Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel;  whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.  When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.  Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered;  but his blood I will require at your hand.  However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning;  and you have delivered yourself.”  Ezekiel 3:16-21.

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We need to be careful, study Scripture, and prayerful as to what we should do.  Today’s Scripture does not appoint or command just anyone to just say anything to the wicked to warn them.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”  Matthew 7:6.

First, we notice that the LORD appointed Ezekiel to be a watchman to the house of Israel to warn them.  “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.”  Verse 17.  The LORD may not have appointed us as a watchman or otherwise commanded us to warn a particular group of people.  For another example, we read that the LORD specifically commanded Jonah to warn a particular group of people.  “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”  For another example, we also read that the elders are appointed (not just anyone) “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:9.

Second, we notice that the LORD prepared Ezekiel to warn them.  “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.  Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead.  Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.”  Verses 8-9.  The LORD may have not (at least yet) prepared us to warn the wicked.

Third, we notice that the LORD controlled Ezekiel as to what he should say or not say.  “Moreover, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be mute and cannot be a man who rebukes them, for they are a rebellious house.  But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear;  and he who refuses, let him refuse;  for they are a rebellious house.”  Ezekiel 3:26-27.  We should not be careless and should not feel free to say whatever we want to warn the wicked.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 2.

“Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!”  As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet;  and I heard Him speaking to me.  Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me;  they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.  I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’  As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.  And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions;  neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.  But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

“Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you;  do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”  Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it.  When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.”  Ezekiel chapter 2.

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Our calling is to preach and teach God’s Word.  We should not be surprised if those who hear God’s Word from us do not respond as we may like.  Our success is not based on their response, but rather our success (or lack of it) is based on whether we faithfully preach and teach as we are called.

Other doctrine changes its preaching and teaching to draw the most people.

Reformed Doctrine recognizes that man’s natural condition is “Total Depravity”, that is, man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  In one word, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that man is naturally “rebellious” as stated in today’s Scripture, and so, Reformed Doctrine is not surprised when few listen to God’s Word.  But, through God’s grace, Reformed Doctrine faithfully preaches and teaches God’s Word and summarizes it in sound doctrine as it is called to do in the following Scripture.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 1.

“Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.  (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar;  and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.)

As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire.  Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.  And this was their appearance: they had human form.  Each of them had four faces and four wings.  Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.  Under their wings on their four sides were human hands.  As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another;  their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.  As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man;  all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.  Such were their faces.  Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies.  And each went straight forward;  wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.  In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings.  The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire.  And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.

Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them.  The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another.  Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved.  As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about.  Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them.  And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.  Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction.  And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.  Whenever those went, these went;  and whenever those stood still, these stood still.  And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them;  for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.” 

Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.  Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other.  I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings.  And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings.

Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance;  and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.  Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire;  and there was a radiance around Him.  As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance.  Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.  And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.”  Ezekiel chapter 1. 

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“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.

I live in the City of St. Petersburg which has one of the best collections of Dali art, but I still prefer representational art (also known as figurative art) over abstract art.

I also prefer Scripture which lays out clear, easy to understand statements over parables and visions.  But, we know that even visions in Scripture are profitable (as compared to personal visions outside of Scripture – “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,”  Colossians 2:18).

And so, even though the vision in this chapter is difficult is to understand, we meditate on it.

These are my impressions of this vision:  glory, awesome, perfection, beauty, power, precision, straight forward movement without looking around, ease of movement, and under command of God.

And, I am pleased to see Reformed Doctrine even in my impressions of this vision.

Other doctrine portray its imaginary god stripped of these characteristics and prefers a god who looks around, halts and falters, struggles to move, and whose primary movements are to react to man (rather than to initiate).

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who is glorious, awesome, perfect, and beautiful.  

Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who is all-powerful and Who moves straight forward without looking around, and Who easily moves with precision, and Who accomplishes all of His good pleasure. 

In summary, Reformed Doctrine presents the Sovereign God of Scripture Who commands and rules over everything.  Total Perfect Triumph!

“³ Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
⁶ Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
⁷ They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Today’s devotion is from Lamentations chapter 5.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“¹⁵ The joy of our hearts has ceased;
Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
¹⁶ The crown has fallen from our head;
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
¹⁷ Because of this our heart is faint,
Because of these things our eyes are dim;
¹⁸ Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate,
Foxes prowl in it.

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

I quote only the following verse.

“The Lord has accomplished His wrath,
He has poured out His fierce anger;
And He has kindled a fire in Zion
Which has consumed its foundations.”  Lamentations 4:11.

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There were no wise men left.

“The presence of the Lord has scattered them,
He will not continue to regard them;
They did not honor the priests,
They did not favor the elders.”  Verse 16.

There were no mighty men left.

“Our pursuers were swifter
Than the eagles of the sky;
They chased us on the mountains,
They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.”  Verse 19.

There were no rich men left.

“The tongue of the infant cleaves
To the roof of its mouth because of thirst;
The little ones ask for bread,
But no one breaks it for them.”  Verse 4.

Other doctrine has no one and nothing left to whom to cling, no disciples to proudly show off what man’s work and man’s will can accomplish. 

