Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 4, 2018

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done” – “His work is perfect” – “IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 12:1-12.

“And He began to speak to them in parables:  “A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.  At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers.  They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully.  And he sent another, and that one they killed;  and so with many others, beating some and killing others.  He had one more to send, a beloved son;  he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’  But those vine-growers said to one another, ‘This is the heir;  come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’  They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.  What will the owner of the vineyard do?  He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others.  Have you not even read this Scripture:

‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE;
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’?”

And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them.  And so they left Him and went away.”   Mark 12:1-12.

————————–

Other doctrine focuses on man and fears what man did or will do.     

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and is glad in what God has done.     

The religious leaders, the chief priests and Pharisees, may have rejected Jesus, and even killed Him, but God is sovereign and in control and caused Jesus to build His church and be the chief corner stone of the church.

“IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES”

Other doctrine preaches and teaches what man should do to be the best he can be.

But, Reformed Doctrine studies Scripture to learn about God and His works and preaches and teaches what God has done.

“4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
7 That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, O LORD, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.”  Psalm 92:4-9.

“6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;
You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.”  Exodus 15:6-7.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.”  Psalm 111:2.

“The Rock!  His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.”    Deuteronomy 32:4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 3, 2018

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 11:27-33.

“They *came again to Jerusalem.  And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders *came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”  And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men?  Answer Me.”  They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.  Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus *said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”  Mark 11:27-33.

———————-

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Matthew 28:11.

“And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.”  Daniel 7:14.

“Jesus spoke these things;  and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come;  glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.  This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.  Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world;  they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You;  for the words which You gave Me I have given to them;  and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.”  John 17:1-8.

Other doctrine claims some authority for itself.  Other doctrine claims authority to effectively make its own decisions and its own actions that will determine whether or not it will be saved which it calls free-will.  And, other doctrine claims some glory for achieving its salvation by its wisdom and power to make those right decisions and actions that will achieve salvation (whether it be good works or at least the will to be saved).

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that Scripture teaches that all authority has been given to Christ that all whom God has elected (“given Him” to save), Christ may save and give eternal life.  And, Reformed Doctrine further recognizes that all glory belongs to God.   God deserves all glory, because God provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.    This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 7:15-16.

“… God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  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 1:27-31.

“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.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-9.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 2, 2018

“Have faith in God.”

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

“When evening came, they would go out of the city.

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.  Being reminded, Peter *said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”  And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.  Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.  Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.  [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]  Mark 11:19-26.

——————-

We can be so eager to get what we want that we are focused only on how to get what we want such that we miss the essential introduction “Have faith in God.”

Today’s devotion will focus on what it means to “Have faith in God.”  

First, let us brush aside what it does not mean.  “Have faith in God.” does not mean that we have faith in our faith.  It does not mean that we are focused on self and removing all doubt in our heart through our own willpower (even though it is important to have no doubt in our heart).

So, then what does it mean to “Have faith in God.”? 

Most simply, we have faith “in God”, not in our self.

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  Heidelberg Catechism.  

Notice the focus on God and Who He is!

He is “Almighty God”, and therefore “He is able to do it”.  He is “faithful Father”, and therefore He is “willing” to do it.

Yes, we have “no doubt”.  But, we do not have no doubt because of the strength of our own faith.  Rather, we have no doubt because our faith is in God and Who He is, namely “Almighty God” and our “faithful Father”.

And this is one of the reasons why Reformed Doctrine is so important.

Other doctrine focuses on man and what man should do.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and Who God is and what God does, thus building our faith “in God“. 

“Have faith in God.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 1, 2018

“MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS”.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 11:12-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then they *came to Jerusalem.  And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves;  and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.  And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS’?  But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”  The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him;  for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.”  Mark 11:12-18.

———-

In the midst of the strong, sharp physical force actions by Jesus of overturning the tables and driving out the those who were buying and selling, we see warmness, openness, and caring by Jesus’ statement:  “MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS”.

We see within this statement the hope that places of worship are “for all nations“.

“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.

Moreover, when we look within the Old Testament Scripture which Jesus quoted to make His statement, we see the warmness, openness, and caring expressed to those who may have thought themselves excluded but who had hope because they kept God’s word.

