Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 11:27-30.

“Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.  One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world.  And this took place in the reign of Claudius.  And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.  And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.”  Acts 11:27-30.

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Certainly, it was good that the disciples sent a contribution for the famine relief of the brethren living in Judea.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:9-10.

“27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.”  Proverbs 3:27-28.

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19.

“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;  but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.  …  You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.  For the poor will never cease to be in the land;  therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”  Deuteronomy 15:7-8 and 10.

As much as Scripture commands us to do these things, as much as we know in our heart that they are good things that we should do, and as much as we also know that we will be blessed by doing these good things, we still will not do these good things as we should because of our flesh.

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:17-21.

But, there is hope!

“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.

And so, we turn back to the main Scripture for today for help, and we notice that it was “by the Spirit” that Agabus prophesied prophesied of the famine, and we realize that as the Spirit caused Agabus to prophesy, the Spirit caused the disciples to send a contribution for the famine relief of the brethren living in Judea.

When confronted with the needs of others, we too can turn to the Spirit and ask for help to do what we should in response.

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

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 11:19-26.

“So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.  But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.  The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.  Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;  for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.  And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.  And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers;  and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”  Acts 11:19-26.

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Other doctrine focuses on its own alleged free-will, its own wisdom, and its own works.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on the grace of God.

What is the fruit of being captivated by the grace of God?

“Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;  for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”  Verses 23-24.

When we are captivated by the grace of God, we rejoice.

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11.

“Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.”  Psalm 32:10.

When we are captivated by the grace of God, we encourage others.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.

When we are captivated by the grace of God, we are resolute, steadfast, and remain true to the Lord.

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10.

When we are captivated by the grace of God, people shift their focus from themselves and turn to the Lord.

“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”  Verse 21.

“… considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”  Verse 24.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 10:44-48.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.  All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.  Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”  And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.”  Acts 10:44-48.

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How did all the circumcised believers who came with Peter know that the the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also?

“For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.”  Verse 46.

Specifically, the purpose of this devotion is NOT to discuss speaking with tongues.  More generally, the purpose of this daily devotions is not to give an opinion on every subject.  There are other Reformed preachers and teachers who can do so.

The reader should be reminded about what I wrote in the “About Me” section of my web site Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions – http://www.reformeddoctrine.com :  “On a personal note, I am an attorney, married with three sons.  Although I do my best to present true teachings, these are my teachings as a layman.  (I am an attorney, not a minister).  And, although I have been taught by and otherwise influenced by certain Reformed denominations through the years from a very early age to date, my teachings are not necessarily the teachings of the Christian Reformed Church, Presbyterian churches, the Protestant Reformed Churches, nor any other denomination.  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.”

Rather, specifically, the purpose of this devotion is to discuss the evidence of the Holy Spirit exhibited by the Gentiles, namely that they were “exalting God”.

Other doctrine exalts man and his alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine exalts God.

“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,”  2 Samuel 22:47 and Psalm 18:46.

“O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.”  Psalm 34:3.

“Exalt the LORD our God
And worship at His holy hill,
For holy is the LORD our God.”  Psalm 99:9.

“O LORD, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”  Isaiah 25:1.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 10:23-35.

“…  And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  On the following day he entered Caesarea.  Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.  But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up;  I too am just a man.”  As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled.  And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him;  and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.  That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for.  So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour;  and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.  Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you;  he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’  So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.  Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”  Acts 10:23-35.

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There is a broader message in today’s Scripture than only that now salvation (including the Holy Spirit) is available to Gentiles as well as Jews.

The language in verses 28 and 35 highlighted above (“God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” and “in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”) cause us to thus meditate more broadly, and further back in history, than the recent inclusion of the Gentiles.

We recognize generally that the Gentiles were “excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world”.

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Ephesians 2:11-13.

But, through God’s grace, there were a few Gentiles, such as Rahab, who were saved before the time of Christ.

“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”  Hebrews 11:31.

The following Scripture shows that throughout history “in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”

“13 The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.”  Psalm 33:13-19.

Thus, Rahab and other Gentiles before Christ, who by faith understood this quality of God (“in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”), had this hope.

And, this hope helped Cornelius and Peter understand that it was thus possible for Gentiles to be brought near by Christ.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 10:9-23.

“On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.  But he became hungry and was desiring to eat;  but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;  and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.  A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.”  Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”  This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.  While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.  But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”  Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for;  what is the reason for which you have come?”  They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”  So he invited them in and gave them lodging.”  Acts 10:9-23.

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Today’s Scripture provides an awesome display of God guiding Peter into truth.

First, God provided the vision to Peter.

Second, at the very time that Peter was perplexed as to what the vision meant, Cornelius’ men arrived at the house where Peter was staying.

Third, at this same time, the Spirit assured Peter that He sent these men to Peter and that Peter should accompany them without misgivings.

Fourth, Cornelius was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for Peter to come to his house and hear a message from him.

And, there is hope for the rest of us too!

“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 16:13.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 10:1-8.

“Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.  About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!”  And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?”  And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;  he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”  When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”  Acts 10:1-8.

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Cornelius had not yet received the Holy Spirit, nor welcomed into the church, but he persisted in the use of the means of grace available to him.  He “feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually”.  Verse 2.

Thus, Corneilus provides a lesson to us “who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience”.

Article 16. Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.  …  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Hebrews 6:10-12.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 9:36-43.

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas);  this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.  And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died;  and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”  So Peter arose and went with them.  When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room;  and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.  But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.”  And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  And he gave her his hand and raised her up;  and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.  It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.  And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.”  Acts 9:36-43.

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Tabitha was dead, but Peter “prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.”  And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  And he gave her his hand and raised her up”.  Verses 40-41.

Thus, Tabitha was raised up by God.

Today’s Scripture gives us hope that we too, dead in our sins, will be raised up by God.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.