Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 26, 2018

“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 5:35-43.

“While He was still speaking, they *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died;  why trouble the Teacher anymore?”  But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”  And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.  They *came to the house of the synagogue official;  and He *saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing.  And entering in, He *said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep?  The child has not died, but is asleep.”  They began laughing at Him.  But putting them all out, He *took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was.  Taking the child by the hand, He *said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old.  And immediately they were completely astounded.  And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.”  Mark 5:35-43.

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The death of a loved one appears hopeless to us and causes us to be afraid.  And, we may also fear our own death.

Some will genuinely weep and be sympathetic that can bring us some comfort.  But, others may be like those who said:  “Your daughter has died;  why trouble the Teacher anymore?”

But, there is One Who is our hope, Who is our resurrection and life, and Who takes away our fear.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life;  he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord;  I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”  John 11:25-27.

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  Hebrews 2:14-15.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 24, 2018

“Daughter, your faith has made you well” – A Summary of what the Four Major Reformed Creeds state about Faith

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 5:21-34.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.  For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”  Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up;  and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.  Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”  And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”  And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.  But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well;  go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”  Mark 5:25-34.

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In today’s devotion, we will look at what the four major Reformed Creeds state about faith and the common theme.

Q. 21.  What is true faith?

A.  True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart;  that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.  Heidelberg Catechism.

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.  Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy:  for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior.  Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works.  However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness.  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.  Belgic Confession.

Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him;  or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof of Canons of Dordt.

Q. 72.  What is justifying faith?

A.  Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.  Westminster Larger Catechism.

The common theme of these four major Reformed creeds is that faith is to be considered as a gift of God wrought in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Other doctrine teach a faith that arises and is maintained by the wisdom, will, and works of man.

But Reformed Doctrine teaches a faith that arises and is maintained by the wisdom, the will, and the work of God.

“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 2:8-9.

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 23, 2018

“Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you” – “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 5:1-20.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.  And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”  And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him;  and everyone was amazed.”  Mark 5:18-20.

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“He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.”  Deuteronomy 10:21.

Today’s devotion will focus on how we should report what great things the Lord has done for us. 

A good witness tells only his or her own story and does not tell someone else’s story.

A good witness only gives his or her own testimony of what he or she personally observed and does not attempt to give testimony based on what he or she heard someone else observed (hearsay).

A good witness tells only what he or she observed and does not speculate on what she did not observe.

A good witness tells only what the Lord has done for him or her and not what he or she has done for the Lord.

A good witness tells only what the Lord has done for him or her and does not speculate why the Lord has not done the same thing for someone else.  There are too many people afraid or hesitant to tell their own story because they don’t want to appear proud or special or cause someone else to feel bad that the Lord has not done the same thing for them.

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—  and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—  what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us;  and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”  1 John 1:1-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 22, 2018

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:35-41.

“On that day, when evening came, He *said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd, they *took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was;  and other boats were with Him.  And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.  Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”  And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.”  And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.  And He said to them, “Why are you afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”  They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  Mark 4:35-41.

——————–

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

God cared then for them, and God cares now for us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9.

But, the solution is not advice for them then, nor advice for us now.

The solution for them then was not advice such as try harder:  bail out the water quicker, row stronger, and get to land.

And, the solution for us now is also not not advice such as try harder:  be wiser, be stronger in the will, and work harder.

The solution for them was God’s sovereignty.  “And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.”  And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.”

And, the solution for us now is also God’s sovereignty.  God does everything for our 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 Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

God’s sovereignty is not limited to sovereignty over seas.  God’s sovereignty is also over souls.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.”  Psalm 103:19.

God controls the smallest details of life on earth such that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29).  Do you think God’s concern is only for the sparrows?!  God mentioned the sparrows, so that we would know that He is certainly not going to let man (who is much, much more important than the sparrows) fall (perish) apart from His will.

God saves according to His purpose, according to His choice, not because of works nor even the will of man.  “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 9:15-16.

God’s sovereignty should have been good news for them then.  

But, we notice that they did not receive God’s sovereignty as good news.  “They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

God’s sovereignty should also be good news for us now.

But, we notice that God’s sovereignty is not also received by us today as good news.

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:2-3.

The problem is sin within us as summarized by man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”.  Man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  We are “dead” in sin.  Ephesians 2:1.    None of us understands, and none of us seeks God.  Romans 3:10-11.  We are hostile to God.  Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21.  We are in bondage to sin.  Romans 7:14-15.

“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 3:10-12.

Man’s “Total Depravity” is not that we are just affected or injured by the presence of sin.  Rather,  “… you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1.

But, God is not giving up any control of His sovereignty to man.

“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The LORD scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:4-9.

But, there is hope in God’s sovereignty!  There is hope in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation!

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 21, 2018

“by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:30-33.

“And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?  It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches;  so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;  and He did not speak to them without a parable;  but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.”  Mark 4:30-33.

———————–

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.  But, a parable is also like a mustard seed.

The parables seem small and insignificant like a mustard seed compared to the heavy and massive theological trees of doctrine such as are in Paul’s letters to the churches.

But, the parables are as much a part of God’s Word as Paul’s letters to the churches.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.

And, there is something special that the parables teach us by their seemingly simple and insignificant nature.

Simple parables remind us that the kingdom of God does not belong to the wisest or strongest, but rather the kingdom of God belongs to such as children, so to speak, those chosen by God.