“Thus says the LORD,
“Preserve justice and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 “How blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The LORD will surely separate me from His people.”
Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4 For thus says the Lord,

“To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.

6 “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD,
To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath
And holds fast My covenant;
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
8 The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
“Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.”  Isaiah 56:1-8.

Accordingly, in the very Reformed Doctrine creed that most sharply defines election, namely the Canons of Dordt, we see the the warmness, openness, and caring expressed to those who may have thought themselves excluded but kept God’s word.

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.  Much less cause have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, though they seriously desire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that measure of holiness and faith to which they aspire;  since a merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.  But this doctrine is justly terrible to those, who, regardless of God and of the Savior Jesus Christ, have wholly given themselves up to the cares of the world, and the pleasures of the flesh, so long as they are not seriously converted to God.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.  

Accordingly, we are called to preach “to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction”.

Article 5.  Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

“…  ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS’  …”Verse 17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 30, 2018

“Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation” – “This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 11:1-11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it;  and He sat on it.  And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.  Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:

“Hosanna!
BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David;
Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple;  and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.  Mark 11:7-11.

———————-

“15 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
…

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, do save, we beseech You;
O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 118:15 and 22-29.

Other doctrine is continually worried about what man will do.   

But, Reformed Doctrine is triumphant, joyfully shouting about the LORD and what He has done.  The right hand of the LORD has obtained salvation for all of His elect.  His lovingkindness is everlasting for His elect.   

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Zechariah 9:9.

“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.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-7.

“This is the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.”  Psalm 118:23.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 28, 2018

Bartimaeus’ persistent exclamations – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 10:46-52.

“Then they *came to Jericho.  And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.  When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.”  So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up!  He is calling for you.”  Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.  And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”  And Jesus said to him, “Go;  your faith has made you well.”  Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”  Mark 10:46-52.

————–

We would naturally expect a blind man to be slow, quiet, and depressed because of his condition.

But, Bartimaeus, a blind man, was quick, loud, and enthusiastic.

We see that although many were sternly telling him to be quiet, “he kept crying out all the more”.  Verse 48.

We see that when Jesus called him, “Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.”  Verse 50.

We see his enthusiasm and his persistence in asking Jesus what he wanted, all of which were exclamations!  Verses 47, 48, and 51.

Jesus recognized and credited his persistent faith.  “And Jesus said to him, “Go;  your faith has made you well.”  Verse 52.

“Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11.

“Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;  for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;  and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me;  the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed;  I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Luke 11:5-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 27, 2018

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death … our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with” – “so we too might walk in newness of life.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 10:32-45.  Here is a link to this devotion – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.”  And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”  But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”  They said to Him, “We are able.”  And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink;  and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.  But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give;  but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”  Mark 10:35-40.

————————-

There is hope even in Jesus’ statement:  “you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.”

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again;  death no longer is master over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all;  but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness;  but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  Romans 6:4-14.

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:19-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 26, 2018

“He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 10:28-31.

“Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”  Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions;  and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”  Mark 10:28-31.

——————-

Jesus encourages us that there are rewards for us following Him.

And yet, there are many preachers and teachers who hide, belittle, or obscure these rewards.  Some call it “prosperity gospel”.  Some limit the rewards to eternal life.  Some push away the rewards as materialistic.  Some infer that we should only expect persecutions.  Some infer that it is more righteous to not need the rewards nor expect them.  Some feel that it is unseemly to acknowledge rewards when everyone may not receive exactly the same rewards.

And yet, these same people experience great prosperity but just do not want to admit it or properly give thanks or glorify God for it.

But, here is Scripture using language of receiving “a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms”.

Yes, there are persecutions, but the emphasis is on the rewards.  And, even persecutions carry their own great reward.  Finally, if anyone has the right to hide, belittle, or obscure these rewards, it would be the persecuted.  But, who has been persecuted the most but the writers of Scripture who write about these rewards?!! 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;  for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11-12.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Romans 8:18.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

Consider the awesome emphasis of the importance of expectation of rewards in Scripture!

Scripture describes God as “a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Scripture defines faith with two elements, one of which is that faith “must believe that … He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” 

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

Here are more quotes from Scripture about these rewards.

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,

“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”  Genesis 15:1.

“But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”  2 Chronicles 15:7.

