Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 7:44-50.

“44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.  45 And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.  47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.  48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49 ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ SAYS THE LORD,
‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50 ‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’”  Acts 7:44-50.

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Man is proud of his works, what his hands have made.

But, God points to His creation, His word, His salvation, and all other things that are good and asks:  “WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’”

“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.  …”  Genesis 1:31.

“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”  Joshua 21:45.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

Man thinks that he is worthy of salvation by his works, things that he Has done even if it is as little as what he considers his alleged free-will choice of Christ.

But, the highlighted part in bold italic in the source of the quote in today’s Scripture provides the answer.

“Thus says the LORD,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”  Isaiah 66:1-2.

“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,”  Psalm 33:13-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 7:23-29.

“But when he (Moses) was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.  And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.  And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.  On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’  But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?  YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’  At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.”  Acts 7:23-29.

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Our first thought may be:  “What good can come from all of these events?!”

But, we remember Scripture.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

And then, we meditate on today’s Scripture some more, and we see how God used or could have used these events for Moses good.  Here are some examples.

First, in Midian, Moses “became the father of two sons.”

Second, although the one who was injuring his neighbor accused and frightened Moses by his words:  “WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?”, we can reasonably believe that God caused those words to remind Moses that He, God, was The One Who made Moses a ruler and judge over the people of Israel.

Third, although Moses was mistaken in his belief “that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him”, we can reasonably believe that God caused his mistaken belief to strengthen Moses that God’s deliverance of Israel was not dependent on Israel understanding.  There would be times when Israel would question, accuse, and rebel against Moses, but Moses needed to still trust God’s promises that He would deliver Israel through him (Moses).

We can believe that for us too, God will cause all things to work together for our good.

“What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?”  Romans 8:31.

We too can trust God.

“I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!””  Psalm 91:2.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 6:8-15.

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.  But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.  But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.  Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”  And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.  They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;  for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”  And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”  Acts 6:8-15.

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Consider what Jesus said about some who did not believe Him.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which one of you convicts Me of sin?  If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?  He who is of God hears the words of God;  for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”  John 8:44-47.

If we believe that everybody is basically good and wise, then we will be perplexed and feel defeated when some do not believe our preaching and our teaching.

But, if we, like Jesus, believe that there are some who lie about us and try to hurt us, then we will not be surprised and will not feel defeated when they do not believe our preaching and our teaching.

Consider Stephen in today’s Scripture.  He was “full of grace and power”.  He “was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”  He was filled with “the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”  His face was “like the face of an angel.”  And yet, there were those who lied about him and tried to hurt him.

Through God’s grace, we faithfully preach and teach, and we trust God to use it to save those whom He chooses to save.  Using the language of the above John 8:47, some people are “of God”, and some people are “not of God”.

“He who is of God hears the words of God;  for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”  John 8:47.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 6:1-7.

“Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.  So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.  Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  The statement found approval with the whole congregation;  and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.  And these they brought before the apostles;  and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

The word of God kept on spreading;  and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”  Acts 6:1-7.

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There was persecution outside the church, and there was complaint inside the church.  But, God was still sovereign.  “The word of God kept on spreading”.  Verse 7.

Sometimes, we get too focused on our own wisdom and our own will, thinking that success or failure will hinge on us (man).

But, today’s Scripture reminds us God is still sovereign.  God is still in control.

God gives wisdom.

“6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.”  Proverbs 2:6-9.

God provided “seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”  Verse 3.

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”  1 Corinthians 12:27-28.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

God gives will.  “The statement found approval with the whole congregation”.  Verse 5.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 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 55:10-11.