Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 12:1-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.”  But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?  Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?  But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

…

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.  And a man was there whose hand was withered.  And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” — so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!  So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  Then He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!”  He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.

…

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;
MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL-PLEASED;
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,
AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.
“HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT;
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
“A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF,
AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.”  
“AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”  Matthew 12:1-6 and 8-13 and 18-21.

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“But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.”  Verse 6.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  Galatians 3:24-25.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:4-6.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!  Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:4-7.

“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.

“… HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.”  Verse 20.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 11:25-27.

“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.

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Why would God hide Himself and hide salvation as described in today’s Scripture?

“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.”  1 Corinthians 1:21.

“… 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.”  1 Corinthians 1:27-28.

In other words, God hid Himself and hid salvation so that no man could boast of his wisdom in knowing God and knowing salvation.  God wants all the credit for man knowing God and knowing salvation.

Other doctrine just does not understand or accept God’s decision.

But, Reformed Doctrine understands and teaches God’s decision.

Other doctrine is focused on man and what man wants and has faith in man’s wisdom and allege free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine is focused on God and what God wants and has faith in God’s wisdom and God’s will.

In regards to man, Reformed Doctrine teaches that man’s natural condition is “Total Depravity” , the “T” of “TULIP, the true doctrine of salvation.  Man is “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.

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

The fallen condition of man 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.

Reformed Doctrine teaches us that our only chance to know God and salvation is God’s “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP, the true doctrine of salvation.

Because of this fallen condition, this total depravity, there is nothing in us that motivates God to choose us for salvation. His election of those He chooses to save is unconditional, namely that there is no condition supplied by man whether it be wisdom or works or will that motivates God to elect certain individuals for salvation.

“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.

“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 2:4-8.

“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 Matthew 11:20-24.

“Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.  “Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?  You will descend to Hades;  for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.  Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”  Matthew 11:20-24.

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“… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required;  and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”  Luke 12:48.

Many of us have received so much good Reformed Doctrine preaching and teaching.  We have been given much.  And so, much will be required from us.

Do we believe, repent, and act upon it?

Or, do we put off believing, repenting, and acting upon it?

“And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?  Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.  Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;  the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.  And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be required;  and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”  Luke 12:42-48.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 11:7-19.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“But to what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;  we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”  Matthew 11:16-19.

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There are those who falsely stereotype and mock Christians as “teetotalers” (who completely abstain from alcohol and maybe are also prudish or stuffy).

And, there are those who falsely stereotype and mock Christians as gluttons, drunkards, and even adulterers.

Even the same people flip back and forth between the two opposite accusations:  “and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;  we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'”  Verse 17.

The temptation for Christians is to change our behavior just to please them.  But, they will not stop and be satisfied with us no matter what we do.  They are not concerned with godliness;  they just want to belittle Christians, often to make themselves look better.

Instead, we should be concerned about wisdom.  What does God want?

But, good as the Law is, due to sin within us, we should also recognize the inability of the Law to make us righteous.  Romans chapter 7.

We should trust the Holy Spirit to transform us from within to produce such wise deeds.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:16-23.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 11:1-6.

“When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:  the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.  And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”  Matthew 11:1-6.

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Why would any one take offense at Jesus?!

People do not take offense at the jesus of their imagination who only does limited things for them according to their desires and who above all recognizes and rewards them for their own works of righteousness.

But, many take offense at the Jesus of Scripture Who “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Matthew 9:13.

We noticed in today’s Scripture that Jesus only helped the hopeless, those who were blind, lame, lepers, deaf, dead, and the poor, all of whom did no works of righteousness to receive such mercy.

Likewise, in the following the Scripture, we notice that Jesus is called “A ROCK OF OFFENSE” and that those who pursued righteousness based on works stumbled over Him, “A ROCK OF OFFENSE”.

“What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;  but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.  They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written,

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”  Romans 9:30-33.

Other doctrine also is offended by the Jesus of Scripture Who does not honor their works of righteousness nor their wisdom nor their alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine has faith in the Jesus of Scripture and joyfully embraces Him Who does everything for the salvation of God’s elect, knowing that all men are dead in sin deserving no honor and are incapable of contributing anything to their salvation.

“Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father;  that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of 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 Matthew 10:24-39.

“24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.  25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.  If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

26 “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light;  and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.  28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;  but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  29 Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?  And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  31 So do not fear;  you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  35 For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;  36 and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;  and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”  Matthew 10:24-39.

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Many go to a particular church and continue to stay there primarily just because their family goes there even though the preaching and teaching is not what it should be.  In the language of verse 37, they love their son or daughter more than Christ.

Many preachers and teachers hide or obscure or minimize or ignore the preaching and teaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel to either please and not offend their congregation and new seekers rather than, in the language of verse 27, proclaiming the truth on the housetops.

Today’s Scripture continues the recent theme of the sharp focus, singular devotion, and supreme cost of following Christ that we see in Matthew Chapter 7 and other Scriptures.

“Enter through the narrow gate;  for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14.

“And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”  And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door;  for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”  Luke 13:23-24.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again;  and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:44-46.