“10 They (the judgments of the LORD) 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 19:10-11.

“And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”  Psalm 58:11.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Psalm 127:3.

“The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”  Proverbs 11:18.

“21 Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”  Proverbs 13:21-22.

“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.”  Proverbs 22:4.

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.  Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;  this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

“Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart;  for God has already approved your works.  Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.  Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;  for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

“Behold, the Lord God will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.”  Isaiah 40:10.

“Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes;
Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”  Isaiah 62:11.

“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret;  and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:3-4.

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:6.

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward;  and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:41-42.

“Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”  And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”  Matthew 19:27-29.

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High;  for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”  Luke 6:35.

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one;  but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”  1 Corinthians 3:8.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”  Colossians 3:23-24.

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”  Hebrews 10:35-36.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”  Revelation 22:12.

Finally, the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that the reward for our good works “is not of merit, but of grace”.

Q. 63.  What!  Do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?
A.  This reward is not of merit, but of grace.

And, I would add in addition that our good works, and even our faith, are also not based on our merit but based on God’s grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:10.

“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 2:6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 25, 2018

“With people it (salvation) is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 10:17-27.

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except God alone.  You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’”  And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”  Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack:  go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;  and come, follow Me.”  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were amazed at His words.  But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”  Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God;  for all things are possible with God.”  Mark 10:17-27.

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It would be dangerous and an incorrect understanding of Scripture to think that it is only difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.

And, it would also be dangerous and an incorrect understanding of Scripture to think that we only need to sell all we possess and give to the poor in order to be saved.

Although Jesus first addresses the wealthy, He later addresses everyone:  “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” and “With people it is impossible, but not with God;  for all things are possible with God.”

And, even if it is only difficult (or more difficult) for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God, it would be foolish for us to rest on the thought that we are not wealthy and thus it is easy for us to enter the kingdom of God.  Most of us are wealthy in the United States compared to people in the rest of the world and compared to people in Jesus’ time.

In any event, Scripture repeatedly teaches that is is difficult (and even impossible with people) for anyone (rich or poor) to be saved.  “AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?”  1 Peter 4:18.

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:14.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-11.

“… by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight …”  Romans 3:20.

And yet, other doctrine places its hope for salvation on man, teaching that man can contribute something to salvation to prove he is worthy of it.

If ever there was a “poster child” for other doctrine’s hope for salvation for man, it would be this man who claimed that he kept all the commandments from his youth up.  But, Jesus pointed out what he was missing, not teaching that all we need to do is just provide what is missing, but rather to teach that “With people it (salvation) is impossible, but not with God;  for all things are possible with God.”

Reformed Doctrine, consistent with today’s Scripture that “With people it is impossible” and other Scripture’s teaching of “Total Depravity” of man, only places its hope for salvation on God to provide all that is needed for salvation.

There is hope!  But, that hope does not come within man as other doctrine teaches.  That hope does not come from the alleged goodness of man, nor alleged wisdom of man, nor alleged free-will of man.

That hope comes from God Who provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.    This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“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.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 24, 2018

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 10:13-16.

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them;  but the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me;  do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.”  Mark 10:13-16.

—————-

Have children done the most works?

Are children the wisest?

Are children the strongest?

Do children have the most willpower?

Of course not.

And yet, despite today’s Scripture in which Jesus states:  “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”, other doctrine preaches and teaches as if the key(s) to entering the kingdom of God is doing one or more of the following:  doing the most works, being the wisest, being the strongest, and having the most willpower.

But, Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches that the key to entering the kingdom of heaven is simply being one of God’s elect and receiving that gift of God as a child receives a gift without any thought that he or she deserved it.

Other doctrine is proud and think that it deserves salvation because it contributed something to secure its own salvation that other people have not contributed.

But, Reformed Doctrine is humble like a child and knows that it has not contributed anything to secure its own salvation and receives the kingdom of God as a gift of grace alone.

Other doctrine trusts its own wisdom and its own sense of fairness and questions the fairness of God’s election and concludes:  “That is not the God I believe.”  

But, Reformed Doctrine is humble like a child and does not “over-think” it but just gladly receives the gift.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt, FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery …”

Article 9. This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself …”

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 7:15-16.

“… God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  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 1:27-31.

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