But, Reformed Doctrine has the LORD and can cling to Him even when it only sees His wrath, knowing that the LORD delights in justice and righteously accomplishes His wrath.  And, Reformed Doctrine knows that the LORD also delights in lovingkindness and exercises it.

“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.

“²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.”  Lamentations 3:24-26.

Today’s devotion comes from Lamentations 3:33-66.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“³³ For He does not afflict willingly
Or grieve the sons of men.
³⁴ To crush under His feet
All the prisoners of the land,
³⁵ To deprive a man of justice
In the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ To defraud a man in his lawsuit—
Of these things the Lord does not approve.
³⁷ Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has commanded it?
³⁸ Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That both good and ill go forth?

Today’s devotion comes from Lamentations 3:25-32.

“²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
²⁸ Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
²⁹ Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
³⁰ Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
³¹ For the Lord will not reject forever,
³² For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.”  Lamentations 3:25-32.

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“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;  and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  1 Peter 5:5.

As a Potter molds clay, the LORD molds His elect. 

The LORD starts with the proud and conceited and wild clay of a young man and creates the humble and respectful and peaceful clay of a man useful to the service of the LORD.   

Or more simply, the LORD takes a young buck and tames him.

The young buck may resist and rise up and thrash about, but the LORD is patient.

Today’s Scripture encourages those who bear the yoke of discipline in their youth to be still and be silent and to endure and accept the training and discipline.

“⁹ Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:9-11.

And, there is the hope of reward for such endurance and acceptance of the training and discipline.

It will not last forever.

“For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:10-11.

“For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.”  Verse 32.

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

Today’s devotion comes from Lamentations 3:1-24.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3&version=NASB

I quote only these verses.

“22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23.

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Like Jeremiah in today’s Scripture, there are times in our lives when we feel alone, maybe even like the LORD has forsaken us.  All we see is the darkness of night.

But, then the glorious light of day arrives, and we recognize that we are not alone.  The LORD has not forsaken us.  Sometimes, all it takes is our recognition of some “small” lovingkindness of the LORD by which He draws us closer to Him.  And, we realize that such lovingkindness, although maybe small by man’s judgment, is not small at all, because of what it accomplishes.

“22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”  Verses 22-23.

We all have our own stories.  Here is one story of mine that I remember that some of you heard before.

But again, it is not important what actually happened;  what is important is what was accomplished:  a feeling of closeness to God, renewed faith and steadfastness.

This story happened a long time ago, but other stories happen every day.  We live by faith, and the LORD gives us faith each day through His lovingkindnesses.

I remember that I had run out of money.  I did not even have money for lunch.  I was hungry.  And then, I received a call from my Pastor asking me to immediately meet him at church to do something for him.

At first, I was bitter, wondering why has the LORD required service from me when He had not even provided lunch for me.

When I arrived at church, the Pastor was walking me through the fellowship hall where the ladies had set up a lunch banquet.  One lady interrupted us insisted that I sit down, and she put in front of me the dish of her food that she brought to the lunch, wanting me to eat it.  Another lady, wanting to compete with her, put her dish of food in front of me, wanting me to eat it.  And so on.  And, all the food was so delicious!  The LORD more than sustained me by this “small” lovingkindness.  He delighted me.  He drew me close.  He lifted my spirit.  He built up my faith.  Very soon, “the check arrived in the mail” of which I was waiting, and my finances were back to normal.

The following Scripture provides the “watchman for the morning” attitude that we all need to have, so that we watch diligently to see and recognize and properly appreciate the LORD’s lovingkindnesses that never cease.

“6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.”  Psalm 130:6-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Lamentations chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“The Lord has done what He purposed;
He has accomplished His word
Which He commanded from days of old.
He has thrown down without sparing,
And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you;
He has exalted the might of your adversaries.”  Lamentations 2:17.

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It is hard for us to read in Lamentations chapter 2 of the fierce anger and actions of the LORD against Israel.  We need to remember the LORD’s patient, clear, and repeated warning to Israel and the justice of such punishment. 

“How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion
With a cloud in His anger!
He has cast from heaven to earth
The glory of Israel,
And has not remembered His footstool
In the day of His anger.
² The Lord has swallowed up;  He has not spared
All the habitations of Jacob.
In His wrath He has thrown down
The strongholds of the daughter of Judah;
He has brought them down to the ground;
He has profaned the kingdom and its princes.
³ In fierce anger He has cut off
All the strength of Israel;
He has drawn back His right hand
From before the enemy.
And He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire
Consuming round about.
⁴ He has bent His bow like an enemy;
He has set His right hand like an adversary
And slain all that were pleasant to the eye;
In the tent of the daughter of Zion
He has poured out His wrath like fire.
⁵ The Lord has become like an enemy.
He has swallowed up Israel;
He has swallowed up all its palaces,
He has destroyed its strongholds
And multiplied in the daughter of Judah
Mourning and moaning.”  Verses 1-5.

Other doctrine presents the god of its desire:  a god who is subject to man’s desires and alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the LORD of Scripture:  the sovereign and righteous LORD Who loves justice and accomplishes all of His good and perfect will.

“O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day;  behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”  Ezra 9:15.

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
² Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
³ Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
⁴ His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
⁵ The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
⁶ The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”  Psalm 97:1-6.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.   

“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.

“The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.
4 The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-5.