but it takes up all of our time.  Or, we may not have money to travel.  We may have family and friends who oppose us or are resistant or make it difficult for us.

But, there is hope for us as there was for Paul!

We do not need to do the same work as Paul.  God has work for us to do for His purpose and good pleasure that He can accomplish despite all of the hindrance, confinement, and limitations.  God gives us the will to do that work, and God works within us.  God perfects and completes that work “unhindered“.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 28:16-22.

“When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.  But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.  For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”  They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.  But we desire to hear from you what your views are;  for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.

When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers;  and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.  Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.”  Acts 28:16-24.

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We notice in today’s Scripture that two parties came together.  Paul requested to see and to speak with the leading men of the Jews, and the leading men of the Jews desired to hear from Paul and what his views were.

But, we also read:  “Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.”

Other doctrine takes the view summarized by the common saying:  “It takes two to tango”, teaching man’s alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine takes the view of Scripture, teaching God’s sovereign will, purpose, and power.  “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.

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

Article 9.  It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ, offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel, and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the word, refuse to come, and be converted:  the fault lies in themselves;  some of whom when called, regardless of their danger, reject the word of life;  others, though they receive it, suffer it not to make a lasting impression on their heart;  therefore, their joy, arising only from a temporary faith, soon vanishes, and they fall away;  while others choke the seed of the word by perplexing cares, and the pleasures of this world, and produce no fruit. – This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower.  Matthew 13.

Article 10.  But that others who are called by the gospel, obey the call, and are converted, is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others, equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversions, as the proud heresy of Pelagius maintains;  but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who as he has chosen his own from eternity in Christ, so he confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of his own Son, that they may show forth the praises of him, who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light;  and may glory not in themselves, but in the Lord according to the testimony of the apostles in various places.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure.  Total Perfect Triumph.

“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.