Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from John 3:22-30.

“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.  John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.  And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”  John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.  You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’  He who has the bride is the bridegroom;  but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.  So this joy of mine has been made full.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:22-30.

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John and Jesus were baptizing in the same area.  But, apparently more, maybe many more, were coming to Jesus to be baptized.

It would be a natural human condition for John to be jealous, particularly because John’s reputation was known by his name:  John the Baptist.

But, John the Baptist recognized that Jesus would not have had the success in drawing people to be baptized if God had not given Him that gift.  “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.”  Verse 27.

There is a mini-lesson here for us to not be jealous of the gifts and success that God has given to others.  “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.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.

John the Baptist did not demand to be the center of attention.  John did not pout.

Just the opposite, John the Baptist made Jesus the center of attention.  John rejoiced in Jesus and His success.  “…  So this joy of mine has been made full.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Verses 29-30.

Other doctrine makes their own alleged free-will to choose Christ, their own wisdom to choose Christ, and their own works the center of attention of salvation.

But, Reformed Doctrine makes God’s sovereign will, God’s wisdom, and God’s work the center of attention of salvation.  

Reformed Doctrine rejoices that God provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of God’s “Unconditional Election” through God’s “Limited Atonement” through God’s “Irresistible Grace” to the end of God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

Today’s devotion comes from John 3:9-15.

“Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.  If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven:  the Son of Man.  As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”  John 3:9-15.

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Faith in Jesus (including the reasons for it) is the subject of today’s devotion.

First, those who believe in Him (Jesus) have eternal life.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”  Verses 14-15.

Second, Jesus is the perfect witness Who can teach us heavenly things because He has been in heaven.

“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven:  the Son of Man.”  Verse 13.

Third, Jesus testifies of what He has seen and knows, so we should believe Him.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.”  Verse 11.

Today’s devotion comes from John 2:23-25.

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,  and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”  John 2:23-25.

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“Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.”  Psalm 146:3.

There are those who sincerely believe in Christ, but they want to dictate and micro-manage the mission of others.  

Jesus’ disciple Peter was an example.  Peter believed in Christ, but there was a time when Peter wanted to dictate and micro-manage the mission of Jesus.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.  Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord!  This shall never happen to You.”  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me;  for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Matthew 16:21-23.

In other words, there are many good things that we can do, and other Christians often try to make us do the good that they want according to their own interests and agenda.  But, we only have time for the best, and we need to focus on the best and do what we have been uniquely gifted by God and prepared by God and guided by God to do.

There are also those family members and close friends who appear to believe in Christ and who appear to believe in us, but they sincerely do neither.

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  John 1:11.

“Is not this the carpenter’s son?  Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this man get all these things?”  And they took offense at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”  And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  Matthew 13:55-58.

“For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.  And He 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.”  John 6:64-66.

And, there are also others who really do not believe in Christ and they simply want to lead us astray or do just secular things. 

Generally, Jesus understood the heart of man and did not entrust Himself to man.

“But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,  and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”  Verses 24-25.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?”  Jeremiah 17:9.

Reformed Doctrine label it “Total Depravity”. 

We should trust God, not man.

“8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in princes.”  Psalm 118:8-9.

“5 Thus says the LORD,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Today’s devotion comes from John 2:1-11.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.”  And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us?  My hour has not yet come.”  His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each.  Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.”  So they filled them up to the brim.  And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”  So they took it to him.  When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”  John 2:1-11.

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Jesus manifested the lavishness of His grace.

It would have been good enough if Jesus made a little wine or just enough to meet the need.  But, Jesus made about 150 gallons of wine.

It would have been good enough if Jesus made wine that was similar quality to what was provided to the guests before.  But, Jesus made good wine, better that what was provided to the guests at the beginning of the wedding reception.

“…  My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, …”  Psalm 23:5-6.

“… according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:7-8.

“The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;

A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.”  Isaiah 25:6.

Jesus also manifested the truth of the superiority of His grace over the Law.

The Law would hold the bridegroom accountable for not providing enough wine.

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”  Romans 3:19.

“However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Galatians 3:12.

“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.”  And Jesus made the following statement to show that the Law did not require Him to do anything:  “Woman, what does that have to do with us?  My hour has not yet come.”

But, Jesus’ mother had faith in Jesus.  “His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  And, Jesus provided lavish grace.

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4.

Moreover, Jesus could have used secular, earthly, customary containers of water like pitchers.  But, Jesus used six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification which represented the Law in order to manifest the truth of the superiority of His grace over the Law.  

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:13-15.

Thus, in this sense, Jesus used six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification which represented the Law in order to make a public display of them, showing His grace triumphed over the Law. 

“… mercy triumphs over judgment.”  James 2:13.

Today’s devotion comes from John 1:43-51.

“The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip.  And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.”  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  Philip *said to him, “Come and see.”  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God;  You are the King of Israel.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.”  And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  John 1:43-51.

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We tend to be unbelieving and to be continually seeking more and better signs before we believe.

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”  But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign;  and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;”  Matthew 12:38-39.

But, Nathaniel, when presented with a “minor” sign from Jesus that could have been explained away and doubted by Nathaniel, believed and confessed Jesus.  “Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God;  You are the King of Israel.”  Verses 48-49.

The lesson from Nathaniel (and also from Abraham) is that we should not waver in unbelief nor seek more and better signs before we believe, but rather we should believe what sign and the the promises of God in Scripture that God does give us.

“yet, with respect to the promise of God, he (Abraham) did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  THEREFORE IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Romans 5:20-22.

Today’s devotion comes from John 1:19-34.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.  They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”  John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.  It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”  These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’  I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”  John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.  I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’  I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”  John 1:24-34.

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Most importantly, we notice the testimony and confession of John the Baptist as to Who Jesus is. 

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

“this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”

“this is the Son of God.”

But, we also notice the humility of John the Baptist.

“After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.”

“the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

These points should cause us to consider that when we preach or teach, do we testify and confess Who Jesus is and what He has done?

Or, do we testify and confess who we are and what we have done?

Despite Jesus stating that no one was greater than John (Luke 7:28), John the Baptist understood:  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:30.