Other doctrine rely on man’s wisdom to understand and man’s will to choose God.  If other doctrine were true, then the wisest and strongest (who would best understand the heavy and massive theological trees of doctrine and who would best choose God, all out of their own wisdom and their own will) would be the saved.

But, Reformed Doctrine relies on God’s wisdom and God’s choice.  And, the seemingly simple and insignificant nature of parables remind us of this truth that the kingdom of God is based on God’s wisdom and God’s choice.

“But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and 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.”  Luke 18:16-17.

“At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.  Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.  All things have been handed over to Me by My Father;  and no one knows the Son except the Father;  nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”  Matthew 11:25-27.

“His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.  And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.”  Luke 8:9-10.

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but 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 1:21-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 20, 2018

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. … Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:26-29.

“And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;  and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.  The soil produces crops by itself;  first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.  But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”  Mark 4:26-29.

——————–

The message in today’s Scripture is an encouraging one:  the harvest will come!  We may not know how it comes (“how, he himself does not know.”), but it will come!

We may feel discouraged as if we labor in vain and do not see the harvest as we expect.  But, the harvest will come.

“The soil produces crops by itself“, that is, God Himself is in charge of His harvest.

Although we do labor, it is the kingdom of God.  God is in charge of His kingdom.  Jesus was sent by God the Father to accomplish His work and has done so to the extent that Jesus is called “the Lord of the harvest”.

“Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38.

Other doctrine cling to man’s alleged free-will and continually fear that the harvest will not come, because they believe that the harvest is dependent on man’s alleged free-will and man’s labor. 

But, Reformed Doctrine sees God’s sovereignty throughout Scripture, including in this parable.  God is in charge of His harvest.  His harvest will come!

“Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.  Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal;  so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored;  others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”  John 4:34-38.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 19, 2018

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:24-25.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.  By your standard of measure it will be measured to you;  and more will be given you besides.  For whoever has, to him more shall be given;  and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”   Mark 4:24-25.

———————-

“Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”  Luke 6:38.

“He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.”  Proverbs 22:9.

We also see today’s Scripture illustrated in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, part of it is quoted below.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.  The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me.  See, I have gained five more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me.  See, I have gained two more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.  And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground.  See, you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.  Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.  Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance;  but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.  Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 25:19-30.

“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 6:18-19

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 17, 2018

“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” – “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:21-23.

“And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed?  Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?  For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed;  nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Mark 4:21-23.

———————-

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20.

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.

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16.

Churches are huge landmarks in every city in United States.  Bibles are widely and easily available for purchase or review.  Everyone has heard of Jesus.  Creation everywhere points to their Almighty Creator.

“2 The LORD has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  Psalm 98:2-3.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-6.

And, God sees everything.

“Would not God find this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.”  Psalm 44:21.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them;  for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:18-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 16, 2018

We may fear that we are a bad tree or among those who believe only for a time, but there is hope! – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:13-20.

“And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?  How will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown;  and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.  In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;  and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary;  then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.  And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns;  these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil;  and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”  Mark 4:13-20.

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This Parable of the Sower and the Soils focuses on groups of people shown by language such as “these are the ones” and “others are the ones” and “those are the ones” as I highlight in today’s Scripture.  But, it is similar to the two groupings of good trees and bad trees.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:17-20.

And, like the two major groups of good trees and bad trees, the groups in the Sower and the Soils can also be grouped into just two major groups of “those who believe only for a time” and “true believers” as shown in the following quote from the Canons of Dordt section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

“The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:  …

VII.  Who teach:  That the faith of those, who believe for a time, does not differ from justifying and saving faith except only in duration.  For Christ himself, in Matthew 13:20, Luke 8:13, and in other places, evidently notes, besides this duration, a threefold difference between those who believe only for a time and true believers, when he declares that the former receive the seed in stony ground, but the latter in the good ground or heart;  that the former are without root, but that the latter have a firm root;  that the former are without fruit, but that the latter bring forth their fruit in various measure, with constancy and steadfastness.”

We may fear that we are a bad tree or among those who believe only for a time, but there is hope!

There is the hope of “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

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

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

There is also the hope of “Preservation of the Saints” also known as “Perseverance of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Consider the following quote from the Canons of Dordt section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints:

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.

“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 | August 15, 2018

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:1-12.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down;  and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.  And He was teaching them many things in parables, …

As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.  And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”  Mark 4:1-2 and 10-12.

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We notice that Jesus’ followers asked Jesus about the parables.

Although His followers were given the mystery of the kingdom of God, one of the saving gifts of “Unconditional Election”, Jesus’ followers were not smug and were not lazy and were not content to rest on their receipt of that gracious gift.  They were eager to learn and understand, not merely hear, and so they asked Jesus about the parables.  So to speak, they made use of the means of grace of Jesus’ preaching and teaching.

As Reformed believers who believe that God provides all that we need for salvation from the beginning to the end:  from the beginning of God’s “Unconditional Election” to God’s “Limited Atonement” to God’s “Irresistible Grace” to God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, through God’s grace, we also persevere and use all of the means of grace.  We diligently seek to hear Godly preaching and teaching, and we also privately study the Scriptures on our own to make sure that we understand the preaching and teaching, not just hear it.  We make sure that the preaching and teaching conforms to the Scriptures.  “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.”  Acts 17:11.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.

“Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.”  Psalm 119:27.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:14-17.

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